The MMA Daily

Irene Aldana vs. Macy Chiasson Prediction

September 10, 2022

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We have an important fight at a Catchweight of 140 pounds, as Irene Aldana takes on Macy Chiasson. Coming off a dominant stoppage victory over Yana Kunitskaya, Aldana returns to the octagon looking to make it two straight. Ranked fourth in the division and having never fought for the title, Aldana could inch herself closer to that goal with a victory. Meanwhile, Chiasson comes into this fight off a victory over Norma Dumont. Going back-and-forth fighting at Bantamweight and Featherweight, Chiasson will eventually need pick a lane if she ever wants to vie for a title.

An intriguing fight, and perhaps close one to call, I’m going to side with Chiasson. While recognizing that Aldana is an excellent striker, who’s output and overall activity create havoc for several opponents, I’m curious if her takedown defense with hold up against Chiasson. Despite it being 84%, Holly Holm was able to land five takedowns on Aldana, thus stifling her striking attack. Given Chiasson just implemented a similar game plan on a big Featherweight in Norma Dumont, landing six takedown in route to a victory, I’m thinking we could see the majority of this fight taking place against the cage or on the ground. So with that line of thinking, I predict that Chiasson wins via decision.
Johnny Walker vs. Ion Cutelaba Prediction

September 10, 2022

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A clash in the Light Heavyweight division, see’s Johnny Walker take on Ion Cutelaba. Hoping to end a nightmare tailspin, which has seen Walker drop four of the last five, the Brazilian urgently needs a victory. Still ranked thirteenth in the division, Walker remains in a good position to turn things around. However, another loss would drop undoubtedly drop him out of the rankings and potentially the UFC. Meanwhile, Cutelaba has been a mixed bag of late. Going 2-3-1 over the past six fights, Cutelaba has been far from consistent. Yet with an opportunity to knock off a ranked foe, Cutelaba can do himself a world of favors by winning.

Bound to be action packed fight, both these gentleman are in urgent need of a win. Since becoming a more tame fighter, Walker has coincidentally become less successful. Known for his striking, Walker looks to use his length to pick apart foes. Perhaps more technical now than in the past, Walker doesn’t rely on his power to put an end to a fight. With some grappling chops too, albeit often ignoring them, Walker is far better than this tailspin suggest. In the other corner, Cutelaba is a wild-man, who has power and immense physical strength. Utilizing his wrestling in the two fights prior to his most recent bout, Cutelaba has secured seventeen takedowns and over thirteen minutes of control time. However, it’s not all gravy, as his wildness, durability and cardio are often sporadic. Yet, I favor that in a fight against a more tame Walker. So with that said, in this crap shoot of a fight, I have Cutelaba winning via TKO.
Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa Prediction

September 10, 2022

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We have a scrap in the Featherweight division, as Hakeem Dawodu takes on Julian Erosa. A winner of six of the last seven fights, Dawodu is closing in on the division’s top fifteen. Coming off a win over Mike Trizano, in which Dawodu landed 141 significant strikes, Dawodu is blossoming into the hyped superstar that entered the UFC in 2018. Meanwhile, Erosa has been excellent in his third UFC stint. Winning four of the last five five fights, with big wins over Charles Jourdain, Nate Landwehr and Sean Woodson, Erosa has quietly been storming up the Featherweight totem.

Expecting this fight to be as good as advertised, I expect both men to have their moments in what I believe will be a contender for ‘Fight of the Night’. While both men are strikers, the key factor in this fight comes from Erosa. Landing five takedowns in the past two fights, Erosa has shown a wrestling game capable of stymieing foes. With good grappling and dangerous submission abilities, Erosa isn’t quite the one-trick pony he showed in previous UFC stints. However, other than Movsar Evloev landing nine takedowns, Dawodu has stifled his opponents for the most part during his UFC tenure. With excellent striking and the second best striking differential all-time in the Featherweight division behind Champion Alexander Volkanovski, I’m fairly confident that Dawodu holds an output and technical edge on the feet over Erosa. Also, Dawodu is very durable, whereas Erosa has been questionable in that department. As evident by the seven knockdowns in eleven UFC fights he has suffered. With that said, I predict that Dawodu will win via TKO.
Jailton Almeida vs. Anton Turkalj Prediction

September 10, 2022

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We have a scrap at a Catchweight of 220 pounds, as Jailton Almeida welcomes UFC newcomer Anton Turkalj. One of the best prospects in the UFC, Almeida has already crushed two opponents in the UFC. Carrying an eleven fight win streak into this fight, Almeida has big things on the horizon should he win. Meanwhile, Turkalj steps into his UFC debut with a perfect 8-0 record. Having fought for Brave FC recently, Turkalj has built up a reputation as a pure finisher. Which is evident by seven of his eight of wins coming inside the distance.

With both men bringing forth high finishing rates into this fight, expect this bout to be rather short, but highly entertaining. Turkalj may flash with his striking, but his grappling is something to watch out for. A four-time IMMAF medalist, Turkalj has proven to be dangerous on the ground. However, Almeida is elite on the ground. Notching his tenth submission victory against Parker Porter, Almeida’s physicality and grappling have proven to be hard to overcome for most. While his striking needs some fine tuning, Almeida is quick, explosive and features a dangerous front kick. Having never been hit by a significant strike yet, Almeida also boast excellent takedown defense. While this could be a fun fight, ultimately Almeida is going to prevail. Let’s say via TKO.
Jamie Pickett vs. Denis Tiuliulin Prediction

September 10, 2022

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We have a clash in the Middleweight division, as Jamie Pickett takes on Denis Tiuliulin. Coming off a short notice defeat to Kyle Daukaus, which halted a two-fight win streak, Pickett will look to rebound. Making his sixth appearance since signing with the promotion in December of 2020, Pickett has proven active and reliable. Meanwhile, Tiuliulin comes into this fight off an unsuccessful UFC debut on short notice. With a full camp this time around, the Russian will look to taste UFC victory for the first time.

This is a coin flip fight. While Pickett holds key advantages, such as his strength and wrestling, he’s not entirely strong in any one area. On the feet, Pickett does possess a strong jab, but doesn’t necessarily have the output or power to stand out. Hoping the fight takes place on the feet is Tiuliulin. Gifted with power, the Russian has laid waste to eight opponents via knockout. However, when faced against a wrestler or grappler, Tiuliulin has often folded. With porous takedown defense and a limited ground game, the Russian is often hopeless. Knowing Pickett has landed a takedown in three of his five fights in the UFC, I’m expecting the American to bring forth a smothering game-plan that revolves around bringing this fight to the mat. So with that said, I predict Pickett will win via decision.
Jake Collier vs. Chris Barnett Prediction

September 9, 2022

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The lone Heavyweight fight on the card features Jake Collier and Chris Barnett. Coming off a controversial defeat to Andrei Arlovski, Collier returns to the octagon looking to rebound. Unfortunately still seeking his first two-fight win streak since 2013-2014, Collier will have to get back on track in this fight to have that come to fruition. Meanwhile, Barnett comes into this fight looking to move past a foul filled defeat against Martin Buday. An unfortunate fight to say the least, as Barnett had momentum stemming from his spectacular knockout over Gian Villante.

Despite Collier fighting as low as Middleweight at one point in his UFC career, he has steadily turned himself into a formidable Heavyweight. Backed by solid cardio, Collier is very active on the feet and does a good job of slowing down opponents with leg kicks. In the other corner, Barnett isn’t nearly as active nor has the cardio of Collier, but he is fairly athletic for his size and certainly has knockout power. However, Collier has proven to be durable and has only been stopped once (Tom Aspinall) in the past seven years. With several advantages, and pending his chin holds up, this should be a fairly one sided decision victory by Collier.
Norma Dumont vs. Danyelle Wolf Prediction

September 9, 2022

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We have a rare Women’s Featherweight clash, as Norma Dumont takes on promotional newcomer Danyelle Wolf. Coming off a split decision defeat to Macy Chiasson, Dumont saw a three-fight win streak halted. More importantly though, the loss ended what could of been justified as a warranted title shot against Amanda Nunes. Meanwhile, Wolf will finally make her octagon debut after making her mixed martial arts debut on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. A former boxer, Wolf at 39 years old doesn’t seem likely to be around the sport for too long. Yet, with a victory over Dumont, could find herself fastracked to a title shot.

One of the bigger mismatches on the card, I’m very bullish on Wolf’s chances to win this fight. Not only is father time against her, but it’s been two years since she fought in her mixed martial arts debut. A fight that was close and could of easily gone the other way. With a 30-14 boxing record, Wolf brings forth exceptional experience on the feet. However, what I found fascinating, is that she has won none of those fights via knockout. With little power to speak of, as well as the lack of mixed martial arts experience, it’s hard to back Wolf. Especially against Dumont, who is mainly a striker, but has quietly landed a takedown in four of her five fights inside the octagon. In this particular fight, one takedown probably will be the end of Wolf, who’s ground skills are rudimentary at best. So with that said, I predict that Dumont will win via submission.
Chad Anheliger vs. Heili Alateng Prediction

September 9, 2022

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We have a scrap in the Bantamweight division, as Chad Anheliger takes on Heili Alateng. Coming off a successful UFC debut, in which he finished Jesse Strader via TKO, Anheliger extended his win streak to ten. At 35 years old, time isn’t on the Canadian’s side, but is he can make some noise in his second UFC appearance, perhaps he can make a quick accession up 135 pounds. Meanwhile, Alateng is coming off a 47 second knockout victory over Kevin Croom. The victory was his third in the UFC, but first since a split decision nod over Ryan Benoit in 2019. Looking to be more active, Alateng will fight twice in a calendar year for the first time in three years.

If anything is certain, Anheliger is a dog. Unwilling to relent, despite whatever adversity he faces, the well rounded Canadian has done an excellent job by implementing his will to win during this ten fight win streak. However, Alateng is a tall task that I don’t Anheliger getting by. The reason behind that notion, is that Alateng is well rounded, and as you saw in the Kevin Croom fight, carries some legit power in his hands. The one problem that has held Alateng back, is his inactivity both outside the cage and inside. In fact, in five UFC fights, Alateng has landed a high of 47 significant strikes. While those numbers don’t pop and definitely give Anheliger an edge, Alateng has shown that he also can wrestle. Given Anheliger was taken down four times in his UFC debut, as well as five times on Dana White’s Contender Series, Alateng has another path to victory. One in which I could foresee aiding him to a decision victory.
Elise Reed vs. Melissa Martinez Prediction

September 9, 2022

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The Women’s Strawweight division features a matchup against Elise Reed and UFC newcomer Melissa Martinez. Coming off a defeat to Sam Hughes less than four months ago, Reed will look to rebound in short order. Having seen momentum from a victory over Cory McKenna stalled, Reed finds herself in a position where a win would go a long way. Meanwhile, Martinez storms into the UFC with a perfect 7-0 record. A Combate Americas Strawweight Champion, Martinez brings forth exceptional talent and is undoubtedly, one of the best Strawweight prospects in mixed martial arts.

After seeing Reed get dismantled by Sam Hughes in her last fight, I’m not certain that she is going to do big things at Strawweight. Which is quite the opposite of how I feel about Martinez, who obviously I’m siding with in this fight. Known for her striking, Martinez is explosive and has top notch hand speed. All action, Martinez often looks to chop down her opponents with leg kicks and break them down over the course of the fight. Up to this point, it’s been a fairly successful formula, as she’s stopped five opponents thus far. Against Reed, who is a striker, I see Martinez looking absolutely spectacular in her UFC debut – winning via TKO.
Darian Weeks vs. Yohan Lainesse Prediction

September 9, 2022

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The curtain jerker comes in the Welterweight division, as Darian Weeks takes on Yohan Lainesse. Having dropped his first two fights inside the octagon, Weeks comes into this bout on the chopping block. Urgently needing a victory, Weeks has an opportunity to not only taste UFC victory for the first time, but keep his job in the process. Meanwhile, Lainesse comes into this fight off his first professional loss. Attempting to rebound, Lainesse will look to his second UFC appearance to prove he belongs.

An intriguing fight to open the card, I envision two scenario’s. One, Lainesse, who is an awkward striker, yet holds immense power, will tag and stop Weeks in the opening round. Two, Weeks, who is fairly well rounded and has good cardio, will weather the storm and stop Lainesse as the fight wanes. Seeing how both men have looked inside the octagon, I’m leaning toward scenario two. The reason behind that, is while Weeks is 0-2 inside the octagon, he has fought tough competition. He’s also more experienced than his seven professional fights might suggest, as he’s fought nineteen times as an amateur. With excellent durability, I find it easy to believe that he can withstand Lainesse early and storm back as the fresher fighter in the later rounds. With that said, I predict Weeks to win via TKO.