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  • UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Predictions

    UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Predictions

    If there was ever a time to be excited to be a be a fight fan, it would be now – as the UFC is back in Fight Island with a doozy of a PPV. Headlining the event is UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, whom looks to defend his title for the second time against challenger Paulo Costa. Both head into this bout undefeated and while the trash talk has been entertaining – the time for talking is over. With this fight, we get to see the two very best in the weight class – so don’t blink!

    UFC 253 PPV Main Card on ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa – The motherload! This fight is going be banana’s from start to finish. While the Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero fight might have people skeptical of what we might see – you have to remember that while explosive, Yoel Romero is primarily a counter striker. On the other hand, Paulo Costa is basically a juggernaut. Constant forward pressure and constant volume striking. The couple aspects to look out for here is Costa’s striking defense and cardio for five rounds. Both are potential issues.

    As for the champ, Adesanya comes into this bout a perfect 19-0, with fourteen of those wins coming via T/KO. With technical and precise striking, Adesanya is a problem for anyone on the feet – especially those who leave themselves open to being countered. Adesanya also should be noted for having excellent striking defense, with head movement and footwork that put him in and out of trouble in the blink of an eye.

    As for a prediction, I’m going against my initial thoughts and picking Costa to win via knockout. I feel that while Adesanya is elusive and could very well escape Costa’s pressure, potentially clipping him in the process – I also am not sure how he’s going to handle said pressure. Costa is going to be on him for three rounds of absolutely fury. I have to suspect that he’s going to land something significant and fight ending – which leads me to believing Costa gets this done via TKO.

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    205 lbs.: Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz – It’s kind of crazy to think that Jan Blachowicz was probably nearly cut at some point in the UFC. He had lost four of five fights, with the last being a majority defeat to Patrick Cummins. Notably, the losses stemmed from the lack of takedown defense. Since the defeat, Blachowicz shored up that weakness and has proceeded to win seven of the next eight fights – thus leading to a title shot. Talk about a turnaround.

    As for Dominick Reyes, the last time we saw him in the octagon – was against Jon Jones. While Reyes lost on the scorecards, fans and media had thought he did enough to get the job done. Regardless, Reyes is back in a title fight to capture what he thinks is rightfully his.

    I believe Reyes will do just that. He’s got wrestling, powerful yet precise striking and an iron chin. Reyes also has good cardio, despite notably fading against Jon Jones in the later rounds. In what I expect to be a firefight out of the gate, I believe that Reyes is the more athletic and quicker of the two. I see Reyes beating Blachowicz to punch early and often. Come round two, Reyes is going to land a fight ending strike – capturing the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship via KO.


    125 lbs.: Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval – This is going to be a high paced battle, in which Kai Kara-France is going to want to keep it on the feet – while Brandon Royval will look to turn this into a grappling affair. In the end, I feel that Brandon Royval is going to prevail. I believe that due to the nature of this fight, it’s going to come down to cardio – and it’s Royval’s which I trust. Kara-France has shown to fade in the third round of fights and I believe that issue is going to get him caught him in fight ending submission by Royval.


    135 lbs.: Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks – I honestly feel that Sijara Eubanks is being underrated here once again. I get that Viera looks to be a contender at 135 lbs. However, she’s fought once in over two years – with that one fight being a first round knockout defeat to Irene Aldana. So with that, give me the well rounded, more active fighter in Eubanks to get this done via decision – although I could see a late stoppage.


    150 lbs.: Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov – This should be a close fight, but I’ve got Hakeem Dawodu taking home a late TKO victory. Of the two, he is the better striker – with way more volume to boot. Zubaira Tukhugov gets the nod in the grappling department, but Dawodu is noted for having solid takedown defense. I see a battle for Tukhugov to get this fight to mat. Come the third round, Tukhugov is going to be zapped from trying to get the fight to mat – leaving him open to being picked apart by Dawodu. In the end, like I said – Dawodu wins this via a late TKO stoppage.

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    UFC 253 Prelims Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

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    155 lbs.: Brad Riddell vs. Alex Da Silva – While Da Silva has an impressive record of twenty victories and two losses, it’s the nineteen finishes that stand out the most. He’s a pure finisher and can get it done anywhere the fights goes. Problem is, Riddell is a complete fighter, with excellent cardio and striking. I could see Da Silva try to get this fight to mat, but Riddell’s ability to pop back up is going to negate Da Silva’s attempts. Come the third round, I see Riddell finishing a tired Da Silva via TKO.


    170 lbs.: Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews – I get that Diego Sanchez still has durability, cardio and wrestling. He is also a shell of his former self, and fighting a young gun like Jake Matthews isn’t exactly the fights he should be taking. I think from the jump, this fight gets ugly – with Matthews dominating and ultimately finishing Sanchez via TKO.


    145 lbs.: Ludovit Klein vs. Shane Young – This is a coin flip. Shane Young brings forth volume striking, an iron chin and just a will to win. Klein is an excellent striker, with good wrestling too. Of his sixteen victories, only one has come via decision. Klein is a finisher by nature, but will find it tough to get a stoppage against the durable Young. However, I do believe he will get the better of Young over three rounds, ultimately winning via decision.


    205 lbs.: Aleksa Camur vs. William Knight – This fight is a tough call. On one hand, Aleksa Camur is the more polished striker and is better at putting together combinations. On the other hand, William Knight has legit knockout power and terrifying ground-and-pound. While Knight is a physical specimen and his strength could help get this fight to mat, something tells me that Camur training with Stipe Miocic is going to aid him in keeping this on the feet. While on the feet, I’ll take Camur’s volume and precision to pick apart Knight – eventually finishing the fight in the third round via TKO.

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    UFC 253 Prelims Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

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    265 lbs.: Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes – While Jeff Hughes has solid cardio and is very durable at Heavyweight, he’s yet to turn that skill set into a victory inside the octagon. Perhaps the lack of striking volume has something to do with that. Meanwhile, at 39 years old, Espino makes his second walk to the octagon. Time is certainly running out, but his ground game has led him to becoming the Ultimate Fighter 28 winner – and a winner of nine consecutive fights. Make it ten, as I see Espino winning via decision.


    205 lbs.: Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques – This fight is a crap shoot, but I’m going with Khadis Ibragimov. While he’s lost all three of his fights inside the octagon, Ibragimov domination in M-1 still stands out in my head. If anything, it’s way better than Danilo Marques has done. He’s beaten nothing but mediocre fighters to cans. So with that, give me Ibragimov to win via knockout.

  • Matches to Make After: Covington vs. Woodley

    Matches to Make After: Covington vs. Woodley

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    A card that felt like a PPV delivered, with excellent preliminary bouts to entertaining main card action too. While the headliner featuring Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley featured the most buzz, the fight itself didn’t particularly live up to it. Covington dominated the fight from start to finish and once again finds himself back in the mix at 170 lbs.

    Matches to Make: Winners

    Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal – As much as I wouldn’t mind to see Jorge Masvidal fight Nate Diaz for a second time, I feel that it would be a shame if the UFC didn’t pull a switch-a-roo – and pit the former training partners against each other. Colby Covington already put to bed a former training partner in Tyron Woodley, why not keep this angle going? Throw in the fact that Masvidal teamed up with Woodley ahead of the fight against Covington – and it just seems like a no brainer.

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    Donald Cerrone vs. Nick Diaz – While Donald Cerrone wasn’t happy with his performance, he did prove that he still can take punishment. And while he wants to run it back with Niko Price early next year, I believe a better opportunity awaits in Nick Diaz. The Stockton native is targeting a return to the sport in early 2021. Given Diaz’s over five-year absence, a game veteran in Donald Cerrone would be an appropriate and entertaining return fight.

    Niko Price vs. Li Jingliang – I understand that Niko Price would run it back with Donald Cerrone, but something tells me that Price is going to want to fight earlier than Cerrone’s suggested timeline of early 2021. And if so, it should be a fight that is going to be entertaining and makes sense. In my opinion, the perfect dance partner that fits the bill – is Li Jingliang. Prior to losing to Neil Magny, Jingliang had won seven of his last eight fights. Of those seven wins, five were T/KO finishes. Might I add that Jingliang has racked up a combined five bonuses in his last seven fights. To that, sign me up!

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    Khamzat Chimaev vs. Michael Chiesa – Find me a fighter that has stormed into the UFC as dominantly and nearly untouchable as Khamzat Chimaev. According to UFCStats, in three fights, Chimaev has only seen four strikes. Two of which landed, but only one being significant. Even crazier, Chimaev has landed 196 total strikes in those three fights. While Demian Maia was talked about as Chimaev’s next opponent, I no longer want to see that. Let’s shoot for a more relevant fight – against Michael Chiesa. The Ultimate Fighter 15 winner checks in at number eight in the UFC rankings. Since moving up to Welterweight, Chiesa is 3-0, with a big victory over Rafael dos Anjos. He’s not opposed to fighting Chimaev – so why not?

    Johnny Walker vs. Ovince St. Preux – I called for this matchup after OSP knocked out Alonzo Menifield – and I’m still all about it. Johnny Walker’s accession to contender status is still a ways off, especially with his troubling lack thereof striking defense shown in his last three fights. A fight against a game veteran in OSP, who would make Walker pay for the mistakes should be in order. Not to make Walker pay, but to see if he makes the necessary adjustments to fulfill his potential.

    Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres – While I initially was thinking of a fight that pitted Mackenzie Dern against Virna Jandiroba – I don’t necessarily think derailing either would be in the best interest. Instead, Dern should fight a veteran like Tecia Torres in my opinion. The ‘Tiny Tornado’ checks in at #11 in the UFC ranking, three spots ahead of Dern. Torres is coming off an impressive performance against Brianna Van Buren in June, putting a halt to a four fight losing streak. At the moment, Torres is in a gatekeeper role, but a win over Dern would firmly exit her that notion.

    Kevin Holland vs. Marvin Vettori – Despite winning via split decision, Kevin Holland’s stated that he thought he lost the fight against Darren Stewart and would like to run it back. I on the other hand see an entertaining fight available – like one against Marvin Vettori. The ‘Italian Dream’ has won three fights in a row and has been constantly calling out fighters on his social media. Given Vettori’s confidence to talk the talk, why not pair up ‘Big Mouth’ Holland against him. The trash talk and the fight would definitely excite. With the pairing of Marvin Vettori against Omari Akhmedov, that puts a halt to my idea. I guess set up the rematch of Kevin Holland against Darrent Stewart.

    David Dvorak vs. Tim Elliott – With the win on Saturday, David Dvorak has silently rattled off fourteen consecutive victories. While he’s yet to show his finishing instincts in the UFC, I believe with more fights, comes more comfortability in the octagon. What should be next, is a fight against Tim Ellitott. The veteran checks in a tick below Dvorak in the UFC Flyweight Rankings, but provides an excellent test – while not fast-tracking Dvorak.

    Damon Jackson vs. Daniel Pineda – After being grappled into oblivion for two rounds, Damon Jackson never relented – catching Mirsad Bektic with a fight ending guillotine in the third round. It was a much needed win for Jackson, as he was cut from the promotion back in 2016. With the impressive victory, and given Jackson’s style – I’m feeling a fight against another guy who made the most of his second opportunity recently in Daniel Pineda. I mean, the judges would be irrelevant here, as both men are bonafide judges.

    Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Alexa Grasso – If Mayra Bueno Silva can stay healthy, I see her becoming a player at Flyweight very shortly. She’s got a well rounded game, with excellent grappling abilities. I feel like the next step would be a bump in competition against someone like Alexa Grasso. The former Strawweight, successfully debuted at Flyweight against Ji Yeon Kim in late August. Her striking and speed translated ten pounds up, and I’m sure Silva would oblige her on the feet if this fight were to go down.

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    Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Karol Rosa – Jessica-Rose Clark returned to the Bantamweight division in emphatic fashion, finishing Sarah Alpar (twice) in the third round. While injuries and run at Flyweight have halted her progression, she looks to be physically in tip top condition. I’d like to see Clark now fight a striker, like Karol Rosa. The Brazilian is 2-0 in the UFC, and is riding on a four-fight win streak. This would be a higher profile fight for Rosa, while also giving us a better chance to see Clark’s revamped striking.

    Darrick Minner vs. Steven Peterson – It’s crazy to me that Darrick Minner was such a big underdog last Saturday. While I understand his UFC tenure hasn’t been successful, he’s shown in previous fights that he’s a submission specialist. The fact that any fighter would choose to grapple, only gives Minner a possibility to catch them. Anyways, with the victory, Minner rightfully should fight someone also in the lower end of the Featherweight division. I’m thinking Steven Peterson would fit that build. The one they call ‘Ocho’ is coming off a highlight reel knockout victory and interestingly enough, has never been finished via submission. Regardless, this would be a fun one.

    Randy Costa vs. Benito Lopez – Since losing his UFC debut, Randy Costa has reeled off two impressive knockout victories. While Costa was green coming into the UFC, he certainly is shedding that label of late. However, let’s not go crazy and bump him up too much. Let’s give him a fellow striker, who can take punishment and dish it back – someone like Benito Lopez. The ‘Golden Boy’ also has a knockout victory over Journey Newsome on the regional scene. He’s 2-1 in the UFC, and has delivered very entering fights thus far. This fight would not disappoint and I could definitely see it being a potential Fight of the Night.

    Andre Ewell vs. Kyung Ho Kang – With the victory over Irwin Rivera, Andre Ewell has now won two fights in a row and three of his last four. Funny enough too, of the four UFC victories, three have come via split decision. Regardless, a bump up in competition is warranted and I feel that Kyung Ho Kang would be ideal. ‘Mr. Perfect’ has won three fights in a row, and the last two coming via split decision. Kang has yet to fight in 2020, but the UFC going to Fight Island often presents an opportunity to get one fight in by year’s end.

    Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell – After Tyson Nam annihilated Jerome Rivera, he called out Joseph Benavidez. Personally, I don’t see Benavidez taking the fight. It doesn’t make any sense for him, and if he fights again, it’s probably at Bantamweight. Given the landscape, the original bout against Matt Schnell presented an opportunity for Nam to crack the top ten. Why not set it up again?

    Matches to Make After: Losers

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    Tyron Woodley vs. Robbie Lawler – Unfortunately, most fighter’s experience regression. For Woodley, it’s been a tough last three fights. The inability to let his hands go or seemingly get up for a fight anymore has been tough to see. If Woodley does choose to continue fighting, the Robbie Lawler rematch would one of the few fights that makes sense. *Robbie Lawler is slated to fight Mike Perry at UFC 255. However, win or lose, this fight still would make sense*.

    Gerald Meerschaert vs. Jack Marshman – It’s been a tough go for Gerald Meerschaert of late, and I can’t imagine a seventeen second knockout defeat made it in any better. While Meerschaert’s job could be in jeopardy due to a stretch that has seen him win only two of his last seven fights – I still believe he’s good for the division. A suggested idea is to build Meerschaert back up with a lower fight in the division – against Jack Marshman. The ‘Hammer’ has an up and down UFC career, but that’s mostly due to fighting really tough competition. Not to say this fight wouldn’t be that, but it’s a lesser opponent than he’s been used to. Either way, it’s a make or break type fight for both.

    Ryan Spann vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk – I feel that if Ryan Spann would of just given up the position of trying to take Johnny Walker down from the cage, he could of avoided being elbowed into another dimension. However, it’s easier said then done. A good bounce back fight for Spann, could be against Michal Oleksiejczuk – who has lost two fights in a row, but notably started his UFC career with two impressive first round finishes. I venture to guess, if this fight were to happen, it wouldn’t go the full three rounds.

    Randa Markos vs. Felice Herrig – I’m not sure what the gameplan of Randa Markos was, but it couldn’t have been to jump into the guard of MacKenzie Dern. I mean, her advantages were clearly on the feet. Regardless, Markos is now on a bit of snide and really has failed to build any momentum in the octagon – never winning more than one fight in her fifteen UFC fights. What should be next is Felice Herrig. ‘The Lil Bulldog’ returned to the octagon after a near two year layoff and was promptly submitted by Virna Jandiroba in the first round. It was Herrig’s third consecutive lost. Given both women’s slides, this fight would present an opportunity to rebound.

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    Darren Stewart vs. Omari Akhmedov – Given Martin Vettori is fighting Omari Akhmedov, I guess the Kevin Holland rematch makes more sense now for Darren Stewart.

    Jordan Espinosa vs. Ryan Benoit – The Flyweight division isn’t exactly a deep one, so while Jordan Espinosa has only won one of his last four fights – he still remains in the top fifteen of the division. A fighter who is in a similar struggle, just outside the the top fifteen, would be Ryan Benoit. Both men need to get it going to remain in the UFC, so this would be a make or break type fight.

    Mirsad Bektic vs. Nik Lentz – At one point, Mirsad Bektic was being touted as a potential world champion. Now, he’s fighting to practically remain in the UFC. After stifling Damon Jackson for two rounds, Bektic once again faltered in the third round. The loss made it three consecutive and at age 29 – while there is still time, the next few fights are coming way outside the top fifteen. In my opinion, Nik Lentz fits that bill.

    Mara Romero Borella vs. Nadia Kaseem – There is a definite chance that Mara Romero Borella is cut. She’s lost four consecutive fights, and has been finished in three of them. If not, a fight against Nadia Kaseem makes sense. The Aussie has lost two fights in a row, both being by finish. For either women, a win a must.

    Sarah Alpar vs. Julija Stoliarenko – While Sarah Alpar took a beating, she showed glimpses and certainly the toughness needed to stick in the UFC. A good next fight would be against Julija Stoliarenko, who is coming off a loss in her UFC debut as well.

    T.J. Laramie vs. T.J Brown – I’m not sure why T.J. Laramie engaged in grappling Darrick Minner right away, but he will learn from this. A good next fight would be against a fellow T.J., in ‘Downtown’ Brown. The Arkansas native has yet to taste a victory in the octagon, losing his first two UFC fights. This would be an opportunity for both men to see that first win.

    Journey Newson vs. Irwin Rivera – Both lost last Saturday, and haven’t quite lived up to expectations in the octagon. Would be an ideal pairing.

  • UFC Fight Night 178: Covington vs. Woodley Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 178: Covington vs. Woodley Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as they complete their final event for awhile at the APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada – as they head to Fight Island. Headlining the event is a grudge match, as the former Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley takes on former training partner and one-time Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington. With bad blood spilled, expect these two to give their all – seemingly just not to fall defeat to either. The aftermath is going to be crazy, but for now, get excited for what should be a good one.

    UFC Vegas 11 Main Card on ESPN+:

    170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Tyron Woodley – This card feels like a PPV and it’s because of this fight. The heat is real, but I’m not too confident the former Welterweight kingpin Tyron Woodley can pull the trigger. I mean, Woodley’s last two fights were more or less the same, as he showed hesitancy to let his hands go and found himself backing up into the cage. As much as I want to say that Woodley presents issues for Colby Covington, I really can’t – given I’ve already said that when he faced Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns.

    As for Covington, antics aside, this man is a hell of a mixed martial artist. He’s got wrestling, cardio, volume striking, pressure, pace and so on. In other words, he’s stylistically a nightmare for the majority of the division. And given the state of this current Woodley I’m seeing, this fight isn’t going to be close. Either Covington dominates over the course of five rounds for a decision or he gets a late stoppage. Give me the latter, as I have Covington winning via TKO.


    170 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Niko Price – To be fair, I thought Donald Cerrone won his last fight against Anthony Pettis. However, the judges saw it the other way, thus bringing him into this dangerous contest on a four fight losing streak. At 37 years old, Cerrone is entering territory in which he’s going to need pull out some wins or his legendary career could be nearing an end. This fight against Niko Price, is not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination.

    Price is a vicious striker, who is 100% offensively based. Meaning, Price lacks any striking defense whatsoever. In my opinion, Cerrone eats these types of fighters up. The only problem is – does Cerrone have anything left in the tank? If not, the wild man that is Price is going to come out of the gate hot and put it on ‘Cowboy’.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Cerrone winning. I feel that Price is going to be uber dangerous the first two rounds, but more so in the first. His wildness is going to give Cerrone opportunities to take this fight to mat. Once tired, Price is going to get picked apart by the more technical Cerrone. In the end, I see a late stoppage victory for ‘Cowboy’.


    185 lbs.: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gerald Meerschaert – I hate to be that guy, as I realize that Gerald Meerschaert is a good mixed martial artist – but this fight is handpicked for Khamazat Chimaev to get passed him and fight Demain Maia next. If you look at Meerschaert, he’s an excellent grappler with a submission prowess. Striking-wise, Meerschaert can certainly hold his own. However, of his six UFC wins, Deron Winn is perhaps the biggest name he’s beaten. In that fight, he held a seven inch height and reach advantage.

    Now, I realize that Chimaev has yet to face anyone relevant yet – but you can’t deny what you see. The man’s well rounded, with some of the best control and ground-and-pound. The fact that he’s been hit with one significant strike in two fights, speaks the dominance he’s had. While Meerschaert presents an issue – that being slick off his back, I just don’t see him catching Chimaev. I instead see a beatdown, with Chimaev winning via TKO.


    205 lbs.: Johnny Walker vs. Ryan Spann – It’s hard to trust Johnny Walker given his last two dud performances. Then again, Walker is now training at SBG Ireland. Before, he was bouncing around to multiple gym’s. As for Ryan Spann, the UFC has done a good job easing him into the Light Heavyweight division. He’s 4-0, with three stoppages and has notable wins over ‘Lil Nog’ and Sam Alvey.

    The Alvey fight in particular does give me pause though. While Spann won the fight, he just showed way too much hesitancy. Hell, in the third round, he got cracked and had to survive. I’m feeling that perhaps the cookie-cut matchmaking for Spann, had eluded my eyes to not seeing that he’s not really great at any aspect. The hesitancy I mentioned is problematic too, as I fear a lack of confidence in your game follows that. In the end, what I’m trying to say – is that I believe Walker is going to expose Spann here and win via TKO.


    115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Randa Markos – I must admit, I feel that MacKenzie Dern has the best avenue to win – with that obviously being her world class BJJ. It’s important to note though that, Randa Markos has only been submitted once in nineteen fights (twice if you count exhibition fights). Markos should also be noted for being absolutely tough as nails, having some of the best durability in the division. While she’s yet to win consecutive fights in the UFC, she’s also yet to lose consecutive fights. Given she just lost, perhaps a win is coming?

    As for a prediction, Dern is the smart choice. Her striking is evolving and she’s got the world class BJJ in her pocket. However, I’m going with the upset. I believe that Markos is going shrug off any grappling initiated by Dern and just stick to the outside. From there, she’s going to get the better of the exchanges and edge this fight out via split decision.


    185 lbs.: Kevin Holland vs. Darren Stewart – In my opinion, the odds on this fight seem a bit off. While I agree that Holland is the favorite, I don’t see how he’s a near 3/1. I mean, Holland is certainly talented and well rounded. However, he’s on a two-fight win streak – with wins over Anthony Hernandez and Joaquin Buckley. Not exactly big wins if you ask me. Meanwhile, Darren Stewart has won his last three UFC fights (Lost in Cage Warriors), and is starting to come into his own.

    Stewart has legit knockout power in his hands and has developed a rather formidable wrestling game to his skill set. If he can continue to work on his jui-jitsu, I could see Stewart make a run in the Middleweight division. On the other hand, Holland is very adept to wherever this fight goes. On the feet, he uses his reach well and lands volume from a distance. Holland’s got wrestling and grappling in his back pocket too, should he feel threatened on the feet.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Stewart winning via decision. I just think that he’s severely underrated in this fight and Holland too often puts himself in disadvantageous positions. In what I expect to be a close fight, I see Stewart edging out some close rounds.

    UFC Vegas 11 Prelims Card on ESPN+:

    125 lbs.: David Dvorak vs. Jordan Espinosa – I’m on board the Dvorak train here, as the Czechoslovakian rolls into this bout on a fourteen fight win streak. While Espinosa brings forth wrestling and volume striking, he lacks the jiu-jitsu necessary to advance in the division – and quite frankly in this fight. Dvorak is well rounded and a finisher by nature. Of his eighteen wins, fifteen come via stoppage – with seven by submission and eight via knockout. While Dvorak didn’t finish Bruno Silva in his UFC debut, I expect him to get back to his ways here. Give me Dvorak to win via submission.


    145 lbs.: Mirsad Bektic vs. Damon Jackson – At one point, Mirsad Bektic was looking like he was destined to be a contender at Featherweight – winning six of his first seven fights in the UFC. However, a two fight skid has halted those notions and Bektic is going to need to build himself back up. On the docket, is Damon Jackson – who returns to the UFC on short notice. Since departing from the promotion in 2016, Jackson has won eight of his last ten fights. Of those eight wins, seven of them came via stoppage.

    As for a prediction, I don’t see this one going the distance. Jackson is coming into this on short notice, so his cardio probably won’t be there. Combine that with the fact that Jackson has only seen the judges twice in twenty two fights and you can pretty much guarantee Jackson is going to go for the finish early. While I can see it happening, I’m go with Bektic here. He’s been training for a fight and notably has solid cardio. The deeper this fight goes, the easier it gets for him. So with that, give me Bektic to win via TKO.


    125 lbs.: Mara Romero Borella vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – This is a less than ideal fight for Mara Romero Borella, who has just one win in her last five fights. Borella often looks to use her wrestling to get the fight to the mat, where she uses a smothering grappling to control fighters. That style hasn’t particularly fared well in the UFC and nor will it in this fight. Mayra Bueno Silva is a well rounded fighter, who prefers to strike – even though she’s a submission specialist.

    As for a prediction, Borella is severely outgunned in this fight. If she opts to keep it on the feet, she’s going to get picked apart. If she opts to bring the fight to the ground, she’s going to have to fight off sweeps and submissions. At the end of the day, I just don’t see an avenue to victory here. So with that, give me Silva to win via submission.


    135 lbs.: Sarah Alpar vs. Jessica-Rose Clark – I’m not confident in this prediction whatsoever. While I do have Jessica-Rose Clark getting the nod, there are aspects of this fight that tilt it the other way. For one, Sarah Alpar is the more well rounded of the two. Another is that Clark has had more injuries than fights in the last two years unfortunately. However, like I said, I have Clark winning here. I think her striking is going to be just a step ahead of Alpar – ultimately leading to a decision victory.


    135 lbs.: Journey Newson vs. Randy Costa – This fight is going to be fun as long as it lasts. Both men are strikers, with Journey Newson being the more patient and technical of the two – while also carrying an absolute piston of a right hand. Randy Costa is a volume striker, who comes forward and pushes the pace. The one thing that Newson is way better at in this fight, is his striking defense. Costa would be better served to shore that aspect of his game.

    As for my prediction, I’m more confident on this fight not going the distance – than picking either of these men. However, the volume, power and pace of Costa is ultimately why I’m siding with him to win via TKO.


    135 lbs.: Andre Ewell vs. Irwin Rivera – I’ll be honest here, I was higher on Irwin Rivera after his UFC debut defeat to Giga Chikadze – than his split decision victory in his second go around against Ali AlQaisi. While I still see the same tough fighter, I also see a striker who lacks the necessary size, power and volume striking needed to make a dent at Bantamweight. I mean, Andre Ewell isn’t exactly a world beater, but he’s a good striker – who manages distance well. That ability to stay on the outside is going to be huge in this fight, as is the two inch height and eight inch reach advantage Ewell possesses. In the end, I see Ewell picking Rivera apart for three rounds – winning via decision.


    145 lbs.: T.J. Laramie vs. Darrick Minner – This seems like a pretty clear-cut fight, as Darrick Minner is purely a grappler with slick submissions. T.J. Laramie is a wrestler, who has serviceable striking. Minner is going to look to get this fight to mat, but given Laramie’s wrestling pedigree – I’m not too sure I see that happening. On the feet, Laramie is the better striker, as Minner only throws looping hooks. While I don’t see this fight going the distance, and I understand the major issues Laramie presents for Minner – I’m predicting that upon the first grappling exchange, Minner locks up a submission for the upset victory.


    135 lbs.: Tyson Nam vs. Jerome Rivera – At 5’10, Jerome Rivera is practically a giant for the Flyweight division. Fortunately, this bout is taking place at Bantamweight, due to the short notice of it. While Rivera looks to be a strong grappler, he doesn’t seem to have the best wrestling to get the fight to the ground. Given Tyson Nam has strong takedown defense, I just don’t see how Rivera gets this fight to his world. On the feet, Nam is the better striker and has legit knockout power. His only issue, is that he doesn’t throw enough volume. Given this fight’s up a weight class, perhaps the less strenuous weight cut could present us the best version of Nam. Regardless, I have Nam winning via decision.

  • Matches to Make After: Waterson vs. Hill

    Matches to Make After: Waterson vs. Hill

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    Michelle Waterson and Angela Hill put together an unbelievable fight at UFC Fight Night 177. In a tightly contested five round affair, Hill seemed to be in the driver’s seat after two rounds. However, the tide changed in the third round, as Waterson took Hill down and controlled her for a good portion of the round. In round four, Waterson found her striking, as she was able to land the more significant strikes. With the fight seemingly for the taking in the fifth and final round, both women had their moments. Ultimately the judges saw that Waterson had the better, as she was awarded a split decision victory.

    Personally, I thought Hill won the fifth round and ultimately the fight. I however don’t see this as a robbery by any sorts. I do though think that the seventeen of eighteen takedowns stuffed by Hill should be taken more into consideration when deciding rounds.

    Matches to Make: Winners

    Michelle Waterson vs. Claudia Gadelha vs. Yan Xiaonan – This wasn’t my first choice in terms of an opponent, as I’d rather see Michelle Waterson fight Tatiana Suarez. Unfortunately, Suarez is dealing with a neck injury that has no timetable. The next best fight, is the winner of Claudia Gadelha vs. Yan Xiaonan – which takes place early November. Both fighters would be fresh opponents for Waterson, as well as presumably ahead of her on the UFC rankings.

    Ottman Azaitar vs. Steven Ray – In one of the most stacked division’s in the UFC, Ottman Azaitar is certainly doing everything he can to stand out. Two fights, two first round knockouts. While it would be fun to catapult him into fights against the upper-echelon, let’s slow it down. He’s 30 years old, undefeated and has only been to the third-round twice in his thirteen professional fights. A good test for Azaitar would be Stevie Ray – who has eleven fights in the UFC and has beaten the likes Michael Johnson, Ross Pearson and Joe Lauzon.

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Viviane Araujo – Last week, I mentioned that the next fight for Viviane Araujo should be the winner of Roxanne Modafferi vs. Andrea Lee. I feel no different about it – especially given Modaferri and Araujo are respectably a spot from each other in the UFC rankings. This would be an excellent fight and opportunity for both women to catapult themselves into the top five – and contender status.

    Ed Herman vs. Mike Rodriguez 2 – I can’t recall the last time I’ve something like what happened on last Saturday. In what appeared to be a body shot that dropped Ed Herman, and would of saw the fight presumably end in a TKO victory for Mike Rodriguez – was stopped for what the referee called a groin shot. The error proved costly for Rodriguez, as Herman was given time to recover and in the third round – Herman finished Rodriguez via a kimura.

    Not only is that a crappy ending to a fight that Rodriguez was robbed from winning, but the kimura looked to nearly break him arm. The two things to fix this result, is to pay him his win bonus – which thankfully Dana White promised. And obviously while seeing the result be overturned to a no contest would be ideal, it’s not going to happen. So, the next best thing is to re-book the rematch.

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    Bobby Green vs. Leonardo Santos – The roller coaster Bobby Green has been on since entering the UFC, has been a wild one to say the least. After a 3-0 start in the UFC, Green proceeded to go 1-5-1 in the next seven fights – getting jobbed in some decision’s and even contemplating retirement several times. However, Green stuck with and is one of the MVP’s during the COVID times. He’s 3-0 since the UFC restarted in May.

    After dominating Alan Patrick and showing his well rounded game, it’s time for a bump up in competition. A perfect next fight against Leonardo Santos should be in order. The Brazilian is a perfect 7-0-1 in the UFC and hasn’t lost since 2009. You might wonder, how isn’t this guy a champion? A contender at the very least? Well, Santos joined the UFC in 2013 – and only has fought eight times. That’s due to injuries, which have plagued his career or any momentum. Hell, Santos isn’t even ranked in the top fifteen. So, this would be a great fight that potentially gets the winner into the rankings.

    Billy Quarantillo vs. Alex Caceres – I’ve been so impressed with Billy Quarantillo so far. He’s 3-0 in the UFC, and has shown different facets of his well rounded game in each fight. The durability of Billy Q is off the charts too, as he ate some heavy shots in his last two fights. I firmly believe we have something special here and I feel like a fight against Alex Caceres is a nice bump up in competition.

    Also, it kind of seems that Caceres is in gatekeeper role. I mean, the last time he fought an opponent who had more than four UFC fights at the time of their encounter – was Yair Rodriguez. Since that fight, Caceres has fought eight times and four times against UFC debutant’s. To me, the Billy Q fight makes sense and stylistically would result in a barnburner.

    Sijara Eubanks vs. Macy Chiasson – I can’t believe how much of an underdog Sijara Eubanks was against Juila Avila. I understood the hype of the ‘Ragin Panda’, but you can’t discredit the fact that Eubanks is well rounded and physically strong. I mean, I understand her record isn’t great and the Bethe Correia loss is plain bad – but it’s not like Avila had excellent takedown to negate the wrestling of Eubanks.

    Anyways, Eubanks was scheduled to fight Macy Chiasson at UFC Fight Night 177. Unfortunately Chiasson pulled out, but if she’s ready to go – this fight makes a lot of sense still.

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    Kevin Croom vs. Julian Erosa – One of the biggest winner’s last Saturday is undoubtedly Kevin Croom. Talk about a guy who made the most of his “second” opportunity. If you recall, two weeks prior, Croom was signed to fight Alex Caceres. For unknown reasons, he was released 24 hours later – never getting to realize his UFC dream. The UFC came calling though again, needing him on day’s notice and up a weight class against Roosevelt Roberts.

    The debut would only last 31 seconds, as Croom tagged and submitted Roberts. It was a surprising result to say the least, but I’ve been around to know that you just can’t predict mixed martial arts. A good next fight for Croom would be against Julian Erosa. Another guy who made the most of a short notice opportunity – albeit his third appearance with the promotion. However, he too was a big underdog and surprised many by beating an undefeated Sean Woodson. All in all, I feel like this would be an appropriate fight for the too, and quite frankly a fun one for as long as it lasts.

    Alexander Romanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima – It took five hectic month’s before Alexander Romanov debuted in the UFC – as his debut was originally set for April 25th. Due to the coronavirus, that event was cancelled. When the UFC restarted, Romanov was pegged to fight Marcin Tybura on July 11. However, Romanov was removed after testing positive for COVID-19. Nearly two month’s later, Romanov was set to fight Marcos Rogerio de Lima on September 9th. That fight went array, as de Lima tested positive for COVID-19, thus scrapping the fight. Then out of the blue, with four day until the next event – Romanov was added to card against Roque Martinez.

    In less than ideal circumstances, Romanov put in an excellent performance and dominated Martinez – ultimately winning via TKO. What should be next for ‘King Kong’ is a re-booking against Marcos Rogerio de Lima. At age 29, Romanov is practically a baby at Heavyweight. Let’s ease him in.

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    Jalin Turner vs. Joel Alvarez – After Jalin Turner’s fight on September 5th was scrapped due to Thiago Moises testing positive for COVID-19 – fate would have it that the following week a Lightweight was needed to fight Brok Weaver. Turner answered the call and rather easily took out Brok Weaver via submission.

    While I could see the UFC re-book Turner against Moises, I’m going in a different direction here. I liken an opponent who can match Turner’s size and test his ground game – like Joel Alvarez. The Spaniard has won two fights in a row, the last being of which he submitted and retired Joe Duffy. Stylistically both present issues for each other, which makes for a fun fight.

    Bryan Barberena vs. Tim Means – A layoff of over a year, caused by a spinal surgery kept Bryan Barberena from gracing the octagon. However, Barberena returned and with fashion. While defending nineteen of twenty-five takedowns attempted by Anthony Ivy, Barberena never stopped going forward and throwing strikes. His cardio didn’t seem like it used too, but still held up. A great next fight for ‘Bam Bam’ would be against Tim Means. Another guy who is a volume striker with good cardio. Not only would it be an entertaining fight, but both respectably haven’t been able to put up consecutive wins since 2016. This would be the opportunity.

    Sabina Mazo vs. Taila Santos – Perhaps behind on the scorecards, Sabrina Mazo took the fight into her own hands – knocking Justine Kish down with a head-kick and then latching onto a fight ending rear-naked-choke. Now, with three straight wins, the ‘Colombian Queen’ is starting to assent in the Flyweight division. A good next fight would be against Taila Santos, who rebounded from her first professional loss – defeating Molly McCann. Both women are outside the top fifteen, but I have a feeling aren’t too far off. Perhaps, a fight against other would elevate the winner inside the rankings.

    Matches to Make: Losers

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    Angela Hill vs. Marina Rodriguez – I feel for Angela Hill, as she’s now been on the losing end of a split decision in back to back fights. Even worse is that according to MMADecisions, of Hill’s three split decision losses in the UFC, the majority of the media recorded thought Hill won all three. Regardless, Hill’s stock didn’t drop after this fight. She is still in the mix and should get a top ten opponent. Given the landscape, Marina Rodriguez who check’s in at #9 in the UFC rankings and is coming off a loss to Carla Esparza makes sense.

    Khama Worthy vs. Lando Vannata – While Khama Worthy suffered a setback last Saturday, you can’t forget the two big wins he had prior. I don’t necessarily see Worthy making a run in the lightweight division, more so than being in really entertaining fights. And one that would catch my eye, would be against the always entertaining Lando Vannata.

    Andrea Lee vs. Alexis Davis – After a 3-0 start in the UFC, Lee has all but sputtered that hot start with three consecutive losses. Another fighter who is on a three fight skid in the division is Alexis Davis. Given the losing streaks of both women, and the fact that they are within two ranking spots of each other – this fight is definitely one to book.

    Alan Patrick vs. Alexander Yakovlev – At 37 years old and years of inactivity due to injuries, Alan Patrick seems to be coming to the end of the road. However, if Patrick has some fight left in him – a bout against Alexander Yakovlev would be ideal.

    Kyle Nelson vs. Justin Jaynes – While Kyle Nelson hasn’t fared well in the UFC thus far, he still brings forth an entertaining fight style worth keeping around. Another guy with a similar style is that of Justin Jaynes – who stormed into the UFC with a 41 second knockout victory over Frank Camacho. Unfortunately Jaynes couldn’t repeat his success in his next UFC bout, but his style is fan friendly like that of Nelson. So why not book these two strikers up?

    Julia Avila vs. Nicco Montano – Julia Avila’s hype might of dissipated some, but with her skills, she should be able to rebegin her assent up the division. A fight against the Ultimate Fighter 26 winner Nicco Montana would provide a stiff test and not to mention – was supposed to happen twice already now.

    Roosevelt Roberts vs. Alex White – One of the biggest losers on Saturday was Roosevelt Roberts. Once looked at as a fighter with potential to make some noise at Lightweight, instead has now lost back-to-back fights. And while that’s not a death sentence, losing to a short notice fighter in Kevin Croom – who had 12 losses in 33 fights and was a heavy underdog is certainly not a good look. A good bounce back fight would be against a tough out in Alex White, who has struggled to build on anything thus far in the UFC.

    Roque Martinez vs. Jake Collier – Roque Martinez stepped up to the plate and fought Alexander Romanov on very short notice. While Martinez was outmatched, he showed heart and shelled up defensively pretty well. Of the 160 total strikes Romanov threw at him, mind you most of them came from Romanov on top – only 60 landed on Martinez. Pretty impressive if you ask me. A good next fight for Martinez would be against Jake Collier – who in 2016 was a Middleweight, but has over the years risen up weight classes to now Heavyweight. Collier last fought in July on Fight Island.

    Brok Weaver vs. Frank Camacho – Both men were supposed to fight last Saturday until Frank Camacho tested positive for COVID-19. After being removed from the card, Brok Weaver received a tough short notice opponent in Jalin Turner. While the fight didn’t go Weaver’s way, I expect him to still be given another chance. In my opinion they should re-book this fight, as both men are both at the crossroads here.

    Anthony Ivy vs. Cole Williams – Well, at least you can say the second go around for Anthony Ivy was much better than his debut – which lasted only 59 seconds. The only problem this time around was that Ivy stuck to attempting to take Bryan Barberena down way too long. If you attempt twenty four takedowns and you only succeeded to get five, you might want to strike more. Anyways, if the UFC gives Ivy a third crack, Cole Williams would be the ideal way to go here.

    Justine Kish vs. J.J. Aldrich – I’m not sure if Justine Kish was winning her fight until Sabrina Mazo ended her night – but you can’t deny that she looked very good up until losing. The real issue Kish had, was she wasn’t respecting Mazo’s head kicks. And she paid for that dearly. If healthy, I’d like to see Kish get back in there against J.J. Aldrich.

  • UFC Fight Night 177: Waterson vs. Hill Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 177: Waterson vs. Hill Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the event is a pair of top fifteen Strawweight’s in Michelle Waterson and Angela Hill. This is an important fight for the division, as Waterson is looking to maintain her footing as a contender – while Angela Hill is trying to finally crack the division’s top ten. This should a fun and entertaining five round, so don’t miss it!

    UFC Fight Night 177 Main Card on ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    115 lbs: Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Hill – First off, let me acknowledge that Angela Hill will make history on Saturday night. She will become the first African-American woman to headline a UFC event. Kudos to Hill, who undoubtedly deserves the main event slot and this distinction. When Hill steps into the octagon, she will of fought for the ninth time in just about a two year span. Talk about a company’s dream.

    As for the fight itself, I have Hill winning. While Waterson is a good striker, she offers very little in terms of volume and power. Hill on the other hand is not shy when it comes to striking, landing an excellent 5.76 significant strikes per minute. The beautiful thing about Hill too, is that she’s not a counter striker per say. Hill will engage first and put the pressure on you. Waterson is more of a counter striker and tries to maintain distance at all times. In a five round fight, I’d rather have the fighter going forward and throwing volume.

    Another aspect of this fight that could play a role, is grappling. Waterson is the better grappler hands down, but Hill has vastly improved. In Hill’s earlier UFC fights, she could not stop a takedown. Fast forward to now and she’s stuffing Claudia Gadelha. So do I believe Waterson gets this fight to the ground? Maybe, but not more than once. In the end, I believe that Hill is the better fighter and is going to easily outpoint Waterson on the feet to a clean decision victory.


    155 lbs: Ottman Azaitar vs. Khama Worthy – At first, I was on the Khama Worthy train for this fight. I mean, he stormed into the UFC with a massive upset victory over former training partner Devonte Smith. Then followed it up with a third-round submission victory over Luis Pena. Two big wins if you ask me.

    Worthy is a solid striker, who definitely carries power – finishing nine of sixteen victories by knockout. The caution I have with Worthy, is that he’s got six professional losses – all by stoppage and five via knockout. I’ve yet to see Worthy truly in trouble in the UFC and that’s a credit to him for clearly sharpening his craft. However, Ottman Azaitar has legit power and showed that in his UFC debut against Teemu Packalen – as he absolutely slept the Finnish Lightweight for his ninth knockout victory. Make it ten, as I feel that the undefeated Azaitar is going exploit the issues that setback Worthy on the regional scene.


    125 lbs: Andrea Lee vs. Roxanne Modafferi 2 – Back in 2014, a 2-0 rising star in Andrea Lee faced off against a veteran of 27 fights in Roxanne Modafferi. I understand at the time, Modafferi was 1-6 in her last seven fights. I also understand they saw this as an opportunity to build Lee’s name off Modafferi. However, Modafferi had vast experience, had fought the who’s who and had relocated herself into a better camp. In the end, Modafferi outgrappled Lee to split decision victory, halting Lee’s rise.

    Fast forward to now, and both women are respectably 8th and 9th in the Flyweight rankings. Lee stormed into the UFC with three straight wins, but has since suffered two setbacks. Meanwhile Modafferi has traded wins and losses since returning the UFC in 2017. In other words, this is an important fight for the trajectory of both women.

    As for my prediction, I’m going with Lee. Since their first fight, Lee has vastly improved her grappling and while her takedown defense isn’t anything special – she has been excellent in popping back up when taken down. Modaferri is an improved striker, but she is landing 3.04 significant strikes per minute – at a mere 30% clip. Her ability to get the fight to the mat and control opponents has been her main route to winning. While I can see Modaferri taking Lee down, I don’t see her controlling the action this time around. On the feet, Lee is the far better striker, offering volume and better accuracy. I see her exacting revenge nearly six years later – outpointing Modaferri to a decision victory.


    205 lbs: Ed Herman vs. Mike Rodriguez – This is a tough fight to call, due to the revival of Ed Herman and the inconsistencies of Mike Rodriguez. At 39 years old, I for one didn’t see Ed Herman winning two fights in a row. In fact, you’d have to go back to a stretch between 2011-2012, to find the last time Herman won multiple fights in a row.

    As for Mike Rodriguez, this will be his second fight in a three week span. He is coming off a devastating knockout victory over Marcin Prachnio – which was set up by a perfectly timed standing elbow. It was a much needed win for Rodriguez, as it was his second UFC victory in five fight. And his first since 2018.

    As for a prediction, I have Rodriguez. Even with the inconsistencies he’s show in the UFC, I have a hard time seeing Herman matching him on the feet. And while Herman has been fairly durable, his last two fights have come against guys who have combined for two knockout victories in 16 UFC bouts. Prior to that, Herman lost four of his last five and was knockout out in two of those losses. So with that, give me Rodriguez to win via TKO.

    155 lbs: Alan Patrick vs. Bobby Green – I’d be very surprised is Bobby Green doesn’t win this fight. Alan Patrick hasn’t fought in nearly two years and only twice in the last four years. His striking is rudimentary, consisting of only looping strikes. Patrick’s relies on his physical strength, mainly taking down his foes and controlling them. If he can’t, the little hope of tagging someone with a looping strike is all he’s got.

    Green is a solid boxer and wrestler. As long ‘King’ can keep this fight upright or at the very least make Patrick work hard to take him down – then in the later rounds, Patrick will most assuredly be running on an empty gas tank. Green will then either knock Patrick out on the feet or batter him from inside the guard. In the end, this fight doesn’t see the scorecards, as I have Green winning via TKO.

    145 lbs: Kyle Nelson vs. Billy Quarantillo – This should be an exciting fight, as Kyle Nelson likes to come out of the gate guns blazing. With sheer strength and a clinch game that involves thudding knees and elbows, Nelson looks to finish opponents early. Problem is, if Nelson can’t put his opponent out early, he’s shown the tendency to fade and get finished.

    Another problem for Nelson is that Billy Quarantillo is extremely durable and hard to submit. If you recall in Quarantillo’s last fight against Spike Carlyle, he endured a first round of nightmares. Carlyle mauled Quarantillo with strikes and submission attempts, but could not finish him – which is partly due to Quarantillo’s patience, defense and scrambling abilities. In the end, Quarantillo weathered the stormed and pulled out a decision victory.

    I see a similar fight to that being played out here – as Nelson looks strong early, but fades late. I however don’t see this going to scorecards. Nelson simply absorbs too many strikes – getting hit with 6.35 significant strikes per minute. On the other hand, Quarantillo is an accurate volume striker, landing 7.43 significant strikes per minute at an absurd 79% clip. Throw in excellent cardio and a hard pace – and I see Quarantillo finishing Nelson some point via submission.

    UFC Fight Night 177 Prelims Card on ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

    165 lbs (Catchweight): Brok Weaver vs. Jalin Turner – This fight was originally scheduled to see Brok Weaver take on Frank Camacho. Unfortunately, ‘The Crank’ was removed due to testing positive for COVID-19. In steps Jalin Turner, who’s bout last week against Thiago Moises was scrapped due to the Brazilian testing positive for COVID-19.

    For Weaver, this is undoubtedly a tougher matchup. Camacho presented a brawling style, that left him susceptible to being clipped and knocked out. Turner however, is technical, manages distances well and has real knockout power. Standing 6’3, with a 77 inch reach, Turner holds a size advantage over basically every Lightweight.

    Physically, Weaver is very strong and imposing. What he lacks, is any above average skill set. In Weaver’s UFC debut, Kazula Vargas took him down and controlled him before landing an illegal knee – resulting in a DQ. Weaver’s next fight against Roosevelt Roberts saw him get outstruck in the first round, then taken down and controlled- ultimately leading to a submission defeat.

    As for a prediction, I have Turner. I foresee Weaver trying to neutralize Turner’s striking, by pressing him up against the cage. However, Turner will escape those situations, find the range and turn Weaver’s light out via knockout.


    170 lbs: Bryan Barberena vs. Anthony Ivy – No disrespect to Anthony Ivy, but I do not like this fight for him. After lasting only 59 seconds in his UFC debut, a fight against a durable and experienced veteran in Bryan Barberena is not ideal.

    From what I’ve seen on Ivy, he has little to no stand-up. He prefers to get the fight to mat, where he looks for submissions and to land ground-and-pound. Problem is, most of Ivy’s opponents where able to pop back up early on in the fight. Against Barberena, Ivy’s not only going to have issues controlling him early – but for three rounds. With everlasting cardio and the will to win, Barberena is hard to hold down and put away.

    While Barberena isn’t the best striker, he brings forth excellent volume – landing 5.65 significant strikes per minute. Ultimately, a combination of that volume, cardio and the ability to pop back up – is Ivy’s undoing. So with that, I have Barberena winning via TKO.


    155 lbs: Kevin Croom vs. Roosevelt Roberts – Originally, Matt Frevola was set to face Roosevelt Roberts. Unfortunately, Frevola was forced out due to an injury. In steps Kevin Croom, who was actually signed back in late August to fight Alex Caceres on short notice. For unknown reasons, Croom didn’t get that fight and was released. Two weeks later, Croom gets his chance.

    While this fight does nothing in terms of advancement for Roberts, it does give him a more winnable fight. Croom is a natural Featherweight, with good grappling and decent striking. He will be at a strength disadvantage though, as well as every aspect but experience. In the end, Roberts gets back on track – winning via submission.


    265 lbs: Alexander Romanov vs. Roque Martinez – This is a late addition to the card, but more so a short notice fight for Roque Martinez. If you recall, Alexander Romanov was set to make his debut last week. Unfortunately, that didn’t come to fruition, as his opponent Rogerio De Lima pulled out due to testing positive for COVID-19.

    Now, ‘King Kong’ will finally grace the octagon and I heavily favor him in this fight. From the the little I’ve seen of Martinez, he seems to be mainly a volume striker, who has good cardio for a heavyweight. The problems I’ve seen though, are plenty. For one, Martinez seems to have power, but not one-punch knockout power. Against Jake Heun, who weighed at least 60 pounds less – Martinez struggled early on the feet and in trying to take Heun down. Another thing I’ve noticed in Martinez’s fights, is that he cuts easily. Against Heun, Martinez was cut open in the first round and against Mirko Cro Cop, he got stopped due to a cut – also in the first round.

    As for a prediction, I have Romanov winning via TKO. While his striking isn’t up to par, his wrestling and overall ability to get the fight to mat is. In top control, Romanov throws down ferocious ground-and-pound and is a submission threat. Also, the fact that Romanov’s been training for a fight and Martinez is taking this on short notice – give’s me more confidence in siding with Romanov.


    125 lbs: Justine Kish vs. Sabina Mazo – It’s nice to see Justine Kish back in the octagon for the second time this year, as she’s battled injuries throughout her UFC tenure. When healthy, Kish has shown flashes of volume striking and timely wrestling. While the oddsmakers see her as a moderate underdog, I’m not entirely convinced this fight isn’t closer than the line indicates. However, I do agree that Sabina Mazo wins.

    Ever since losing her UFC debut, Mazo has reeled off two consecutive wins. In both victories, Mazo landed over 105 significant strikes – which is exemplified by the 6.44 significant strikes she lands per minute. Mazo can also wrestle, as she showed in her fight against Shana Dobson – landing on all four of her takedown attempts. The takedown defense sits at 88% too, but Mazo was only tested by Maryna Moroz in her debut. All and all, Mazo has the edge everywhere, but experience. That’s a tough aspect to deny, but give me Mazo to win this fight via a close decision.


    135 lbs: Julia Avila vs. Sijara Eubanks – A week ago, both women were scheduled to fight different opponents. However, for various reasons, said opponents fell out – leaving Julia Avila and Sijara Eubanks to get paired up.

    This is intriguing fight, and while the odds favor Avila – I’m going with the upset in Eubanks. I realize that Avila looks to be the real deal, as she dominated Pannie Kianzad in her UFC debut. Then almost a year later, she took out Gina Mazany in 22 seconds via knockout. Avila is a striker with heavy hands, who lands 3.9 significant strikes per minute – at a 42% accuracy. She has excellent athleticism to boot.

    The reason however I’m siding with Eubanks, is that despite her record, she’s very well rounded. Not only does Eubanks land 4.95 significant strikes per minute, but she averages two takedowns per fight – at a 50% accuracy. She’s physically strong and has power in her hands. The problem which has plagued Eubanks though, is her suspect cardio. Against Avila, she’s going to need to have that shored up.

    With victories over Lauren Murphy and Roxanne Modafferi, I think it’s silly to count out Eubanks. She’s extremely durable, having never been finished. She’s well rounded, with the ability to strike on the feet with Avila or attempt to get the fight to the mat with her wrestling. And while I do understand that the loss to Bethe Correia is a bad look – I’ll chalk it up to the Brazilian’s ability to make certain fights sloppy in her favor. So with that, give me Eubanks to win via decision.

  • Matches to Make After: Overeem vs. Sakai

    Matches to Make After: Overeem vs. Sakai

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    The Demolition man has once again proved that at 40 years old, he is still a legit threat in the UFC Heavyweight division. Not only did he show durability, absorbing 99 strikes, but also the ability to still better a fighter eleven years his elder in Augusto Sakai.

    In the first two rounds, Sakai more or less, got the better of Overeem on the feet. The same continued in the third, until Overeem brought the fight to mat in the later stages of the round. Overeem implemented vicious ground-and-pound, clearly stealing the round in the process. In the fourth round, Overeem took Sakai down and controlled, pounded and bloodied the Brazilian to a clear 10-8 round. The 5th round was much of the same, which prompted referee Herb Dean to halt the bout.

    With the victory, Overeem now has won four of his last five, with the one loss coming with four seconds left in a five round fight he was clearly ahead on the scorecards. So what’s next for Overeem? What’s next for the rest of this seven-fight card?

    Matches to Make: Winners

    Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik 2 – With the top Heavyweight’s booked up, I feel that it’s time to run this one back. Ultimately, it’s up to Alistair Overeem. At 40 years old and 66 mixed martial fights in, Overeem’s time is nearing the end. He could very well feel that he beat Rozenstruik already, as he dominated the fight up until he got caught in a five-round fight with less than 10 seconds left. I for one, feel that Overeem should have been given more time before the stoppage. Sure, he was hurt, his lip split, but he popped right back up.

    Another option for Overeem is to wait on the results of Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis. Should Lewis prevail, and given their seems to be tension between the two, this would be a no brainer.

    Ovince St. Preux vs. winner of Johnny Walker vs. Ryan Spann – After battling COVID-19 and cutting weight two times to Light Heavyweight, OSP delivered a perfectly timed left hook knockout over Alonzo Menifield. The one-time Light Heavyweight title challenger is in a tough spot at 37 years old. He tested the waters at Heavyweight and lost. At Light Heavyweight, he’s traded wins and loses since challenging Jon Jones for the title.

    I hate to say gatekeeper, but at the moment, OSP fits the mold. As far as the next fight. I think the winner of the Johnny Walker vs. Ryan Spann would be perfect.

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    Michel Pereira vs. Mike Perry/Alex Oliveira – Slowly but surely, Michel Pereira is entering the mix for first team All Violence. The human highlight reel delivered a complete performance against Zelim Imadaev. The next step, isn’t a fight against Jorge Masvidal for the BMF belt – like he wants. It’s against someone like Mike Perry, depending on his legal issues. OR I would entertain a fight against Alex Oliveira – which would be quite entertaining if you ask me.

    Andre Muniz vs. Andrew Sanchez – Contender series alum Andre Muniz improved to 2-0 inside the octagon, as he submitted a tough Bartosz Fabinski. A guy who is known for taking his foes down over and over, while controlling them for three rounds. That type of performance from Muniz deserves a step up in competition. I’d say Andrew Sanchez, whom has eight UFC fights and is coming off an excellent knockout victory. It’s also another test against a wrestler, but one who actually will throw hands too.

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    Brian Kelleher vs. Ricky Simon – It only took 39 seconds for Brian Kelleher to dispatch Ray Rodriguez, who was “Boom’s” third opponent change in a week. The original opponent was supposed to be Ricky Simon, which I thought was a fight that made a lot of sense.

    Viviane Araujo vs. winner of Andrea Lee vs. Roxanne Modafferi – Since entering the UFC, Viviane Araujo has been fast-tracked. She has fought the two former title challengers in Jessica Eye and Alexis Davis – within her first three fights in the UFC. So, fighting someone like Montana De La Rosa was more up to par for my liken. She did not disappoint either, earning two 30-27’s and a 29-28 on the judge’s scorecard. What should be next is the winner of Andrea Lee vs. Roxanne Modafferi. They would presumably be ahead of her in the UFC rankings and both women provide a nice step up in competition.

    Hunter Azure vs. Davey Grant – After losing his first professional bout, Hunter Azure bounced back with a hard fought decision victory over Cole Smith. The MMA lab product came into the UFC with some hype, and while he had the setback – this performance showed that he’s one to watch at 135 pounds. What I think should be next, is a fight against Davey Grant. The Ultimate Fighter veteran is riding a two-fight win streak, and is coming off an excellent fight – which he won by knockout. Despite suffering a fractured jaw, Grant claimed he would be ready to get back it soon, and a fight against Azure would make for a fun one.

    Matches to Make: Losers

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    Augusto Sakai vs. Alexey Oleinik – There is no shame in losing to Alistair Overeem – clearly the Demolition Man is still skilled and a hard out for any heavyweight. This defeat was Augosto Sakai’s first in the UFC and I just don’t see it dropping his stock. I feel like a fight against another experienced veteran in Alexey Oleinik would be in order. Clearly, Sakai needs to work on his takedown defense and this type of fight would show if he’s improved.

    Alonzo Menifield vs. Khadis Ibragimov – After storming into the UFC with two vicious knockout victories, Alonzo Menifield has now found himself on the end of back-to-back defeats. At this point, a fight down the pecking order is needed to revive the young sluggers career. If Khadis Ibragimov is still in the UFC, and they believe in him – perhaps this fight wouldn’t make sense. However, if they are looking to get Menifield’s confidence up, while extending a fourth chance to Ibragimov – then why not.

    Zelim Imadaev vs. Jason Witt – After entering the UFC with a perfect 8-0 record, Zelim Imadaev has stumbled to find any success. The Russian prospect has lost three consecutive fights and could frankly be cut. If not, a fight against Jason Witt could be in order. If you recall, Witt stepped in on super short notice against Takashi Sato. Unfortunately, the fight last 48 seconds, as Witt was knocked out. Given the notice and willingness to step up, Witt should be given a second chance and a fight against the slumping Imadaev would make sense.

    Bartosz Fabinski vs. Alessio Di Chirico – One of the more surprising results, was to see the ultimate grinder Bartosz Fabinski lose. Then again, of his four professional losses, three now have come via submission. While the UFC may not love his style, perhaps a make or break fight against Alessio Di Chirico should be in order. The Italian has solid takedown defense and has currently lost three consecutive fights. This fight would push both men to the limits, and with something to prove given their situations.

    Ray Rodriguez vs. Gabriel Silva – The 32 year old veteran Ray Rodriguez finally made his UFC debut. Unfortunately for him, it came on 24 hours notice and lasted only 39 seconds. Despite the defeat, the UFC should give Rodriguez another opportunity. A fight against Gabriel Silva, who is 0-2 in the UFC should be in order. Silva came into the UFC undefeated, was dealt a tough debut against Ray Borg and then got bested by Kyler Phillips in his second fight. If another opportunity is out there for him, I liken this matchup for both.

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    Montana De La Rosa vs. Molly McMann – After winning her first three UFC fights, Montana De La Rosa has lost two of her last three fights. Both losses came when she received a bump in competition. At 25 years old, with her grappling, submission, toughness and evolving striking – there is plenty of time for De La Rosa to tap into her potential. A good next fight would be against Molly McCann. The one they call “Meatball” is as tough as they come. While she stumbled in her last go, prior she had rallied off three straight wins. McCann brings forth wrestling and striking that would make for a fun fight.

    Cole Smith vs. Vince Morales – After starting his UFC career with a victory over Mitch Gagnon, Cole Smith has yet to taste a second victory. The one they call “The Cole Train” has dropped two consecutive fights. One being by split decision and the other unanimous – the latter of which he had moments of advantageous positions to potentially finish the fight. A good next fight would be against Vince Morales. The “Vandetta” is 1-3 inside the Octagon, having lost his last two fights – the last of which came via leg kicks. So, with both struggling to claim victory, this would be a good bounce back fight for the winner.

  • UFC Fight Night 176: Overeem vs. Sakai Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 176: Overeem vs. Sakai Predictions

    The UFC is back in action at the Apex, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unfortunately the world’s pandemic has taken a chunk of this card, as two fight were cancelled on fight night. However, there is a card still and it’s being headlined by Heavyweight’s Alistair Overeem and Augosto Sakai. Overeem is veteran of 65 mixed martial arts fights and at age 40 years old, is clamoring to the “one last run” notion towards the one thing he’s missing – UFC Gold. Sakai has other plans, as he looks to add a legend to his resume and catapult himself into contention. This should be a good one!

    UFC Vegas 9 Main Card on ESPN+:

    265 lbs.: Alistair Overeem vs. Augusto Sakai – This is an intriguing fight. For me, it really comes down to the durability of Overeem. The man can take a punch no doubt, but it’s no secret that all seven of his UFC losses have come via knockout. At Heavyweight, there’s just a smaller chance for mistakes, as the punches being thrown are heavier.

    Sakai enters this fight on the heels of a six fight win streak, winning four of those inside the octagon. Sakai offers volume striking, cardio and good takedown defense. The only knock perhaps of Sakai is that while he does have power, it’s not exactly one-punch power. It’s more of an accumulation of strikes power. For me, that gives Overeem a better chance of avoiding being knocked out.

    Overeem is a technical striker, who throws the most devastating knees in the game. Over the years, Overeem has become more patient and has really mixed in his wrestling, as well as grappling into fights. His cardio is better than most in the division too. I really believe that despite Overeem’s “durability” concerns, that Sakai’s lack thereof one-punch knockout power aids him tremendously. Overeem is good at keeping distance as well, so I can see him avoiding the volume Sakai throws. In the end, I believe that Overeem is going to hurt Sakai and finish this on the mat via TKO.


    205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Ovince Saint Preux – This is a tough fight to call. On one hand, I could see Menifield coming out of the gate with power shots and cracking OSP. You have to remember that OSP just last fought at Heavyweight, combined with his already iffy cardio and this being the second weight cut down to Light Heavyweight in two weeks – and there’s every reason to be concerned.

    However, Menifield’s last fight proved that he is more or a less, a one round fighter. He simply does not have the cardio to throw power shots over the course of 15 minutes. Given OSP has fought the who’s who, and has only been knocked out once in his twenty one UFC fights – gives me pause to believe he can weather the storm, get this fight to mat in the later rounds and win via submission.


    170 lbs.: Zelim Imadaev vs. Michel Pereira – This fight could only last a round, but it probably takes “Fight of the Night”. Pereira is a human highlight reel, doing cartwheels and flips inside the octagon. His cardio suffers from his unpredictability, but I feel like it did improve in his last fight against Deigo Sanchez. Imadaev is a striker, who has decent takedown defense. Max Griffin was able to take him down six times, whereas Danny Roberts only landed on one of eight attempts. Imadaev would lose both of those fights, with the Roberts fight being a knockout defeat.

    As for a prediction, give me Pereira. I think striking-wise, he has the edge. Then again, his unpredictability puts him in troubling spots to get hit. However, Pereira has sneaky good wrestling and I could very well see him getting this fight to mat at some point. I could also see him landing vicious ground and pound, opening up the submission – which is my prediction.



    185 lbs.: Bartosz Fabinski vs. Andre Muniz – I’m not going to discredit Muniz in this fight, but from what I’ve seen is, he’s not that hard to take down. Given Fabinski is a pure wrestler who establishes top control and stays there – I’m not really seeing how I don’t pick the specialist landing just a shade over 7 takedowns a minute. So with that, give me Fabinski to do what he does best and win this fight via decision.

    UFC Vegas 9 Prelims Card on ESPN+:

    145 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Ray Rodriguez – Jeez, Kelleher has been given his third opponent in a one week span. It’s hard to even break this fight down, given the real short notice of it. I mean, Rodriguez seems like a submission specialist. It’s hard though to gauge what his conditioning is going be like, but at least he made weight. Oh, who am I kidding. Enough talking. Kelleher is going to win this fight, most likely in the later rounds via TKO.


    125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Montana De La Rosa – I really like the grappling and overall craftiness of De La Rosa. At any time, she can pull of a submission. However, her striking is just serviceable at best. Against a striker like Araujo, whom lands over 4.5 strikes per minute and has power – the need to get this to the ground is going to be necessary. That however is going to be a tall task, as Araujo has stuffed all eight takedown attempts she’s faced in the UFC. Given Araujo has faced the likes of Jessica Eye, Alexis Davis and Talita Bernardo, the 100% takedown defense is even more impressive.

    In the end, De La Rosa is outmatched here. She could throw up a wild submission attempt and get it, but Araujo is a BJJ black belt. On the heels of her glaring advantages, give me Araujo to win this fight via decision


    135 lbs.: Hunter Azure vs. Cole Smith – Azure suffered his first professional setback, as Brian Kelleher knocked him out with a well timed right hand. Despite the knockout, I wouldn’t consider Azure “chinny”. He got caught and he simply failed to go to his bread and butter – wrestling. In this fight, Smith is outgunned. He’s a wrestler with good grappling. His strengths are neutralized by Azure, and on the feet, give me Azure has the better grasp. In the end, I feel Smith’s durability and toughness aide him in this going the distance. Unfortunately for him, Azure will be the one with his hand raised via decision.

  • UFC Fight Night 175: Smith vs. Rakic Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 175: Smith vs. Rakic Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as a pair of Light Heavyweight’s in Anthony Smith and Alexander Rakic face off in a rather more important fight than it was two weeks ago. For those of you who don’t know, the Light Heavyweight King, Jon Jones has vacated his belt. He will make his long awaited move up to Heavyweight. The newly vacated belt already will be fought for, but with a win, Smith and Rakic could find themselves within grasp of a title shot.

    UFC Vegas 8 Main Card on ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET):

    205 lbs.: Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic – This is a fun fight, but give me Rakic here. I believe Smith is truly a contender at Light Heavyweight, but between the beat down he took against Glover Teixeira and coming back a little more than three months since draws my concerns. He’s shown time and time again that he can endure punishment and even come back from it. His striking is evolving by each fight and his grappling, especially on top is tough to escape. Rakic though offers athleticism, cardio and solid striking. He’s got a nice blend of volume and power on the feet, which ultimately I see getting the job done. I believe Smith should of taken more time, as I see Rakic winning via TKO.

    170 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Neil Magny – On one hand, I see Magny fairly easily pushing Lawler to the cage early and neutralizing his striking and power. As the fight wanes, Magny will have ripe pickings against a tired and hesitant Lawler en route to a decision victory. On the other hand, I could see Lawler finding the spark against a lesser foe than what he’s faced for a long time. Power is the last thing to go and Lawler is notoriously a fast starter. As for my prediction, I’m going with Ruthless Robbie Lawler to win via knockout.

    125 lbs.: Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim – This could be a close fight, as Grasso debuts up a weight class. I’m not sure how much success she’ll find here, but in this particular fight, I believe her hand speed gets it done. Kim is notably the bigger fighter, but she doesn’t wrestle whatsoever. She would be smart to put this fight against the cage and use her size, but I doubt that happens. The fight is going to take place on the feet, and I believe the striking volume of Grasso should be able to get her a decision nod.

    145 lbs.: Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo – Unfortunately, Ryan Hall pulled out of this fight and in stepped yet again another short notice foe. The opportunity is fortunate for Algeo, but a tough one to debut against a veteran and former title challenger in Lamas. While Lamas has had a somewhat iffy chin of late, Algeo isn’t a big enough power puncher to threaten that avenue. Algeo looks to take fights to the ground, which isn’t going to work against a grappler like Lamas. Im not sure if Lamas is going to just leg kick his way to a decision victory or bring this fight to mat and wrap up a submission victory. Given the nature of this being a short notice fight, give me the later.

    UFC Vegas 8 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Maki Pitolo vs. Impa Kasanganay – I want to lean Kasanganay, due to his ability to get this fight to the mat and keep it there. That’s notoriously been Pitolo’s kryptonite, as he’s mainly a boxer who looks to batter the body. The toughest part of this fight, is that both men fought less than three ago. That means, a second weight cut and potential cardio issue. Pitolo was submitted in his fight in the first round, meanwhile Kasanganay won a three round decision. In the end, I feel like Pitolo is going to go after the body often. Kasanganay is going to land his takedowns. Come the third round, Pitolo is going to put it on a tired Kasanganay and win via TKO.

    185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Zak Cummings – Honestly, this is a tough fight to call. Both men are well rounded, but perhaps if there is any edge, it’s the power of Di Chirico. Then again, Cummings is very durable and has a pretty good chin. The one notable thing is, Cummings is fighting at his more natural weight class, but he isn’t the bigger guy anymore. At welterweight, Cummings would use his size to wrestle and grind foes. At Middleweight, the physical advantage is no longer a real threat. In what I expect to be a back and forth fight, give me the Di Chirico to erase his two fight losing streak and nab a very tight decision.

    145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Austin Springer – I’m not sure what to make of this fight. Caceres is always a curious fighter to predict. He has glimpses of what appears to be a complete mixed martial arts game. Then he doesn’t, especially when fighting lesser opponents for whatever reason. As for Springer, the former Contender Series alum makes his UFC debut on two days notice. He notably missed weight and I don’t blame him. Springer brings a decent striking game, but he is more of a wrestler. That could work for him, but I’m not sure how his cardio will fair if he can’t get the finish early. Due to the short notice nature and missed weight cut, give me Caceres to win this fight via decision.

    170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Christian Aguilera – Brady seems to have a bright future in the UFC, as his wrestling, cardio and volume striking can catapult you up in any division. Aguilera though, has a bright future too, but in bringing forth exciting finishes and memorable fights. He’s a wild man, but a finisher. Against someone like Brady, I see Aguilera’s striking being neutralized instantly by Brady’s wrestling. Eventually, Brady’s top control and ground and pound wilts Aguilera, and I see the ref stopping this one via TKO.

    115 lbs.: Polyana Viana vs. Emily Whitmire – Since entering the UFC, Viana’s scary ground game hasn’t exactly shown up and three consecutive losses have her on proverbial ropes. On the other hand Whitmire is coming off a loss to Amanda Ribas, which is no shame. Before that, she was starting to gain momentum with two consecutive wins. I believe Viana has the more dangerous skill set, but it’s hard to rely solely on that. Whitmire is the better overall fighter and if she can keep this on the feet, she’ll have an easier time grabbing the win. So with that, give me Whitmire to win via decision.

    125 lbs.: Mallory Martin vs. Hannah Cifers – I’ve got Martin here. Cifers has fought some tough competition of late, but has been thoroughly dominated. She’s purely a striker who throws volume, but her size and lack of ground game have halted her ability to win fights. Also through in the fact that Cifers has porous striking defense and I really don’t like her odds here. I expect Martin to use her more well rounded game to strike and grapple when needed. In the end, Martin gets it done via decision.

  • UFC on ESPN 15: Munhoz vs. Edgar Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 15: Munhoz vs. Edgar Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, with a very intriguing main event. The former Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar drops down to Bantamweight and is immediately welcomed by contender Pedro Munhoz. The odds favor Munhoz, but as we all know, never count out Edgar. Regardless, this should be a good one.

    UFC on ESPN 15 Main Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (8:30 p.m. ET):

    135 lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar – Finally Edgar makes his Bantamweight debut. After being the smaller fighter at Lightweight and Featherweight, Edgar will match up more evenly with his counterparts at 135 lbs. And while everyone is counting him out of this fight, I’m not. Munhoz is an excellent fighter, who is durable and very well rounded. The problem lies in Edgar’s chin, which has been a recent issue. There is no doubt, the wars that Edgar has had, may have finally put a crack in the granite chin.

    However, Munhoz isn’t a knockout artist. Yes, he knocked out Cody Garbrandt. That was a wild fight, which saw a man coming off losing two fights via knockout swing recklessly for the fences. Munhoz happened to land clean shots on a fighter putting up no defense whatsoever. Munhoz does though have power, there is no doubt. He can drop fighters, but not put them out cold.

    I can see Munhoz having early success, even staggering Edgar. I just don’t see him knocking out or submitting Edgar though. I have a feeling Edgar is going use his speed, quick combinations and potentially wrestling to neutralize Munhoz. It’s a five round fight too, so the deeper this goes, the better it is for Edgar. The man is a cardio machine and Munhoz seems to have good cardio, but does he have an extra 10 minutes of cardio? We’ll see. So with that, give me Edgar via decision.

    205 lbs.: Marcin Prachnio vs. Mike Rodriguez – Someone is getting finished in this fight and I’m not sure exactly who. Prachnio has shown nothing thus far in the UFC and is on the cusp of being sent back to the regional scene. Rodriguez is a mixed bag and it’s hard to fathom a guy with a 80.5 reach offer minimal output on the feet. I mean, pump the jab non stop. I really want to pick Prachnio, but give me Rodriguez via TKO.

    125 lbs.: Mariya Agapova vs. Shana Dobson – This is a head scratching fight. Dobson has a 3-4 record and is 0-3 in the UFC. How she’s still in the UFC is odd to me, especially after being knocked out in her last fight. Agapova has the looks to be a contender and this fight is going to make her shine even brighter. I’m foreseeing a beat down, that is highlighted by a vicious knockout.

    170 lbs.: Daniel Rodriguez vs. Dwight Grant – This is such an interesting fight, as Grant has legit one shot power. He however, doesn’t throw much output. Enter Rodriguez, who is a volume striker that appears to have good power himself. If Grant would find a way to throw a little more, he could be even more dangerous. In the end, I just can’t favor Grant’s one punch against the volume and chin of Rodriguez. So with that, give me Rodriguez via decision.

    UFC on ESPN 15 Prelims Card on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

    115 lbs.: Mizuki Inoue vs. Amanda Lemos – This is an intriguing fight and a real toss up. Inoue is young, but vastly experienced. She’s fought legit competition too, losing only to several solid fighters like Virna Jandiroba (Split), Alexa Grasso, Karolina Kowalkiewicz (Split) and Ayaka Hamasaki. She brings forth solid grappling and volume striking.

    As for Lemos, she looks to be a power puncher, whom is a real threat in the first round. She also offers grappling and submission, but her glaring issue is cardio. Against all around and experienced Inoue, who has never been finished, I see problems there. I think Lemos starts out solid early and then fades. In the end, Inoue takes this via decision.

    155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki – Hubbard has been given nothing but tough fights and has shown to be a fighter that just doesn’t give up. He’s a serviceable striker, whom has the ability to pop up after being taken down and his cardio is excellent. Now, Solecki is a solid grappler and I expect him to get Hubbard to mat early and often. However, Hubbard makes you work to keep him down and he’s got solid submission defense. The longer this fight goes, the more I see Hubbard taking over. In the end, I’ll take Hubbard’s cardio, defense and durability to grab a close decision victory.

    205 lbs.: Ike Villanueva vs. Jordan Wright – This fight honestly could go either way. Wright has already been on Dana White’s contenders series and got starched in 40 seconds. His resume speaks of a can crusher, as his first seven opponents combined for an 0-36 record. The eight opponent was then 1-2. After that, he fought more relevant fighters.

    As for Villanueva, he is a former Middleweight who just seems like a one round fighter. He doesn’t exactly offer up speed, but he’s got power. Seeing Wright rebound from the contender series to grab a solid win over Gabriel Checco in LFA was more promising of his future. I could see him avoiding the first round troubles and finishing Villanueva, but ultimately I’m going with the power of Villanueva to knockout a rather inexperienced Wright.

    170 lbs.: Carlton Minus vs. Matthew Semelsberger – Honestly this is a toss up, but I’ll go with Minus. He’s been in there with Rick Story and has fought some decent competition. So with that, give me Minus via decision.

    140 lbs.: Timur Valiev vs. Trevin Jones (catchweight) – Jones resume doesn’t appear too bad. He’s beaten some good fighters and of his losses, three are by split decision and his first came against a 17-4 opponent in only his second professional fight. However, this is a short notice fight and Valiev has been in a training camp. Valiev also is a solid wrestler and serviceable striker. I foresee Valiev using his wrestling to zap Jones and in the later rounds, piece him up on the feet. In the end, I have a Valiev taking this fight via decision.

    

  • UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 Predictions

    UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 Predictions

    As Bruce Buffer would say, “It’s Time”. The trilogy to settle the score and notion of “Greatest Heavyweight of All-Time, as Champion Stipe Miocic defends his title against Daniel Cormier. The first fight saw Cormier knockout Miocic, thus becoming simultaneously the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion. The second fight saw Cormier yet again getting the better of Miocic for three rounds, until Miocic made adjustments, attacked the body and finished Cormier. If there is anything certain about this fight, it’s that these are two of the very best in not only the Heavyweight division, but in mixed martial arts. So don’t blink!

    UFC 252 PPV Main Card on ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – This matchup is just so good, we get to see a third time. I can honestly say, this fight is just so hard to predict. Miocic is an animal, with great striking, legit power and excellent offensive wrestling. He truly is one of the greatest, if not the greatest Heavyweight of all-time. Another great is Daniel Cormier, the simultaneous two division champion. While he was finished in the 4th round and lost his Heavyweight strap to Miocic, you can’t discredit how dominate he was looking. Cormier was throughly out-striking Miocic, landing a total of 181 strikes of the 263 thrown. The problem Cormier ran into was not using his wrestling and obviously Miocic’s adjustment to attack the body. Ultimately that’s what changed the course of the fight.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Cormier. I expect him to mix in his excellent volume striking with wrestling. I also expect Cormier to make it a point not to stand in front of Miocic as much as he did. If Cormier can neutralize that aspect of Miocic and keep him on his back, the less of a threat of getting hurt and finished again. While this is Cormier’s last fight, don’t think he’s got one foot out the door. Think that he’s motivated as ever to end on a high note. So with that, give me Cormier to ride into the sunset with belt via submission.

    135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera – This fight is going to tell me what I need to see in O’Malley. Vera is an excellent fighter, whom is well rounded and a capable finisher on the feet and the ground. Vera is also extremely durable, having never been knocked out or knocked down for the matter. Vera also is vastly experienced in the UFC, having fought fourteen times compared to O’Malley’s four. Now, this isn’t discrediting Vera because I think he’s a surefire top fifteen Bantamweight. However, his biggest win to date is probably Brad Pickett or Brian Kelleher. I feel that O’Malley having just disposed of Eddie Wineland in his fourth UFC fight equals or takes the cake on best win.

    In the end, I’m going with that piston right and O’Malley to land some hard shots and piece of Vera. By round the end of round two, O’Malley closes the show on a battered Vera via TKO.

    265 lbs.: Junior dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik – This fight is a crap shoot. JDS looks physically in the best shape he’s ever been in, but durability is always a concern. Rozenstruik is coming off his first professional loss to Francis Ngannou, which isn’t anything new when fighting the “Predator”.

    While I can see Rozenstruik finishing JDS with one punch, I also could see JDS staying on the outside and using his boxing to hurt Rozenstruik. I mean, Rozenstruik doesn’t throw strikes with volume, so it’s possible for JDS to avoid it. I also should credit JDS for having somewhat striking defense. Rozenstruik gets hit way too often with no real concern. I would like to also add, JDS has sneaky good wrestling and could mix in takedowns on a rather untested Rozenstruik. In the end, I’m siding with the former champ dos Santos to get this done via knockout.

    145 lbs.: Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda – I don’t like that Burns missed weight badly, but this is a fight he should win. While Pineda is a wild man, that is is downfall in some ways. Then again, Burns cardio and missed weight cut don’t bold well the longer this fight goes. If Burns can’t get it done early, he’s going to get beat up. However, I’m going with Burns to get it done via submission,

    135 lbs.: John Dodson vs. Merab Dvalishvili – I cant decide in this fight. On one hand, I believe Dodson’s cardio, takedown defense, speed and power could all lead to an upset victory. I especially could see the later the fight goes, the better it will be for him to strike and land something. On the other hand, Dvalishvili truly is a machine. The main can chain wrestle like no other. I mean, he’s fought six times in the UFC and has landed 52 takedowns. Think about this, if Dvalishvili lands 8 takedowns in this fight, he becomes 9th all-time in UFC history in just seven fights. That would be more than Khabib Nurmagomedov and Curtis Blaydes.

    As for a prediction, I’ll go with Dvalishvili on the strength of two relentless rounds of takedowns and control. In the end, give me Dvalishvili via decision.

    UFC 252 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Jim Miller vs. Vinc Pichel – With this bout, Miller will have the most bouts in the UFC octagon at 36. He is a legitimate badass and a true Ironman in this sport. As for predicting this fight, I have Pichel winning. While Miller is always a threat, with his toughness and excellent submission prowess, I feel that Pichel is severely underrated. I understand though, as his age and inactivity don’t exactly help his cause. I also understand also that his takedown defense is at a mere 22% in the Octagon. However, that number is overblown given Rustam Khabilov took him down 19 times and Gregor Gillespie added 7 of his own too.

    While I’m not going to say Pichel has good takedown defense, I don’t think it’s terrible, especially given his ability to pop right back up. Given that, I’m expecting most of this fight taking place on the feet. While Miller can strike, Pichel is the better of the two. Pichel offers power, which I feel like is going to be the difference. In the end, I smell a knockout victory from Hell Pichel.

    115 lbs.: Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba – Herrig has fought some of the best and has faired well. She has good boxing and decent wrestling abilities. However, she’s lost two straight fights and has been out for nearly two years. I see this return fight as not ideal. Jandiroba is an excellent grappler with legit top control and submissions. I believe she will get this fight to mat and control Herrig. I don’t foresee a finish given the toughness and submission defense of Herrig. So with that, give me Jandiroba via decision.

    145 lbs.: T.J. Brown vs. Danny Chavez – I was back and forth with this prediction, but ultimately I’m siding with Chavez. While I was impressed with the wrestling attack Brown showed against Jordan Griffin, his cardio suspect chin remains problematic. On the regional scene, Brown proved to be a finisher, but of his 14 wins, only four of those have come against fighters with an above .500 record. Chavez’s resume to me is slightly better, but what I like more is his cardio and knockout power. I’m foreseeing Brown coming out strong, but Chavez taking over the later this fight goes and ultimately winning via knock out.

    115 lbs.: Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder – I was excited when Souza made the jump from Invicta FC to the UFC. However, she’s been a mixed bag. She was given a gimme in her debut, and then another stepping stone, but edged that one out via split decision. Then, Brianna Van Buren throughly controlled and dominated Souza. In other words, I’m going with Yoder. She’s a well rounded fighter with a great bottom game, should she taken down. Yoder has good striking, but doesn’t offer volume. Where she wins this fight is by landing the cleaner shots and by controlling Souza against the cage. So with that, give me Yoder via decision.

    UFC 252 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: Chris Daukaus vs. Parker Porter – This is a tough call, as this really could go either. Daukaus is a one round fighter, with legit knockout power. Poor takedown defense and shoddy cardio have been his downfall. Porter, whom has fought Jon Jones and Gabriel Gonzaga finally makes his UFC debut at the age of 35. While Porter isn’t a cardio machine himself, he does offer a more well rounded skill set that includes a ground game. Of his nine wins, 4 of have come via submission. As for a prediction, Daukaus resume coming in is less than thrilling, as his nine victories have to opponents that combine for a 21-18 record. Porter’s resume isn’t anything special, but the competition has been better. So with that, I’ll take Porter via submission.

    145 lbs.: Kai Kamaka III vs. Tony Kelley – Kamaka beat Rick James. That’s enough for me to be convinced he takes this fight via decision.