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  • UFC Fight Night 174: Lewis vs. Oleinik Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 174: Lewis vs. Oleinik Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as they bring forth an exciting card to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the card is two Heavyweight contenders in Derrick Lewis and Alexey Oleinik. The two couldn’t be more opposite, as Lewis knocks his opponents out, while Oleinik prefers to choke the, unconscious. This fight should be fast and furious from the start and it certainly ain’t going five rounds. So don’t blink!

    UFC Vegas 6 Main Card On ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Aleksei Oleinik – I honestly don’t know what to make of this fight. On one hand, I can see Derrick Lewis landing a power shot that puts Oleinik out cold. It should be noted, the man is 42 years old and has three knockout defeats in his last seven fights. On the other hand, I can see Oleinik taking Lewis down and submitting him. Lewis has notably poor takedown defense, albeit he can pop back up with sheer power. Lewis also doesn’t throw enough, so Oleinik just has to be patient.

    As for prediction, give me Lewis. I believe Oleinik will come out striking and throwing power shots. Hell, he might stun and force Lewis to backpedal. He will get too complacent and not shoot nearly in time, as Lewis cracks him with a power shot and finished him nasty ground pound. So with that, I have Lewis winning via knockout.

    185 lbs.: Omari Akhmedov vs. Chris Weidman – It’s easy to write-off Weidman, the former Middleweight king. He’s 1-5 in his last six fights and has been finished in every loss. However, in this 1-5 skid, it should be noted he’s faced nothing but the best of the division. In fights against Yoel Romero and Jacare Souza, Weidman was arguably winning until being cracked with fight ending shots. I also would like to note during this skid, that Weidman took down each opponent.

    Akhmedov gets his due here, as he’s neared seven years in the UFC and his recent string of success has elevated him to facing a former Champion. Akhmedov has a pretty well rounded game, but he excels with his wrestling. If he can take you down, his top control is smothering and hard to get up from. Striking-wise, he’s rather inaccurate, but he does have solid striking-defense. Akhmedov has some iffy cardio too, which is especially concerning in a fight against a cardio machine like Weidman.

    As for a prediction, I’m going with Weidman. He’s the far superior wrestler and striker in this contest. This will be the first time he’s fought a lesser foe in quite some time. I worry about his durability, but given his talent and the intangibles of his height and significant reach advantage, I suspect he will be just fine. Akhmedov has some power, but he telegraphs his strikes often. So with that, give me Weidman via submission.

    185 lbs.: Maki Pitolo vs. Darren Stewart – I realize Pitolo throws bombs, but his takedown defense is awful. And while Stewart too is striker with power, he’s sneakily added a pretty good wrestling game. Stewart’s mainly used it to keep the fight standing, but I suspect he will use it in this fight to control it on the ground. So with that, give me the “Dentist” to the win via decision.

    135 lbs.: Yana Kunitskaya vs. Julija Stoliarenko – I’m not familiar with Stoliarenko, but Kunitskaya is a solid Bantamweight. She’s got a well rounded skill set and should be noted for her solid durability. I mean, she can take punishment. I see no reason for her to lose this fight, other than a quick armbar or something. So with that, give me Kunitskaya to mix in striking volume and takedowns to take decision victory.

    155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Scott Holtzman – If I’m being honest, Dariush may very well just grab a hold of Holtzman and submit him. He is the better striker, wrestler and grappling. What Dariush is iffy with is cardio and durability. Both in which are strengths of Holtzman. While my initial thought is Holtzman can whether the storm and take over late in the fight, I’m not banking on it. Dariush has cling-wrap like grappling and is one of the best submission hunters in the UFC. So with that, give me Dariush via submission.

    UFC Vegas 6 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

    170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Laureano Staropoli – It’s easy to question the durability of Means, as he’s been finished several times of late. However, he’s still an effective striker and as long as he keeps distance, he should be fine in this fight. Staropoli is a good striker too, bringing forth volume and power. While I wouldn’t be surprised if he caught Means, I believe the only way he can win this striking contest, is by getting past the jab and inside the pocket. Then again, Means has standing elbows if he chooses too. I also like that Means has some decent wrestling chops and isn’t afraid to toss in a takedown now and then. So with that, give me Means winning via decision.

    185 lbs.: Joaquin Buckley vs. Kevin Holland – I’m not familiar with Buckley, but kudos to him stepping up to the plate here on short notice. While the fight isn’t ideal, it’s not like it’s not winnable. Holland is a talent, who’s very well rounded. Problem is, he has real iffy fight IQ and often puts himself in disadvantageous positions. That’s problematic against the upper echelon. Fortunately Buckley isn’t in that class. So with that, I have Holland winning via TKO.

    155 lbs.: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Alex Munoz – Haqparast was building a bit of momentum heading into his fight against Drew Dober, but that was halted as Dober finished him. However, Haqparast is still a talented prospect in the Lightweight division. I believe this match-up is a bounce back fight. Munoz is a talented wrestler, but Haqparast has notably good takedown defense. On the feet, it’s all Haqparast. Throw in the fact that Munoz hasn’t fought in a year and is taking this fight on short notice and you have the ingredients of a disaster of a debut. So with that, I have Haqparast winning via Knockout.

    185 lbs.: Andrew Sanchez vs. Wellington Turman – If UFC fights only lasted one round, Sanchez would be a title contender. His wrestling and ground and pound are exceptional. His gas tank however, is abysmal. On at least two separate occasions, Sanchez stormed out of the gate earlier and by the later part of round two, the tides changed. By round three, Sanchez was finished. Regardless of this, I believe Sanchez is a better wrestler and grappler than Turman. Given that is Turman’s bread and butter, I’m not likening his chances. I mean, he can’t even fall back on his striking because it’s serviceable at best. So with that, Ihave Sanchez winning via decision.

    145 lbs.: Gavin Tucker vs. Justin Jaynes – I’m not sure what think of Jaynes yet. He’s aggressive and he’s got power for sure. The way he blitzkrieged a brawler like Frank Camacho was perfect. Outside of the power, I’m not sure what his gas tank looks like. I know Tucker hasn’t exactly shined thus far in the UFC, but he’s got technique and hand speed on the feet. His takedown defense is problematic, but he’s got some good grappling and submissions. In the end, I favor Tucker to outpoint Jaynes on the feet for a decision victory.

    145 lbs.: Youssef Zalal vs. Peter Barrett – I like the way they are building up Zalal. He seems to be a young prospect at Featherweight, whom is fairly well rounded. He mixes his wrestling in well with his striking, which goes a long way. I expect very few issues here, as Zalal comfortably gets a decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Irwin Rivera vs. Ali Al-Qaisi – I’m not too familiar with Al-Qaisi, but Rivera showed durability and heart in his debut up a weight class against Giga Chikadze. Now, back at his weight class, I expect the power shots he displayed in his debut to factor more into his fights. So with that, give me Rivera winning via TKO.

  • UFC Fight Night 173: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 173: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as they return from Fight Island to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the event is a pair of Middleweights looking to make the leap up into contender ship in Derek Brunson and Edmen Shahbazyan. The winner undoubtedly aligns themselves into a top five opponent the next fight, so expect a neither to give in here.

    UFC Fight Night 173 Main Card On ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan – As much as I like the patient and less overly-aggressive Brunson nowadays, he’s become less of a threat on the feet than he used to be. He’s more defensive to protect his chin and picks his shots offensively. I appreciate that, but it would be nice if he broke his habit of telegraphing his takedowns. He’s got excellent wrestling, but it’s better suited with proper execution. Shahbazyan is turning into a real contender. He’s got precise, yet powerful striking. He’s physically strong and works hard to bring the fight to the mat. His grappling is tough to deal with and his striking and takedown defense are all pluses.

    While Brunson is a tough task, his iffy chin and lack of proper wrestling execution puts him at disadvantages he can’t recover from. Even with the more patient approach, I see Shahbazyan cracking and finishing Brunson via TKO.

    125 lbs.: Joanne Calderwood vs. Jennifer Maia – Something tells me that Calderwood wouldn’t take this fight if she didn’t believe she was definitely better than Maia. After all, a title shot promised equals the biggest pay day of her career. With logistics aside, I’ve got Calderwood. I believe her ability to stay on the outside and pump that jab, and add additional volume striking outweighs Maia’s average striking volume and pop. The ability of Calderwood to mix in takedowns will aid the decision too, as Maia hasn’t shown anything once on her back to be daunted about going into her guard. In the end, Calderwood gets a nice little paycheck and another three rounds of action before fighting for the title. So with that, give me Calderwood winning via decision.

    170 lbs.: Vicente Luque vs. Randy Brown – I really like Brown and his maturation, but this feels awfully too soon to me. Less than three years ago, he struggled with a really raw Mickey Gall. His cardio ended up pulling him through there. He then got finished awkwardly against Niko Price, but bounced back with two stoppage victories over Bryan Barberena and Warlley Alves.

    Two notable tough outs. Now, he’s tasked with Luque? The man whom has arguably the best chin in the game? Whom also throws punches in ridiculous volume, topping over 130 significant strikes twice in his last five fights. The ground game of Luque is excellent too, so Brown can wrestle, but will have to evade submission attempts and sweeps to remain on top. All in all, this seems too soon to me for a fight against a welterweight juggernaut per say. So with that, I have Luque winning via TKO

    155 lbs.: Lando Vannata vs. Bobby Green – The first fight was an all out war, and I’m not expecting anything different this time around. I however edge Green in this fight. While both men are similar in that they have iffy fight IQ, I’ll take Green’s consistent head shaking that a punch didn’t hurt him over the lack of consistency over three rounds Vannata struggles with. He’s dynamic and a dam buzzsaw, but instead of staying on the outside and picking apart his opponents, he likes to go punch for punch. Green actually shows off good striking defense albeit his tendency to make it known his opponent didn’t hurt him when they land. Green also has good wrestling and can mix that in, although I doubt it in this fight. In the end, Green edges it out via decision with the cleaner and more damaging strikes.

    205 lbs.: Ed Herman vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Fight cancelled

    185 lbs.: Trevin Giles vs. Kevin Holland – I really believe Holland is a talent whom can challenge for the Middleweight strap one day. I mean, he’s got such a well rounded game and a cast iron chin. His main flaw though is his ability to put himself in disadvantageous positions. Against the upper echelon, that won’t work. Hell its cost him a fight and nearly a few other. If he can shore up his fight IQ, we got a problem at Middleweight.

    While Giles has power on the feet and good takedown defense, his work rate on the feet lacks. Against a busy fighter like Holland, that’s not going to get it done. So with that, I have Holland winning via decision.

    UFC Fight Night 173 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    135 lbs.: Jonathan Martinez vs. Frankie Saenz – This fight is intriguing in that I see a lot of X factors. For one, the durability and cardio of Saenz has become a concern for the now 39 year old. The wrestling remains, but the willingness to stand a little too long can be an issue. Another factor is, can Martinez stop a takedown? His 33% takedown defense says otherwise. With youth on his side and being less of a concern to tire or get hurt, I’ll take questionable takedown defense and say that Martinez edges out some rounds by really hurting Saenz in the later rounds. So with that, I have Martinez winning via decision.

    145 lbs.: Nate Maness vs. Johnny Munoz – This fight is as last second as it gets. It seemingly is your classic striker vs. grappler. And given the short notice of it, I got the grappler Munoz winning via decision.

    145 lbs.: Jamall Emmers vs. Vincent Cachero – I don’t believe Cachero is not UFC caliber, but this debut isn’t doing him any favors. Emmers is a well rounded talent, whom features some legit stopping power. The man nearly edged out a superior striker in Giga Chikadze in his debut and up until Aljamain Sterling, he was the only man to defeat Cory Sandhagen. While Cachero will have the speed edge, coming up a weight class on short notice is going to be his downfall, as Emmers power will wane on him. In the end, I see Emmers walking away with a knockout victory.

    135 lbs.: Chris Gutierrez vs. Cody Durden – Gutierrez has really come into his own of late, tallying three consecutive wins. The last being his most impressive to date, finishing Vince Morales with leg kicks. Durden enters this fight a winner of seven straight, finishing all of his opponents in that span. However, his resume leaves a lot to be desired. This is not the ideal welcome to the UFC, as Gutierrez is starting to find his stride and using his entire arsenal of strikes. While the first round might be competitive, I expect Gutierrez to thoroughly outpoint Durden en route to a decision victory.

  • UFC on ESPN 14: Whittaker vs. Till Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 14: Whittaker vs. Till Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as they come to the tail end of the month long fight cards at Fight Island. Headlining the event, is the former Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker taking on the former Welterweight title challenger Darren Till. Both men are among the best strikers in the UFC, and thus making it possible we are in for a good one.

    UFC On ESPN 14 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till – This is an intriguing main event. Till is a tall task for anyone. He’s a patient striker whom looks to stay on the outside and pick apart opponents. He’s physically strong too, which has aided his takedown defense. I feel like he’d be a more dangerous fighter if he used that strength and learned a bit of wrestling to go with his striking. Regardless, he’s of Championship quality as is.

    As for the former Middleweight Champion Whittaker, what’s there more to say. He’s a polished striker, with sneaky good grappling and excellent takedown defense. He’s a willing brawler, but at the same time can effectively stay at range and pick a foe apart. He’s extremely durable, regardless of getting finished in his last fight. You have to remember, this man spent 50 minutes in the cage with Yoel Romero and ate everything and the kitchen sink.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Whittaker. While I’m wary that Whittaker likes to leap in to strike and could get countered, I’m positive he’s going to be smarter in this fight. It’s his first fight since losing the title and he’s still only 29, and hungry to reclaim UFC gold. Till is a little too upright and hesitant to throw volume for me to see him winning here. Whittaker is going to throw volume and it’s up to Till to counter him with a big shot to keep up with that. I don’t see it though. In the end, I believe Whittaker is going land something late in the fight and win via TKO.

    205 lbs.: Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – This fight is a tough one. Two Legends, whom are clearly fighting on borrowed time. Well, maybe just Nogueira. I mean, in nearly a nine year span, Nogueira has fought seven times. He’s gone 3-4 over that span, with three of losses coming via knockout. Make it four. While durability is a concern for both, I trust Rua more to take a shot at this point. After all, the man is 4-1-1 in his last six fights. So with that, I have Rua winning via knockout.

    265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Where the hell do you start? Gustafsson retired and now is back as a Heavyweight. Werdum returned from a lengthy layoff a few months ago and got beat by a fellow grappler Alexey Oleinik. Werdum looked out of shape and his usual impressive striking defense was non-existent. Throw in the fact that he’s on his last fight of his UFC contract and said he’s done with them.

    Could Werdum spoil Gustafsson’s Heavyweight debut? Yes. Will he? No. Werdum wants out and came back two months after looking like a shell of himself. I’m not expecting any drastic change. Gustafsson uses his speed and movement to stay on the outside and pick apart Werdum over three rounds for a decision nod.

    115 lbs.: Carla Esparza vs. Marina Rodriguez – If Esparza fights like she did against Gadelha, I feel like she can edge out Rodriguez. However, her last outing against Michelle Waterson wasn’t particularly her best. In my opinion, Rodriguez is a problem. She’s a relentless striker, whom provides volume and pressures her foes. She’s got some pop too. The only weakness that Rodriguez has been exploited by, is wrestling. Now, Esparza has wrestling for days. I’m sure she can get Rodriguez down, but can she keep her down and avoid getting slowed down by Rodriguez’s strikes? I’m not so sure. In the end, I smell a split decision in the favor of Rodriguez.

    205 lbs.: Paul Craig vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov – This fight either ends very quickly, with most likely Antigulov locking something up. OR, Craig survives early troubles, Antigulov tires and succumbs to Craig via submission. Given Antigoluv is a one round fighter and Craig has shown durability against tougher foes, I’m siding with him to weather the storm and lock up a submission victory.

    170 lbs.: Alex Oliveira vs. Peter Sobotta – While Oliveira hasn’t looked himself of late, I believe he’s due for a bounce back here. Sobotta, has made the most of his second stint in the UFC, going 4-2. However, those 6 fights have come over a span of a little more than 6 years. Throw in the fact that he hasn’t fought in over two years and I’m just not feeling the inactivity. Oliveira is a technical striker with pop and if he can get some leg kicks going, I’m foreseeing a TKO stoppage at some point via a body shot.

    170 lbs.: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Rhys McKee – So…Chimaev looks to be the real deal. Not to get too crazy, but his debut was nothing short of dominant. He rag-dolled John Phillips to the ground and never stopped punching him for a round straight. The next round, more or less the same, but with Chimaev mercifully ending the fight via submission. I’m expecting the same here.

    UFC On ESPN 14 Prelims Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Jai Herbert vs. Francisco Trinaldo – I’m not sure what to expect now with Trinaldo missing weight, but the man has showed no signs of slowing down. He’s still an effective striker with pop and a very good grappler. The gas tank is always a concern and you’d have to think father time is going tap him on the shoulder one of these days. I’m going with not today, as I’ve got Trinaldo winning via decision.

    170 lbs.: Nicolas Dalby vs. Jesse Ronson – Dalby should roll here relatively easy. That’s not because Ronson isn’t UFC caliber, but more so because he’s simply had very little to no success as a Welterweight. In fact, he’s 1-3 and the one victory came over nine years ago. On the other hand, Dalby is fresh off an impressive return to the UFC by defeating Alex Oliveira. Dalby showcases relentlessness and pressure. He mixes in takedowns and striking well. He’s got good top control to boot. In the end, Dalby takes home a dominant decision victory.

    265 lbs.: Tom Aspinall vs. Jake Collier – I’m not familiar with Aspinall, but he’s the favorite in this fight. Those odds probably reflect the fact that Collier hasn’t fought in nearly three years and was fighting at Middleweight four years ago. I’m not sure what to expect, but Collier has had a mixed bag of success and failure in the Octagon. His chin was a concern, but he showed toughness and the will not to give up. His striking is his where he shines, as he provides volume. At Heavyweight, I don’t know what to expect on that front. With little what to expect, I’ll go with Collier winning via TKO.

    145 lbs.: Movsar Evloev vs. Mike Grundy – This is a tough fight to call. Evloev looks the part thus far, showing a well rounded game highlighted by excellent wrestling and grappling. The striking comes with volume and the gas tank is there too. Grundy, is a wrestler by trade. However, Grundy has got power in his hands and that was evident in his debut. While I suspect the wrestling to cancel out somewhat, the relentlessness of Evloev could lead to a few. Evloev also has the volume striking to lean on. While Evloev could get cracked by Grundy, I feel he’s the safer option. Evloev’s ability and awareness to win rounds is evident and I see him taking this fight via decision.

    265 lbs.: Tanner Boser vs. Raphael Pessoa – The Canadian Heavyweight Boser makes a quick return after an impressive and stunning knockout victory over Philipe Lins. I’m not expecting the same here, but I believe it’s appropriate to see Boser using a heavy dose of leg kicks and strikes to outpoint Pessoa via decision.

    135 lbs.: Bethe Correia vs. Pannie Kianzad – On one hand, I feel like Correia overachieve’s in fights I expect her to lose. She’s tough and will throw volume, even if she could be a little erratic at times. Kianzad though looked dam good in her fight back at Bantamweight. She was light on her feet and was pumping her jab over and over. In what I expect to be a close fight, I’m siding with Pianzad on the heel of her last performance to take this via decision.

    170 lbs.: Ramazan Emeev vs. Niklas Stolze – While Emeev is certainly a talent, he’s yet to show UFC fans the striking and power he established while fighting for M-1. He’s mainly used his physical strength and wrestling to bully and grind out victories. Perhaps with four UFC fights under Emeev’s belt, we begin to see the evolution. However, for now, I’ll safely say that Emeev takes this bout via decision.

    135 lbs.: Nathaniel Wood vs. John Castaneda – While Wood has shown shaky striking defense in his UFC tenure, he’s made it up with good offensive striking, good wrestling and a real submission hunter. In fact, all three of his UFC wins come via that. Make it four.

  • UFC Fight Night 172: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 172: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 Predictions

    The UFC is back with its 3rd fight card on Fight Island in a weeks span. Headlining the card is a rematch between Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez for the vacant Flyweight Championship. The Flyweight title should Figueiredo’s after he defeated Benavidez in the initial fight for the vacant belt, but he missed weight, deeming him ineligible. Figueiredo has made weight however and destined to repeat the result fro, the first contest. Benavidez though, is probably staring at his last chance for UFC gold and will shore up his game to win at any cost. This should be a fun one.

    UFC Fight Island 2 Main Card On ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez for vacant flyweight title – I’m kind of back and forth with this one. In the first fight, I had Figueiredo based on his power and Benavidez’s iffy chin nowadays. However, Benavidez looked pretty good in the first round plus on the feet, landing lots of volume. Then came a few head clashes, and ultimately the knockout blow by Figueiredo and hammer fist to finish it. I believe if Benavidez can make it past the first three rounds, he’s going to win a decision on sheer volume. My concern though again is his chin. And it’s exposed for mainly the entirety of the feet because Figueiredo is so strong for this weight class and has solid takedown defense. His punching power is such a threat too, especially early on the feet. While, I am concerned about cardio and getting outpointed, I’m just not sold on Benavidez avoiding a power punch. So with that, give me Figueiredo winning via knockout.

    185 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jack Hermanssonn – I’m not sure about this fight. I believe Gastelum is best suited in the Welterweight division, but is tough task for anyone in the Middleweight division. He’s beaten a lot of veterans, perhaps fighters out of their prime. However, Hermansson’s resume kind of follows that path too. The difference in this fight for me is weather Hermansson can get this to the ground. I believe Gastelum is the better striker and has the speed edge for sure. If Gastelum gets taken down, Hermansson should grind out a decision. However, I’ll go against my better judgement and side with Gastelum keeping this on the feet for the majority of the fight. In the end, I believe Gastelum wins via late TKO.

    155 lbs.: Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev – I’m not sold on Diakiese yet, but I’m not even close to being sold on Fiziev now. I believe Diakiese is going to be smart in this fight, using distance and well timed takedowns to control the pure striker Fiziev. In the end, I foresee Diakiese’s wrestling and top control leading to an eventual submission victory.

    125 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Ariane Lipski – While Carolina can win this on sheer output, I believe Lipski is going to edge this fight using distance and landing the harder shots. I’m not confident on this one, but Lipski has vast experience and she needs to keep righting the ship after an abysmal start to her UFC tenure. So with that, give me Lipski via decision.

    125 lbs.: Askar Askarov vs. Alexandre Pantoja – This is going to be an exciting back and forth fight. I’m leaning Pantoja, given that I see him as the better striker and I slightly the edge him in the grappling department. He’s also got power, durability and a killer instinct to go for the finish. Askarov though has the cardio edge and in the later rounds, given the pace of this fight, could prove to be the difference here. In the end, I expect scrambles galore and a tired Pantoja just edging this one out via decision.

    UFC Fight Island 2 Main Card On ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez for vacant flyweight title

    185 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jack Hermansson

    155 lbs.: Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev

    125 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Ariane Lipski – While Carolina can win this on sheer output, I believe Lipski is going to edge this fight via using distance

    125 lbs.: Askar Askarov vs. Alexandre Pantoja

    UFC Fight Island 2 ‘Prelims’ Undercard On ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

    205 lbs.: Roman Dolidze vs. Khadis Ibragimov – Right of the gate side, I’m siding with Dolidze. Ibragimov has shown me the ability to come out strong early, but fade really hard late. He looks to have power, but thus far hasn’t finished anyone in his two UFC bouts. Ibragimov’s most recent fight against Ed Herman was pretty disappointing, given he lost to an aging veteran. So with that, give me the powerful Dolidze to outlast Ibragimov’s initial burst and win this via late TKO.

    150 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Nad Narimani (catchweight) – Dawson is a stud wrestler and grappler, whom just needs to sharpen his striking to make the ultimate leap of being a force at 145 lbs. Narimani is a good boxer with good wrestling himself. However, the wrestling of Dawson will be just too much for him to deal with. In the end, I see Dawson locking up his third submission victory in the UFC.

    155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Joe Duffy – It’s kind of odd to me that Alvarez has yet to attempt a takedown thus far in his UFC tenure. Of his 16 wins, not only has he finished all his opponents, but he’s submitted 14 of them. However, Duffy is a submission wizard himself, so I’m not quite afraid of that. I’m more so concerned over Duffy’s mentality. He’s fought once in almost a three year span and hasn’t tasted victory in over three years. While I believe he gets the job done, by landing with a shy more volume than Alvarez, it’s definitely not a lock as the odds indicate. I believe we are in for a close one here and I wouldn’t be surprised if Alvarez wins, but I’m going with Duffy to bounce back with the decision nod.

    135 lbs.: Montel Jackson vs. Brett Johns – I believe that Jackson is a future contender in the division. He’s physically imposing and has a strong wrestling attack. His striking is improving and he’s got some power for sure. My concern is cardio. Come the third round, he’s clearly lost steam. Against a guy like Johns, that’s going to be his downfall in this fight. Johns is a cardio machine, who pushes a fast pace. He’s got a solid overall game, but leans more so on his wrestling. His takedown defense is usually stout, as prior to his last fight, he was sitting at around 79%. In that span too, he fought guys like Aljamain Sterling and Pedro Munhoz. In the end, while it’s feasible Jackson can win on the heels of two strong rounds, I believe the pace in this fight is going to have a tide change late in the second. I believe Johns steals the round and the fight in the third, en route to a decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Malcolm Gordon vs. Amir Albazi – These are two debuting talents in the Flyweight division, whom are fighting up a weight class. Gordon is coming off a spectacular submission victory over highly regarded and formerly undefeated Yoni Sherbatov. Meanwhile Albazi rebounded from his first career loss to the talented Jose Torres, by winning by a quick submission over Ryan Curtis. As for a prediction, I’ve got Albazi. I feel like both have good overall games, and I can envision the scrambles in this fight being bonkers. However, Gordon appears to have durability concerns. Albazi should be able to exploit that given his high pace and win this fight via TKO.

    155 lbs.: Davi Ramos vs. Arman Tsarukyan – This is an intriguing fight, as Ramos is a decorated BJJ practitioner and Tsarukyan is a prospect with excellent wrestling. I believe that Ramos is at a disadvantage here though, as his striking isn’t as polished as Tsarukyan and the only way he wins this fight is by taking down Tsarukyan. I just don’t see that happening. Tsarukyan has solid takedown defense, which has only really been penetrated by one of the better wrestler’s in the UFC in Islam Makhachev. In the end, Tsarukyan shrugs off the grappling of Ramos and picks him apart on the feet en route to a decision.

    265 lbs.: Carlos Felipe vs. Serghei Spivac – Felipe is an undefeated prospect, and hasn’t fought in three years due to popping for a banned substance under USADA. Other than having power, their is very little information to go on. Spivac on the other hand is a competent striker, whom is more keen to getting the fight to the mat with his wrestling. From there, he’s a solid submission game, with six of his ten games coming via that. Make it seven, as I see Spivac getting this fight to the mat over and over and submitting a tired Felipe.

    UFC Fight Island 2 ‘Prelims’ Undercard On ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

    205 lbs.: Roman Dolidze vs. Khadis Ibragimov – Right of the gate side, I’m siding with Dolidze. Ibragimov has shown me the ability to come out strong early, but fade really hard late. He looks to have power, but thus far hasn’t finished anyone in his two UFC bouts. Ibragimov’s most recent fight against Ed Herman was pretty disappointing, given he lost to an aging veteran. So with that, give me the powerful Dolidze to outlast Ibragimov’s initial burst and win this via late TKO.

    150 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Nad Narimani (catchweight) – Dawson is a stud wrestler and grappler, whom just needs to sharpen his striking to make the ultimate leap of being a force at 145 lbs. Narimani is a good boxer with good wrestling himself. However, the wrestling of Dawson will be just too much for him to deal with. In the end, I see Dawson locking up his third submission victory in the UFC.

    155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Joe Duffy – It’s kind of odd to me that Alvarez has yet to attempt a takedown thus far in his UFC tenure. Of his 16 wins, not only has he finished all his opponents, but he’s submitted 14 of them. However, Duffy is a submission wizard himself, so I’m not quite afraid of that. I’m more so concerned over Duffy’s mentality. He’s fought once in almost a three year span and hasn’t tasted victory in over three years. While I believe he gets the job done, by landing with a shy more volume than Alvarez, it’s definitely not a lock as the odds indicate. I believe we are in for a close one here and I wouldn’t be surprised if Alvarez wins, but I’m going with Duffy to bounce back with the decision nod.

    135 lbs.: Montel Jackson vs. Brett Johns – I believe that Jackson is a future contender in the division. He’s physically imposing and has a strong wrestling attack. His striking is improving and he’s got some power for sure. My concern is cardio. Come the third round, he’s clearly lost steam. Against a guy like Johns, that’s going to be his downfall in this fight. Johns is a cardio machine, who pushes a fast pace. He’s got a solid overall game, but leans more so on his wrestling. His takedown defense is usually stout, as prior to his last fight, he was sitting at around 79%. In that span too, he fought guys like Aljamain Sterling and Pedro Munhoz. In the end, while it’s feasible Jackson can win on the heels of two strong rounds, I believe the pace in this fight is going to have a tide change late in the second. I believe Johns steals the round and the fight in the third, en route to a decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Malcolm Gordon vs. Amir Albazi – These are two debuting talents in the Flyweight division, whom are fighting up a weight class. Gordon is coming off a spectacular submission victory over highly regarded and formerly undefeated Yoni Sherbatov. Meanwhile Albazi rebounded from his first career loss to the talented Jose Torres, by winning by a quick submission over Ryan Curtis. As for a prediction, I’ve got Albazi. I feel like both have good overall games, and I can envision the scrambles in this fight being bonkers. However, Gordon appears to have durability concerns. Albazi should be able to exploit that given his high pace and win this fight via TKO.

    155 lbs.: Davi Ramos vs. Arman Tsarukyan – This is an intriguing fight, as Ramos is a decorated BJJ practitioner and Tsarukyan is a prospect with excellent wrestling. I believe that Ramos is at a disadvantage here though, as his striking isn’t as polished as Tsarukyan and the only way he wins this fight is by taking down Tsarukyan. I just don’t see that happening. Tsarukyan has solid takedown defense, which has only really been penetrated by one of the better wrestler’s in the UFC in Islam Makhachev. In the end, Tsarukyan shrugs off the grappling of Ramos and picks him apart on the feet en route to a decision.

    265 lbs.: Carlos Felipe vs. Serghei Spivac – Felipe is an undefeated prospect, and hasn’t fought in three years due to popping for a banned substance under USADA. Other than having power, their is very little information to go on. Spivac on the other hand is a competent striker, whom is more keen to getting the fight to the mat with his wrestling. From there, he’s a solid submission game, with six of his ten games coming via that. Make it seven, as I see Spivac getting this fight to the mat over and over and submitting a tired Felipe.

  • UFC on ESPN 13: Kattar vs. Ige Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 13: Kattar vs. Ige Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 13 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

     

    145 lbs. Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige – This is an excellent fight and I’ve been back and forth with my prediction. Kattar might as well be the boogeyman of the division. He’s a killer in the octagon, whom has an excellent skillset that no one wants a part of . His name value isn’t quite there yet with the casuals, but this main event is perfect time to reach them. Ige on the other hand, is coming into this bout on fire. He’s won six straight fights and is quickly become a contender. While I didnt think he won his last fight against Barboza, it was close and he went toe to toe with one of the bdst strikers in the division.

    As for a prediction, Ive got Ige. I just think he’s a dog. He’s one of those scrappy, well rounded fighters, whom isn’t deterred at any moment in the fight. Kattar is a savage and is the more technical and precise puncher. Kattar also boast some good takedown defense. However, Ige has been gaining confidence each fight with his striking. He throws bombs, at times recklessly. Yet, I think it works here with Kattar’s inability to avoid getting hit. And over five rounds, I feel like Ige is going to land something dramatic or perhaps cut up Kattar. So with that, I’ll take Ige via late stoppage.

    125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Ryan Benoit – While Benoit has the wrestling and power, his cardio and durability are questionable. That’s not to say, Elliott isnt flawed either. His cardio and inability to stay out of disadvantageous positions are problematic. However, I liken Elliott here, despite his inconsistencies. I believe his ability to storm opponents, take them down and look for submissions will work here. Benoit is a good wrestler, but defensively can be a tad suspect.

    145 lbs.: Jimmie Rivera vs. Cody Stamann – This fight is essentially a coin flip in my opinion. It’s also between two similar fighters, in that they are stocky wrestlers whom are physically strong with great bases. Rivera, at one point, had won twenty consecutive fights with six of those coming in the UFC. Destined for a title shot, things went south, as he dropped three of his last four fights. On the other hand, Stamann enters this fight 12-1-1 over his last fourteen fights. He’s won five fights inside the octagon, and his lone loss came to current number one contender Aljamain Sterling.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Rivera. While the trajectory’s of each of these fighters is going in the opposite direction, I liken here Rivera slightly. I believe this figh takes place strictly on the feet, as their wrestling is a wash. Rivera lands slightly less output then Stamann, but it’s the leg kicks of Rivera that I believe make the difference here. If he can chop Stamann down, by round three, he should have an easier time outpointing him. In the end, I have Rivera getting the nod via decision.

    125 lbs.: Molly McCann vs. Talia Santos – While Santos seems to have an impressive skill set, her resume before signing with the UFC is chalk full of cans. Her debut also wasn’t the best, as she didn’t find much success until Mara Romero Borella tired. McCann is a pressure fighter, who works in takedowns and is a volume striker. She’s also got solid cardio, durability and just will to win. Unless Santos tries to chop down McCann with leg kicks, I don’t see how she edges out any of the rounds with McCann’s octagon control and striking volume. So with that, I have McCann winning via decision.

    170 lbs.: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Mounir Lazzez – I don’t see this ending without Razak Alhassan doing what he did to the ten opponents he’s beaten. That would be knocking them out in the very first round. Lock it up.

    UFC on ESPN 13 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

     

    185 lbs.: John Phillips vs. Khamzat Chimaev – Even though Chimaev is fighting up a weight class and is coming in on short notice, I still have him winning. Phillips is a power puncher, but that’s about it. His cardio is iffy and his takedown defense is abysmal. I see Chimaev taking this fight to the mat out of the gate and eventually securing a fight ending submission.

    145 lbs.: Ricardo Ramos vs. Lerone Murphy –  Ramos is the more UFC experienced fighter and has a distinctive advantage on the ground. Given Murphy had issues in his debut with takedown defense, one might see this as an easy win for Ramos. I disagree. I thought Murphy did well in his debut against a tough wrestler in Zubaira Tukhugov. He was able to get up several times and his striking albeit a limited sample, looked good. On a limb, I’m thinking the takedown defense holds up better this time around. Which will open up the striking to shine and as the fight wanes, Ramos fades and Murray outpoints him to take a split decision.

    205 lbs.: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Andreas Michailidis – Not sure what to expect in this one other than first round chaos, with either of them potentially finishing each other. However, given Bukauskas seems to have a gas tank outside a round, Ive got him winning via TKO.

    145 lbs.: Jared Gordon vs. Chris Fishgold – This fight either goes two ways. One, Fishgold per usual comes out like a bat out of hell, stuns Gordon and finishes him via strikes or submission early. Two, Gordon survives said onslaught and his cardio and pace breaks a tired Fishgold. A later finish follows.

    While I’m inclined to go Fishgold given Gordon’s suspect chin, I also believe he is in dire need of a victory. Im expecting a grappling heavy approach to avoid as much early punishment as possible. The later the fight goes, the easier it for Gordon to take over. So with that, I’ll say Gordon gets back on track, while weathering and early storm via a late submission victory.

    125 lbs.: Diana Belbita vs. Liana Jojua – It’s hard to judge what we’ll see out of Jojua, whom debuted in the UFC at Bantamweight. She looked hesitant on the feet and her takedowns were ok, albeit against a notably easy foe to take down. Belbita on the other hand, showed decent takedown defense, poor striking defense and really good striking volume. The latter part is all I need to Belbita takes this by decision.

    135 lbs.: Jack Shore vs. Aaron Phillips – I don’t see this being relatively close. Phillips first foray in the UFC was unsuccessful largely due to his takedown defense. Shore has excellent grappling and has very few issues getting foes to the ground. Once on the ground, his submission prowess is excellent, as he’s submitted seven of his twelve foes. Make it eight.

  • UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal Predictions

    UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as they finally debut “Fight Island” live from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The card is absolutely stacked from top to bottom, ultimately featuring three title bouts. The first of which is for the Vacant Bantamweight Championship, with surging Peter Yan facing the legend Jose Aldo. Next is a rematch for the Featherweight Championship between newly minted Champion Alex Volkanovski against former Champion Max Holloway. The last, is the headliner which is for the Welterweight Championship. Champion Kamari Usman looks to successfully defend his belt for the second time, as UFC star Jorge Masvidal looks to crown off a phenomenal run with a UFC Championship. This is going to be an insane card, so tune in!

    UFC 251 PPV Main Card on ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

    170 lbs.: UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal – This is going to be an excellent fight. Usman is the total package. I’ve been on his abilities and the belief that he had championship material written all over him. His wrestling is a problem for any fighter, and has showed since the beginning of his UFC tenure to now. However, the one vast improvement to his game, is his striking. In Usman’s last three fights, he has landed over 450 strikes. That’s just an insane output and work rate. With excellent cardio, durability and heavy hands, Usman is literally a nightmare to fight.

    As for Masvidal, the Cuban, one-time street fighter has risen from a top fifteen fighter to a complete UFC megastar in just three fights. It started with an upset knockout victory over Darren Till. Then out of no where came a five-second flying knee knockout over the undefeated Ben Askren, which vaulted Masvidal into a massive fight. A BMF Championship fight against Nate Diaz, in which he was decisively was winning until ultimately getting a TKO victory due to the cuts. Masvidal is a very well rounded fighter, who is a striker at heart. His wrestling and ground game are highly underrated too. Cardio and durability isn’t an issue either. The only problem’s in the past for Masvidal were takedown defense and the lack of output in certain rounds aka Coasting. However, since the beginning of this win streak, he’s a whole new fighter.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Masvidal. Usman is the complete package and very well might just rag doll Masvidal. I however, foresee Masvidal putting up a fight in the wrestling department and scrambling back up whenever he is taken down. I also expect a high pace in this fight similar to that of Usman vs. Colby Covington. Unlike Covington, Masvidal has power on the feet. I think if Usman stands and bangs with Masvidal, he’s going to abort at a certain point when he feels the power. Over the course of this fight, I actually favor Masvidal. He’s just a dog and will make Usman work for everything he gets. In the end, I believe Masvidal lands a crushing blow in the fifth round to a tired Usman. So with that, I have Masvidal capturing gold, winning via knockout.

    145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway – Given how the first fight went, I can see it being hard to side with the challenger Holloway. I mean, Volkanovski absolutely stunted Holloway’s striking. The abundance of leg kicks Volkanovski threw early and often, was smart and allowed him to rack up points every round. While it appeared Holloway got the better of Volkanovski the later the fight went, it wasn’t a whitewash by any means. Volkanovski has solid cardio and just an excellent skill set. He’s a handful for any Featherweight, and lacks weaknesses.

    However, I’m siding with Holloway. I believe that every round is going to be close and I recognize Volkanovski’s ability to rack up points with leg kicks. I just have a feeling that Holloway is going to put on more pressure, a higher pace and more output then he did in the first fight. I also believe that Holloway is going to bring it early and not stand there for Volkanovski to chip away at him. In the end, I have Holloway edging it out via decision.

    135 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Petr Yan for vacant Bantamweight title – The first of the three title fights features the streaking contender Yan, taking on the legend Jose Aldo. Yan is a perfect 7-0 in the UFC, with a nasty KO over Urijah Faber vaulting him into this bout. Yan features potent striking that is highlighted by volume, excellent footwork and a heavy pace. He’s got pretty good wrestling and excellent takedown defense too. As for

    Aldo, the former Featherweight king has opened a new chapter in the Bantamweight division. Despite dropping his first fight in the division to Marlon Moraes via decision, the consensus though he did enough to win. Aldo features excellent striking, with heavy hands and his arsenal used to be more deadly when he threw his patented leg kicks. His head movement is excellent, as is his nearly impeccable takedown defense. The concerns for Aldo has always been cardio, and now 10 pounds lighter ignites that concern even more so. Given we only have one fight to sample Aldo’s cardio, it’s hard to say. I mean, he came out like a banshee and showed a second wind in that third round of the Moraes fight. Could he do that for two more rounds?

    As for a prediction, I’m going against the grain and picking Aldo. Obviously Aldo is removed from his prime and the concerns over cardio in this new weight class are a red flag. The abandonment of leg kicks is problematic too. However, Yan has yet to face anyone who is the caliber of Aldo on the feet. Yan’s lack of of power gives me pause in thinking he can knockout Aldo. The overwhelming output could put Aldo down the later this fight goes, but I’m thinking it ends early. And with Aldo’s power being the difference maker. So with that, I have the King of Rio turning back the clock and becoming a two division champion, winning via knockout.

    115 lbs.: Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas – The difficultly in picking this fight is if Andrade decides to grapple instead of strike here. Andrade’s strength advantage was evident in the first fight and will be evident here should she implement it heavily. However, Namajunas seems to have a fire lit in her and there is no better way to get back on the horse than avenge the opponent who took your title away. Namajunas is the better striker. She’s precise and has sneaky power. Her output is higher too. She’s also an excellent grappler and her guard is not a place to be in, especially with her long legs. With that in mind, Namajunas outpoints Andrade on the feet and even if this hits the mat, Namajunas can potentially submit her. So with that, I have Namajunas winning via submission.

    125 lbs.: Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant – I just don’t see VanZant winning this. She’s tough and durable, but Ribas has all the tools to be a title contender. She’s throws heavy hands, has solid gas tank, great striking defense, mixes in wrestling well and has solid takedown defense. This is going to be a runaway and dominant decision victory for Ribas.

    UFC 251 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN (8 p.m. ET):

    205 lbs.: Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka – This is going to be fireworks! If you don’t know Prochazka, please tune in. Since October of 2013, Prochazka is 20-1-1. He’s finished all 20 of those fights, with 17 of them coming in the first round. The man is a striker, a creative one whom utilizes the flying knee more than any fighter I’ve seen. His power is evident and he’s fought some experienced foes heading into this debut. As for the former Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Oezdemir, a two fight win streak heading into this bout has him right back into title talks. “No Time” features heavy hands and for the most part, stout takedown defense. His problem lies in cardio. The later the fight goes, the more likely you’ll see a visibly slower and tired Oezdemir.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Prochazka. I believe his full arsenal of striking is going to give Oezdemir fits. The later this fight goes, the more likely I see Prochazka winning it. So with that, I’ll say Prochazka gets it done via TKO.

    170 lbs.: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Muslim Salikhov – This is a fun fight and enters Fight of the Night territory. dos Santos offers dynamic striking, with a nice mix of wrestling. He’s got legit power, good cardio and can put on a hard pace. Salikhov too is a dynamic striker, whom isn’t afraid of throwing highlight reel strikes. He’s an excellent counter-striker, with legit power to boot. The one weakness, is his takedown defense. If Salikhov can shore that up, especially given his durability, he’s got top five potential in a strong Welterweight division.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Salikhov. I realize dos Santos could floor him and his BJJ is excellent. I just feel, the power of Salikhov is going to turn this fight in his favor. So with that, I have Salikhov winning via knockout.

    145 lbs.: Makwan Amirkhani vs. Danny Henry – This fight goes either two ways. Amirkhani asserts his grappling and strength advantage to get this to the ground several times against Henry. Maybe a submission victory or on the heels of two rounds Amirkhani wins this. Or, Amirkhani and his suspect gas tank is on display yet again, as a feisty and durable Henry weathers the early storm and puts it on Amirkhani in the latter part of the fight. This could result in a draw or a late finish. As for my prediction, I’m going with Mr. Finland. I’d have to believe that he’s doing everything in his power to improve his cardio. His wrestling is strong and I expect him to win on the heels on that via decision.

    155 lbs.: Leonardo Santos vs. Roman Bogatov – Santos might one of the more forgotten fighters, due to his lengthy inactivity. With an undefeated UFC record, which includes knockouts over Kevin Lee and Stevie Ray, the 40 year is ever so slightly climbing the rankings. This fight though, seems tailor-made for Santos. Bogatov from what. I’ve seen, heavily relies on his takedowns. That won’t fly against a BJJ black belt of Santos caliber. Throw in the vast improvements in Santos striking and I don’t expect Bogatov to have a welcoming debut to the octagon. So with that, I have Santos winning via submission.

    UFC 251 Early ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: Marcin Tybura vs. Maxim Grishin – I want to pick Grishin so bad here, as he’s been on a tear on the regional scene. For a guy who started his MMA career 7-5, to go 23-2-2 after that is just spectacular. However, nearly all of those wins have come at Light Heavyweight. At Heavyweight is where Grishin has struggled the most in his career, with 6 of his 7 losses coming in the division. While Tybura has been awful of late and his chin has been suspect, the distinct weight advantage and the short notice of this fight for Grishin leads me to side with Tybura. Don’t be surprised if Grishin lands an early knockout, as he’s got legit power. However, I foresee Tybura using the bigger cage to avoid striking and bullying Grishin on the cage, while working in dirty boxing and takedowns. In the end, I see Tybura getting the decision nod.

    125 lbs.: Raulian Paiva vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov – This is a really fun fight and perhaps a front runner for Fight of the Night. Paiva, while only 1-2 in the UFC, is a powerful striker. In a division which lacks power, Paiva certainly doesn’t. An iron chin, good cardio, good takedown defense and scrambling abilities round out Paiva’s skills. Zhumagulov is well rounded, but a striker with high output, excellent cardio and a suffocating pace. Often in his fights, Zhumagulov easily outstrikes his opponents, but the fight is often closer due to the constant harassment of takedown attempts he endures. While his takedown defense can be cracked, he scrambles well. In this fight though, I don’t expect anything but a standup battle.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got the newcomer Zhumagulov sneaking this out. While Paiva can clearly take a punch and has heavy hands, it’s Zhumagulov high output that is going to win over the judges. So with that, I have Zhumagulov winning via decision.

    135 lbs.: Karol Rosa vs. Vanessa Melo – For someone like Melo, who is 0-2 in the UFC, one of thought a favorable or winnable matchup would be in store. That’s a negative on that front. Melo has been the punching bag in both her fights and now fights Rosa, whom landed 171 strikes in her debut victory. Break out the frozen peas, cause Rosa is gonna land at will on Melo en route to a dominant decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Martin Day vs. Davey Grant – Obviously when talking about octagon time missed, these two guys fit that conversation. As for that fight, I believe Grant, while flawed, has a distinctive wrestling and grappling advantage that should negate Grant’s striking edge. In the end, a dose of takedowns and top control lead Grant to a decision victory.

  • UFC on ESPN 12: Poirier vs. Hooker Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 12: Poirier vs. Hooker Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as the Apex plays host to yet another fun card. Headlining the event is a pair of Lightweight contenders in former Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. Since August of 2013, Poirier is 12-3-1 in the UFC, beating some of the very best. During that stretch, Poirier made the move to Lightweight. It couldn’t of been a smarter choice, as he took out legends along the way to becoming the Interim Lightweight Champion. As for Hooker, he too was a former Featherweight. And he too was killing himself to make weight. Since the move back up to Lightweight, Hooker is 7-1. With both men in their respective weight classes, they clearly are at their best. So don’t blink in this one because I’m expecting an instant classic.

    UFC on ESPN 12 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker – This has all the making to be a classic. Hooker is streaking right now, showing improvements with each fight. His counter striking is some of the best in the UFC. He features durability, devastating knees and precision striking. He notably is the last man to defeat Gilbert Burns too, which came via knockout. As for Poirier, he returns to the octagon for the first time since losing the title fight against Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier is one of the best boxers in the UFC. He throws strikes in volume, has ridiculous cardio and is very durable. If beating the likes of Max Holloway twice, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Anthony Pettis doesn’t prove he’s in a class above many, I don’t know what will.

    As for a prediction, I have Poirier. In Hooker’s last fight against Paul Felder, while he looked sharp, he faded towards the end of the fight. That won’t fly against Poirier. The “Diamond” is a cardio machine, who puts a pace and pressure on his foes that physically breaks them. In what should be a fun fight, with both men having their moments, I’ll take Poirier and the ability to be the fresher fighter in the championship rounds winning via late TKO.

    170 lbs.: Mickey Gall vs. Mike Perry – Maybe I’m not seeing what others are, but Gall gets dealt with here. I mean, Gall is young and still inexperienced. He has a great ground game, but his wrestling isn’t all there yet. His cardio and striking are real iffy too. Throw in the fact that of Gall’s five victories, not one of the opponents he beat are still in the UFC. On the other hand, Perry has fought the likes of Donald Cerrone, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal and even beaten Paul Felder, Alex Oliveira and Jake Ellenberger. With pretty good takedown defense and an ability to pop right back up, Perry keeps this on the feet. While there, it’s only a matter of a time before he folds Gall. So with that, I have Perry winning via knockout.

    185 lbs.: Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus – Allen is the real deal at 185 lbs. To come into the UFC and finish two talented foes in Kevin Holland and Tom Breese is major statement. While anything can happen, I think Daukaus O has to go here. So with that, I believe Allen on the strength of his grappling gets this done via submission.

    265 lbs.: Maurice Greene vs. Gian Villante – I’m not sure this move up to Heavyweight is what the doctor ordered for Villante, but we shall see. Green is a big heavyweight, whom isn’t really dominant at one aspect, but has a grasp on everything. The one thing that irks me about Greene, is that he gets dropped a lot. Not sure if it’s a chin thing or what, but it’s a glaring problem. Now, Villante isn’t a world class striker, but he’s got power. On a limb here, I’ll go with Villante based on said power via TKO.

    150 lbs.: Sean Woodson vs. Julian Erosa – Woodson is just the better all around mixed martial arts. His striking features volume, which is credited by his usual height and reach advantage. I mean, the dude is a Featherweight and somehow is 6’2 with a 79.5 inch reach. That’s just absurd. Anyways, Erosa has yet to have any success in the UFC and I don’t see this short notice fight changing that. So with that, I have Woodson winning via late TKO.

    UFC on ESPN 12 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Luis Pena vs. Khama Worthy – The battle of the nicknames, as “Violent Bob Ross” take on the “Deathstar”. As far as the fight goes, I’ve got Pena. Worthy stormed into the UFC with a stunning knockout upset over Devonte Smith. On the regional scene, Worthy was knocking foes out, be he too was getting knocked out. In fact, all six of his losses have come via finish (five by knockout). Given Pena’s durability, I really don’t see Worthy finishing Pena. I see the opposite. Pena has excellent cardio and is well rounded. His height and reach will allow him to keep distance and pick apart Worthy. Eventually, I see Pena landing a flying knee or something crazy and winning via knockout.

    265 lbs.: Tanner Boser vs. Philipe Lins – While Lins looked iffy in his debut, I’ve got him here. Boser is too flat footed and while he does boast good cardio and good leg kicks for a Heavyweight, he lacks the power to change a fight. On the other hand, Lins has good power and he’s a sharp counter striker. I’m not sure what happened in his fight against Andrei Arlovski, but I expect a better showing here. So with that, I have Lin’s winning via decision.

    170 lbs.: Takashi Sato vs. Jason Witt – Witt looks to have some pop in hands, but he’s a wrestler and submission artist at trade. Given the short notice of this fight, I really don’t see his cardio being up to par to outlast Sato. He might come out like a bat at of hell early, but I trust the durability, striking and power of Sato to get the job done. So with that, I have Sato winning via TKO.

    145 lbs.: Jordan Griffin vs. Youssef Zalal – While I like Griffin’s forward pressure and movement, it’s his inability to stay off his back that irks me. Zalal offers a nice mix of striking and wrestling, which ultimately has me siding him. The cardio of Zalal too is impressive and in the later rounds will prove to aide him in edging out the round via decision.

    115 lbs.: Jinh Yu Frey vs. Kay Hansen – This fight should be close, as Frey has the upper hand with experience and striking, while Hansen has the wrestling and size advantage. While Frey has fought the better opponents, Hansen takes this fight. Her grit, wrestling and the fact that Frey is moving up a weight class are signs that point me towards Hansen winning via decision.

  • UFC on ESPN 11: Blaydes vs. Volkov Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 11: Blaydes vs. Volkov Predictions

    The UFC is back in action with yet another fun card with tons of gems on it. The Featherweight clash of Shane Burgos and Josh Emmett is an absolute banger and a Welterweight contest between Belal Muhammad and Lyman Good should be fun. However, the headliners are Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov. Two Heavyweights, with a combined 13-3 UFC record. Both are contenders, having won over some of the best the division has to offer. While Blaydes has a clear route to victory, it is the Heavyweight division. Anything can happen…

    UFC on ESPN 11 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov – As good as Volkov is, and he really is a legit Heavyweight contender, he’s got a glaring weakness. His inability to consistently stuff a takedown has cost him nearly every fight he’s lost in his career. Now, he’s tasked to fight the best wrestler in the Heavyweight division in Curtis Blaydes. Oh, and in a smaller cage. Given he likes to use his height and reach to keep distance and throw strikes, the smaller cage doesn’t really aide that either. With everything against him, I have no doubt that Blaydes gets it done via TKO.

    145 lbs.: Shane Burgos vs. Josh Emmett – This is a really fun fight and it has all the feelings of a Fight of the Night. Burgos, enters this fight on a a three-fight win streak and having won six of his seven UFC bouts. He’s a striker, a volume one at that. In fact, he’s lands the most strikes per minute in the Featherweight division and is top five in the UFC. Burgos has great movement, a solid chin, excellent cardio and almost an impenetrable takedown defense.

    On the other end, Emmett is a buzzsaw on the feet. While he doesn’t throw enough strikes to keep up with Burgos, he makes it up with his power. If you look at his last three victories, you’ll notice that power has ended all of them. No matter how this fight goes, that one hitter quitter is going to be a factor here.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Burgos. I firmly believe that he has all the making to be a world champion. Hell, I’ll say he will be a champion at some point. In this fight, I believe the ability to throw constant volume and put on a hard pace, will zap Emmett and slow down his strikes. In the end, Burgos will break and finish Emmett via TKO.

    135 lbs.: Raquel Pennington vs. Marion Reneau – This fight could be a toss up, but I’m going with Pennington. She’s 12 years younger than Reneau and while she doesn’t excel in any one area, she also doesn’t have many weaknesses. Pennington is the better striker here, with some pop to boot. Her wrestling is better. Her durability is ungodly. The only problem really is throwing volume, which Reneau could possible edge her out with. I however, don’t see that. I think Pennington controls wherever this fight goes and wins a convincing decision.

    170 lbs.: Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad – This is a hell of a fight and in my opinion, I see both men having clear routes to victory. If Muhammad can take down Good, then he should cruise to a victory. Good has the striking advantage, and his power alone could end the fight. However, Muhammad has good striking and offers grit and chin too. In other words, I’m not saying Muhammad only wins this fight if he takes it to the ground, but he’ll have an easier time doing such. Both men have good cardio, so I don’t expect anyone to fade. But, I must pick a winner and I’m siding with the gritty wrestler Muhammad to sneak out a split decision victory.

    155 lbs.: Jim Miller vs. Roosevelt Roberts – This is a tricky fight. In my opinion, Roberts should in essence win. However, I have some questions. One, is he ready for a veteran like Miller? In Roberts last fight against Brok Weaver, he was pushed against the cage and held there often. Can he get off the cage if Miller puts him there? Also, if this fight hits the mat and he’s on his back, can he withstand Miller’s grappling and submission attempts? The answers to these questions shall be answered, but I’ll say Roberts passes here. I feel this will be closer than people think, but Roberts gets it done via decision.

    UFC on ESPN 11 Prelims Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Clay Guida – As bad as Green has been of late, most of his fights were close and to be fair, he should of gotten the nod in some of decision losses. Regardless, he steamrolls Guida here. The aging veteran hasn’t beaten anyone other B.J. Penn since 2017. He’s purely a wrestler at this point, as his striking isn’t what it used to be. Given Green is a wrestler himself, I fully expect him to stay upright and pick part Guida. Eventually, he finds Guida’s suspect chin and wins this fight via knockout.

    115 lbs.: Tecia Torres vs. Brianna Van Buren – While a four fight skid might appear like a fighter is done, it’s important to see whom they lost too. For Torres, she’s literally lost to the best of the division, including the Champion Weili Zhang. Now, she may not be a title challenger, but she’s still a game opponent for anymore. As for Van Buren, her debut was excellent. She defeated a former Invicta Champion in Livinha Souza rather easily. Van Buren showed good kickboxing, excellent wrestling and top pressure. Given Torres problems with wrestlers, and even though this is a step up for Van Buren – I’m going with the wrestler Van Buren via decision.

    185 lbs.: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Oskar Piechota – Both men are on three fight skids, which potentially means that their jobs on on the line. Barriault has fought some tough customers out of the gate, although I feel like he dropped the ball against his last opponent. As for Piechota, with the exception of his last fight, high level grapplers were giving him fits. Last fight though, he was finished quickly by a newcomer. I don’t think it’s a chin issue, but with both needing a win, I trust Barriault’s chin in what I expect to be a firefight. So with that, I have Barriault winning via TKO.

    125 lbs.: Cortney Casey vs. Gillian Robertson – This is a quick turnaround for Casey and it’s a risky one for her. Casey notoriously has had problems with grapplers, showing virtually no takedown defense. Robertson thrives off taking foes down, controlling them and submitting them. Throw in the fact that Casey is fighting up a weight class and had what appeared to be a bad weight cut? And I’m off board on her for this fight. So with that, I have Robertson winning via submission.

    158 lbs.: Frank Camacho vs. Justin Jaynes – I’m unfamiliar with Jaynes, but this is a tough debut. Camacho is a tank. The man is a BJJ black belt whom disregards even bringing the fight to mat. His striking is aided by his power and cardio. If you haven’t seen his fights against Damien Brown, Drew Dober and Nick Hein, do yourself a favor and watch them. The man threw landed 100 or more significant strikes in all of those fights. While this fight most likely is short, it’s Camacho whom I trust to get the job done. So with that, I have Camacho winning via TKO.

    125 lbs.: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Lauren Murphy – Interesting fight, but I have Murphy. I believe her strength advantage should aide her in keeping this fight upright, perhaps even helping her take down Modafferi. On the feet, while Modafferi has improved, Murphy is the better striker and throws way more volume. Honestly, I feel as if Murphy should be the favorite here. So with that, I have Murphy winning via decision.

    155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard vs. Max Rohskopf – Hubbard has fought some tough dudes out of the gate, and again is tasked with yet the same. Rohskopf is a collegiate wrestler, with solid grappling and submissions. However, he tweeted not too long ago that he was injured, but wanted a chance to show his skills in the UFC. His wish comes true, but I feel like this “injury” and short notice fight against a cardio machine like Hubbard is a mistake. If Davi Ramos couldn’t submit the kid over three rounds, I’m not banking on Rohskopf too. I expect Rohskopf to come out strong, but fade after one round. So with that, I have Hubbard winning via decision.

  • UFC on ESPN 10: Eye vs. Calvillo Predictions

    UFC on ESPN 10: Eye vs. Calvillo Predictions

    The UFC is back after a fun UFC 250 card, with a thinner, but fun card none the less. Headlining the event is former Flyweight title challenger Jessica Eye and Cynthia Calvillo. Eye looks to extend her winning streak to two, after losing in the title fight against Valentina Shevchenko. As for Calvillo, missed weight cuts forced her up to Flyweight and she gets an instant fast track to the title, as Eye is ranked one in the division. While people have crapped on this showdown, I think it’s an intriguing and important fight for the division. Is Eye going to re-climb the ladder or while a new contender rise?

    UFC on ESPN 10 Main Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Jessica Eye vs. Cynthia Calvillo – At first I had Eye. I believed her striking and size advantage where going to be the X factors that got her by in this fight. Then came the missed weight cut and the look on an extremely drained Eye. Given this is a five round fight, I really don’t see how Eye is going to have the energy to endure the pace over twenty five minutes. Her best bet is to end it early, but her peppering shots don’t carry the power necessary to do such. On the other hand, Calvillo is a capable striker, but her bread and butter is grappling. Eye’s takedown defense is mediocre, so that could be a route to victory. Early on, Eye’s strength might hold her up, but the later this fight goes, the more vulnerable I see her to being taken down. Given my concerns over Eye’s bad weight cut, I’m going with Calvillo via late submission.

    185 lbs.: Karl Roberson vs. Marvin Vettori – Man, the bad blood in this fight only escalated when Roberson missed weight. This is the third time this bout was scheduled, second time Roberson missed weight and Vettori is as pissed as ever. While normally I don’t like emotional fighters, I’m given an exception to Vettori. The man’s the more we’ll rounded fighter, whom lost a split decision to current Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. In this fight, Vettori’s grappling edge tied in with Roberson’s inability to consistently stuff takedowns make me feel strongly that Vettori wins this fight. Given the anger, I’ll go with by submission.

    155 lbs.: Kevin Aguilar vs. Charles Rosa – As much as I believe Rosa can come back on short notice and erase the mauling he received against Bryce Mitchell, I don’t see it. While Rosa has the massive grappling edge, Aguilar counters that with his solid takedown defense. On the feet, Rosa is tough as nails and at times throws in volume. However, Aguilar is the better striker whom showed real power on the regional scene. While it’s yet to show in the UFC, that still doesn’t take away from his solid boxing abilities. So with that, I have Aguilar notching the decision victory.

    145 lbs.: Andre Fili vs. Charles Jourdain – This right here is likely the fight of the night. Fili is an active striker, who diversifies his attack. He’s also a solid wrestler, landing 14 combined takedowns in his last six fights. Fili often likes to blend wrestling with strikes, but isn’t afraid to stand and trade for three rounds either. Jourdain is primarily a striker and has some legit pop. His knockout victory over the Korean Superboy Doo-Ho Choi was shocking to say the least. I for one thought he was a sacrificial lamb, especially given his octagon debut. Boy was I wrong, he’s a legit striker with the abilities to put anyone to sleep. While that’s the case, I still feel that Fili is the more we’ll rounded fighter. The ability to wrestle is going to play a factor here and with that, I’m siding with Fili via decision.

    135 lbs.: Mark De La Rosa vs. Jordan Espinosa – Both men have been pretty rough of late, so this is shaping up to be a must win fight. In my opinion, Espinosa is the better striker, wrestler and has pretty stout takedown defense. While this might be a coin flip of a fight in essence, I’ll take those advantages and say Espinosa gets it done via decision.

    UFC on ESPN 10 Prelims Card On ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Mariya Agapova vs. Hannah Cifers – While Cifers may be the better volume striker, Agapova has a five inch height and six inch reach advantage. I expect that to aide in Agapova landing more and the cleaner of the shots over three rounds. So with that, I got Agapova winning via decision.

    140 lbs.: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Gustavo Lopez – Kudos to Lopez for stepping in or short notice, but this is going to be a mauling. Dvalishvili has to be one of the worst fighters to debut against. A pressure wrestler, whom has cardio for days and will keep the same pace on you for three rounds. Expect a rinse and repeat of wrestling and dominant decision victory for Dvalishvili.

    135 lbs.: Julia Avila vs. Gina Mazany – I’m not sure Mazany should be in this fight, I mean, she’s a good wrestler, but that’s about it. Avila is going to maul Mazany early and finish her by whatever method she wants. Let’s go with TKO.

    125 lbs.: Tyson Nam vs. Zarrukh Adashev – I was excited when Nam finally got the chance to fight in the UFC. Two tough opponents out of the gate, led to two losses and this being a potential pink slip fighter. Fortunately, Adashev is a late replacement. While an experienced kickboxer, his MMA experience is thin. The opponents he’s beaten have had no experience at all. In my opinion, this is Nam’s fight to lose. He’s fought some top notch opponents in his career and fared well. So with that, I have Nam winning this via knockout.

    170 lbs.: Christian Aguilera vs. Anthony Ivy – Both newcomers, and I don’t know much. Given that, I’ll go with the consensus and pick Ivy via TKO.

  • UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer Predictions

    UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer Predictions

    The UFC is back in action, as the GOAT returns in Amanda Nunes. She looks to defend her Featherweight Championship for the first time since defeating Cris Cyborg for it. The challenger comes forth in the way of Felicia Spencer. The Canadian offers a formidable threat to Nunes, as she has the durability and pressure to drag this fight into deep waters. Whatever happens, Spencer might be the last of Nunes challenges for some time at 145.

    UFC 250 PPV Main Card On ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – I’m not going to sit here and call this a runaway for Nunes. Spencer gets her due here. She’s got the grappling and is a submissions threat. She’s already shown the ability to take punishment and keep marching forward over three rounds in her fight with Cris Cyborg. She’s got the cardio and confidence to really be a threat in there. However, I’ve got Nunes. She’s got the power, the wrestling and is very technical. Since losing to Cat Zingano, I think we can put to bed the cardio issue. I see Nunes either knocking Spencer out early or taking a fun five round fight via decision.

    135 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt – I’m torn with this prediction, as Assuncao has all the tools to beat Garbrandt. Problem is, Garbrandt switched camps and is working with Mark Henry. I expect a more technical and less street brawler-like Garbrandt, which has been his crux. While you can question his chin, it’s these brawls and trading one’s best punch for mine mentality that has saw the former Bantamweight champion drop three straight fights via knockout.

    I however see a new leaf being turned here and Garbrandt toning down the aggression. I see this fight taking place solely on the feet due to Garbrandt’s unblemished takedown defense, thus taking away the grappling that Assuncao often mix’s in with his striking. The power edge, the head movement and speed all goes to Garbrandt. Honestly, I don’t see a result other than Garbrandt winning unless he reverts to brawling. So with that, I’ve got Garbrandt winning via knockout.

    135 lbs.: Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen – This should be the co-main event and for the vacant Bantamweight title, but I digress. The fight itself is a tough one to predict, given these are two of the very best Bantamweights. I feel as if Sterling is the more dynamic and unpredictable striker, but Sandhagen still gets the edge in the striking department given his volume and pressure.

    The area of concern is Sandhagen’s takedown defense, which sits at a mere 27%. Given Sterling’s wrestling and grappling, I’d say that’s an area where Sterling is going to exploit. While Sandhagen undoubtedly has trained to improve that disadvantage, Sterling can still make things difficult. In the end, I thing Sandhagen might be the fresher fighter, but it’s Sterling who I give the nod too. Think a healthy mix of striking, clinch work and a takedown or two edges out a few round en route to a decision victory.

    170 lbs.: Neil Magny vs. Anthony Rocco Martin – I can’t help overlook all the advantages Magny has in this fight. He’s got a three inch height and seven inch reach advantage. He’s a volume striker with cardio through the roof. Martin doesn’t nearly have striking to match, nor cardio (not that it’s bad). The grappling is where it could get dicey for Magny, but Martin doesn’t necessarily have the wrestling to takedown Magny at will like Johny Hendricks. In my opinion, the longer this fight goes, the easier it goes for Magny. So with that, I have Magny winning via decision.

    135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Eddie Wineland – While this is the best opponent O’Malley has fought, its an aging veteran whom fights infrequently. I see an all striking battle won by a quicker and craftier O’Malley. While the finish may be hard given Wineland’s durability, I see still a clean sweep on the scorecards. So with that, I have O’Malley winning via decision,

    UFC 250 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN (8 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Chase Hooper – I honestly believe Caceres is a better fighter than he has shown. He fights up to his competition and down too. His problems often stem from an inability to follow a game plan. When it’s clear he has a striking advantage, he grapples. When he has the divisive grappling advantage, he strikes. It’s a mystery what Caceres we get, so I’m siding with the youngster Hooper. I just have a feeling, there is going to be grappling initiated by Caceres in which he falls into a disadvantage position. From there, Hooper will win via submission.

    185 lbs.: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Ian Heinisch – At first, I thought I saw something special in Heinisch. A grinder with good cardio and the inability to quit no matter the round. Now, I’m seeing a guy who’s striking defense, takedown defense and hell takedowns really lack. If he can shore up his defense, he can climb the rankings. However, this fight in particular I don’t see that happening just yet. Meerschaert has good striking, excellent grappling, a real submission prowess and solid durability. He refuses to lose and often has taken punishment early to weather storms. In this fight, I believe Meerschaert has the ability to control this fight wherever it goes. Particularly on the ground, where once it gets too, I see Meerschaert sinking in a submission.

    135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Stamann – I’m conflicted on this fight. I see one scenario where Stamann uses his strength advantage and bullies Kelleher to the ground, controlling him for three rounds. The other scenario involves Kelleher timing a takedown and clenching up his signature guillotine choke. While normally I’d side with the wrestling of Stamann, I’m instead taking Mr. Boom Kelleher via submission.

    185 lbs.: Charles Byrd vs. Maki Pitolo – I wasn’t impressed with Pitolo in his debut, as he showed a real lack of takedown defense. It’s something I expect the bigger Byrd to expose heavily in this fight. Although Byrd showed some real striking chops in his last fight against Darren Stewart, it’s the wrestling advantage that will lead to an eventual submission victory.

    UFC 250 ‘Prelims’ Card On ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Jussier Formiga vs. Alex Perez – I don’t want to make this out like I’m shutting Perez down in this fight because I’m not. He’s got fast hands and slick submissions. He’s a potential contender. However, the last taste of stepping up in competition saw him get dealt with. I think the same happens here. Formiga has been in a rut of late, but this is still the man who made Deiveson Figueiredo look bad on the feet. I see counter striking leading the way to an important back back decision victory for Formiga.

    205 lbs.: Devin Clark vs. Alonzo Menifield – A question of durability is a big topic in most of these fights. It’s something that Clark has struggled with. Whether it be the fact that he’s fighting up from Middleweight, where he probably fits best or that his ability to endure punishment isn’t there.

    Regardless, I’ve got Clark. I believe Menifield is a talent and a feared striker. However, he’s yet to be truly tested in fending off takedowns thus far in the UFC. Throw in the fact that the longest fight of Menifield’s career was five minutes and thirty two seconds, and the question of cardio and success in deep waters is a real question. So with that, on the heels of wrestling and surviving the first round, I believe Clark will grind out a decision victory.

    150 lbs.: Herbert Burns vs. Evan Dunham (catchweight) – I’m curious what the durability of Dunham will look like after a 24 month break from fighting. I mean, Dunham possesses the tools necessary to be a contender. He’s brings forth wrestling, volume and pressure. However, his body has failed him as he’s aged. And, I see it failing him again. Burns stormed into the UFC with a knockout via knee. Known for his BJJ, Burns utilizes his grappling edge to bring the fight to the mat and submit his foe. Whether it’s a takedown or pulling guard, Burns thrives on the mat.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Burns. I am concerned that Dunham could overwhelm Burns with volume striking, but I believe the threat of the takedown will not exist because of the dangerousness of Burns off his back. That takes a big element from Dunham’s game away. Now, will Burns take Dunham down? Maybe not. However, will Dunham avoid the body punishment on the feet that has halted his last two fights? Unlikely. So with that, I think Burns connects with some knees to the body and finishes Dunham via TKO.