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  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Sarah Alpar Prediction

    Erin Blanchfield vs. Sarah Alpar Prediction

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    Erin Blanchfield is an excellent addition to the Flyweight division. With superior ground skills, an evolving striking and wrestling, it’s only a matter of time before a legitimate contender is born. However, Sarah Alpar is no pushover. With fourteen professional fights and nine victories, Alpar has excellent experience and legitimate wins over top competition. While her UFC debut didn’t go her way, Alpar showed heart and an aptitude to endure punishment.

    As for a prediction, I side with Blanchfield. I believe she just has too many advantages in this fight. For one, Alpar is a grappler with very minimal striking abilities. Blanchfield is a superior ground specialist, who is going to make Alpar work to fight off submissions and sweeps should the fight hit the mat. On the feet, Blanchfield is an evolving kickboxer and light years ahead of Alpar. In the end, I see the UFC debutant Blanchfield winning via late submission.

  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Carlston Harris Prediction

    Impa Kasanganay vs. Carlston Harris Prediction

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    This is an interesting clash, as Impa Kasanganay is a former Middleweight who successfully dropped down to Welterweight. Already physically strong, it remains to be seen how much Kasanganay can impose his will, now fighting fifteen pounds lower. Against Sasha Palatnikov, Kasanganay struggled to take down the kickboxer who notably has leaky takedown defense. Perhaps it was just a blip, as Kasanganay has shown to have good wrestling. Carlston Harris offers length and power on the feet, while also excelling in taking opponents down in the clinch. Using a patented body lock, Harris has made a living of tripping opponents and then finishing them on top. 

    As for a prediction, I’m going to side with the upset minded Harris. While I believe that Kasanganay is the more well rounded fighter and should hold a strength advantage, his lack of power on the feet is discerning. In ten professional fights, Kasanganay has yet to stop anyone via strikes. Also, Kasanganay is rather inexperienced. The American only turned professional in 2019. Harris on the other hand, has been fighting for nearly ten years. Notably during that span, he defeated two current UFC fighters on the regional scene in Michel Periera and Wellington Turman. With experience, power on the feet and an excellent body lock, I believe that Harris has the tools to win this fight. In the end, I predict that Harris wins via submission. 

  • Gustavo Lopez vs. Heili Alateng Prediction

    Gustavo Lopez vs. Heili Alateng Prediction

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    This fight is flying under the radar, as both men are near the bottom in a rather stacked Bantamweight division. However, styles make fights and I believe we are in for a fun one. Gustavo Lopez is a brawler and bonafide finisher, winning eleven of his twelve professional victories via stoppage. Due to his style however, his striking defense is porous. Of Lopez’s six professional defeats, he has been stopped via strikes three times. The same could be said about Heili Alateng regarding striking defense, as he’s absorbed nearly six strikes per minute. The difference though, is Alateng has shown to have an iron chin. Only once in the last six years has Alateng been stopped.

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Alateng. The ‘Mongolian Knight’ has been exceptional in the last six years, and held his own in his most recent fight against Casey Kenney. It was a clear step up in competition, and Alateng had his moments. With both men having issues with their striking defense, it’s safe to assume they will have to endure the other’s best shot’s. It’s Alateng though that holds a durability edge. In what I expect to be a back-and-forth fight, that edge is going to aid Alateng to victory. So with that, I believe Alateng wins this fight via late TKO.

  • Emily Whitmire vs. Hannah Goldy Prediction

    Emily Whitmire vs. Hannah Goldy Prediction

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    This is an intriguing fight to open the card, especially given both are fighting with their backs against the wall. Emily Whitmire is mainly a striker with some decent grappling chops. I say decent with all due respect, as she has shown porous submission defense. In fact, of her four professional defeats, all have come via submission. As for Goldy, she is primarily a boxer, who on occasion will mix in some wrestling. While her hands haven’t yet aided her to victory, she has done a great job in landing strikes at a high output. 

    As for a prediction, I’m picking Goldy. While both have struggled, it’s Goldy that has remained competitive in her fights. Goldy is also the better striker, which is where I expect the fight to mainly take place. With striking output that more than doubles Whitmire, there’s a clear route for Goldy to taste UFC victory for the first time. Now, with only one stoppage victory, Goldy doesn’t exactly possess power. Which leads me to believe that this fight goes the distance. With that said, I predict that Goldy wins via decision. 

  • UFC Fight Night 191: Derek Brunson vs. Darren Till Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 191: Derek Brunson vs. Darren Till Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada host yet another event. In the main event of the evening, we have a Middleweight clash between contenders Derek Brunson and Darren Till. Brunson has found his stride of late, as he enters this fight on a four fight win streak. Most recently, Brunson handily defeated Kevin Holland behind his wrestling in a five round fight. Before this win streak, many saw Brunson as an afterthought, as he had won two of his last six fights. Meanwhile, Till has yet to duplicate the early success that raised him to stardom. The ‘Gorilla’ is 1-3 in his last four fights, with the sole victory coming against Kelvin Gastelum via split decision. However, Till has been fighting some of the divisions best. Behind youth and talent, Till has the abilities to make a title run.

    UFC Fight Night 191 Main Card On ESPN+:

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    185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Darren Till – This is an interesting clash of styles in the main event, as Derek Brunson is mainly a wrestler, whereas Darren Till is purely a striker. Brunson once again finds himself an underdog, as he’s been in his last three fights. The reason for that, is the belief that Till can keep this fight upright and pick apart Brunson on the feet. Given Till has good takedown defense, it’s a very possible outcome. Then again, has Till faced a wrestler the caliber of Brunson since Tyron Woodley? Not really.

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Brunson. While I do like Till and his striking, his output is just too low to compete with the upper echelon of the division. In Till’s most recent fight against Robert Whittaker, the Brit threw a mere 108 total strikes in five rounds. Meanwhile, Whittaker threw 188 strikes and thoroughly outworked Till in four of the five rounds. Obviously this is a different fight and Brunson is nowhere near the striker Whittaker is. However, Brunson can hold his own on the feet and has legit power in hands. Of course though, Brunson is a wrestler and a very good one at that. During Brunson’s four fight win streak, he has landed 16 takedowns. The recipe in this fight will be like others, wrestle and look to put Till on his back. A place where Till has looked uncomfortable to be honest. The only worry I have for Brunson in this fight, is the deeper it goes. Should his cardio fade, Till will mount a comeback. For my prediction, I’m not hoping that’s the case. So with all that said, I predict that Brunson will extend his win streak to five, defeating Till via decision.

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    265 lbs.: Tom Aspinall vs. Serghei Spivac – The judges might not be needed in this one, as both men have fancied themselves as finishers. Tom Aspinall more so, as he’s yet to see a third round in his twelve professional MMA fights. Of his ten victories, all by stoppage, eight have come via strikes. The surging Brit has mowed down the competition thus far, and at this pace, it’s very likely we see him challenging the upper echelon of the division later this year should he win. The same could be said about Serghei Spivak, who has done a great job in fighting to his strength. In Spivak’s three fight win streak, he has utilized his wrestling against strikers and his striking against grapplers. Having a game plan and executing it, is certainly one thing Spivak has excelled at.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Aspinall. I do appreciate Spivak for stepping up on short notice, but this is stylistically a tough fight for him. Aspinall is simply better everywhere. The Brit is a BJJ black belt and a grappler at heart. However, he’s a handful on the feet as well. With legit knockout power and a higher output than most Heavyweights, Aspinall has real Championship qualities. However, his cardio is rather unknown. It’s something that Spivak, if he can survive the early storm, will certainly test. Unfortunately for Spivak, I don’t see that happening. So with that said, I have Aspinall winning this fight via TKO.

    170 lbs.: Alex Morono vs. David Zawada – While this fight card lacks star power, it makes up for it in style clashes that make for fun fights. This is one of them, as David Zawada is a fairly well rounded fighter. I think we haven’t seen his full potential, as he’s fought extremely tough opponents thus far in the UFC. This fight is no different, as Alex Morono has silently picked up eight UFC victories. While Morono isn’t the best striker, he makes up for with his toughness, high output and ability to keep coming forward.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Zawada. While the German is 1-3 in the UFC, he could very well be 3-1 had two split decision losses gone his way. As I said before, Zawada has faced tough competition. The majority of his opponents have been wrestlers, which normally doesn’t allow you to show off your striking abilities. Morono though, is a striker who isn’t a competent enough wrestler to elevate his status in the Lightweight division. With leaky takedown defense, Morono is an easy target should he ever face the Sean Brady’s or Belal Muhammad’s of the division. I believe that Zawada will do well against the ploddy Morono on the feet, but at the same time, mix in takedowns to take rounds. In the end, Zawada drags Morono into deep waters and wins this fight via late TKO.

    205 lbs.: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Khalil Rountree – This is a fun fight for as long as it lasts, as both men are pure strikers. In fact, neither man has yet to complete a takedown. Khalili Rountree Jr. has yet to even attempt one in his ten UFC fights. So with this fight taking place on the feet, it should be an interesting clash of styles. Modestas Bukauskas is a flashy striker, who likes to keep distance and chip away at his opponents. If he could add more volume to his striking, he’d be a bigger problem on the feet. The same could be said about Rountree Jr., who has relied on power over volume and accuracy. While Rountree Jr. has three UFC knockout victories to his name, he also has five UFC losses.

    As for a prediction, I’m picking Rountree Jr. to win. I feel that both are low output strikers, who are inaccurate and have leaky striking defense. While Bukauskas boast better cardio, I do feel that the power of Rountree Jr. is going to erase that factor. Of course, Rountree Jr. could fight gun shy like he did in his last fight. One in which he was a heavy favorite. However with his back up against the wall, I believe Rountree Jr. comes to fight. So with that said, I predict that Rountree Jr. wins this fight via TKO.

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    155 lbs.: Paddy Pimblett vs. Luigi Vendramini – This is a close fight, which to me, is dependent on a few factors. Luigi Vendramini is a grappler, who has also shown to have legit power on the feet. The problem with Vendramini is his takedown setups, as he hasn’t fooled anyone yet. Coming into this fight, Vendramini is one for twelve in his takedown attempts. Another issue for the ‘Italian Stallion’ is his accuracy and volume on the feet. He’s too hesitant and often finds himself fighting off his back foot. Now, on the feet, Paddy Pimblett isn’t exactly great. However, if Vendramini decides to fight off his back foot and not pressure, Pimblett will be able to get off more strikes at range than he’s accustomed too. Pimblett though is a grappler, and I expect him to test Vendramini’s takedown defense often. Given we’ve yet to see Vendramini’s takedown defense tested, it remains to be seen if he can keep this fight upright or not.

    As for a prediction, I have Pimblett winning. I believe that the combination of Vendramini’s poor striking accuracy, output and takedown accuracy leaves a little to be desired. Throw in his unknown takedown defense and it remains to be seen if Vendramini can keep Pimblett from taking him down. With all those question marks, I just can’t side with Vendramini. So with that, I have Pimblett winning via decision.

    UFC Fight Night 191 Prelims Card On ESPN+:

    125 lbs.: Molly McCann vs. Ji Yeon Kim – The odds don’t lie, as this fight is the closest on the entire card. It’s the hardest to predict too, as I expect both women to have their moments. Ji Yeon Kim has a distinctive size advantage in this fight, standing three inches taller and having a massive ten inch reach advantage. Kim is a pure striker, who throws every strike with bad intentions. McCann too is a striker, but what she lacks in power, she makes up with high output. Perhaps McCann’s best attributes is her durability and determination.

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Kim. By the smallest of margins though, as I see many holes in Kim’s game. She lacks technique and accuracy on the feet, as well as has leaky striking defense and takedown defense. The reason however why I side with Kim, is her power and massive reach advantage. McCann is a pressure fighter, who lives for the brawl. I see her coming forward often and getting tagged with the more impactful shots of the fight. The real key to ‘Meatball’ winning this fight though, is if she uses her wrestling. While it’s nothing special, sitting at a 29% accuracy-wise, a takedown or two could swing the fight in her favor. I’m not banking on that though, as I see Kim winning the striking exchanges on the feet en route to a decision victory.

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    135 lbs.: Jack Shore vs. Liudvik Sholinian – Understandably, Liudvik Sholinian is stepping up on short notice as a means to the opportunity to fight in the UFC. He’s a worthy addition, showing his metal in two excellent fights in the Ultimate Fighter 29. However, this particular fight is stylistically awful for him. Jack Shore is simply better everywhere.

    As for a prediction, obviously I have Shore winning. The Welshman has shown excellent wrestling thus far in the UFC, landing thirteen takedowns in three fights. While Shore’s last fight was close, he persevered and showed real grit. Something that I don’t see him needing in this fight. In fact, I even believe that Shore can win this fight easily on the feet. His boxing is exponentially better than Sholinian, who has shown at times to have porous striking defense. In the end, Shore wins this fight anyway he wants to. If I were to guess, I’d say via submission in the later rounds.

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    150 lbs.: Charles Jourdain vs. Julian Erosa – The judges can sit this one out, as I can’t see this fight going the distance. Both men are strikers, who aren’t afraid to brawl. Julian Erosa is the more aggressive fighter though, often abandoning striking defense to land strikes. More than often, Erosa has succeeded in such. Charles Jourdain is the opposite in regards to striking defense, as he has proven to be elusive for the most part on the feet. The Canadian is also more technical, using his high output to break down opponents.

    As for a prediction, I have Jourdain winning. While I expect this fight to get hectic, there is one thing I trust. That would be Jourdain’s chin. In fifteen professional fights, Jourdain has yet to be stopped. He has proven in several fights, his durability is excellent. The same can’t be said about Erosa, who’s durability has failed him at times. Of his nine professional defeats, five have come via knockout. Even worse, in nine UFC fights, Erosa has been dropped six times. Unless Erosa wrestles here, I can’t see him outlasting Jourdian. So with that said, I have Jourdain winning via KO.

    185 lbs.: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dalcha Lungiambula – This is a competitive fight that, to me, is dependent on a few factors. For one, does Marc-Andre Barriault have the takedown defense to stay upright? Two, does Dalcha Lungiambula have the standup and cardio necessary should this fight take place mainly on the feet? In my opinion, Barriault has at times, struggled to fend off takedowns. Overall though, he’s done a good job of getting back to his feet when taken down. Lungiambula is a strong grappler, who has legit power on the feet. His problem seems to be output. The former EFC Champion might be intimidating to stand across the octagon from, but he doesn’t throw nearly enough to be that big of a threat on the feet.

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Barriault. Other than wrestling and sheer power, the Canadian has the necessary advantages to ruin Lungiambula’s night. Barriault has decent enough takedown defense to fend off Lungiambula, especially the later the fight goes. Barriault is durable, has good cardio and nearly triples Lungiambula in strikes landed per minute. In the end, I see Barriault eventually breaking Lungiambula, winning via TKO.

    135 lbs.: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcelo Rojo – This is an excellent fight to open the card, as both men fancy themselves strikers. Jonathan Martinez features power and an array of leg attacks. In fact, Martinez is morphing into Alistair Overeem, as he’s beginning to build a reputation for his knee strikes. In five UFC victories, Martinez has finished two opponents due to knee strikes. He’s going to need them in this fight, as Marcelo Rojo is an absolute handful on the feet. The Argentinian is a brawler, who uses his pressure and aggressiveness to swarm and finish his foes. An effective method, as fourteen of Rojo’s wins have come via stoppage.

    As for a prediction, I have Martinez. Despite his most recent fight, where he was finished for the first time in his career, Martinez is very durable. An important factor in this fight, especially when considering Rojo’s comes forward and is a volume striker. The reason however why I side with Martinez, is the combination of Rojo’s taking this fight on short notice and Martinez’s body work. The later the fight goes, the more tired and vulnerable Rojo’s will be. In the end, Martinez’s cardio and body work will lead him to a late TKO victory.

  • UFC on ESPN 30: Barboza vs. Chikadze Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 30: Barboza vs. Chikadze Predictions

    The UFC back in action, as the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada host an exciting fight card. Headlining the event, we have a Featherweight clash between contenders Edson Barboza and Giga Chikadze. A fight that has the makings to be an instant classic. Barboza enters this fight on a two fight win streak, most recently stopping Shane Burgos in a wild fight. The move down to Featherweight has proved to be a wise one, as Barboza finds himself already inside the division’s top ten. Meanwhile, Chikadze enters into this fight on an eight fight win streak, with six of those coming in the UFC. The first four fights saw the Georgian win via decision. However, in the last two, Chikadze has won by stoppage in the opening round. In my opinion, this is a can’t miss fight. It has the ingredients to be a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender. So I’d advise, not miss this one!

    UFC on ESPN 30 Main Card on ESPN/ESPN+:

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    145 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze – This fight is one of those style clashes, that as a fan, you just can’t miss. Edson Barboza is one of the very best strikers in mixed martial arts. He features some of the heaviest leg kicks in the sport, which is evident by the two stoppages in the UFC due to said leg kicks. Barboza pumps an excellent jab and is so dynamic on the feet, that he will throw several spinning strikes. Barboza also boasts excellent durability, cardio and takedown defense. The latter of which has been an issue of Giga Chikadze. However, Barboza isn’t one to wrestle. The Georgian comes from a kickboxing background, where he put together a solid 38-6 record. Where Chikadze excels is when he can keep range and counter strike. From there he throws an arsenal of kicks.

    As for a prediction, I have Barboza winning. I believe his output is slightly better and his experience in five round fights gives him the nod. I expect Barboza to use low leg kicks to slow down Chikadze, neutralizing the Georgians ability to switch stances and get off powerful leg strikes. While Barboza isn’t a wrestler, he could throw off Chikadze’s rhythm too by presenting the threat of a takedown. That’s not necessarily an aspect I’m counting on, but given Chikadze’s spotty takedown defense, it’s possible. Regardless, Barboza in my opinion is the more aggressive striker, who throws with the volume necessary to edge out rounds in what should be an amazing fight. So with all that said, I predict that Barboza will win via decision.

    185 lbs.: Bryan Battle vs. Gilbert Urbina – From the tape I’ve seen, Bryan Battle seems to have a grasp on all aspects of mixed martial arts. I wouldn’t say he is necessarily strong in any one area, but he does a good job of putting it all together. Perhaps the clinch is where he thrives, landing short elbows and knees. He also does a good job of landing strikes at a high output, as well as getting out of grappling exchanges. Gilbert Urbina seems to be comfortable standing, but will latch onto your back should he be given the opportunity.

    As for a prediction, I have Battle winning. Before joining the Ultimate Fighter, Urbina fought the majority of his career at Welterweight. He is undersized in this weight class and I believe when he fought Tresean Gore, he was hurt often on the feet. Obviously Gore is powerful, but also generally speaking, power tends to increase the higher the weight class. Now, I’m not not necessarily sure Battle can knock Urbina out, but I do believe he can outwork him every round en route to a decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios vs. Brady Hiestand – From the little tape I’ve seen, Ricky Turcios looks to be a good striker. He likes to keep his distance, and pepper his foes with jabs and leg kicks. While he looks to be competent in grappling, I was a little concerned about his takedown defense. It’s pretty leaky if you ask me. A definite concern, especially when you consider the fact that Hiestand is a wrestler. A good one at that. While his striking needs work, his wrestling pretty much aided him all the way to the finale. Impressively too, as he beat two of the more experienced fighters on the show.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Hiestand. While my read on this fight isn’t great, the combination of Hiestands wrestling and cardio lead me to believe he grinds out a decision victory.

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    170 lbs.: Kevin Lee vs. Daniel Rodriguez – This bout is a contender for ‘Fight of the Night’, as clashing styles here could lead to a back-and-forth barnburner. Lee is an excellent wrestler, who evolved his striking into being a strength. Physically strong, Lee often had no issues taking anyone down. Perhaps his biggest issues have been submission defense and cardio. The latter being due to a strenuous weight cut, one in which caused the move up to Welterweight. A division which has sharks like Daniel Rodriguez to worry about. A pure striker through and through, Rodriguez has used pressure and output to systematically outlass opponents. With excellent cardio and stout takedown defense, Rodriguez is a problem for anyone who dares stand with him.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Daniel Rodriguez. While I believe Kevin Lee is the better fighter, I am concerned that a combination of Rodriguez’s size and stout takedown defense prove to be the difference in where this fight takes place. For Lee, there’s no doubt that he would like to take Rodriguez down and neutralize the Californian’s striking. However, if Lee can’t take Rodriguez down, I don’t see him beating ‘D-Rod’ on the feet. Lee has never been one to land with volume or accuracy. Rodriguez on the other hand lands more than eight strikes a minute. Throw in his pressure and I see Lee having a tough night. So with that said, I have Rodriguez winning via decision.

    185 lbs.: Andre Petroski vs. Micheal Gillmore – I’ll admit, I haven’t watched this season of the Ultimate Fighter. It’s hard enough with the UFC and other promotions seemingly pumping out an event every week. So for this fight and the other TUF fight’s, I’m going based off tape and their resumes. Andre Petroski looks to be a powerful wrestler, who takes his opponents down and from there finishes fights. Petroski has a few decent wins on the resume, nothing spectacular, which is expected given his lack of experience. Gillmore looks to be a striker with good power. He’s aggressive and hunts for the finish. His resume is pretty lackluster, but again normal for someone with no experience.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Petroski. I think Gillmore’s aggressiveness plays right into a wrestler like Petroski’s wheelhouse. On the mat, Gillmore doesn’t seem like he is too adept at fending off submissions. Something which I believe Petroski will exploit. So with that said, I’ll predict that Petroski wins via submission.

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    185 lbs.: Makhmud Muradov vs. Gerald Meerschaert – This fight reminds me of a few on the card, where a veteran looks to fend off a young hungry lion. In this instance, I see that being a difficult task. Makhmad Muradov has been problematic during this streak, as his takedown defense, cardio and striking have been on point. Thus far in the UFC, Muradov has shown to be a high output striker, who breaks opponents down with his pace the later the fight goes. The same could be said about Gerald Meerschaert, who welcomes a hard pace due to his ability to outlast his opponents the deeper the fight goes.

    As for a prediction, I have Muradov winning. The Tajikistan born has shown no signs of slowing down, and I don’t see Meerschaert really testing him. Outside of Meerschaert pulling off a crazy submission, he does nothing on the feet that threatens Muradov. In the end, I see Muradov landing often on Meerschaert, eventually putting the veteran away via TKO.

    UFC on ESPN 30 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPN+:

    185 lbs.: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Alessio Di Chirico – This fight comes down to if Abdul Razak Alhassan has made adjustments to his game. Thus far in the UFC, Alhassan has been overly reliant on power. While that recipe worked in four of his first five fights, it’s been an afterthought since. Any opponent with some wrestling and cardio has proven to be problematic for Alhassan. Quite the opposite can be said about Alessio Di Chirico, who could use some disruptive power. However, the problem for Di Chirco more so, has been his hesitancy to throw more strikes. The Italian’s low output has seen him drop countless fights.

    As for a prediction, I have Di Chirco. Even with his low output issues, you still have to favor his style against Alhassan. The Italian has excellent durability, having never been stopped via strikes in eighteen professional fights. He has sneaky wrestling, landing eleven takedowns in his first six UFC fights. He has solid cardio and striking defense. In my opinion, this is Di Chirico’s fight to lose. Alhassan has proven that he is incapable of fending off wrestlers or keeping a three round pace. Di Chirco can exploit both. So with that, I have Di Chirico extending his win streak to two, winning this fight via decision.

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    185 lbs.: Sam Alvey vs. Wellington Turman – Sam Alvey is a striker, who classifies more on the lines of counter-puncher. He’s got sneaky power, which is almost hard to say, given Alvey hasn’t won nor knocked out anyone in over three years. However, of Alvey’s ten UFC wins, five have come via knockout. Throw in stout takedown defense and it’s hard to believe Alvey has struggled this badly. Wellington Turman knows of those struggles, as his last two fights have shown a lack of striking abilities and durability. The one thing Turman succeeded early in his UFC career was getting opponents down. A split decision loss and victory were all due to his ability to get his foes down. Since those fights though, Turman is 0 for 11 in takedown attempts.

    As for a prediction, I have Alvey winning. I would even go as far as saying that I’m confident he wins this fight, which is pretty bold given he hasn’t won a fight in 38 months. However, Alvey’s takedown defense is going to keep this fight upright. From there, Alvey will have his way on the feet with Turman, eventually landing the knockout blow.

    205 lbs.: Dustin Jacoby vs. Darren Stewart – Due to the inconsistencies of Darren Stewart, this fight is a hard one to predict. Dustin Jacoby is a pure striker, whose takedown defense is problematic. Due to this, Jacoby likes to keep his opponents at a distance. From there, he mixes his striking with leg kicks at a high output. While Jacoby has power, it’s more via accumulation than from a single strike. The one thing I’ve noticed from Jacoby is that his cardio isn’t necessarily that good, but more so the opponents he’s faced thus far lack such. This leads me to Stewart, who I believe has better cardio and the wrestling necessary to cause Jacoby fits. The problem is if Stewart’s strength doesn’t translate over to Light Heavyweight. If he can’t take Jacoby down, he could very well get picked apart on the feet.

    As for a prediction, and against my better judgement, I’m going with the underdog in Stewart. Sometimes the ‘Dentist’ surprises you and fights to his abilities. If Stewart goes out there and strikes, most likely he loses that battle. However, if he wrestles and maintains top control, then this is his fight to win. So with that said, I’ll say Stewart wins via decision.

    125 lbs.: JJ Aldrich vs. Vanessa Demopoulos – A former Strawweight, JJ Aldrich has yet to replicate her success now at Flyweight. However, in Aldrich’s most recent win over Courtney Casey, she showed off wrestling abilities that she previously lacked. Aldrich landed four takedowns, which boosted her takedown accuracy from 25% to 40%. If Aldrich can add wrestling to her already solid striking abilities, it’s hard not to see more success coming her way. From the tape I’ve seen on Demopolous, she is aggressive and a creative grappler. Not afraid to jump to guard, Demopolous looks for ways to sweep opponents or lock in submissions.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Aldrich winning. Demopolous is at such a disadvantage here. Not only is she entering this fight on short notice and up a weight class, but Aldrich holds a three inch height and eight inch reach advantage. Given Aldrich is a solid striker, I really don’t see how Demopolous will have any success on the feet. In my opinion, other than a hail mary submission from Demopolous, Aldrich should dominate this fight. Let’s say via decision.

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    145 lbs.: Jamall Emmers vs. Pat Sabatini – When the odds of this fight opened, it was a near pick’em. However, Jamall Emmers has slowly creeped up to being a slight favorite. Quite frankly, I agree. Emmers is well rounded, has excellent takedown defense, is experienced and has the cardio to push a hard pace. Not only has Emmers won nine of his last eleven fights, but he beat Cory Sandhagen. Currently one of the very best Bantamweights in the world. Styles make fights though and Pat Sabitini is no easy out. His striking continues to improve, which only makes him tougher given his already excellent grappling abilities. Of his fourteen victories, ten have come via submission. In other words, it would be wise to avoid being on the mat with him.

    As for a prediction, I have Emmers winning. While he may not use his wrestling abilities to avoid grappling with Sabitini, his striking should be good enough to get the job done. Throw in the fact that Sabitini gassed in the third round of his last fight, and I could see Emmer’s cardio and pace putting Sabitini in a world of trouble the later this fight goes. While I could see a late stoppage, Sabatini has never been finished other than via an injury. So with that, I’ll say Emmers wins via decision.

    135 lbs.: Guido Cannetti vs. Mana Martinez – At 41 years old, I think Guido Cannetti’s time in the sun has come and gone. Cannetti has been in the UFC since 2014, yet has only fought six times. Even worse, he’s lost four of those six, all via stoppage. The Argentinian simply lacks durability, and it’s not like father time improves something like that. From the tape I’ve seen on Mana Martinez, he looks the part. Boasting a well rounded skill set and an aptitude for finishing fights, Martinez should have no issues in his UFC debut against Cannetti.

    As for a prediction, obviously I have Martinez winning. Outside of Cannetti landing something wild, I see this being a short night for him. With no durability and Martinez being a bonafide finisher, it’s only a matter of time before this fight is over. Given Martinez has won all eight fights via strikes, I’m going to go say a ninth is on it’s way.

  • UFC on ESPN 29: Cannonier vs. Gastelum Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 29: Cannonier vs. Gastelum Predictions

    After a rare week off, the UFC is back in action. Live from the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the card is a pair of Middleweight hopefuls, as Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum look to enter the title mix. Cannonier will look to bounce back, after losing to Robert Whittaker. Not only did the defeat halt a three fight winning streak, but also a guaranteed title shot. With an opportunity to put himself back in a good spot, Cannonier will need to get past Gastelum. An extremely durable warrior, who has fought the best and overall done very well. Only recently, has Gastelum stumbled. Entering this fight, Gastelum has won only one of his last five fights. However, with five round experience, durability and cardio – Gastelum has several advantages that could leap frog himself back into the title picture with a win over Cannonier. This could be an instant classic, so enjoy!

    UFC on ESPN 29 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

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    185 lbs.: Jared Cannonier vs. Kelvin Gastelum – This is a fun one, that could be an instant classic should it go the full five rounds. Jared Cannonier is a former Heavyweight, who weighed in as heavy as 241 pounds. With a proper diet, Cannonier shed 56 pounds to get himself down to 185 pounds. A truly remarkable feat, one that has directly led to success, as he reeled off three straight stoppage victories before losing to his most recent fight against Robert Whittaker. With excellent striking and legit knockout power, Cannonier can be scary to stand across. Kelvin Gastelum though isn’t someone to back down. Despite his struggles of late, Gastelum is still a tough out for anyone. In fact, of his 23 professional fights, no one has yet to stop him via strikes.

    As for a prediction, I have Cannonier winning. I do pause for concern though, as the later this fight goes, the more I believe it favors Gastelum. The reason for that is because Gastelum has been in numerous five round fights, with his most recent being against Robert Whittaker in a ‘Fight of the Night’. Meanwhile, Cannonier hasn’t fought for five rounds since he was a Heavyweight back in 2014. It’s a definite concern, but I believe Cannonier will make the necessary adjustments to be well prepared to go a full twenty five minutes. The main reasons I favor Cannonier is his striking defense, strength, power and accuracy. Gastelum has been hittable, has low striking output and is a reluctant wrestler. His durability and cardio have aided him, and could once again. I’m just not in that boat this time around. So with that, I have Cannonier winning via decision.

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    155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Mark Madsen – This fight to me is rather simple. Not necessarily in picking the winner, but in predicting more or less what is going to happen. Obviously, Mark Madsen is going to take Clay Guida down. He’s going to repeat this process until he gasses, which will probably happen sometime in round two or in round three. From there, Guida will rally. However, I don’t think Guida will finish Madsen. After all, Guida has finished only one opponent in the last ten years.

    What my prediction comes down to is, if I believe Madsen will neutralize the energizer bunny that is Guida for enough time in round two to take the first two rounds of the fight or will Guida have rallied to take the last two rounds. It’s a tough one, but I’m going to side with the undefeated Olympian Madsen. I’m hoping that he addressed the glaring cardio issue that occurred in his last fight against Austin Hubbard, and puts forth an excellent performance. So with all that said, I predict that Madsen remains undefeated, winning via decision.

    265 lbs.: Parker Porter vs. Chase Sherman – This card is loaded with fights that are tough to predict due to not having a feel of what fighter is going to show up. This is one of them. As I stated before, Chase Sherman is in his second stint with the UFC. The first saw him go 2-5, losing three of those fights via stoppage. This second stint, he is 1-1. Sherman is a pure striker, who has won fourteen of his fifteen victories via strikes. While Sherman has power, it’s not one-punch power. He’s a high output striker who wears down opponents and eventually finishes them. Porter is in the same boat as Sherman, as he too is a high output striker. The one thing that impresses me the most about the 36-year old is his leg kicks and how good his cardio is for a heavyweight.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with the upset and picking Porter. Part of the reason I’m siding with Porter is due to said leg kicks and cardio. Against an upright striker who lacks one-punch knockout power like Sherman, I see those leg kicks slowing him down by round two. From there, Porter’s cardio will allow him to tee off on a stationary target. In the end, I see Porter not only winning via decision, but landing 100 significant strikes in back-to-back fights.

    138.5 lbs.: Trevin Jones vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov – Anytime someone steps in on short notice, you have to imagine how hard it must be to cut weight in such little time. While I assume they are in the gym training, I also assume they aren’t preparing for a three round fight. With a tough weight cut and that in mind, it’s hard to believe that other than a first round spurt, that the cardio will hold after that. I guess what I’m implying is that while I believe Saidyokub Kakharamonov is a great addition, the odds are stacked up against him. Other than an early knockout, which is totally possible given his power, every minute after round one is of survival in my opinion.

    This leads me to my prediction, which is obviously Trevin Jones. The man is durable, having never been stopped due to strikes. He is clearly powerful, showing one punch knockout power in his first two UFC fights. He also is a BJJ blackbelt and seven time no-gi Champion. In other words, you don’t want to be on the ground with him. So with all that said, I have Trevin Jones winning via TKO.

    155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard vs. Vinc Pichel – This is a fun fight, but one that I see Vinc Pichel winning. If this man were younger and more active, I’d even claim he’d be a top contender in the division within the next few years. Unfortunately he’s not either, but he’s a good fighter and a handful for most lightweights. With legit knockout power, excellent strength and evolving wrestling abilities, Pichel has made a habit of winning as we’ve seen.

    While I don’t want to discredit Austin Hubbard in this fight, as his gas tank and scrappiness are intangibles most don’t have – I just don’t see him overcoming the strength of Pichel. I envision Pichel having his way on the feet early and then using his wrestling throughout the later rounds to neutralize Hubbard. The one worry I have is that Hubbard might be the fresher man in round three, but out of his thirteen wins, only one has come in round three. So with that, I have Pichel winning this fight via decision.

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    125 lbs.: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval – In what is personally one of my favorite fights on the card, I envision a frantic fight early – with plenty of chaos and entertainment. If anything is certain, both men are very exciting to watch. Alexandre Pantoja is one of the best Flyweights on the planet, as he boasts well rounded abilities and excellent durability. Anytime you step inside the octagon with him, expect three hard rounds. As for Brandon Royval, his excitement comes with his wildness and pursuit of finishing his foes. Thus far in his three UFC fights, Royval has lit up the octagon with crazy finishes.

    As for a prediction, I have Pantoja winning. Other than a flash knockdown that aides Royval to an advantageous position to lock in a submission, I don’t see a scenario where Pantoja loses this fight. For one, the Brazilian is a better striker, wrestler and grappler. Wherever this fight goes, he will be comfortable. Second, Royval is a bundle of energy that starts to fade the later the fight goes. Pantoja has solid cardio and thrives in fifteen minutes of action. Lastly, Royval is a submission hunter. In twenty eight professional fights, Pantoja has never been finished. So with all that said, and despite Royval being durable as well, I have Pantoja winning via submission.

    UFC on ESPN 29 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: Austin Lingo vs. Luis Saldana – This is a tough call. Austin Lingo looked as good as ever in the first round of his last fight. While he would go on to win via decision, rounds two and three showed Lingo slow down as he tired. Perhaps defending eighteen takedown attempts had something to do with that. However, we’ll have a better idea on his cardio in what should be a three round striking contest. One in which Luis Saldana welcomes. Using range, Saldana throws flashy strikes and does a good job in chopping opponents down with leg kicks. He’s especially at his best when there is no threat of grappling.

    As for a prediction, I’m siding with Luis Saldana. I know this fight is going to be close, but I believe that Saldana is going to land the more meaningful shots and chip away at Lingo’s legs. As the fight wanes, the pressure of Lingo will slow due to the kicks, thus opening up Saldana to land his flashy strikes. While I don’t envision a finish, I do believe that Saldana will take rounds two and three to win the fight via decision.

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    135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Domingo Pilarte – It’s been 18 months since Domingo Pilarte last stepped inside the octagon. It’s been even longer since his last win, which came over three years ago. The sheer amount of mental toughness it takes to endure that brewing over you for that long is pretty impressive. However, I’m often one to lean towards active fighters. Since the start of 2020, Brian Kelleher has fought five times. He has won three of those fights, all via stoppage.

    The one aspect of this fight that concerns me about Kelleher is if he can stuff Pilarte’s takedowns. Before fighting Ricky Simon, the Long Island native boasted a serviceable 72% takedown defense. Simon dropped that percentage down to 59%, as he took Kelleher down six times. Then again, Simon is a solid wrestler and had already notched 32 takedowns in his previous seven fights. Pilarte isn’t at that level, and even if he does shoot in for a takedown, Kelleher has a nasty guillotine to be scared about. In the end, Kelleher is just the better all around fighter and has the power to put away Pilarte. So with that, I have ‘Boom’ winning via TKO.

    135 lbs.: Bea Malecki vs. Josiane Nunes – This fight has to be one of the harder one’s to predict. Both women come into this contest with certain abilities they are strong in, and then others that are either lacking or quite frankly, unknown. The one glaring aspect of this fight that stands out to me is that both have resumes chock full of inexperienced or tailor-made opponents. Bea Malecki has two UFC victories, but one came against an opponent who gassed out after dominating the Swede and the other came against a blown up Flyweight. Meanwhile, Josiane Nunes has fought two undefeated fighters in a row. Neither of them however were strikers, thus eventually leading to Nunes swarming her foes via strikes.

    As for a prediction, I’m going to side with the underdog Nunes. I know that Malecki is going to tower her and will have a seven inch reach advantage, but her lack of power and technique on the feet give way to Nunes entering the pocket. With power and a knack for throwing combinations, I liken Nunes to land the more meaningful strikes in the fight. In fact, given the lack of wrestling and grappling by both women – I foresee Nunes eventually landing the knockout blow in the later rounds.

    205 lbs.: Fabio Cherant vs. William Knight – Despite the odds dropping in this fight, and I understand why, I’m still siding with William Knight. While his striking needs work, his offensive wrestling and smothering top control will be evident in winning this fight. Of course the intangibles of Fabio Cherant’s ground game, in particular, his submissions give pause for concern. However, Knight has yet to be submitted in his twenty combined professional and amateur fights.

    Watching tape on Cherant, he is definitely a better striker than Knight. The one problem I see for him in this fight which led me to siding with Knight, is his takedown defense. When engaged in the clinch or being taken down, Cherant looks to lock up a submission. That gives way for Knight to take Cherant down, pop out of the submission and control Cherant for the round. Something I expect to happen for all three rounds, as Knight grinds out a decision victory.

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    155 lbs.: Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Roosevelt Roberts – At one point, I was on board with the notion that Roosevelt Roberts was the next big thing at Lightweight. Then came fights against wrestlers and grapplers. Fights that ultimately showed Roberts to have iffy takedown defense, low striking output and a lack thereof submission defense. Aspects of mixed martial arts that need to be fine tuned in order to be successful. Now, luckily for Roberts, Ignacio Bahamondes is not a threat to exploit any of those weaknesses. The Chilean is a striker, who has some pop, but is more known for his high output. He is also massive for the weight class, standing at 6’3.

    As for a prediction, I have the underdog Bahamondes winning. I believe a combination of Roberts’ low striking output and Bahamondes sheer size is going to give the ‘Predator’ fits to find success anywhere. As the fight wanes, the more Bahamondes will take over, as he’s shown the ability to strike at a relatively similar pace for three rounds. In the end, Bahamondes outpoints Roberts on the feet to win via decision.

    170 lbs.: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Sasha Palatnikov – This fight for Sasha Palatnikov comes down to durability, takedown defense and cardio. Palatnikov has shown to have better durability than initially thought and sufficient cardio to go hard for a full three rounds. Takedown defense however, is questionable. It’s an aspect of his game that has been targeted often, and I’ll admit that he has for the most part, done well in staying upright inside the octagon. Does that continue against a wrestler like Ramiz Brahimaj? I think no.

    Brahimaj’s debut saw him neglect using his strength of wrestling due to fighting Max Griffin, a solid wrestler himself. Stylistically it wasn’t a great fight for Brahimaj as we saw. However, against a kickboxer with questionable takedown defense in Palatnikov, it opens Brahimaj to implement his wrestling. While I don’t think he succeeds in every attempt, it only takes one takedown to get an advantageous position to submit Palatnikov. Something Brahimaj specializes in, as he enters this bout with all eight victories coming via submission.

  • UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Jared Cannonier outlasts Kelvin Gastelum in five round battle

    UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Jared Cannonier outlasts Kelvin Gastelum in five round battle

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    The main event was a good one, as Jared Cannonier outlasted Kelvin Gastelum in what was a fun and close fight. Cannonier’s volume, power and striking defense proved to be the difference. Gastelum faired well though, but he was dropped in round three and just couldn’t land often on the elusive Cannonier over the five rounds. Cannonier improved to 4-1 in the Middleweight division, and seemingly has aligned himself in a title fight against the winner of Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. Of course, nothing is guaranteed and another fight might be in order before fighting for UFC gold.

  • UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Mark Madsen edges out Clay Guida via split decision

    UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Mark Madsen edges out Clay Guida via split decision

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    Mark Madsen stayed undefeated, as he picked up a split decision victory over Clay Guida. The fight itself was a surprising one, as the Olympian decided against using his wrestling against Guida. Instead, he engaged the veteran in a three round striking contest. While it almost cost Madsen his 0, the judges saw his pressure and accuracy ultimately higher than Guida’s leg kicks and constant movement. The victory pushed Madsen to 11-0 and 3-0 inside the octagon. Presumably a tougher fight is to come for the 36 year old.

  • UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Parker Porter wins grueling fifteen minute battle over Chase Sherman

    UFC on ESPN 29 Results: Parker Porter wins grueling fifteen minute battle over Chase Sherman

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    Parker Porter just seems to thrive in fifteen minute fights, as his cardio and volume for a heavyweight have proved to be better than most. Chase Sherman had his moments, but just could not match the volume of Porter. The victory was Porter’s second consecutive. It was also the second straight fight where Porter landed over 120 strikes, which I’d have to guess is a record for a heavyweight.