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  • Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker Prediction

    Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker Prediction

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    This is an excellent fight and one that will really test Islam Makhachev, as Dan Hooker is one the best fighters in the division. The one thing that keeps racing in my head is if Makhachev is going to succeed in taking Hooker down. While many people are quick to think yes, I’m not entirely sure it will be as easy as we believe. For one, Hooker is third all-time in the Lightweight division regarding takedown defense, checking in at 90.5%. Two, Hooker hasn’t been taken down more than once in his last eleven fights. While those are impressive marks, I could see the other side of the argument. Makhachev is not only a whole different animal, but he is the best wrestler that Hooker has ever faced.

    As for a prediction, I have Makhachev. While I do think Hooker will have his moments, the Russian is too well rounded and too cerebral. Makhachev not only can hold his own on the feet, but his wrestling abilities are head and shoulders above anyone in the division. With a 65.7% takedown accuracy, Makhachev already is second all-time in the Lightweight division. While I can see that number fall a bit due to Hooker’s stout takedown defense, as the fight wanes, the grind of Makhachev will wear on Hooker. From there, Makhachev will take over and defeat Hooker via decision.

  • Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura Prediction

    Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura Prediction

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    This is a great fight, as Marcin Tybura has an excellent chance to crack the Heavyweight division’s top five. At one point, Tybura was nearly cut. He lost four of five fights, and had been stopped in three of them. To bounce back like this and be on the precipice of being a contender is nothing short of resilience and belief. Tybura will most likely need to work-in his wrestling in this fight, as Alexander Volkov is one of the toughest strikers to stand across. Standing at 6’7 and with an 81’ reach, Volkov does an excellent job at keeping range and picking apart opponents. Landing nearly five strikes a minute, Volkov is one of the more high output strikers in the division.

    As for a prediction, I have Volkov winning. The Russian is one of the best fighters in the Heavyweight division, and has only lost three times in ten UFC fights. Given those three losses have come against the #1 ranked Heavyweight Cyril Gane, #3 ranked Heavyweight Derrick Lewis and the #4 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes, I’d say Volkov truly has only been defeated by several of the division’s best. In a fight in which I expect Tybura to wrestle, expect some success early. However, as the fight wanes, Volkov will get the timing down and batter Tybura on the feet. In the end, Volkov will grab a decision victory.

  • Jingliang Li vs. Khamzat Chimaev Prediction

    Jingliang Li vs. Khamzat Chimaev Prediction

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    Given the ugly battle Khamzat Chimaev had with the coronavirus, one has to wonder if he is back to normal or if he is compromised coming into this fight. Knowing what we know, and given he almost retired, you’d have to think that Chimaev is physically and mentally in a good place to be returning to the octagon. Having a well rounded skill set, Chimaev has built a rapport of being a cardio and pace machine. When in a dominant position, Chimaev delivers non-stop ground-and-pound with the intention of ending the fight sooner rather than later. An approach Jingliang Li normally doesn’t go for, as he is far more keen on flatlining opponents on the feet. With exceptional power, Li has nine knockdowns in his last twelve fights. 

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Chimaev. If there is any weakness Li has shown in the past, it’s his takedown defense. Checking in at a decent 59% takedown accuracy, Li has notably had his toughest fights come against wrestlers. In fact, before Li’s last fight against Santiago Ponzinibbio, he fought Neil Magny who shut him down with four takedowns. I don’t see anything different happening here, as Chimaev will easily get this fight to the mat and ground-and-pound his way to yet another TKO victory.

  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir Prediction

    Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir Prediction

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    I don’t want to label this necessary as a crossroads fight, only because Volkan Oezdemir isn’t quite free falling down the rankings. However, it’s clearly a fight that the UFC is using Oezdemir as a gage to see if Magomed Ankalaev is ready for the top five of the division. It’s not an easy fight though for the Russian, as Oezdemir has proven to be a perennial top ten Light Heavyweight for the last four years. And despite the knockout defeat in his last go around, it was the first time in nine fights that Oezdemir was knocked down. Given he has fought some of the best Light Heavyweights, I’d say the Swissman has a solid chin. 

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Ankalaev. Despite being a solid striker, Ankalaev also has wrestling abilities in his back pocket. While Oezdemir has improved in his takedown defense since fighting Daniel Cormier, he still has been vulnerable to being taken down or controlled against the cage. Both of which I believe will be the difference in the fight, as Ankolaev takes home a decision victory.

  • Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba Prediction

    Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba Prediction

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    This is a toss-up, as I expect this fight to be back-and-forth regardless of whether one has an advantage over the other. Amanda Ribas is a well rounded fighter, who is exceptionally strong and has taken down her opponent at least once in each of her five UFC fights. While Ribas may have faltered in her last go around, it was mostly due to a failed gameplan that saw the Brazilian stand with a dangerous striker in Marina Rodriguez. The good news however for Ribas, is that Virna Jandiroba has only one knockout victory to her name. The bad news is, Jandiroba’s striking is coming along and her grappling may give Ribas fits.

    As for a prediction, I’m going Jandiroba. I know that Ribas has fought and defeated a better grappler in Mackenzie Dern. However, Dern doesn’t do a great job at setting up takedowns, which is backed up by a mere 10% takedown accuracy. On the other hand, Jandiroba is much more effective, taking down her opponents at a 53% accuracy. Given Ribas has yet to face anyone who’s willing to constantly work for a takedown and grind on you, I’d say I’m willing to bet she might struggle. So with all that said, give me Jandiroba to mix in her striking and takedowns in a decision victory.

  • Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Ricardo Ramos Prediction

    Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Ricardo Ramos Prediction

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    Zubaira Tukhugov has been one of the more disappointing fighters since joining the UFC. With a well rounded skill set that boasts solid wrestling, to see Tukhugov struggle of late is a little concerning. Obviously the competition has been better, but Tukhugov has seen his cardio and gameplan wane as the fight prolongs. Something that Ricardo Ramos knows all too well, as he has faded in nearly every round three.  However, Ramos is a fast starter who isn’t afraid to commit to either a heavy kickboxing or grappling approach depending on the opponent.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Tukhugov. Despite his recent skid, I still believe he is a talent and in this particular fight, the better fighter. While Ramos could find success on the feet, I don’t foresee his grappling coming much into play. Tukhugov has stout takedown defense and solid wrestling to neutralize that. If anyone is getting taken down in my opinion, it’s Ramos. So with all that said, in a close one, I predict that Tukhugov will win via decision.

  • Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov Prediction

    Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov Prediction

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    This is an under the radar fight, as it all but promises to result in an exciting finish. Albert Duraev is a well rounded fighter that boasts excellent grappling and submission abilities. While he can be a little wild on the feet, at times, he has shown the ability to get in and out when striking. Using leg kicks and power in his hands, Duraev has set up several submissions by knocking down opponents on the feet. Roman Kopylov knocks down opponents as well, but the difference is, they usually aren’t conscious at that point. With all eight wins coming via knockout, Kopylov is a dangerous striker. He has quick hands, throws excellent combinations and can explode on a dime with a flurry. 

    As for a prediction, while tough, I’m going to side with Duraev. With seventeen fights and big wins on the resume, Duraev is more than UFC ready. The fact that he fought one month ago, whereas Kopylov is nearing two years of inactivity gives me belief that Duraev will need little time to be adjusted in his debut. Another reason I like Duraev in this fight is his ability to grapple and hunt for submissions. As long as he doesn’t mess around too much on the feet with Kopylov, I do believe he will find a way to get this fight to the mat. From there, Duraev will lock in his tenth submission victory.

  • Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Prediction

    Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Benoit Saint-Denis Prediction

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    This is a fun fight between two contrasting fighters. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos is a dynamic striker, who isn’t afraid to brawl. Often pressuring opponents, dos Santos will often throw power shot combinations with the intent of finishing his opponent. More often than not, dos Santos has succeeded, as he’s won fourteen of his twenty two wins via knockout. Then there is Benoit Saint-Denis, a grappling specialist with excellent submission abilities. While his striking has been lacking, it’s been good enough to set up the grappling. 

    As for a prediction, I have dos Santos winning. In twenty-nine fights, the Brazilian has only been submitted two times, with the last time coming sixteen fights ago. Having evolved, dos Santos has done a great job at not being kept down despite having questionable takedown defense. In my opinion, if Saint-Denis can’t find a way to finish dos Santos quickly, there is going to be too much time spent on the feet not to believe the Frenchman doesn’t get put down. So with that said, I predict that dos Santos takes Saint-Denis’ O, winning this fight via TKO.

  • Shamil Gamzatov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk Prediction

    Shamil Gamzatov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk Prediction

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    This is one of the tougher fights to pick on the card, as neither man exactly stands out from the other. Shamil Gamzatov is a decent striker who makes up for a lack of footwork with legitimate power. With ten finishes in fourteen fights, Gamzatov has proven to be a shark when he smells blood. The same could be said about Michal Oleksiejczuk. The Pole has won eleven of his fifteen wins via stoppage, with ten of them coming by knockout. Using pressure, Oleksiejczuk likes to walk down opponents. While accurate, Oleksiejczuk isn’t afraid to load up shots, often winging punches from the hip. 

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Oleksiejczuk by the slightest of margins. Gamzatov is undefeated for a reason, but between the layoff and how his debut went, I see Oleksiejczuk’s pressure being problematic. Another issue for Gamzatov is if he gasses out, as Oleksiejczuk has solid cardio and has shown an ability to turn it on late into fights.  So with that said, I predict that Oleksiejczuk wins via decision.

  • Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy prediction

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy prediction

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    Once upon a time, Makwan Amirkhani was that new exciting toy. However, his inability to evolve and correct his flaws have seen him become an afterthought in the Featherweight division. The problem therein lies in his cardio and near one dimensional style. While Amirkhani has taken down everyone but Andy Ogle (who he knocked out in eight seconds), his striking just isn’t a complementary tool to aid him should he run into a better grappler. In fact, the most significant strikes Amirkhani has landed in a fight is thirty two. While Lerone Murphy isn’t that active of a striker himself, he is a very cerebral one. With legit power, Murphy does a good job at picking his shots and avoiding being hit.

    As for a prediction, I have Murphy. While his takedown defense can be worrisome at times, Murphy has done a better job at keeping the fight upright since his debut against Zubaira Tukhugov. Even if Amirkhani finds success early in getting the fight down, I’m confident Murphy will find a way back up and get the better of the Finn on the feet. By round three, a tired Amirkhani will get dominated and lose via decision.