Cage Fight Pick 'Em: Pau vs Dustin

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Well today we have a very unique fight. We're going cross-sport, cross-town, rival towns, and very different body types. Dustin Pedroia is 5'6", Pau Gasol's 7'. That's an 18 inch advantage in height. But we know Dustin Pedroia here in Boston, so let's take a closer look.

Pau: Well Gasol has size going for him. That's definitely a plus. A lot more reach than Pedroia has. But you know what's funny about UFC fights? You can't flop and draw a call from a referee. If you flop, you just get your face pounded in. And if you do somehow succeed after flopping around on your ass, you can't go to your teammates and hug them like a switch hitter. They'll just drop you on your ass. So ultimately, Pau's mindset is going to need a lot of work. He's not a fighter. He's a fairy. And fairies succeed in a lot of places, don't get me wrong. Not in the octagon though. If he is going to win this fight, he needs to just land a big strike on Dusty.

Dustin: Guy is tiny and has a huge disadvantage in size. But he also has the most heart out of anyone in the entire world right? Like might Dustin Pedroia be the grittest and most competitive athlete in the world? I think he has to be close. I've never seen Dustin Pedroia throw his arms in the air, whip is head around, make a grimace on his face, and flop to the ground like he'd just been shot by a fully loaded Ithaca shotgun. He also doesn't smile ear to ear and hug and rejoice with his teammates. He just keeps his game face on and doesn't celebrate until the goal has been achieved. Hard-nosed fighter who isn't going to back down to adversity.

X-Factor: Toughness. Plain and simple. Pau showed us what happens to him when someone pushes him around, when the battle gets tough, in 2008. I know, last night the Lakers won. Doesn't mean shit. Pau still buckles under heated, aggressive, physical battles. Dustin dreams about those opportunities. He never gets to physically beat down on people on the diamond. Now is his chance. And he'll take advantage of that chance.

The Decision: Laser Show. Relax.

What do the fans think? Vote 1 for Pau would still win despite being the biggest flamer in the history of flamers. Vote 5 if this becomes a laser show without a doubt.