cowboy

Las Vegas - Cowboy UP! Looking a bit deeper into the Octagon this Saturday in Jacksonville, and we have Donald (Cowboy) Cerrone vs. Anthony (Showtime) Pettis. The Cowboy is actually the underdog in this match. Pettis is -$140 (bet $140 to win back $100), with Cerrone the underdog at +$120 (bet $100 to win back $120).

Normally, I don't share much personal information, but you know that Mrs. Ecks & Bacon loves the Tale of the Tape. So she INSISTED that my T of the T gets posted. Here we go. Benjamin (The Hebrew Assassin) Eckstein is 37 years old, in his head, from the Bronx, New York. Marble Hill Projects to be exact. He tips the scale at a ready 208, whatever ready means, is 6'3" and small change with an 79.5" reach. He used to be 6'4" with an 80" reach, but stuff happens. His MMA record is 0-0, with NO wins coming by KO, NONE by decision and ZERO by submission. However, he did beat the snot out of George Cavuchinno at the playground in Marble Hill for taking his brand new Hi-Bounce Pinky rubber ball. And if you're interested in his nickname, The Hebrew Assassin, it came to life right after the STUNNING 12 second knockdown of Cavuchinno! The only drawback was the blood all over his Hi-Bounce Pinky!

Back to the Octagon, and looking at Pettis who is 33 years old from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Showtime tips the scale at a buck 70, is 5'10" and has a 72.5" reach. His MMA record is okay at 22-10, with 11 wins coming by KO, 4 by decision and 7 by submission. Pettis' early career was stellar, winning 18 of his first 20 fights, but the tide turned in 2015, and Pettis has dropped eight of his last 12.

The Cowboy is 37 years old from Denver, Colorado, tips the scale at a buck 71, is 6'0" and has a 73" reach. His MMA record is 36-14, with 10 wins coming by KO, 9 by decision and 17 by submission. Cerrone also comes to the party with an ugly recent history, losing seven of his last 11 bouts. Not sure why, but the Cowboy had a son in 2018, and his middle name is DANGER! Just saying.

A few stats that might help you handicap this match. Cerrone lands an average of 4.33 and absorbs an average of 4.18 significant strikes per minute. Pettis lands an average of 2.97 and absorbs an average of 3.48 strikes per minute. Cerrone averages 1.21 takedowns landed per 15 minutes, while Pettis averages 0.67 takedowns landed per 15.

Maybe most important, this fight boils down to one word, REVENGE. Cerrone will be looking to pay back Pettis for his first knockout loss in MMA competition courtesy of a devastating body kick from Showtime at 2:35 of the first round in their bout at UFC on FOX 6 back on January 26, 2013. How bad was that kick? Cerrone said, “He kicked my liver out of my body.” FREAKIN' OUCH!

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