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  • Marlon Moraes vs. Yadong Song Prediction

    Marlon Moraes vs. Yadong Song Prediction

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    We have a pivotal fight in the Bantamweight division, as the former title challenger Marlon “Magic” Moraes takes on Song “Kung Fu Monkey” Yadong. Needing to draw a line in the sand, Moraes will look to halt a three-fight skid. Having been finished in all three fights, the former title challenger and WSOF Champion is in desperate need of a victory. A loss could spell the end of Magic Moraes. Meanwhile, Yadong will look to extend his win streak to three. Checking in at 14th in the Bantamweight division and with a 7-1-1 record in the UFC, the sky’s the limit for the 24 year old Yadong.

    As for a prediction, I have Yadong winning. Until Moraes can reprove himself or at least his durability, it’s hard to pick him. A shame because Moraes is a very talented fighter, who fought for the title less than three years ago. However, his decline has been drastic and he’s been unable to withstand punishment at this stage of his career. Perhaps it’s the competition, which has been extremely tough or it’s father time touching Moraes. Either way, Yadong should win this fight. With crisp and powerful striking, Yadong will only need to land one clean shot to put Moraes down. So with that said, I predict Yadong will win via knockout.

  • Sodiq Yusuff vs. Alex Caceres Prediction

    Sodiq Yusuff vs. Alex Caceres Prediction

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    We have a ranked fight in the Featherweight division, as Sodiq “Super” Yusuff takes on Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres. Coming off his first defeat in the UFC, and since 2017, Yusuff will look to rebound in short order. Checking in at number 13 in the Featherweight division, Yusuff has a chance to close in on the top ten with a victory here. Meanwhile, Caceres is on the best run of his UFC career. Having rattled off five consecutive victories, Caceres is unknown territory. Ranked and on the biggest win streak in his career, the time is now for Caceres to make a run at the title.

    As for a prediction, I have Yusuff winning. While Caceres has been known to surprise, this is stylistically a tough fight. Yusuff is the faster and more powerful striker of the two. Caceres is more of a point fighter, looking to pick apart his foes from the outside. Both are durable, so I don’t sense a finish here. However, I can see Caceres get dropped or be in danger at some point in the fight. With that said, I predict that Yusuff wins this fight via decision.

  • Khalil Rountree vs. Karl Roberson Prediction

    Khalil Rountree vs. Karl Roberson Prediction

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    We have a scrap in the Light Heavyweight division, as Khalil “The War Horse” Rountree and Karl “Baby K” Roberson. A winner in his most recent fight, Rountree will look to make it two straight for the first time since 2017. Having suffered through a rough patch of late, Rountree would be wise to continue winning fights. Meanwhile, Roberson comes into this fight on a two-fight skid. Having struggled to find consistency, Roberson is 4-4 inside the octagon, with his last win coming in 2019. To say a victory is needed in this one for Roberson, would be an understatement.

    As for a prediction, I have Rountree winning. While this fight essentially is a crapshoot, I believe Rountree’s size and power will be a big factor in this one. Especially given Roberson will be moving up to Light Heavyweight from Middleweight. The other factor having me lean Rountree, is that I know his game. A striker, with heavy hands and leg strikes, Rountree will stick to the outside and try and catch you. Meanwhile, Roberson’s game isn’t evident. A kickboxer coming into the UFC, Roberson has more or less, wrestled. While it’s worked sometimes, the majority of the time, it hasn’t. Going up in weight, he’s going to find it harder to wrestle. So with that said, I predict Rountree wins via TKO.

  • Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney Prediction

    Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney Prediction

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    We have ourselves an excellent fight in the Lightweight division, as Drew Dober takes on Terrance “T.Wrecks” McKinney. Coming into this fight on a two-fight skid, Dober will look to right the ship. Having previous to the losing streak won three straight, Dober still has what it takes to make a run at 170 pounds. Meanwhile, McKinney steps into this fight two weeks after defeating Fares Ziam via first round submission. Looking to capitalize off his hot start in the UFC, McKinney will look to use this big opportunity as a catapult towards bigger fights. Something which I can definitely seeing come to fruition should McKinney continue his tear.

    As for a prediction, I have Dober winning. While I’ve sided with McKinney in his first two UFC appearances, this short notice fight against Dober seems like a tall task. McKinney is a heavy handed striker, who has good wrestling and submissions. Having starched Matt Frevola in 7 seconds and submitted Fares Ziam in 131 seconds, McKinney isn’t one to be paid by hour. However, Dober is tough out for most. With a cast iron chin, excellent striking and legitimate knockout power, Dober has more often than not, got the better of his opponents. The one worry in this fight for Dober, is not only McKinney’s power, but his wrestling. Dober has been taken down eleven times in his last three fights. He has also been submitted in four of his eleven losses. While worrisome, two of those submissions came to Beniel Dariush and Islam Makhachev. The current 3rd and 4th ranked Lightweights. So with that said, I expect Dober to face adversity early, weather the storm, and win via late TKO.

  • Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva Prediction

    Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva Prediction

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    We have a can’t miss fight in the Middleweight division, as Alex “Poatan” Pereira takes on Bruno “Blindado” Silva. Coming off a successful UFC debut, one in which Pereira won via an impressive knockout, the Brazilian will enter the octagon with all eyes on him. Notably having defeated Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya twice in Kickboxing, the route to a title shot could take shorter than anticipated. Meanwhile, Silva is currently on a rampage. He has won seven straight and seventeen of his last eighteen fights, with fifteen of the victories coming via stoppage. Of those fifteen stoppage victories, ten have come in the first round.

    As for a prediction, I have Silva winning. While Pereira is getting all the attention, Silva is quietly creating a raucous in the Middleweight division. A heavy handed striker, Silva has stopped opponents in nineteen of his twenty-two victories. However, contrary to Silva saying he’s going to stand and bang, I don’t see that being all that true. A BJJ black belt, Silva is worlds above Pereira on the ground. And seeing that Pereira has transitioned from kickboxing, his takedown defense and ground game are ripe for the picking. While I expect chaos early, Silva will eventually get this fight to the mat and win via TKO.

  • Matthew Semelsberger vs. AJ Fletcher Prediction

    Matthew Semelsberger vs. AJ Fletcher Prediction

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    The headliner in the preliminary card comes in the Welterweight division, as Matthew “Semi the Jedi” Semelsberger takes on promotional newcomer AJ “The Ghost” Fletcher. A winner in six of his last seven, three of which came in the UFC, Semelsberger will look to keep the momentum going. Known to have some pop in his hands, Semelsberger has stopped six of his nine victories by knockout. Meanwhile, Fletcher comes into his UFC debut, a perfect 9-0. Having most recently fought on Dana White’s Contender Series, Fletcher impressed with a flying knee knockout. A victory which earned him a contract with the UFC.

    As for a prediction, I have Semelsberger winning. While Fletcher looks to be a nice addition, this will be his toughest fight to date. Having fought opponents with a combined 38-35-1 record in his last five, Fletcher has yet to really be challenged. With heavy hands, good wrestling and devastating ground-and-pound, Fletcher has won via stoppage in eight of his nine fights. However, Semelsberger is no pushover. A high output striker with power, Semelsberger is a tough opponent to stand across from. Laying waste to two opponents in sixteen seconds or less in his last two victories would validate that. With good cardio, durability and takedown defense to round out his game, Semelsberger can withstand any storm and bring forth his own. So with that said, I predict that Semelsberger wins this fight via decision.

  • JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson Prediction

    JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson Prediction

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    We have an intriguing fight in the Women’s Flyweight division, as JJ Aldrich takes on Gillian “The Savage” Robertson. Coming into this fight with two-straight wins, Aldrich is closing in on cracking the division’s top fifteen. Having fought at Strawweight and Flyweight, Aldrich quietly has accumulated six victories inside the octagon. Meanwhile, Robertson most recently halted a two-fight skid against Priscila Cachoeira. A fight in which Robertson ended via submission. Her seventh in ten victories.

    As for a prediction, I have Robertson winning. While I totally anticipate this fight to be close, perhaps decided by split decision, I believe that Robertson’s scrappiness and grappling is going to get her the victory. Obviously, Aldrich holds an advantage on the feet. She is the more technical, high output striker, who has made a living off beating foes on the feet. However, Robertson is scrappy. She likes to pressure and throw awkward strikes in an attempt to get opponents closer to the cage. An area where Robertson will shoot in for a takedown. Relentless in pursuit, Robertson has completed nine takedowns over her last five fights. In that span as well, Roberts has controlled fighters for roughly 28 minutes. Given Aldrich has a 68% takedown defense and hasn’t faced anyone who was takedown oriented, I see Robertson having some moments of success. Enough such that she sways the judges, winning via decision.

  • Trevin Jones vs. Javid Basharat Prediction

    Trevin Jones vs. Javid Basharat Prediction

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    An exciting fight takes place in the Bantamweight division, as Trevin “5 Star” Jones takes on UFC newcomer Javid “The Snow Leopard” Basharat. Coming off his his first loss in three years, Jones will look to begin a new unbeaten streak. Heavy handed, the Guam native has been a fighter to watch and one to be feared to stand across the octagon from. Meanwhile, Basharat comes into his UFC debut, a perfect 11-0. Having most recently competed on Dana White’s Contender Series, defeating Oron Kahlon, Basharat brings a killer instinct into the octagon. One in which has seen Basharat finish every fight.

    As for a prediction, I have Basharat winning. While Jones carries power and has some skills on the ground, he is often too hesitant on the feet. Seemingly looking for the perfect shot, which has worked sometimes, Jones is only landing a mere 2.22 significant strikes per minute. Against someone like Basharat, who is a workhorse and looks to pick opponents apart from the outside, Jones is going to be in for a long night should he not land that finishing blow. It’s plausible though, Jones looks to take this fight to mat like he did in his most recent contest. However, that could be Jones’ downfall. Basharat is an excellent scrambler, always finding himself on top. From there, he is relentless, with devastating elbows from top. A scenario in which I see playing out. So with that, I predict that Basharat wins via TKO.

  • Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk Prediction

    Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk Prediction

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    We have a fun fight in the Featherweight division, as Damon “The Leech” Jackson takes on Kamuela “”The Jawaiian” Kirk. A winner of three of his last four, Jackson has made the most of his second stint in the UFC. Coming off a dominate win over Charles Rosa, Jackson will seek to continue his climb up the Featherweight division. Meanwhile, Kirk is coming off a successful UFC debut victory over Makwan Amirkhani. A fight where Kirk overcame five takedowns, en route to a decision victory. With three consecutive wins and the UFC debut in the rear-view mirror, Kirk will seek to continue his good fortune inside the octagon.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Jackson winning. A prolific grappler, with excellent submissions, Jackson isn’t someone you’d want to be on the mat with. Nicknamed the Leech, once Jackson gets ahold of you, he is hard to shake off. Fourteen submission wins would validate that. On the other hand, Kirk is a battle tested and durable fighter. Seeing him defeat Amirkhani on short notice was extremely impressive, but just indicative that he had the experience and skills necessary to make the jump. However, this is a tough fight. Jackson is a better grappler and threat on the ground than Amirkhani is. And seeing that Amirkhani completed five takedowns and had nearly seven minutes of control time on Kirk, I feel that Jackson will replicate such, but with better results. So with that said, I predict that Jackson wins via decision.

  • Sabino Mazo vs. Miranda Maverick Prediction

    Sabino Mazo vs. Miranda Maverick Prediction

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    We have a showdown in the Women’s Flyweight divison, as Sabina “Columbian Queen” Mazo takes on Miranda “Fear The’ Maverick. A loser of two-straight, Mazo comes into this fight needing to get back into the win column. Having won three straight prior to the losing streak, Mazo has been on a bit of a roller coaster since joining the UFC. Meanwhile, Maverick too has lost two straight. However, one of the losses came in a controversial split decision to Maycee Barber. A fight in which all twenty media members scorecards recorded by MMADecisions had Maverick winning.

    As for a prediction, I have Maverick winning. While I’ve been high on Mazo’s high output striking and toughness, of late, she’s been getting outclassed. Having seen Alexis Davis land three takedowns and control Mazo for nearly nine minutes of the fifteen minute fight, the path to victory for Maverick is clear. A wrestler with evolving striker, Maverick will need to lean on her strength to avoid going toe-to-toe with the “Columbian Queen”. Given she has lost two straight, I’d suspect that Maverick will do anything in her power to get back into the win column. So with that said, I predict that Maverick wins via decision.