The MMA Daily

UFC Fight Night 186: Rozenstruik vs. Gane Predictions

February 27, 2021

The UFC is back in action, live from the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the card is a pair of Heavyweight contenders in Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Ciryl Gane. In what should be an excellent fight, the winner of this fight should be aligned for something special. Rozenstruik enters this fight 5-1 in the UFC, with all five wins coming via knockout. Gane enters with a 4-0 UFC record, finishing three of his fights – two of them coming via submission. In what should be a good one, I’d advise watching this potential Chess Match (with big moves) with close eyes.

UFC Vegas 20 Main Card on ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Ciryl Gane – This is good main event, with big implications for the winner. In my opinion, the winner will fight Derrick Lewis in a number one contender’s fight, should all plans at Heavyweight go smoothly. As far as this fight goes, Gane has the upper-hand in the striking department. He’s got the Muay-Thai abilities, the speed, the volume and overall athleticism. Rozentruik however has the power edge and perhaps cardio should this fight go into the Championship rounds. Despite being knocked out by Ngannou in the blink of an eye, Rozenstruik’s chin is very solid too. As for a prediction, if Gane mixes in his sneaky grappling, this fight is all his. Should he entertain a five round scrap on the feet, the possibility of Rozenstruik landing a knockout blow increases. Throw in the unknown cardio of Gane should this fight go deep and I’m going upset. It only takes one, and I feel that overly patient Rozenstruik will find that one. So with that, I have Rozenstruik winning via KO.

205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Nikita Krylov – I believe that the hype around Ankalaev is warranted, but I do believe that Krylov is no push over. I mean, he’s faced the current Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz, Johnny Walker and former title challengers Glover Teixeira and Ovince St. Preux. Krylov is a solid striker, with good cardio and grappling abilities. Meanwhile Ankaleav is a dynamic striker with legit knockout abilities. Of his five UFC victories, four have come via knockout and three of them in the very first round. While I don’t foresee a first round knockout, I do see one eventually happening. Ankalaev is coming into his own and his counter striking is excellent. Krylov will have his moments, but I do believe he gets caught and finished via TKO.

125 lbs.: Montana De La Rosa vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – De La Rosa is tough, durable and game for any Flyweight. However, every time De La Rosa has gotten a jump up in competition, she has struggled. While Silva isn’t exactly a big jump up, her ground skills alone make her a scary opponent to face. In her two UFC victories, she has won by armbar in the first round. If De La Rosa is to win this fight, she needs to avoid grappling and push the fight into deep waters. I don’t see that happening however, as I believe Silva will get this fight to the mat and do what she does best – submit opponents.

135 lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Jimmie Rivera 2 – This is a rematch, with the first fight taking place in 2015 and ending in a split decision victory for Rivera. Like the first one, this is going to be a coin-flip. The majority, if not the whole fight, will take place on the feet. Given that, I lean Rivera. His ability to avoid being hit against Munhoz’s volume edge is going to be interesting, but Rivera’s pressure and clinch work against the cage could be the deciding factor in edging out rounds. In the end, give me Rivera to win yet again, via split decision.

145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Kevin Croom – If the Caceres that fought the last two fights shows up, then I feel he should realistically win this fight. His inconsistencies in the Octagon and fighting up and down to competition is well documented though. Every Caceres fight is usually tight and borderline untouchable when predicting. Given all that, I’m going on a limb and going with Croom. He just seems like the fighter that is going to make this fight wild and crazy, and ultimately sink in a fight ending submission.

UFC Vegas 20 ‘Prelims’ Under Card on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Alexander Hernandez vs. Thiago Moises – This is one of those fights that you favor someone (Hernandez), but you recognize their weaknesses and could very well see the opponent (Moises) exploiting them in the later rounds. Should Hernandez have his cardio concerns locked down, then he should definitely win this fight. His skillset neutralizes Moises, and his pressure alone will make it an uncomfortable three rounds for the Brazilian. In the end, I see Hernandez winning via decision.

135 lbs.: Alexis Davis vs. Sabina Mazo – Davis is a tough customer, but given age and the over year layoff, it’s tough to side with her. Make no mistake, Davis has the skillset to win this fight. I’m just not overly sure what to expect from Davis given the circumstances. Mazo is younger, faster and throws with volume. If anything, she should outpoint the veteran Davis just based on that. So with that, give me Mazo to win via decision.

135 lbs.: Vince Cachero vs. Ronnie Lawrence – I’m not familiar with either, but I do know that Lawrence is the grappler here and I usually liken that. He scored twelve takedowns, landing at 70% clip in his Dana White Contender series bout. On the other side, Cachero was taken down five times on seven attempts in his UFC debut against Jamall Emmers. I expect Lawrence to go to the well and takedown Cachero at will for the decision victory.

205 lbs.: Maxim Grishin vs. Dustin Jacoby – This is a tough fight to call. On one hand, I liken the experience of Grishin and the fact that he’s just a bonafide winner. After starting out his career 7-4, Grishin has since went on a 24-4-2 tear. With a 71% finishing rate, Grishin is a tough out for anyone and in my opinion, a top twenty five Light Heavyweight. However, the missed weight cut has me leaning off him. I expect this fight to be gritty and go the distance. While Grishin might start fast, it’s the kickboxing and cardio of Jacoby that will edge him out the later rounds. In the end, I see Jacoby winning via decision.
UFC Fight Night 185: Blaydes vs. Lewis quick picks

February 20, 2021

This should be an interesting main event, as either Derrick Lewis realistically has one avenue of winning here – knocking out Curtis Blaydes. Given how good of a wrestler Blaydes is, expect him to avoid the firefight and just go with a heavy wrestling attack. Lewis has been known to fade, so by round 4, Blaydes finishes him via TKO. Honestly, I can see the finish happening early, but I’ll stick by round four.
UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns Predictions

February 13, 2021

The UFC is back in action, as the APEX plays host to a PPV card. Headlining the card is Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Gilbert Burns. Usman enters this fight on a sixteen fight win streak, thirteen of which come inside the Octagon. This will be the Nigerian Nightmare’s third title defense. As for Burns, has won six fights in a row – four of which have come at Welterweight. The knockout over Damián Maia and dominant decision victory over Tyron Woodley is what sprung Burns into this opportunity. With this being two former training partners, the intrigue is definitely there for this one.

UFC 258 PPV Main Card On ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns – This is a fun fight, but one that Usman wins. The man is just a nightmare matchup for anyone. Physically imposing, insane cardio, amazing wrestling, evolving striking and the ability to grind opponents down are just a few of his traits. Now, Burns is solid himself. He’s got good cardio, is a wizard on the mat and has ever improved his striking. However, Usman is going to control where this fight goes. If he wants to keep it on the feet, he’s going to push Burns against the cage and wear him out with pressure and strikes. While Usman might threaten a takedown, I believe he is aware of being submitted – so near the end of the round could be something possible. In the end, Usman gets it done via late TKO.

125 lbs.: Maycee Barber vs. Alexa Grasso – I’m not entirely sure about this fight given Barber’s return from a bad injury, but I do side with her. I feel that while Grasso is an excellent striker, she’s at a physical disadvantage at Flyweight. She’s physically at a disadvantage, as most of these girls are cutting down to get to Flyweight. Barber is one of those girls and I expect her strength alone to cause issues for Grasso. The first clinch, it’s going to be apparent. So with that, give me Barber via decision – using takedowns and top control to win.

185 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Ian Heinisch – I don’t see this being a particular slugfest, as much as a grind. Gastelum is in a position where he must win, while Heinisch is getting his first top ten test inside the octagon. In normal circumstances, I liken Heinisch’s style against Gastelum. A heavy wrestling attack, who can keep top control and grind foes. However, Gastelum is in a must win and I believe he will do anything in his power to keep the fight on the feet and outpoint Heinisch for a decision victory.

185 lbs.: Julian Marquez vs. Maki Pitolo – While I liken Marquez over Pitolo, I can’t ignore the inactivity and injuries. Mixed martial arts evolves, especially when you haven’t fought in over two years. And for that, I have to go with Pitolo. The Hawaiian is durable, has cardio and is a pretty good striker with some legit pop. The longer this fight goes, the more it favors Pitolo. With inactivity comes potential cardio concern and I see that plaguing Marquez. So with that, give me Pitolo to win via TKO.

145lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs Ricky Simon – This fight could be a blowout for Simon, as his heavy wrestling and grind style could just wear out Kelleher. OR and my prediction, Kelleher creates problems for Simon on the feet and causes him to shoot recklessly into Kelleher’s signature guillotine. So with that, give me the upset and Kelleher to win via submission.

UFC 258 Prelims Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Anthony Hernandez vs. Rodolfo Vieira – In one corner, you have Hernandez, who’s 1-2 in the UFC. He lost his last fight via knockout and the other loss came via submission. Meanwhile, Viera is undefeated and a BJJ wizard – with two submission wins inside the octagon already. On the feet, he needs work. However, I don’t expect much striking takes place, as Viera gets to the ground and locks up a submission.

170 lbs.: Dhiego Lima vs. Belal Muhammad – This is no disrespect to Lima, but what’s it going to take for Muhammad to fight a higher ranked foe? The man has won three straight and seven of his last eight fights. I understand Lima too has three straight, but he’s also 4-5 inside the octagon. Muhammad is the better all around fighter and is going to control this fight wherever it may take place. Expect Muhammad to grind Lima down against the cage, mixing in takedowns and ground-and-pound in route to a third round TKO.

140 lbs.: Andre Ewell vs. Chris Gutierrez – The majority of this fight should take place on the feet. While Ewell has a ridiculous eight inch reach, its Gutierrez who’s striking I favor. His ability to keep distance and systematically break fighters down with leg kicks is a scary opposition for anyone. The fact that his takedown defense is improving, only aids his ability to keep the fight where he’s more comfortable. In the end, I see a close fight, but one in which Gutierrez wins two of the three rounds for decision victory.

115 lbs.: Mallory Martin vs. Polyana Viana – I’m not going to be shocked either way here, as I can see either Viana lock up a submission from guard or Martin grind Viana out. The latter is where I lean. Viana is just too inconsistent for me to trust her. So with that, give me Martin to win via decision.

UFC 258 Early Prelims Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Gabe Green vs. Phil Rowe – Feel like this could go either way, as both men enter this contest with 100% finishing rates. It’s Green though who I’m siding with. I just don’t liken Rowe’s resume heading into this, as up until his last fight, he fought a bunch of under .500 and inexperienced fighters. Add the fact that Green has a UFC fight under his belt, one in which showed cardio, striking volume and an iron chin – and I’m picking Green to win via TKO.
UFC Fight Night 184: Overeem vs. Volkov Predictions

February 6, 2021

UFC Fight Night 184 Main Card on ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov – I’m torn here. I see several ways that both men win this fight. For Volkov, it’s simply keeping the fight on the feet, using his distance and landing volume. As the fight wanes, I could see Volkov overwhelming Overeem and winning via TKO. I could also see Overeem implementing a heavy wrestling attack like his teammate Curtis Blaydes did against Volkov. Overeem is exceptionally strong and can get Volkov down, but to keep him down might be another story. Obviously Overeem has power and could very well knock Volkov out, but that’s unlikely in my opinion. I believe in an intriguing fight, Overeem uses his wrestling and strength to grind out a victory over Volkov – winning via decision.

135 lbs.: Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen – I’ve been wanting Edgar to fight at Bantamweight for a long time. I truly believe had he dropped down earlier, he’d a fought for a title and there’s a good chance he’d a been champ. However, Edgar came down to Bantamweight late. Albeit a successful yet controversial victory against Pedro Munhoz, Edgar is fully entrenched in fighting these younger and talented Bantamweights. Sandhagen is one of those Bantamweights. He’s quite frankly a monster and a handful for any fighter, even more so Edgar. With a two inch height and five inch reach advantage, I expect Sandhagen to land jabs and straights at will. Even though Edgar is quick, Sandhagen is going to slow that down with sheer punishment. In the end, I see Sandhagen finishing the durable and tough Edgar via TKO.

125 lbs.: Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja – Talk about a tough debut, as Kape immediately gets fed to the dogs. Pantoja is one of the best Flyweights in the UFC. He’s very well rounded and as durable as they come. Kape is a buzz saw on the feet, with legit knockout power and speed. His ground abilities lack, which I could see get exploited by Pantoja. However, Pantoja embraces the brawl, so it’s possible he feeds himself into Kape’s game. As for a prediction, I want to side with Kape because I do believe he has a bright future in the UFC. However, Pantoja is just such a tough out and he’s going to weather any storm and get the decision nod here.

155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira – This is a excellent fight and a tough one to say the least for both men. They match-up pretty similar, as both have excellent grappling abilities and are no slouch on the feet. If I were to give advantages, I believe that Dariush is the better grappler and having a strength advantage amplifies that. On the feet, Ferreira gets the nod. The knock on Dariush is his chin can be shaky, which I won’t deny is not true. However, the man has won five straight fights and knocked the last two out. He’s dangerous regardless and I believe that he’s going to prevail this fight. I see Dariush bullying Ferreira with his strength and at some point in the later round, lock up a submission victory.

UFC Fight Night 184 ‘Prelims’ Under Card on ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson – This fight is a coin flip. Johnson is the more talented fighter, but his poor fight IQ has cost him literally over three fights. Guida is just a dog and won’t give in at any moment. Hell, he might just go heavy wrestling and succeed in taking Johnson down. Honestly, I have no idea. Considering I’ve been burnt by Johnson several times, you’d think I’d side with Guida. Wrong. Give me that third degree burn, as I have Johnson winning via decision.

205 lbs.: Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez – I just can’t get behind Marques, even after he won his UFC debut. I just don’t see a resume indicating that he’s ready for someone of the likes of Rodriguez. In the end, I expect the ‘Slo Mike’ to land often and eventually get this fight into the clinch and land a knockout blow.

135 lbs.: Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev – I believe Valiev should take this with relative ease. Obviously Day is tough and considering Valiev’s debut, anything can happen. However, Valiev is the better all around fighter and Day’s weaknesses on the ground is going to get exposed. So with that, I have Valiev using a grappling heavy attack to win via decision.

155 lbs.: Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith – While Smith has faced a long-layoff, I believe he gets this done via knockout. Jaynes has showed that he is dangerous in the opening few minutes. After that, it seems like a waiting game on when he gets finished. With a ridiculous eight inch reach advantage, expect Smith to hit Jaynes often and eventually catching Jaynes rushing in. So with that, give me Smith to win via knockout.

135 lbs.: Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa – This is a fun fight and boy is Edwards a gamer. Three weeks ago, Edwards stepped in on short notice and beat Yanan Wu. Once again, she steps in on short notice and is taking on a very tough opponent. One, who 2-0 inside the octagon. Rosa is a striker by trade, using leg kicks to break down opponents and overall volume to outpoint them. While I like Edwards, this is a bit too much. Rosa is going to pile on the street and outpoint Edwards in a decision victory.

125 lbs.: Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio – This should be a fun scrap, as you have two strikers durable strikers going toe-to-toe in what could potentially be a fight of the night candidate. Ultimately I side with Procopio. While McCann has shown the ability to take the fight to mat, she often loves the brawl. Given Procopio’s sheer striking volume, I believe that she will outpoint Meatball via decision.

145 lbs.: Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal – Despite being a decent sized underdog, I have Choi taking this fight. He’s the better striker of the two, offering more power and volume than Zalal. The x-factor in this fight is wrestling, which Zalal has shown the ability to implement should he be overpowered on the feet. As long as Choi can keep this upright, I believe he should outpoint Zalal. So with that, give me Choi to win via decision.

135 lbs.: Ode Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera – Given that Rivera just fought three rounds in a decision defeat two weeks ago – I’m going to side with Osbourne. Perhaps Rivera is still peaking, and that’s why he’s making this quick turnaround – But there is too much unknown to believe that true. So with that, give me Osborne to win via decision
UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 Predictions

January 23, 2021

UFC Poster

The UFC is back in action, as Fight Island plays host to the third and final leg of the triple-header this week. Headlining the card is the former Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier and the former double Champion Conor McGregor. While all eyes are on the Irishman, it’s Poirier who seeks to exact revenge over six years later. A fight in which saw McGregor crumble Poirier in the opening frame. However, since then, both men have evolved and accomplished so much. While this rematch can go whichever way, I believe we all feel that if it ends early, McGregor most likely won. If it goes the distance, Poirier most likely withstood the early onslaught and won the decision. However, a fights a fight and with this one, you never know. So don’t blink!
Embed from Getty Images
UFC 257 Main card (ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET)

Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor – This fight is going to be wild. The first encounter between the two, saw McGregor knock Poirier out. While the loss weighed heavy on Poirier, it also was perhaps the best thing to happen to him. It forced Poirier to move back up to Lightweight, a division in which he could come into the fight healthier and less drained from the weight cut. The move proved to be smart, as Poirier has a 10-2 record with one no contest in the thirteen fights since moving up. In the process, Poirier became the Interim Lightweight champion and has beaten the likes of Eddie Alverez, Justin Gaethje, Dan Hooker and Max Holloway. You can say what you want, but Poirier has had a legendary career thus far and can add to it with a McGregor victory.

As for the Notorious one, this will be the first time he’s fought in a little over a year and only his third UFC fight in more than four years. The lack of activity is concerning, however McGregor keeps talking about being more active. I guess we’ll see, but don’t hold your breath. Regardless, McGregor is one of the best fighters on the roster. His dynamic striking and sheer power alone are a tall task for anyone to deal with. While his cardio is concerning at times and sure can be a downfall, the notion that he has no ground game is a fallacy. McGregor did well against Khabib Nurmagomedov, and I’m certain that if anyone else on the roster tested him – we’d see him shine with his sneaky good ground abilities.

As for a prediction, I’m predicting a first-round knockout victory for McGregor. This is not a knock on Poirier, who has shown exceptional durability. If anyone called him ‘chinny’ heading into this bout, they’d be dead wrong. Whether fighting five round wars against exceptional strikers or just wars in general against fearsome knockout artist, Poirier has stood tall and eaten it all. Only Michael Johnson back in 2016 can lay claim to knocking Poirier out since the McGregor fight. Anyways, I feel that the dynamic striking of McGregor is going to come through. Whether it being a head kick of some sort that stuns Dustin or that piston of a left hand – the Irishman is going to walk away the winner via knockout.
Embed from Getty Images
Dan Hooker vs. Michael Chandler – I’m excited for Chandler’s UFC debut, but at the same time, I wish it came sooner. At 34 years old, there isn’t a whole lot of fights left on the docket. However, he’s here and has to deal with Hooker – one of the best Lightweights on the planet. I truly believe that Hooker is a nightmare matchup for any fighter. Throw in the fact that this is a three round fight and cardio isn’t going to be a concern. My head is telling me that Hooker, who is the more dynamic striker, realistically should knock Chandler out. The Kiwi throws one of the nastiest step-in knees, which could very well put a halt to Chandler’s wrestling. Yet, it’s that wrestling that keeps pulling me to believe in Chandler. It’s something that Hooker has rarely faced thus far in his career. I mean, Al Iaquinta, Jim Miller and Gilbert Burns are the only real wrestlers he’s faced. None of them are collegiate Division one standouts like Chandler.

In a fight that has a lot of variables, I’m going to ultimately side with Chandler via decision. He’s got the wrestling advantage, which alone could win him the fight. It also could have Hooker thinking takedown, which will lower his hands and give Chandler the ability to land some of the bombs he throws. Again though, should Hooker show stout takedown defense, this could get real dicey for Chandler. Hooker is the more dynamic striker and the sheer reach advantage makes him even more dangerous.

Jessica Eye vs. Joanne Calderwood – This realistically should be a close fight, but I have Calderwood winning. She’s the more well rounded fighter and has the clearer routes to winning this fight. For one, on the feet, Calderwood almost doubles Eye in significant strikes per minute. That alone could aide her to victory. Throw in the wrestling abilities of Calderwood and lack thereof takedown defense of Eye, and there’s another route. The one thing that has plagued Calderwood, is grapplers whom are submission threats from anywhere. Eye is not that, she’s a pure boxer at trade. So with that, give me Calderwood to win via decision.

Andrew Sanchez vs. Makhmud Muradov – This is a tough fight to predict. Muradov enters this bout on a 13-fight win streak and holds a few distinctive advantages – being that of striking, durability and cardio. Meanwhile, Sanchez holds advantages in wrestling and UFC experience. The problem with Sanchez though, is that he has a notoriously iffy gas tank. One in which has cost him two fights. Of late, it’s been much better – yet it still has to be concern. While I do feel that Sanchez’s wrestling advantage will get him the nod here, I also believe that a third-round knockout by Muradov is very much in play should Sanchez tire. Anyways, like I said, I have Sanchez winning via decision.
Embed from Getty Images
Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Ribas – While this is a fun clash between two rising contenders in the Women’s Strawweight division, it’s also one in which there is glaring strength and weakness that will dictate this fight. Rodriguez is an exceptional striker, but has shown iffy takedown defense in her last two fights. Ribas, who is well rounded and physically strong, has shown an exceptional ability to get the fight to the mat. While Ribas has legit striking, the route to victory is less cloudy should she choose to take Rodriguez down. And while Rodriguez keeps trying to goat her into a striking contest in every interview, Ribas is smart and will fight to win. I expect a healthy dose of takedowns and lot’s of ground-and-pound – leading to a decision victory for Ribas.

UFC 257 Prelim’s (ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)

Catchweight 160 lbs.: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Matt Frevola – I understand the talent of Tsarukyan, but the odds seem absurd for a fight that was literally scheduled after the weigh-ins. With a limited game plan, I feel that this fight is more open to surprises. While Tsarukyan is the more well rounded and talented fighter, I’m actually siding with Frevola to edge out what I see being a dog fight. On the feet, Tsarukyan is the more dynamic and considerably better striker of the two. However, when it comes to wrestling and grappling, it’s anyone’s ballgame. And quite frankly, I expect Frevola to push a heavy wrestling attack in this fight – especially considering that Tsarukyan missed weight. The potential for cardio concerns is extenuated and depending on the pace, it could come sooner than later. So with that, I’m going with the huge underdog Frevola to win via decision.

185 lbs.: Brad Tavares vs. Antonio Carlos Junior – If ACJ is going to win this fight, he’s got to take down Tavares and early. Should Tavares resist ACJ’s grappling, it’s going to be a long night for the Brazilian. While he has serviceable striking, his gas tank is just awful. Depending on how much ACJ struggles to get the fight down to the mat, dictates what round he will be gassed by. In my opinion, it’s going to be early. Tavares has solid takedown defense, as the man’s lower base is that of an ox. In Tavares’s last nine fights, he’s defended 33 of the 38 takedowns attempted on him. That’s an 86.8% takedown defense. So with that, give me Tavares to finish a tired ACJ via TKO in the third-round.

135 lbs.: Julianna Pena vs. Sara McMann – I like Pena in this fight. I feel that while McMann has the biggest advantage in this fight, being that of her wrestling, her poor fight IQ is just too tough to ignore. The lapses while in dominant positions, that have lead to submission losses are just brutal. Throw in the fact that McMann is 40 years old and has fought one time in nearly three years – and I envision this being too tall of a task. I can see McMann winning the opening round, but as the fight goes on and the cardio wanes – a mistake will open itself to a finish via Pena. I’m calling submission.
Embed from Getty Images
205 lbs.: Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Marcin Prachnio – This fight isn’t going last long, as you have two knockout artist who live by the sword and die by it. Prachnio is 0-3 in the UFC, having been knocked out in the first round in all three fights. Rountree Jr. has been a mixed bag, but he has four UFC wins and three have come via knockout. In all honesty, this is Rountree Jr’s fight to lose. He’s a way better striker and Prachnio’s chin is just absurdly bad. Expect a first round knockout victory for Rountree Jr.

UFC 257 Early Prelim’s (ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET)

145 lbs.: Nik Lentz vs. Movsar Evloev – This is a tough fight for Lentz, who’s outgunned here. Evloev is just so well rounded that he’s going to dictate where he wants this fight and pretty much dominate Lentz from bell to bell. Perhaps a late finish is possible, but Lentz is durable enough to last all three. So with that, give me Evloev to win via decision.

125 lbs.: Amir Albazi vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov – This is an intriguing Flyweight bout and an excellent fight to start the card. I believe that if Albazi can have success with his grappling, he can grind out a victory. However, if Zhumagulov can shrug off the grappling attempts, he should be able to outpoint Albazi on the feet. While Albazi is the one who had the successful debut, it’s Zhumagulov I’m siding with. I’m pretty high on the Kazakh, as he’s fought and beaten tough opponents outside the UFC. It’s only a matter of time before he makes a run in the UFC. As for this fight, I see a decision victory.
UFC on ESPN 20: Chiesa vs. Magny Predictions

January 20, 2021

The UFC is back in action for the second leg of the triple-header on Fight Island. Headlining the card is two Welterweight contenders in Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny – whom both enter this bout on three fight win streaks. The implications are high, as the the winner would catapult themselves into the mix for title consideration in a wide-open Welterweight division.

UFC on ESPN 20 Main Card – ESPN/ESPN+ (12 P.M. ET):

170 lb.: Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny – This is a great fight and I feel that depending on the pace, it could go either two ways. My first thought is that the longer the fight goes, the more it leans to Magny. The man is a cardio king and will absolutely thrive in the Championship rounds. My other thought is that if Chiesa finds ease in taking Magny down, I believe that it will only be a matter of time before ‘Maverick’ secures a submission. Magny has evolved as a fighter and notably has shown good offensive wrestling abilities – but defensively, he’s hit or miss. Against grapplers, he’s struggled. In my opinion, Magny will struggle here. Chiesa is physically strong and going to ragdoll Magny to the ground – hold top control, advance and lock in a submission.

170 lb.: Warlley Alves vs. Mounir Lazzez – Unless Alves can catch Lazzez with a submission early, this fight should be a wrap by the end of the second or third round for Lazzez. Between the non-existent cardio of Alves and the volume of Lazzez, it’s only a matter of time before ‘the Sniper’s’ lands the finishing blow. So with that, give me Lazzez to win via knockout.

205 lbs.: Isaac Villanueva vs. Vinicius Moreira – This is a slop fest between two struggling fighters seeking their first UFC win. I guess I’ll go with the striker Villanueva to get the job done via KO.

125 lbs.: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Viviane Araujo – Modafferi is very tough and has shown the abilities to hang with anyone and even beat those she’s supposed to lose too. The underdog role is a usual for her and quite frankly – she thrives in that role. However, Araujo is a different beast. She is well rounded and no joke on the feet. If Modafferi can’t get this to the ground, she’s going to look like a fish out of water compared to Araujo. In the end, give me the Brazilian to win via decision.

125 lb.: Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam – This should be a fun fight, one in which I have Nam ultimately winning. I feel that Nam’s size and power at Flyweight is such a threat to anyone in the weight class. If he would throw more and not be so hesitant, knockouts would come a plenty. Regardless, eventually Nam will find Schnell chin and knock him out.

145 lb.: Lerone Murphy vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade – I’m conflicted because Silva de Andrade is better than he get’s credit for. He’s fought a lot of tough competition thus far in the UFC and he holds a victory over Marlon Vera. However, his striking defense is a concern. Against a solid striker with power like Murphy, that could be an issue. Throw in the fact the Murphy holds a two inch height and five inch reach advantage and I’m leaning Murphy to win. Let’s say via KO.

UFC on ESPN 20 Prelim’s – ESPN/ESPN+ (9 A.M. ET):

185 lbs.: Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese – I believe that the more talented and gifted fighter is Breese. However, it all depends on his mental state. It’s something that has plagued Breese and if it’s under control – the potential can finally break out. With all that said, I’m actually siding with Akhmedov. He’s one of the more underrated fighters in the UFC. I mean, before losing to Weidman, Akhmedov was 5-0-1 in his previous six fights. Some of those wins include Zac Cummings, Ian Henisch and Abdul Razak Hassan. Add Breese to that list, as I have Akhmedov winning via decision.

135lb.: Ricky Simon vs. Gaetano Pirrello – While Simon has a shaky chin, I expect him to go to his strength in this fight – wrestling. Expect a rinse and repeat of takedowns by Simon, ultimately tiring Pirrello in the later stages. From there, Simon locks in a fight ending submission.

125 lb.: Su Mudaerji vs. Zarrukh Adashev – While Adashev is the more decorated striker, I feel that he lacks the necessary MMA experience to advance at this stage. This also isn’t the easiest fight. Mudaerji is a fellow striker, who is big for the weight class. In this particular fight, he holds a three inch height and seven inch reach advantage. In the end, I’m a Mudaerji believer. He’s got solid striking and power, and with the size advantage – I’m envisioning a first round knockout victory for Mudaerji.

185lb.: Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Markus Perez – The fact that Lungiambula is moving down from Light Heavyweight gets me concerned about his cardio, but at the same time – afraid for his opponents due to his power and size. While Perez is as tough as they come, I’m expecting the massive Lungiambula to impose his will and knock Perez out in the opening round.

125 lb.: Francisco Figueiredo vs. Jerome Rivera – There is a lot of hype coming from Figueiredo because he is the brother of the Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo. While I do believe he wins his debut, I caution expectations until we get a glimpse at his cardio on the UFC level. Anyways, give me Figueiredo to win via decision.

155 lbs.: Mike Davis vs. Mason Jones – This fight should be fireworks, as both men have proven to be finishers. While I believe Davis carries more power, it’s the two-division Cage Warriors champion Jones that I’m picking in this fight. I believe that Davis lacks striking defense and against tougher competition – you can’t hide from that. So with that, give me Jones to win via TKO.

135 lb.: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Sergey Morozov – This is going to be a gritty and hard fought fight – one in which I lean Nurmagomedov. While I believe that Morozov has fought the better competition and is by far Nurmagomedov’s toughest fight – ultimately I feel that leg kicks and grappling of the Dagestani will lead him to a decision victory.
UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar Predictions

January 16, 2021

The UFC is back in action, returning for the first time in the new year. Fight Island plays host to the event and notably will hold 2,000 fans – a first for the UFC since UFC 248 on March 7, 2020. Another first for the UFC is that this fight will be on ABC – which has never never broadcasted a mixed martial fights. For all the illustrious history of Boxing on ABC, with Muhammad Ali fights being the highlight – this is a big deal for the UFC. Headlining the event is former Featherweight king Max Holloway and contender Calvin Kattar. In what should be an excellent stand -up battle, the winner will enjoy the spoils of being vaulted into the title picture.

UFC on ABC Main Card On ABC/ESPN+ (3 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar – You can argue that Holloway should still be Champion, but he’s not and is presented with one of the killers in the Featherweight division. Kattar is a storm, who has some of the best striking in the UFC. The later the fight goes, the better it seems Kattar gets. That’s due to solid cardio and excellent mid-fight adjustments. Holloway though is as good as it gets. He’s one of the most well rounded fighters, and definitely one of the UFC’s top ten strikers.

As for a prediction, I’m going with Kattar. I’m not entirely confident and I can envision a split decision by fight end’s. However, Kattar is riding into this fight with momentum and confidence on his side. I also tend to believe that Holloway invites being hit too often. At some point, for health and for the sake of swaying the judges – becoming more defensive might help. So with that, give me Kattar to win via split decision.

Too bad I didn’t go with my instincts.

170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit – I feel that Brown’s durability is the biggest factor in this fight. I can’t name someone who’s been dropped more by body shots than him. Throw in the chin potentially being a problem now, and it’s only a matter of time before Brown falls at some point in this fight. This is no diss to Brown, as I actually believe his striking technique has improved more than when he was on his seven fight win streak. However, Condit is one of the most durable fighters on the planet. With a battle expected to take place on the feet, give me Condit’s durability and striking to take out Brown via TKO.

170 lbs.: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang – Ponzinibbio hasn’t fought in over two years, and left off on a knockout victory over Neil Magny for his seventh straight win. Despite the layoff, I believe that his technical striking should carry him to an eight straight victory. Jingliang is very talented and physically one of the strongest fighters at Welterweight. However, Ponzinibbio has solid takedown defense. In his last six fights, he’s fended off eight of the ten attempts – including two against Neil Magny who happened to dominate Jingliang, taking him down four times. Although that MMA math is meaningless, I just feel that Ponzinibbio will keep this fight on the feet, use his range and pick apart Jingliang for a decision victory.

185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Joaquin Buckley – As long as Buckley doesn’t chase the knockout, he should realistically win this fight with relative ease. He’s the better all around fighter and has legit knockout power. Di Chirico is durable, having never been knocked out in his career. However, in the Italian’s last fight against Zac Cumming – he was rocked and nearly put out at the end of the fight. In the end, Buckley is going to have his way on the feet – eventually landing the knockout blow.

185 lbs.: Punahele Soriano vs. Dusko Todorovic – I believe that Todorovic has a bright future, but in this matchup, someone’s 0 has to go. In my opinion, it’s his. I believe that Soriano is the more durable and powerful fighter. Just alone the sheer power of the Hawaiian is going to be a huge factor in this fight. While Todorovic has incredible striking volume, I expect a lower output once Soriano’s power shows it’s teeth. In the end, I see Soriano remaining unbeaten via knockout.

UFC on ABC Prelims Card On ESPN+ (12 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Wu Yanan vs. Joselyne Edwards – Based on very little knowledge of Edwards, I’m going with the UFC experience of Yanan to prevail via decision.

265 lbs.: Carlos Felipe vs. Justin Tafa – While Tafa has knockout power and leg kicks in his arsenal, it’s Felipe who have winning. I just feel that the durability and odd cardio of Felipe is going to carry him in the later rounds – eventually aiding him to a late TKO victory.

170 lbs.: Ramazan Emeev vs. David Zawada – While Emeev keeps on winning, he hasn’t exactly shown the talent he glowed in M-1. For one, the knockout power is no where to be seen. Instead, Emeev has used a wrestling heavy attack to control opponents. While I see that style working here, I must say that Zawada is a solid fighter. He’s well rounded, durable and has good cardio. Expect a closer fight, but with Emeev getting the nod via decision.

135 lbs.: Vanessa Melo vs. Sarah Moras – As long as Moras can apply a heavy dose of grappling, she should realistically win this fight on control time. So with that, I give me ‘Cheesecake’ via decision.

145 lbs.: Jacob Kilburn vs. Austin Lingo – While Kilburn has some pop in his hands, it’s Lingo who boast a well rounded skillset. If things were to get dicey on the feet, Lingo has the ability to get the fight to the ground – where Kilburn isn’t particularly comfortable. So with that, give me Lingo to win via submission.
UFC Fight Night 183: Thompson vs. Neal Predictions

December 19, 2020

The UFC is back in action for one last time in 2020. A year in which a pandemic temporary shut the world down. However, the UFC temporary stayed down, as they became one of the first sports to return to action – trail blazing the way for other sports to attempt a safe return. With five plus months with at least one card a week, the UFC proved they could make it through 2020 in one piece. This event will end that streak, but the countdown to the return of Conor McGregor will follow suit into 2021. As for this card, the headliners come in the form of two Welterweight contenders. Former title challenger Stephen Thompson returns to action against the surging Geoff Neal. With a plethora of knockouts and the fact that these two men are strikers, I’d suggest not missing this one.

UFC Vegas 17 Main Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal – This is a hell of a fight and excellent matchmaking by the UFC. Stephen Thompson is still a contender at Welterweight, but his time is nearing. Fresh off a win over Vicente Luque, Thompson is tasked to yet again hold off an upstart Welterweight in Geoff Neal. ‘Handz of Steel’ is riding a seven fight win-streak, with all but one coming via stoppage. The last three wins in particular are impressive, as Neal dominated Belal Muhammad and put away Niko Price and Mike Perry. While ‘Wonderboy’ is a step up in competition, it’s a more than deserving one. The real shame is that this will be Neal’s first fight in 2020.

As for a prediction, give me ‘Wonderboy’. At 37 years old, Thompson may not be the same fighter he was when he fought for the belt. The results of late would confirm that. However, his most recent fight against Vicente Luque was telling that he’s not done. It also dismissed the thought that Thompson might have a compromised chin. Not only did Thompson eat Luque’s shots, he stood toe to toe and nearly doubled Luque in significant strikes. If Geoff Neal can’t put Thompson away early, I’m not sure his cardio holds for all five rounds. Neal also has to get inside Thompson’s distance, which has been tough for a majority of ‘Wonderboy’s’ foes. Ultimately karate prevails and Thompson takes this fight via late TKO.

135 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera – I want to side with Marlon Vera badly here. The man is underrated and he’s due for the fights he’s been getting. However, Jose Aldo in a three round fight is a hard out for anyone. Hell, in his last fight against the Champion Petr Yan – Aldo looked relatively good for the first three rounds. Against Vera, a known slow starter, I could see Aldo coming out strong and taking round one. IF Aldo would actually commit to throwing an abundance of leg kicks, he could honestly beat anyone. Regardless, I still favor Aldo in this contest. I’m not writing off Vera by no means though. If he can maintain distance and strike from the outside, he could realistically outpoint Aldo. Given his style, I don’t see that happening. So with that, give me Aldo to win via decision.

170 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams – It’s hard not to go with Khaos Williams. The man has the death touch it appears and given Michel Pereira’s style, we could see another short night of work for the upstart Welterweight. However, I’m going Pereira. In his last fight, he fought technical and less wild. In result, his cardio was solid and he wound up locking up a third round submission victory. As long as he can avoid being swarmed by Williams early, I favor Pereira to prevail. The unknown of Williams cardio and his ability to keep what will be a hard pace for more than a round is tough to side with. I mean, Williams isn’t yet in the Francis Ngannou territory. So with that, give me Pereira to win via late TKO.

135 lbs.: Marlon Moraes vs. Rob Font – Since round two against Henry Cejudo, something about Marlon Moraes seems off. I mean, for a guy who was religiously beating fighters over five rounds – Moraes seems to be having issues with cardio. Perhaps age and the consistent weight cuts down to 135 lbs. are starting to show. Regardless, this is a fight Moraes should realistically win. Rob Font is a great striker, who uses distance well and peppers opponents with volume. Size and reach advantages often play a role in Font being the better man on the feet, but he’s struggled at times with opponents who have power. Moraes has that power, more so in his leg kicks. If Moraes implements a gameplan to chop down Font with leg kicks, I see him succeeding. Should Moraes go toe to toe on and disregard using leg kicks, this could be a toss up. In the end, I believe Moraes will fight with urgency to resurrect himself. Another loss in the bantamweight division could result in a year setback just to get back to where he is. So with that, give me Moraes to win via decision.

265 lbs.: Greg Hardy vs. Marcin Tybura – Greg Hardy undoubtedly holds the power edge, but he lacks the necessary cardio to keep a strong pace. Marcin Tybura doesn’t lack that and as long as he can avoid the early storm, he should have an easier time handling Hardy the deeper this fight goes. In the end, there are levels to this game. Pending a Hardy landing a knockout blow, I don’t see him taking this fight should it go three rounds. So with that, give me Tybura via decision.

UFC Fight Night 183 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Alex Morono vs. Anthony Pettis – I don’t want to discredit Alex Morono, but this is the first time Anthony Pettis has fought a similar caliber fighter since probably Shane Roller over ten years ago. Now, Pettis isn’t the same fighter we remember, but he has fought the best of the division for quite some time. I have a hard time seeing him drop this fight, especially given his recent lifestyle changes. Pettis seems focused and I think the killer that knocked out Stephen Thompson last year returns to form against Morono. In a fun fight, give me Pettis via submission.

135 lbs.: Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad – While initially I was on Sijara Eubanks, I actually liken Pannie Kianzad here. On the feet, Eubanks has the power advantage, but Kianzad throws slightly more volume. Eubanks is physically strong with good wrestling, but Kianzad neutralizes that with her size and near flawless takedown defense. The later this fight goes, the better it will be for Kianzad too. She boost the better cardio. With all that said, give me Kianzad via decision.

195 lbs.: Deron Winn vs. Antonio Arroyo – While Antonio Arroyo has a massive height and a decent reach advantage, I’m going with Deron Winn. With a pink slip staring him in the face, I think it’s time we finally see Winn tap into his wrestling roots and grind out a decision victory. If he chooses to stand, I’m not overly confident come round three his cardio will be there to defend himself. So with that, give me Winn to win via decision.

125 lbs.: Gillian Robertson vs. Taila Santos – I believe that Taila Santos might finally be coming into her own after the dominant victory over Molly McCann. However, the loss to Mara Romero Borella combined with the record stacking on the regional scene leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Her physical strength though is tough to overcome, and I believe it will be the factor that makes this a close fight. In the end though, the scrappiness of Gillian Robertson is what gets her the nod. Robertson doesn’t have the striking nor volume to compete with Santos on the feet, but her grappling and persistence is going sway the judges. In the end, a few takedowns, some top control and submission attempts give Robertson the split decision victory.

185 lbs.: Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett – Tafon Nchukwi reminds me Melvin Manhoef – I got him winning via first round knockout.

125 lbs.: Cody Durden vs. Jimmy Flick – While I believe Cody Durden could very well come out of the gate and use his strength advantage to completely dominate and perhaps finish Flick early, I worry about the aftermath should he fail to. After all, his UFC debut was a draw. One in which he dominated round one and faded in the the last two rounds. Throw in the fact that even if Durden gets Flick to the mat, he is going to have to work for his money to avoid the constant submission threats Flick throws up. That in itself is going to be exhausting. The extra ten pounds Durden cut to debut at Flyweight is something to watch too cardio-wise. So with that, give me Flick to win via submission.

160 lbs.: Christos Giagos vs. Carlton Minus – Even on three days notice and with a questionable gas tank, Christos Giagos should take this fight with relative ease. Expect a healthy dose of takedowns en route to a decision victory.
UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno Predictions

December 12, 2020

The UFC is back in action, as the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada plays host to a UFC PPV card. A fun one at that, as Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo returns three weeks after defending his title against Alex Perez to take on Brandon Moreno. A challenger who too fought on the same card, defeating Brandon Royval via an impressive first round finish. It’s rare a fighter returns three weeks after fighting. It’s unprecedented that champion does. What Deiveson Figueiredo is doing is remarkable and should he win, Fighter of the Year is a wrap. However, Moreno is a warrior and if anyone has a shot to dethrone the champ, I’d say he’s arguably the best in the division. It should be a hell of a fight!

UFC 256 PPV Main Card On ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – I said this last time and I’ll say it again – nobody is beating Deiveson Figueiredo at Flyweight. As long as he can continue to make the weight, the division is his. However, I will that Brandon Moreno presents a formidable challenge. A challenge that could push Figueiredo to the brink. With a cast iron chin and excellent grappling abilities, Moreno is a tough out for anyone. However, his wildness on the feet exposes himself to being cracked. Against the biggest power puncher the Flyweight division has ever seen, the recipe for a finish is there. Even if this hits the mat, Figueiredo has submissions for days. The only problem I could see, is if this fight wanes onto the Championship rounds, Moreno probably will be the fresher fighter. Then again, I have no idea. In the end, my prediction is that it doesn’t get to the Championship rounds, as Figgy adds to his legacy with a TKO victory.

155 lbs.: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira – I think the notion that Tony Ferguson might be done after the punishment he sustained in the defeat to Justin Gaethje is absurd. I’ll double down on the absurdness and say that he’s going to wipe out the very formidable and surging Charles Oliveira. Will Ferguson get dropped or nearly get finished doing it… probably. However, I fully believe that Ferguson is going to bounce back and finish Oliveira. Once Ferguson gets the elbows going whether it’s standing, on top control or even on his back – the damage is going to turtle up Oliveira at some point. In the end, give me Ferguson via TKO.

115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba – I’m leaning Virna Jandiroba in this fight, but I actually believe that if Dern can keep this upright – she will easily outpoint Jandiroba. Dern is actually not as bad of striker that people make her out to be. Hell, I think she’s got some decent pop too. Anyways, I lean Jandiroba because Dern has yet to show that she can stuff a takedown. I believe that might be partly for the fight to enter her world on the mat. However, Jandiroba is excellent on the ground and I could see her maintaining enough top control each round to accrue at least two rounds from the judges. Perhaps Dern could catch her – I mean, she’s only one of the most decorated BJJ fighters in the sport. I though will lean on the former Invicta Champion Jandiroba strength on the ground to win this via decision.

185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Kevin Holland – I could totally be wrong on this fight, but I have ‘Jacare’ winning. The aspect that gives me pause for concern is that he’s 41 years old and noticeably has slowed down. Kevin Holland is a young buck, who undoubtedly will be quicker. His striking is improving each time, which with an iron chin is going to continue to win him fights. The few issues I’ve seen Holland have is a potential cardio concern and a lackadaisical approach while on the ground. Prior to this four fight win streak, Holland seemingly found a way to put himself in disadvantageous positions. Now, while Holland’s looked great of late, he’s also fought not one top fifteen fighter in this stretch. In fact, in ten UFC fights, only Thiago Santos in his second UFC fight was a ranked opponent. Let’s not get it twisted though, the man has a great frame for the division and is steamrolling most of his competition of late.

I believe though that Jacare will win this fight by mixing in his striking and grappling. The grappling aspect is key, as he’s world’s better than Holland. However, just the energy expended that comes with grappling could be enough to aide Jacare come the later rounds. A tired Holland defending takedowns, which already has been an issue will be the difference. In the end, Jacare turns back the clock and locks in a submission.

265 lbs.: Junior dos Santos vs. Ciryl Gane – The odds on this fight just seem reflective on the idea that JDS has no chin and is on his way out of relevancy. While I can see truth’s within those thoughts, you have to realize that JDS has only fought the best of the best within the division. Literally, the last three losses have come to the number 1,2 and 3 in the Heavyweight division. I understand Ciryl Gane looks the part and I’ll admit I’m ultimately picking him to win, but let’s not overlook the fact that he’s yet to face a top fifteen fighter. In fact, the combined UFC record of his three UFC opponents is 5-6. The aura of Gane being a training partner of Francis Ngannou is waning over him a little strong in my opinion. However, I believe Gane’s well rounded skillset and ability to mix in his ground game with striking is going to aide him in edging this fight out via split decision.

UFC 256 Prelims Card On ESPN+/ESPN2 (8 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Daniel Pineda vs. Cub Swanson – As much as I like Cub Swanson, the amount of wars he’s been through combined with the ACL tear that cost him from fighting in just over a year has me leaning Daniel Pineda. And that’s not to say Daniel Pineda hasn’t taken damage because forty two professional fights and eight stoppage losses says differently. I just feel that when this fight gets wild, Pineda’s ground game is going to shine bright in this fight. The obvious kryptonite of Swanson, is grapplers with top notch submission abilities. Of his eleven losses, seven come via submission. Given Pineda has eighteen submission victories to his name, you can say he’s pretty good on the mat. In the end, I see Pineda coming out on top – via submission.

155 lbs.: Rafael Fiziev vs. Renato Moicano – While the buzz is on Rafael Fiziev, people forget that Renato Moicano was a legit contender in the Featherweight division not long ago. With ten pounds less to cut, the well rounded Brazilian enters a crowded Lightweight division with a skillset that could propel him into the top ten of the division. Now, Fiziev is an excellent striker, but he doesn’t have the knockout power necessary to disrupt Moicano. In fact, Moicano could very well decide to go toe to toe with Fiziev and it’s a toss up as far as I’m concerned there. However, Moicano is an excellent grappler with a submission game that has already saw seven opponents tap. Make it eight, as I believe Moicano will succeed in implementing his grappling in this fight.

145 lbs.: Billy Quarantillo vs. Gavin Tucker – As much as I think that Gavin Tucker can be successful in this division, it’s Billy Quarantillo that I believe is a contender in the division. While his striking needs work, it’s clearly improving each fight. What Quarantillo has already is an excellent ground game, cardio, an iron chin and some intangibles you can’t teach – heart and the will to win. In this particular fight, Tucker doesn’t have the power to disrupt Quarantillo. He’s got good striking, but I actually favor Quarantillo on the feet. In fact, Quarantillo is better wherever this fight takes place. In the end, Billy Q wins via submission.

115 lbs.: Tecia Torres vs. Sam Hughes – I have a few thoughts about this fight. For one, Tecia Torres is going to win this. Not that any fight is easy, but Torres has literally only lost to top competition. In fact, four of her five losses come to UFC champions. Sam Hughes marks the least experienced fighter Torres has fought since Juliana Lima. My last thought is that with the UFC beginning to shed their roster, is the booking of debuting fighters against veterans a tactic to cut the veteran should they lose? It’s kind of a justifiable out too. Anyway, Torres should avoid the pink slip here, as she wins this fight via decision.

UFC 256 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (7:30 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Peter Barrett vs. Chase Hooper – While I’m not overly confident, Chase Hooper should realistically win this fight. The setback to Alex Caceres was a serious lesson in that experience is key and there are levels to this game. At Hooper’s age, it’s essential to build him up slowly. Peter Barrett is near the bottom of the division, but make no mistake – Hooper’s lack of striking is an opening for him to exploit. It will be in Hooper’s best interest to spam takedowns to get this fight on the mat. In the end, I see Hooper getting back on track with a decision victory.
UFC on ESPN 19: Hermansson vs. Vettori Predictions

December 5, 2020

The UFC is back in action, as the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada plays host to yet another fun card. Headlining the event is two Middleweight contenders in Jack Hermansson and Marvin Vettori. Originally, Hermansson was set to headline against Darren Till, but an injury forced the Brit off the card. Kevin Holland stepped in, but he too was pulled after testing positive from COVID. Lastly, Marvin Vettori stepped up to the plate, finally getting the high profile fight he’s been seeking. Credit to Hermansson though, as he clearly wanted to stay on the card and move himself into the title picture. Vettori however, looks to steal Hermansson’s shine and ranking spot. This should be a fun one, and stylistically could even be an instant classic.

UFC on ESPN 19 Main Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori – This is an excellent fight and I’m really up in the air about a prediction. I believe that Jack Hermansson offers the more well rounded skillset and is more dangerous should this fight hit the mat. However, Marvin Vettori is physically strong and has shown great takedown defense up until this point. On the feet, both men are good strikers, but I lean Vettori. He might not have the power necessary to finish people, but he’s excellent at dishing out punishment and avoiding it. I will say though, the later this fight goes, the more I lean Hermansson. I don’t think Vettori has five round cardio, wheras Hermansson has already proven he can go five at a hard pace. In the end, due to Vettori’s lack of power and unknown cardio in the Championship rounds, give me Hermansson to walk away with a 48-47 unanimous decision victory.

205 lbs.: Jamahal Hill vs. Ovince Saint Preux – I need to see Jamahal Hill in one more fight before siding with him against a high profile name like OSP. I believe he offers the volume necessary to outpoint OSP, but I’m curious if he can stave off OSP from taking him down. After all, Hill’s takedown defense is iffy and Darko Stosic took him down six times. OSP might just need one before locking in a fight ending submission. So with that, give me the old dog OSP to win via submission.

145 lbs.: Gabriel Benitez vs. Justin Jaynes – This fight should be fun out of the gate, as Justin Jaynes has shown us that he has five minutes of fury he can offer. After that, he’s a tired fighter waiting to be taken out. Given Gabriel Benitez has been finished in two of his nine UFC fights, it’s possible. However, both those finishes came against top fifteen talent at the division. He also looked good up until losing in both too. The other factor leaning towards Jaynes here, is that Benitez offers no wrestling whatsoever. So, this fight should take place entirely on the feet. While I do worry Jaynes could catch Benitez early, I’m not siding with him. Benítez has shown durability before and as long as he weathers the opening bombs Jaynes throws, the tide will turn in rounds two and three. So with that, my prediction is that Benitez wins this fight via late TKO.

125 lbs.: Taila Santos vs. Montana De La Rosa – As much as I want to side with Montana De La Rosa, I can’t. I believe she has shown improvements in her striking each fight out. Her grappling abilities are solid, as is her durability. However, Talia Santos turned a corner in her fight against Molly McCann. She used her obvious strength advantage to take ‘Meatball’ down five times. I see the same happening here, although De La Rosa is going offer up submission attempts and get back to standing easier than McCann did. In the end, I’m expecting a close fight here, but with Santos getting the split decision nod.

205 lbs.: John Allan vs. Roman Dolidze – This could be an epic first round, as long as Roman Dolidze obliges to stand and bang with John Allan. In my opinion, I see Dolidze entertaining it for awhile to feel out Allan. Ultimately though, he will go to his roots and get this fight to the mat. A place of comfort and one he absolutely holds a big edge in. In the end, Dolidze remains undefeated, winning via submission.

145 lbs.: Movsar Evloev vs. Nate Landwehr – Mosvar Evloev might be one of the more complete fighters outside the top fifteen who is destined to be a contender in the near future. He is also the biggest favorites on this card, rightfully so. I mean, Nate Landwehr is an excellent striker, but he lacks the wrestling to be a complete fighter. I will say though, his takedown defense looked exceptional against Darren Elkins. I’m interested to see if he can replicate that in this fight. While Evloev should win on the heels of mixing in striking and wrestling, against my better judgement, I’m calling upset. I believe that Landwehr is going to be conditioned and ready to keep this fight standing. While I worry about his striking defense, his volume should compensate for it. In close fight, give me Landwehr to eek out a split decision victory.

UFC on ESPN 19 Prelims Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Jose Quinonez vs. Louis Smolka – While I believe Louis Smolka is the stronger fighter in certain area’s like grappling, I don’t liken him in this fight. I think he’s lost a lot of the luster he had in his first run in the UFC. Perhaps the weight cut to Flyweight all these years have caught up to him, especially considering the fact that he pulled out of this fight three weeks ago due to weight cut complications. I will add, he weighed in at 139 pounds. However, I don’t think he get washed here. I see a competitive fight, but one in which Jose Quinonez pulls away in the later rounds. I believe ‘El Teco’ isn’t strong in any on area of mixed martial, but he’s well rounded enough and is a dog the later the fight goes. So with that, give me Quinonez to win via decision.

155 lbs.: Jordan Leavitt vs. Matt Wiman – I’m not even sure Matt Wiman can compete against lower-tier Lightweight’s at this stage in his career. Not that Jordan Leavitt is one, but by default he is given this will be his UFC debut. I mean, Wiman took nearly five years off and returned into a different evolution of mixed martial arts. It’s showing, as he has done nothing in his first two fights back. I don’t expect any dramatic change there, especially against a grappling wizard like Leavitt. So with that, give me Leavitt to win via decision.

125 lbs.: Cody Durden vs. Jimmy Flick – The odds on this fight seem a little high, but give me Jimmy Flick. While I believe Cody Durden could very well come out of the gate and use his strength advantage to completely dominate and perhaps finish Flick early, I worry about the aftermath should he fail to. After all, his UFC debut was a draw. One in which he dominated round one and faded in the the last two rounds. Throw in the fact that even if Durden gets Flick to the mat, he is going to have to work for his money to avoid the constant submission threats Flick throws up. That in itself is going to be exhausting. The extra ten pounds Durden cut to debut at Flyweight is something to watch too cardio-wise. So with that, give me Flick to win via decision.

145 lbs.: Damon Jackson vs. Ilia Topuria – This fight all comes down to cardio in my opinion. Damon Jackson has shown that he can be dominated early, but if you fade, he will catch you in a submission. The problem there is, other than that one trick, Jackson doesn’t offer anything else. Ilia Topuria is a solid grappler himself, but if he chooses to, he could keep this on the feet and just outpoint Jackson to a decision victory. Topuria could also take Jackson down and will and hunt for a submission. While he certainly faded in his UFC debut by round three, it’s important to note that he took the fight on eight days notice. With a full training camp for this fight, expect the undefeated Featherweight upstart to dominate this fight from start to finish with better conditioning this time around. So with that, give me Topuria to win via decision.

265 lbs.: Jake Collier vs. Gian Villante – This fight is an odd one to say the least. Jake Collier has gone through one of the most interesting transformations in the UFC. Entering the UFC as the RFA Middleweight Champion, Collier seemed to be a prospect to watch. However, Collier would trade wins and losses, which in turned prompted him to move up to Light Heavyweight. After two fights at Light Heavyweight with mixed results and a layoff of nearly three years, Collier returned as a Heavyweight. One whom is weighing in near the limit of 266 pounds. Crazy.

As for the fight, give me Gian Villante. While he is perhaps one of the most inconsistent fighters, I trust his striking to get the job done here. The word trust relating to Gian Villante is a scary thought in any fight though. After all, the way he physically looked in his Heavyweight debut matched the way he ultimately lost the fight. It wasn’t a guy who bulked up to Heavyweight and worked on his conditioning. It was a guy just stepping into the Octagon after a Thanksgiving feast and losing in top control due to exhaustion. At the weigh-ins, he looked better and I assume he’s taking this more serious. So with that, give me Villante to win via TKO.