The MMA Daily

The UFC is back in action, as they travel overseas to a familiar destination of recent, Singapore. In what should be an entertaining night of fights, the main event headlined by top welterweights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Leon Edwards is all but guaranteed to be a hell of a scrap. I mean, when hasn’t Cerrone delivered a fun action packed fight?

Cerrone, most recently snapped a three-fight losing streak, as he defeated Yancy Medeiros by TKO. The losing streak was a rarity for Cerrone, as previously he had never even lost back to back fights in his career. As for Edwards, the British upstart has won five straight fights and seven of his last eight. He is more than due for this opportunity and headlining act. This fight has big implications for the winner, especially Cerrone, who with UFC win number twenty one would have the most victories all-time in the UFC.

Anyways, to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 132 main card (UFC Fight Pass, 8 a.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Leon Edwards – This should be an excellent scrap, as you have the always game Donald Cerrone against a underrated Leon Edwards. Now, I have Cerrone winning this and I’ll explain. I believe while Edwards is the better wrestler, Cerrone can neutralize him with his scrambles or dangerous guard. On the feet, Edwards has good speed and power, but he’s also tentative. He doesn’t throw enough volume to put pressure on Cerrone. That lack of volume also doesn’t help in winning rounds either.

The way I see this fight playing out, is that Cerrone lands several precise and hard strikes at Edwards on the feet. Edwards then forces and overcommits on a takedown against Cerrone, who will lock up a submission, perhaps a triangle on the way down. So with that, I have Cerrone winning this via submission.

205 lbs.: Tyson Pedro vs. Ovince Saint Preux – I believe Pedro has a future at Light Heavyweight, but he’s still too green for me. His game seems to be best suited against those he can takedown and control on the ground. Given OSP’s wrestling abilities and submission game, I believe he can fend off Pedro’s takedown attempts. On the feet, Saint Preux should have his way against a learning striker in Pedro. So with that, I have OSP getting back on track via TKO.

125 lbs.: Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Jessica Eye – Back in the day, Eye was legitimately the best Flyweight on the planet. However, after fighting at Bantamweight in the UFC due to there being no Flyweight division until recently, Eye has slowly regressed in my opinion. It’s sad to say because her striking abilities were so sound. Anyways, Clark is well rounded and as tough as they come. In this fight, I believe she will dictate the pace and by round three, she will finish a tired Eye via submission.

170 lbs.: Daichi Abe vs. Li Jingliang – Abe is going to give Jingliang problems early, as he’s not afraid of slugging it out in a brawl. However, the difference is Jingliang’s iron chin, durability and cardio will carry him past the early storm. After round one, Abe often fades. Against a guy like Jingliang, fading will result in what I foresee is a knockout victory for the “Leech”

UFC Fight Night 132 preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass, 4:30 a.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Teruto Ishihara vs. Petr Yan – I once thought Ishihara was a legitimate threat in the Featherweight division. Instead, he turned out to be your prototypical slugger who’s got no wrestling skills. Now at Bantamweight, Ishihara is still the same fighter who’s cardio is a little worse. So with that, I have Yan via decision.

135 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Song Yadong – Arantes might of looked like crap against Josh Emmett, but he’s a much better fighter than he put forth that night. Against a rather unknown like Yadong, he should make quick work of this step down in competition. So with that, I have Arantes winning via submission.

145 lbs.: Rolando Dy vs. Shane Young – Something tells me to go with the Filipino here via upset. I mean, Dy has shown improvements in his takedown defense, which will certainly aid his strength that is striking. As for Young, I didn’t garner too much in his thrashing against a very good Alexander Volkanovski. So with that, I have Dy winning via this fight decision.

170 lbs.: Hector Aldana vs. Song Kenan – Aldana hasn’t fought in over three years and Kenan is coming off a performance where he needed 15 seconds to put away Bobby Nash. I think Aldana is in for a rude awakening, as Kenan reintroduces him to mixed martial arts via knockout.

170 lbs.: Shinsho Anzai vs. Jake Matthews – The Jake Matthews that showed up against Li Jingliang is a legitimate future threat in the welterweight division. Let’s see if he can build momentum here with a tailored matchup. So with that, I have Matthews winning via TKO.

115 lbs.: Viviane Pereira vs. Yan Xiaonan – Coin flip goes to…Pereira via decision.

125 lbs.: Naoki Inoue vs. Matt Schnell – I’m unfamiliar with Inoue, but I’ve seen Schnell fight a few times. He’s pretty well rounded, but his chin and fight IQ are his downfall. Two things that will continue to plague him, especially in this fight. So with that, I have Inoue winning via submission.

125 lbs.: Jenel Lausa vs. Ulka Sasaki – While Sasaki holds a significant reach and height advantage on the feet, his durability is questionable at best. A power puncher like Lausa just needs one hard shot to connect to either Sasaki’s iffy chin or skinny body. Obviously Sasaki will most likely look to get this one to the mat, where he’s an absolute finisher. However, I have a feeling Lausa with his UFC tenure on the line will do everything in his power to keep this upright and finish Sasaki. So with that, I have Lausa winning via knockout.

125 lbs.: Ji Yeon Kim vs. Melinda Fabian – Considering Kim most recently beat Justine Kish, that’s all I need to pick her to win this fight viadecision.