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  • UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm Predictions

    UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm Predictions

    Image result for ufc 219 poster

    Before we say goodbye to 2017, the UFC has graced us with yet another amazing New Year’s card. Headlining the event is two of the very best women in mixed martial arts history, as UFC Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg makes her first title defense against former Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm. The consensus pound for pound queen Cyborg, enters this contest on a 18-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2005. Her only professional defeat came in her very first fight. As for Holm, ever since shocking Ronda Rousey back in 2015, it’s been nothing but rough sea’s. A mental error in the 5th round against Miesha Tate saw her title change hands, a hesitancy to strike cost her a fight against Shevchenko and questionable officiating and judges cost Holm the right to be the inaugural UFC Featherweight Champion. Despite the losing streak, Holm returned against former Bantamweight title challenger Bethe Correia, viciously knocking her out via her patented head-kick.

    Anyways, this is going to be a hell of a main event and card in general. Without further ado, the Predictions!

    UFC 219 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm – Holy Cow! This is perhaps the best fight in Women’s mixed martial arts history. In one corner, you’ve got the pound for pound queen, who hasn’t been defeated in over eleven years. In the other corner, you have the former Women’s Bantamweight Champion who dethroned at the time the pound for pound best Ronda Rousey.

    Instead of going into a long and boring breakdown, I’m just going to be brief here. If Cyborg comes out patient, picks her shots and paces herself, then she should have no issues defeating Holm. However, if Cyborg comes out aggressive and head hunting, I believe Holm’s counter punching will result in several knock downs. For some reason, I feel like Cyborg has shown vulnerabilities in her last fight that Holm will capitalize on. I also believe that Holm know’s what’s at stake. She can be the first female to be a multiple weight-class Champion. She would also undoubtedly would be considered the greatest female mixed martial artist ever. That’s crazy for someone who transitioned from Boxing to mixed martial arts in 2011.

    So with that, I got Holm via decision.

    155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – Make no mistake about it, this is a dangerous fight for both men. Barboza is one of the very best strikers in the UFC. He features heavy leg kicks that have resulted in several stoppages. His footwork and movement are phenomenal to boot. However, those who applied constant pressure were able to break him. Considering Nurmagomedov is a pressure fighter and is supremely focused on getting inside and grappling, it could be a long night for Barboza. However, if Barboza can shrug off any grappling attempts by Nurmagomedov and keep distance, it’s definitely feasible to see Nurmagomedov get picked apart and finished on the feet.

    As for what I think, it’s hard not to pick Nurmagomedov. He’s undefeated and his grappling abilities have yet to be stopped. Barboza probably has been working heavily on his takedown defense, but it won’t matter. Nurmagomedov’s strength is on another planet and he’s going to eventually catch and out muscle Barboza to ground. Given that he wants a title shot, I see him going hard for a finish and getting it. So with that, I have Nurmagomedov via submission.

    155 lbs.: Marc Diakiese vs. Dan Hooker – Despite Diakiese losing a close fight that saw his leg get battered and his back on the mat several times, he’s still got a bright future. In terms of style, this fight is more in Diakiese’s realm, as Hooker is a pure striker. While Hooker’s a solid striker, the amount of punishment he takes is troublesome. And despite thus far never getting stopped in the UFC, well, their’s a first for everything. Diakiese is too flashy on the feet and I believe he will eventually catch Hooker with something that puts him away.

    115 lbs.: Cynthia Calvillo vs. Carla Esparza – While I can see Esparza using a heavy dose of takedowns and top control to attempt to smother Calvillo, at the same time I could see Calvillo fighting well off her back. Calvillo’s guard features various slick submissions, enough to second guess being on the ground with her. While Esparza has good submission defense, I fear her inactivity while in top control because she’s constantly fighting off submission attempts could sway the judges. In fact, that’s what I predict is going to go down. So with that, I have Calvillo via decision.

    170 lbs.: Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny – When Condit announced he was stepping away from the sport, it just felt weird not seeing “The Natural Born Killer” in the octagon. However, after over a year off, it seems Condit got the itch to return. His opponent is in the form of perennial top fifteen Welterweight Neil Magny. The “Gazelle” is coming off a quick submission defeat to Rafael Dos Anjos. A fight that he would love to forget, but then again, he’s got another opportunity to right the ship and add a big time name to the ole resume. As for a prediction, I’m siding with Condit. Despite his defensive wrestling woes, on the feet Magny won’t be able to match the power Condit throws. As the fight wanes, Magny won’t necessarily fade, but Condit’s uptick in striking volume will put Magny down. So with that, I have Condit via third-round knockout.

    UFC 219 Prelims on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

    205 lbs.: Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Khalil Rountree – Both men enter this contest with a 67% knockout percentage and of recent, the knockouts have been plentiful. As for my prediction, I have Roundtree. His last two fights have resulted in vicious knockout victories and he’s slowly building momentum in a shallow Light Heavyweight division. I envision Roundtree being calculated, but throwing haymaker’s when necessary. With the amount of power Roundtree generates, when he lands one of those haymaker’s, it’s night night for Oleksiejczuk. So with that, I’ve got Roundtree via knockout.

    145 lbs.: Rick Glenn vs. Myles Jury – Glenn really impressed me against Gavin Tucker, as he completely dominated him. However, Glenn did have a 3 inch height and a whopping 4.5 inch reach advantage over Tucker. The advantages clearly showed too, as Tucker was completely on the feet and forced his way inside only to get cracked. On the other hand, Jury is comparable in height and reach with Glenn and I expect the former Lightweight prospect to continue his rebuild at Featherweight. It won’t be easy though, as Glenn is practically a zombie. In other words he’s very durable and I don’t see Jury putting him away, just outpointing him everywhere this fight goes to earn the decision nod.

    155 lbs.: Omari Akhmedov vs. Marvin Vettori – You have to give credit to Akhmedov for pulling off the upset over Abdul Razak Alhassan. It was almost prematurely believed that he would get knocked out in the first round. Instead, he used a heavy dose of takedowns to edge out the knockout artist Razak Alhassan. Unfortunately, I don’t think that strategy is going to work against Vettori. The Italian has good enough takedown defense to keep this one on the feet, in which he will show off his quick hand speed. When Akhmedov fades in the third round, Vettori will put him away via knockout.

    125 lbs.: Matheus Nicolau vs. Louis Smolka – There’s a lot of hype surrounding the young flyweight prospect Nicolau, especially after his UFC debut victory over John Moraga. However, Nicolau’s momentum was halted from a USADA violation that’s shelved him for over a year. As for Smolka, the once potential title challenger is on a dreadful three-fight losing streak. It doesn’t get any easier here either. As for a prediction though, with Nicolau’s inactivity and Smolka potentially facing walking papers, it’s a tough call. However I’ll side with Smolka by decision, as I believe his pace should carry him over a rusty Nicolau.

    UFC 219 Prelims on Fight Pass (7:30 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Mark De La Rosa vs. Tim Elliott – Don’t know much about De La Rosa other than he’s undefeated. Unfortunately, this is a tough debut. Elliott is one the best Flyweights in the world, who could be better if he shored up mental mistakes that have dearly cost him. Anyways, Elliott controls this fight wherever and earns the nod via decision.

     

  • Solving the: UFC Middleweight Division

    Solving the: UFC Middleweight Division

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    On November 4, 2017 George St. Pierre, the greatest Welterweight of all-time returned the octagon at UFC 217. It would be four years since St. Pierre last competed, as he made the jump up to the Middleweight division to take on UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping. In a fight in which their were many unknowns about St. Pierre, many had picked the Middleweight Champion Bisping to retain his belt. However, they were wrong. St. Pierre shook off the rust, outpointed Bisping on the feet, eventually dropping him and then locking in the rear-naked-choke to become the New Middleweight Champion. 

    In what turned out to be a successful return to the octagon by St. Pierre, behind the scenes had been been a burden on the Middleweight division. Not only did George St. Pierre cut the line in a division filled with worthy title contenders, but originally the plan was for him to fight Bisping in the beginning of 2017. However, both fighters got injured and delayed the fight until November. This caused unrest, as contenders Luke Rockhold and Gegard Mousasi called for clarity in a division already congested at the top. While Rockhold eventually took another fight, it was free-agent Mousasi who instead parted with the UFC for Bellator. With five consecutive victories, Mousasi was no closer to a UFC title shot than ever due to this fight, perhaps causing him to head elsewhere.

    In the meantime, to keep the division moving, the UFC had to create an Interim Middleweight title fight. Easily enough, there were an assortment of contenders, but Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero were clearly the top of the bunch. In a close fight, ultimately, Whittaker would come out victorious via unanimous decision to become the Interim Middleweight Champion. 

    With a newly minted Interim Middleweight Champion in Robert Whittaker and newly minted Middleweight Champion in George St. Pierre, it should be a given that they would fight to unify the title’s. However, on December 2, 2017 St. Pierre revealed he had Colitis, a colon disease which could lead to life-threatening complications. So with St. Pierre now shelved, it’s time for the Middleweight division to move on, as Robert Whittaker will need to defend his belt. Against who? (George St. Pierre has vacated the UFC Middleweight Championship, Luke Rockhold will challenge Robert Whittaker at UFC 221 for the title). Well, let’s first see what upcoming fights are already booked, along with their significance. 

     

    Robert Whittaker vs. Luke Rockhold (February 11, 2018 – UFC 221)

    – After UFC 217, George St. Pierre admitted his struggles and reluctance to fight again at Middleweight. Stemming from these comments, it was safely assumed that with St. Pierre noncommittal, the most logical fight would pit former Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold against Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker. However, St. Pierre’s battle with Colitis was unexpected. That’s a serious condition that will definitely force St. Pierre out of the picture. So much that, St. Pierre has officially vacated his Middleweight title.

    With St. Pierre relinquishing his belt, Interim UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker effectively has been promoted to Undisputed UFC Middleweight Champion. Even sweeter than that for Whittaker’s, his first title defense will take place in his home country Australia at UFC 221. Oh, and the fight itself is as good as it gets!

     

    Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson (January 27, 2018 – UFC on Fox 27)

    – In 2012, back when Strikeforce was around, a very inexperienced Derek Brunson took on Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The fight would last a mere 41 seconds, as Brunson aggressively charged in and was dropped in accordance. Brunson would try to recover, but Souza was all over him and knocked him out. Six years later, they are pitted against each other again. Relatively in the same boat in the division, this fight makes perfect sense. However trajectory-wise, Brunson is on the rise, as he’s reeled off two straight first-round knockouts. Meanwhile, Souza is coming off a devastating knockout loss to the current Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker. It would be the first time in over eight years Souza had been finished. 

    As for this fight, I’m very interested to see if Brunson continues with his newfound patience inside the octagon. It’s led to two first-round finishes and it’s clearly safer than his aggressive charging in style previously. I mean, I would of thought after losing to Souza in 41 seconds that he’d abandon that style. However, Brunson continued with the style and it worked until the aforementioned Robert Whittaker dealt with him.

    Anyways, with St. Pierre vacating the UFC Middleweight Championship, the implication’s for the winner just got more enticing. Although both are fairly recent victims of current Interim Middlweight Champion Robert Whittaker, it is possible the winner could fight for the belt next. It’s even more possible that if Luke Rockhold were to defeat Robert Whittaker, then the winner of this fight is more likely to be next in line. 

     

    Vitor Belfort vs. Uriah Hall (January 14, 2018 – UFC Fight Night 124)

    This is an excellent fight in terms of style and where both men are in the Middleweight division. Belfort, is coming off a narrow decision victory Nate Marquardt. Before that, the former Light Heavyweight Champion had lost three consecutive fights via stoppage. Luckily though, one of them was overturned, as Kelvin Gastelum tested positive for Marijuana. As for Hall, he’s been pretty much on the same path as Belfort. Previous to his last fight in which he won by knockout, Hall had suffered three consecutive defeats. Two of them came via finish and his career had certainly looked bleak. It’s almost crazy to fathom how the talent of Hall hasn’t translated in the UFC.

    This fight will be important career-wise for both men. It gives them an opportunity to build off their respective victories and for the winner, perhaps into a big fight. 

     

    Thiago Santos vs. Anthony Smith (February 3, 2018 – UFC Fight Night 125)

    – Great matchmaking! This fight has all the ingredients to be fireworks for as long as it last. Santos is one the most feared strikers in the division, as he’s won seven of his eight UFC victories by knockout. His patented body and head kicks have been absolutely devastating. If you haven’t seen his head kick victory over Steve Bosse, I’d advise you to check it out. As for Smith, he has certainly not failed in his second UFC stint. He’s gone 4-1, with three consecutive victories via finish. It’s almost crazy to think that at one point in Smith’s career, his record stood at 5-6. However since that, Smith’s gone 23-6, as well as 11-1 in the last four years. 

    As for the fight, both men are coming into this with three consecutive victories via finish. In other words, the judges won’t be needed. For the winner, he should undoubtedly not only crack the UFC’s ranking’s , but be in line for a big fight.

     

    Lyoto Machida vs. Eryk Anders (February 3, 2018 – UFC Fight Night 125)

    After Anders dominated short-notice opponent Markus Perez at UFC Fight Night 123, he called out Lyoto Machida. The following day, he got his wish. At UFC Fight Night 125, not only will Anders fight a legend, but he will headline a UFC event. Given that the former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker has only ten professional mixed martial arts fights, two of which have come inside the octagon, it’s clear the UFC see’s a potential star. As for Machida, this fight will determine whether or not he can still can compete at a high level. With three consecutive defeats, all via finish, it’s do or die time for the “Dragon”.

    With the Middleweight division stacked, I guess I can’t really complain about garnering new talent. However, I really want to see Mamed Khalidov in the UFC.  The man is on a 14-fight win streak and hasn’t lost in over seven years. Even crazier, Khalidov has only lost once in twelve years. And back in 2005, at one point he had a 3-3 record. His current record stands at 34-4-2, so that means he’s 31-1-2 in the last twelve years. At 37 years of age, can we please offer him whatever he wants! Also, I’d like to see Michel Materla (Who almost joined the UFC this year) and Vyacheslav Vasilevsky in the UFC.

    Anyways, there’s fights to make in the UFC Middleweight division. So let’s get to it!

     

    Yoel Romero vs. Kelvin Gastelum

    – Apparently the word is that Gastelum turned down a fight with Romero, which I don’t blame him, as Romero is a nightmare stylistically. However, if Gastelum seeks a title shot, it’s through Romero. The Cuban carries an impressive 8-1 UFC record, with his only defeat coming in his most recent fight. At UFC 213, Romero locked horns against Robert Whittaker for the Interim Middleweight Championship. After a back-and-forth five rounds, Whittaker earned the decision and captured UFC gold. With St. Pierre vacating the Middleweight Championship, Whittaker has been elevated to undisputed Champion. He also will make his first title defense at UFC 221 against Luke Rockhold. 

    As far as I’m concerned, Romero is the number one contender. However, with the recent lost to the Whittaker, he definitely needs to solidify his case with another victory. The perfect opponent would be Gastelum, which would be a fresh opponent. Gastelum is coming off a knockout victory over Michael Bisping, which is by far his best win to date. His clamoring of a title shot after the victory is premature, especially given that he was submitted by Chris Weidman in his previous fight. Just because Bisping was ranked number two at the time, doesn’t leap over Romero’s body of work. While I mention Gastelum being stylistically outmatched, that means very little in a sport that is often unpredictable. If Gastelum wants a title shot, a fight against Romero would instantly become a title eliminator over the Souza vs. Brunson fight. 

    Chris Weidman vs. Loser of Whittaker vs. Rockhold

    – In a span of two years, Weidman went from an undefeated Champion to a loser of three consecutive fights. Even with the losing streak, Weidman refused to take on an opponent of lower status. Instead he fought another contender in Kelvin Gastelum, in which saw him as an underdog. Weidman would overwhelm Gastelum with a heavy dose of wrestling, eventually submitting the undersized Middleweight. Now sidelined by a thumb injury, it’s not clear exactly when Weidman will return. However, a perfect fight upon return would be against the loser of the Middleweight title fight between Whittaker vs. Rockhold. Given that fight is taking place in February, it gives Weidman ample time to recover and fight the loser on the UFC’s big July card. 

    Michael Bisping vs. Vitor Belfort

    – Belfort is scheduled to fight against Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night 124 on January 14, 2018. Win or lose, Michael Bisping should be his next opponent. The history stemming from their fight back in 2013, gives it plenty of legs. 

    • Belfort was on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) when they fought, which at the time was legal.
    • Said TRT was clearly advantageous for Belfort, as he looked extremely fast and spry at the age of 36. 
    • Belfort landed a vicious head kick, which detached Bisping’s retina. The damage would be permanent, as Bisping needs to have oil in his eye to hold his retina in place.
    • Bisping’s next fight will be his last

    With that said, Bisping should be paired up with Belfort in his retirement fight. It would be a chance for Bisping to get revenge and fight Belfort on a fair playing ground.

    Brad Tavares vs. Dave Branch 

    – As crazy at this may sound, Tavares has an 11-4 UFC record. Two of those four defeats come to Yoel Romero and current Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker. Often overlooked, Tavares has been one of the more consistent fighters in the UFC. With three consecutive victories, it’s time for the veteran to get another opportunity at cracking the UFC’s rankings. A perfect opponent would be in Dave Branch. A loser of his last fight against Luke Rockhold, the former WSOF Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Champion will need to take a step back in competition. Despite clamoring for the toughest fight, it would be in his and the UFC’s best interest to build him back up. A fight against Tavares would be perfect and stylistically interesting.

    Tim Boetsch vs. Ramazan Emeev 

    Despite Emeev’s lackluster debut against Sam Alvey, he still got nod via decision. The win extended Emeev’s win-streak to five, as well as was his thirteenth victory in his last fourteen fights. The next step, another veteran with fight ending power in Tim Boetsch. The dubbed “Barbarian” has remarkably fought twenty two times in the UFC, winning twelve of those fights. Arguably Boetsch’s best work has come of late, as he’s won his three of his last four fights. He’s finished all three opponents too, including most recently former Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks. And although Boetsch probably deserves a top fifteen ranked fighter, at the same time, it’s unlikely.

    Paulo Costa vs. Cezar Ferreira

    – After Ferreira edged out Nate Marquardt by decision at UFC Fight Night 120, he then proceeded to call out fellow Brazilian Paulo Costa. Ferreira claimed that Costa disrespected his mentor Vitor Belfort and vows to “Break Costa into pieces“. Given that Costa has claimed difficulty in getting someone to sign the dotted line against him, I’d say this is a perfect opportunity to well, fight. 

    Uriah Hall* vs. Winner of Santos vs. Smith

    Pending Uriah Hall can get by Vitor Belfort, then stylistically a fight against the winner of Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith would be pure fireworks. Given that Hall currently sits at #11 in the UFC’s rankings, an opportunity for either Santos or Smith to fight a top fifteen opponent would be more than warranted after their fight. On the other hand, Hall still needs to prove he’s worthy of his placement rankings. Currently Hall has a 5-6 UFC record, with his win over Gegard Mousasi in 2015 keeping him afloat in the rankings. 

     

    Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Gerald Meerschaert

    – The former Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 winner has quietly reeled off four consecutive victories. Carlos Jr. initially started his UFC career with little success, going 2-2 with 1 no contest in his first five fights. However, as I mentioned, Carlos Jr. has now won four straight fights and is quickly climbing the Middleweight ranks. Another Middleweight on the rise and stylistically would make for a fun fight, comes in the form of Gerald Meershaert. Debuting in December of 2016, Meershaert has already fought four times. He’s won three fights, all by finish and most recently defeated Eric Spicely by knockout. Perhaps a break might be in order for Meershaert, but if not, a fight against Antonio Carlos Jr. would be fun. 

    Elias Theodorou vs. Winner of Vettori vs. Akhmedov

    – Theodorou is being overlooked. He began his mixed martial arts career in 2011, made it to the UFC in three years and now has built up an impressive 6-2 record inside the octagon. He’s still green, but with time, I could see a potential contender. So with that said, continue to build him up. A fight that would do just that would be against the winner of Marvin Vettori and Omari Akhmedov. 

    Krzysztof Jotko vs. Sam Alvey

    From 2014-2016, Jotko had stringed together a five-fight win streak that included an impressive victory over Thales Leites. Fast forward to 2017, Jotko has lost two consecutive fights. The first was split decision defeat to David Branch, while the second fight was a knockout defeat to Uriah Hall. 

    As for Alvey, 2017 was an up-and-down year. Fighting four times, Alvey was only able to capture two victories over the likes of Nate Marquardt and Rashad Evans. Most recently, Alvey stepped in on short notice to take on promotional newcomer Ramazan Emeev. Not only did Alvey miss weight, he also looked like a fighter who wasn’t ready to fight. In a lackluster performance, Alvey lost by decision.

    Considering both men are right around the same rankings and are coming off defeats, this fight would make sense to turnaround one’s fortune for 2018. 

    Johny Hendricks vs. Dan Kelly

    – Pretty Simple here. Two aging and declining fighters on two-fight losing streaks. One a former a Welterweight Champion, the other held a 6-1 UFC record before the losing streak. The winner sticks around, while the loser contemplates retirement.

  • UFC on Fox 26: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos Predictions

    UFC on Fox 26: Lawler vs. Dos Anjos Predictions

    Image result for ufc on fox 26 poster

    The UFC is back in action, as Winnipeg, Canada plays host to this excellent card on big Fox! Headlining, is a title eliminator in the Welterweight division, pitting former Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler against former Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos. Lawler, most recently fought and defeated Donald Cerrone via decision. It was Lawler’s first fight since losing his Welterweight Championship to Tyron Woodley in July of 2016, as he took nearly year off. As for dos Anjos, the move up to the Welterweight division has been nothing but successful. In his debut, he defeated a very talented striker in Tarec Saffiedine via decision. That performance was followed up with a dominant first-round submission victory over Neil Magny. Now, dos Anjos has put himself in a position to fight for the Welterweight Championship and potentially become the fifth fighter to be a multiple weight Champion.

    Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

     

    UFC on FOX 26 Main Card (8 p.m. ET):

     

    170 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Rafael dos Anjos – The motherload! Two former Champions battling for an opportunity to fight for the Welterweight Championship next. However, I’ll be brief here, as I’ve got Lawler. 

    I believe that dos Anjos has the abilities to turn this fight in his favor, using a heavy dose of leg kicks to halt the forward movement of Lawler. Mixing in well timed takedowns and smothering Lawler too should be within the gameplan. However, Lawler presents issues for dos Anjos. For one, Lawler’s got a 3′ inch height and 4′ inch reach advantage. He is heavy handed, perhaps the hardest puncher dos Anjos has faced to date. Lawler is also as durable as it gets, as he’s only been finished once in the past fourteen fights. Given that he’s fought Johnny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald, Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone and others, some in five round fights, I’d say his chin in pretty solid. 

    Anyways, I said I’d be brief. Lawler via second-round knockout. 

     

    145 lbs.: Josh Emmett vs. Ricardo Lamas – This is a big opportunity for both men, as Emmett has a shot to catapult himself into the top five with a victory over Lamas. Meanwhile, in my opinion, a victory for Lamas sets up a title eliminator against Brian Ortega. 

    As for the fight, with Emmett missing weight, I expect cardio to wane during the later rounds. Lamas has cardio for days and is well, better than Emmett everywhere. I envision Lamas wearing down Emmett, eventually submitting him in the third round.  

    170 lbs.: Mike Perry vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – This fight is pure fireworks. The addition of Mike Perry in the UFC Welterweight division has led some of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history. Perry aims solely to knock opponents out, even if it leads him to being reckless. However, that’s an issue, as Ponzinibbio feasts on opponent’s being reckless. Ponzinibbio is very athletic, a solid counter puncher and has knockout power of his own. In my opinion, Ponzinibbio can either win this fight either two ways. He keeps distance, using his speed to evade Perry and pick him apart for a decision victory. Or Perry charges in and gets put to sleep. I’ll go with the latter. Ponzinibbio via knockout!

    205 lbs.: Misha Cirkunov vs. Glover Teixeira – This is an excellent fight, as Cirkunov is given an opportunity to bounce back against a top five fighter in Teixeira. Widely regarded as a future title challenger, Cirkunov stumbled in his last fight. He was knocked out in 28 seconds against current title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Nothing in the business comes easy, but for your next fight to be against Teixeira was an easy choice to take. Teixeira, is coming off a “Fight of the Night” against Alexander Gustafsson. And despite eventually getting knocked out in the fifth round, Teixeira showed toughness, durability and determination. He would not go away and kept throwing to the very end. 

    As for a prediction, while Cirkunov has the skills to win this fight, I believe the boxing and power of Teixeira will cause him to eventually wilt. If Cirkunov doesn’t attempt to smother Teixeira in the clinch, at times attempting takedowns, then he’s going to get caught on the feet. Contrary to belief, Teixeira tank is empty just yet. This fight is just the beginning to his last run for UFC gold. So with that, I’ve got Teixeira via knockout. 

     

    UFC on FOX 26 Prelims on FS1 (5 p.m. ET):

     

    205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Jared Cannonier – This is a great fight and a tough one to call. On one hand, I’ve liked Blachowicz’s improvements over his last two fights. He’s always been a solid striker, but his inability to stuff a takedown never allowed him to showcase that. Blachowicz often found himself on bottom, getting smothered for three rounds. However, his last fight in particular, he shrugged off several takedown attempts from his wrestling based opponent. A potential sign that Blachowicz can rid of a flaring weakness. 

    In this fight though, there’s no need to worry about being taken down. Cannonier is a striker to the core, throwing every strike with intentions to knock you out. Cannonier is also very athletic, so the speed advantage should be evident. The pace he sets too is problematic for Blachowicz, as cardio has been an issue at times for the Poland native. So with that, I have Cannonier edging this one out via decision.

    205 lbs.: Julian Marquez vs. Darren Stewart – Marquez will make his promotional debut, as he enters this fight on a four fight win-streak. Stewart is on the opposite spectrum, having lost two fights in a row and on the brink of being cut by the UFC. Usually I like to side with fighters with their back against the wall, but Marquez is a bonafide finisher. So with that, I expect Marquez to keep his 100% finishing rate in tact, winning this one via knockout. 

    170 lbs.: Galore Bofando vs. Chad Laprise – Bofando is fun addition in the UFC, as his spinning attacks and freakish athletic abilities align for some exciting finishes. However, with only seven professional fights, two losses via disqualifications, it’s clear he needs more time to grow. Hell, his last two opponents have combined for a 8-16 record. So with that, I have Laprise extending his win streak to three, as he wins via third-round TKO. 

    170 lbs.: Danny Roberts vs. Nordine Taleb – This is a tough fight to call, as Taleb is a massive welterweight. He’s also a very good striker, who implements a heavy dose of leg kicks to slow down opponents. His strength is apparent too, as he’s taken opponents down at a 79% clip. However, Roberts has been improving his takedown defense, which is key in this fight. On the feet, while Taleb is good, Roberts is better. He’s a slick boxer, who throws in volume and he’s got legit power in his hands. So with that, I’m going to side with Roberts to win the striking battle en route to a decision victory.

    155 lbs.: John Makdessi vs. Abel Trujillo – At one point in time, Trujillo looked the part of a contender in the UFC. With power in his hands and a wrestling base, Trujillo has put forth an excellent 6-3 record inside the octagon. However, his weakness is glaring. He can’t sustain a pace, as his cardio wanes the later the fight goes. It’s exactly why I’m siding with Makdessi too, as the “Bull” has no issues with cardio. Also, his style of keeping distance and countering should work well against Trujillo. Depending on if Trujillo aggression in this fight, this could either result in a knockout both ways or my prediction that Makdessi out-strikes Trujillo en route to a decision victory.

    185 lbs.: Oluwale Bamgbose vs. Alessio Di Chirico – The fact that Di Chirico couldn’t finish Garreth McLellan, tells me that Bamgbose is going to have the full three rounds to finish this fight. With a 100% finishing rate, all via knockout, I’ve got to go with Bamgbose to get this one done inside the distance. Bamgbose via knockout! 

     

    UFC on FOX 26 Prelims on Fight Pass (4:30 p.m. ET):

     

    170 lbs.: Jordan Mein vs. Erick Silva – This bout reeks of pink slip, as Mein enters this fight on a three-fight losing streak. Meanwhile, Silva has three of his last four fights. A shame, given that both men came into the UFC with potential to be contenders. Hell, at one point everyone thought that Silva would be a future Welterweight Champion. As for a prediction, I’ve got Mein. Every since USADA partnered with the UFC, Silva’s body completely transformed for the worse. So did his performance, which is why I’ve got Mein via third-round knockout.

  • UFC Fight Night 123: Swanson vs. Ortega Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 123: Swanson vs. Ortega Predictions

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    The UFC continues it’s eleven events in eleven consecutive weeks with it’s ninth event in Fresno, California. In the promotion’s first visit to Fresno, they are bringing out the guns with this headliner, as it all but guarantee’s fireworks. Two perennial Featherweight contenders in Cub Swanson and Brian Ortega will take center stage, with the stakes presenting itself in a potential title shot. It won’t be easy though, as Swanson and Ortega have earned two “Fight of the Night” bonuses each in their last four fights. 

    Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

    UFC Fight Night 123 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega – This is an outstanding fight and even harder to pick. Swanson has reeled off four consecutive victories and has looked more polished in his offensive striking. However, his striking defense has been porous and he’s taken a lot of punishment of late. I mean, his last two fights earned “Fight of the Night” bonuses, but at what expense does that amount of damage have on longevity. Meanwhile, Ortega too has vastly improved in the striking department. It’s almost dangerous to say that, as it’s the one aspect of his game that needs improved. His already superior grappling and submission game have cemented him as a fighter to not mess with on the mat. 

    As for a prediction, while I think that Ortega has all the intangibles to pull this out, it’s Swanson who I think can edge this fight out by keeping it contested on the feet. However, never count out Ortega. He is the Comeback kid, as he was losing his last four fights heading into the final round, only to finish every opponent. It’s a ridiculous streak and it only makes this prediction harder, as he’s capable of finishing his opponent in the later rounds at any given moment. Anyways, like I said, I’ve got Swanson. Ortega likes to trade on the feet and he too also takes a lot of damage. Swanson has more power than Ortega’s past opponents, which could result in a knockout. However, I’m going with Swanson via decision.

    145 lbs.: Gabriel Benitez vs. Jason Knight – Benitez is tough, but Knight is a borderline zombie. I expect Benitez to find some success, possibly even hurt Knight. However, Knight is as durable as it gets and his offense is just relentless. Sooner or later, Knight will get Benitez to the ground and submit him. 

    135 lbs.: Marlon Moraes vs. Aljamain Sterling – Fun fight! Close one to call too, but I’ll go with Moraes here. His devastating leg strikes should slow down the ever improving striking attack of Sterling. The one route to victory though I could see Sterling employing, is that of a heavy wrestling attack. But he’s often abandoned his wrestling abilities, instead choosing to engage in a kickboxing match. If he does, then it’s Moraes who will win that battle. So with that, I’ve got Moraes via decision.

    155 lbs.: Scott Holtzman vs. Darrell Horcher – I still can’t shed the fact that Holtzman at times struggled against Cody Pfister. So with that, I have Horcher via decision.

    185 lbs.: Eryk Anders vs. Markus Perez – I’m very excited for this fight, as I’m very high on the former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Anders. He exceeded expectations in his UFC debut, as he knocked out a ranked veteran in Rafael Natal in the very first round. While still raw, this fight is a very good indication that the UFC is building up Anders rather than throw him into the wolves. So with that, I’ve got Anders via knockout!

    135 lbs.: Benito Lopez vs. Albert Morales – I think we can all access that while Morales is talented, he came into the UFC too soon. Even worse, while green, he’s fought talented opponents in Thomas Almeida and Brett John’s. This fight however is more on par of that of a regional fight and I expect Morales to get much needed cage time and finish Lopez late. 

     

    UFC Fight Night 123 Prelims on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

     

    125 lbs.: Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis – I’ve got Carmouche here. Davis doesn’t offer anything on the feet other than durability stemmed from toughness. Her grappling and submission game is her bread-and-butter, but it’s not going to be a factor in this fight. Carmouche is a heavy wrestler, who’s got smothering top control and and is rather defensively sound. That’s not to say she can’t get caught, but I think it’s unlikely. So with that, I’ve got Carmouche using timely takedowns en route to a decision victory.

    135 lbs.: Luke Sanders vs. Andre Soukhamthath – With two straight split decision losses, Soukhamthath could be looking at his pink slip here. I give him credit for stepping up on short notice, but his last two opponents aren’t nearly as talented as Luke Sanders. This is clearly the best opponent Soukhamthath has fought and it’s going to perhaps come at the expense of his UFC career. I see Sanders using his wrestling at will, neutralizing  Soukhamthath on the feet en route to a decision victory. 

    125 lbs.: Carls John de Tomas vs. Alex Perez – Don’t know much about either, but de Thomas doesn’t impress me at all. The caliber of his opponents aren’t eye popping and even though he’s won a majority of his fights, he wasn’t finishing fights he should have. Perez is rolling into this bout on a five fight win streak, most recently winning in impressive fashion on Dana White’s Contender series. Judging by the opportunity earned from the show, there’s talent. So with that, I have Perez via decision.  

    135 lbs.: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Saenz – It’s been over two years since Saenz has tasted victory, which is almost strange given that he had started his UFC career out with three consecutive wins. However, I often like to side with fighters with their back against the wall. Perhaps in this instance, it could be career defining. So with that, I’ll take the veteran wrestler to grind out a decision victory against the promotional newcomer.

    UFC Fight Night 123 Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (6:30 p.m. ET):

     

    135 lbs.: Iuri Alcantara vs. Alejandro Perez – While I’ll admit that Perez has over-performed much to my surprise, I think it ends here. Alcantara, while showing obvious signs of decline, is still a dangerous fighter anywhere the fight goes. The fact that Perez is a slow starter is problematic, as Alcantara will come out of the gate looking to finish the fight. If Perez can somehow whether the storm, Alcantara’s suspect cardio could result in his demise. However, with a 3′ inch height and 4′ inch reach advantage, I see Alcantara battering Perez early and eventually submitting him. 

    155 lbs.: Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Davi Ramos – Honestly, this is a toss up for me. I guess though I’ll side with Ramos, just due to Gruetzemacher’s porous striking defense. While he does provide volume in his striking, he leaves a lot of opening to being tagged. If he gets dropped here, the BJJ black Belt Ramos will take over. So with that, I got Ramos by submission. 

    185 lbs.: Trevin Giles vs. Antonio Braga Neto – Although Giles is undefeated and Braga Neto hasn’t fought in 43 months, I lean Braga Neto. While victorious in his UFC debut, Giles looked uncomfortable on the feet. His grappling, top control and ground-and-pound definitely though showed promise. However, Braga Neto is a talented grappler and submission artist. If Giles wants to play in his guard, it’s going to be a grave mistake. With a 3′ inch height and reach advantage, I can see Braga Neto attacking on the outside and forcing Giles to initiate the clinch. From there, Braga Neto will take down Giles and submit him. 

  • UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo II Predictions

    UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo II Predictions

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    A day after Nicco Montano was crowned the Inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion at the TUF 26 Finale in Las Vegas, the UFC is right back at the following day with a stacked card in Detroit, Michigan. Headlining the card is a rematch between Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and longtime Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. Originally, Holloway was set to defend his title against Frankie Edgar, but an unfortunate injury sustained in practice forced Edgar off the card. Aldo, who was scheduled to fight Ricardo Lamas at UFC on Fox 26, stepped up with two weeks less of training for this opportunity at reclaiming his belt.

    Also on this stacked card is what appears like a title eliminator in the Heavyweight division, as Francis Ngannou looks to continue his quick rise to the title against the “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem. This fight is going to prove how good Ngannou really is, as Overeem is a 59-fight veteran and one of the best strikers in mixed martial arts. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping, how about a lightweight bout featuring knockout artists in Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez? I would recommend taping your eyelids to your forehead, just to ensure you don’t blink.

    Anyways, enough talk! Let’s get to the Predictions!

    UFC 218 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo – When Max Holloway first stepped into the octagon on short notice against Dustin Poirier, I remember checking out his highlight reel on Youtube. His arsenal of striking reminded me of Anthony Pettis and his pitter patter striking like that of a Diaz brother. I knew he looked like a promising talent and could contend for the belt one day. However, I couldn’t of predicted that at age 25, he would become the UFC World Champion. That he would reel off eleven straight victories, including defeating the greatest Featherweight of all-time in Jose Aldo to become the champion. Or even that he would have 14 UFC victories in only five years… The scary thing is, the young Hawaiian might not even be in his prime yet.

    Aldo on the other hand, is shockingly only 31 years of age. However, he’s gone from never losing in a decade, to being finished twice. I don’t think that’s a product of being washed up, but it’s definitely something that needs to pointed out. While many are writing him off here, let’s not forget in the first fight, Aldo won the first two rounds. Let’s also not forget, that upon winning those first two rounds, Aldo threw next to no leg kicks. That’s crazy, given that Aldo’s attack is heavily based on chopping down opponents with leg kicks.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Aldo. While Holloway has the more dynamic striking arsenal, Aldo’s leg kicks are a difference maker. One in which he failed to use in the first fight. They halt opponents in their tracks and turn them into standing targets. From there, Aldo uses his crisp jab to outpoint opponents. This is exactly how I see this rematch going, contrary to the belief that Aldo is going to get lit up. So with that, I’ve got Aldo via decision.

    265 lbs.: Francis Ngannou vs. Alistair Overeem – Is there a need to even break this one down to it’s core? Probably not, just because this one all but guarantee’s a knockout. But…

    In one corner, we have Overeem, whom is one of the best strikers in mixed martial artist. His new found patient approach, has saved his career. He’s being hit less, which is notable due to his suspect chin. He’s also using distance and well timed strikes, frustrating opponents and then knocking them out. In the other corner, we have Ngannou. Perhaps the future of the division, who features lighting quick speed and devastating knockout abilities. However, Ngannou has not fought anyone like Overeem. That might not matter in the Heavyweight division, but it matters to me. Overeem via KO.

    125 lbs.: Henry Cejudo vs. Sergio Pettis – This is a an important fight in the Flyweight division, as the winner will undoubtedly align themselves to either fight for the title or in a title eliminator in their next bout. As for a prediction, I’ve got Cejudo. He’s faster and more powerful on the feet, while also being an incredible wrestler. Pettis is a solid striker with underrated wrestler, but this is just the case of someone being better than you in every aspect. So with that, I’ve got Cejudo via decision.

    155 lbs.: Eddie Alvarez vs. Justin Gaethje – This fight has the makings of pure chaos, as both strikers usually abandon their top notch wrestling abilities and just swing for the fences. After going 17-0 outside the UFC, Gaethje made a successful UFC debut. Not only did he knock out top contender Michael Johnson, but he earned a “Fight of the Night” bonus. Gaethje was rocked a few times in that bout, but his granite chin ultimately held up, as Johnson eventually wilted from Gaethje constant forward pressure. As for Alvarez, his last outing was a no contest against Dustin Piorier. In what was a wild fight, in which Alvarez was clearly rocked and looked to be about finished. However, Alvarez somehow survived and turned the tide. Then while Poireir was downed by the cage, apparently Alvarez didn’t know and off instinct threw an illegal knee.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Alvarez. I know Gaethje has a granite chin, but his style of allowing opponents to punch him, just so he can fire back, will wear it’s course here. Alvarez is a technical boxer, although he doesn’t shy away from a brawl. In this fight, I see him using distance and systematically picking his shots. And unlike Michael Johnson, when Alvarez smells blood, he goes for the kill. So with that, I have Alvarez via knockout.

    115 lbs.: Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson – Honestly, I’ve been back-and-forth with this prediction. Both women are top notch strikers, with Waterson’s more diverse kicking abilities maybe providing the edge. Neither have power, so don’t expect a knockout. Torres is the better wrestler, but Waterson is a submission hunter and chain’s them together so well. So I’m not entirely sure Torres even attempts to take Waterson down unless it’s with 30 seconds left in a close round. 

    As for a prediction, I’ll go with Waterson. In what should be a close fight and like I mentioned before, her more diverse kicking abilities ultimately give her the edge via decision.

    UFC 218 Prelims On FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

    155 lbs.: Paul Felder vs. Charles Oliveira – This one is tough to call. Felder is a dynamic striker, who I initially thought lacked power. However, his last two knockout victories suggest different. Oliveira is a superior grappler, who likes to mat his opponents and submit them. He’s also very crafty, in which he baits opponents into grappling exchanges in which he will gladly pull guard or roll for a leg lock. Felder must avoid those traps and keep this upright. Also, Felder has had a tendency to let opponents dictate the pace, but of late he’s shed that notion.

    As for a prediction, while I lean Oliveira based on his craftiness as a grappler, I do see vast improvement in Felder to believe he keeps this fight vertical. While on the feet, Felder easily holds the striking and power advantage. So with that, I’ve got Felder via late knockout.

    170 lbs.: Yancy Medeiros vs. Alex Oliveira – This is another great fight, but I believe that Oliveira will tally his fifth win since 2016 here. While Medeiros has vastly improved, winning three of his last four fights, he’s still simply too hittable. That’s a problem, especially against a counterpuncher with power like Oliveira. Even if Medeiros finds success on the feet without getting tagged, Oliveira is also a talented grappler with crafty submissions. He’s taken down his last seven opponents a combined 20 times. Anyways, my prediction is that Oliveira wins this fight via knockout. 

    155 lbs.: Drakkar Klose vs. David Teymur – This should be a fun fight, as both men recently defeated dynamic strikers. However, I’m siding with Teymur in this fight. He’s a high level kickboxer, who’s shown an arsenal of kicks and well timed knee’s to go along with his crisp punches. Klose is an excellent striker as well, but he relies on well timed takedowns to compliment it. I don’t see Klose being able to use his wrestling abilities though, as Teymur has excellent takedown defense. So with it mainly being on the feet, I edge Teymur to take excellent fight via decision

    115 lbs.: Cortney Casey vs. Felice Herrig – This is an excellent fight in the Women’s Strawweight division and a tough one to call. Herrig has rattled off three straight victories, showing improved striking and superior grappling abilities. Casey has won three of her last four fights, defeating top talents like Randa Markos and Jessica Aguilar.

    As for a prediction, I initially was thinking that Herrig’s grappling abilities and smothering top control would be the difference here. However, Casey’s guard is uncomfortable, as she constantly mixes in strikes and submission attempts. Those slashing elbows on bottom can be game changing, as we’ve seen in previous fights like Tony Ferguson against Kevin Lee. Ughh, I guess I’m going to side with Casey via decision. She’s just too feisty and crafty, which compliment her pressure and pace she puts on opponents.

    UFC 218 Prelims On UFC Fight Pass (6:15 p.m. ET):

    170 lbs.: Razak Al-Hassan vs. Sabah Homasi – This fight has knockout written all over it, as both men combine for eighteen wins, fifteen of which have via knockout. Al-Hassan’s last fight was his first professional defeat, as opponent Omari Akhmedov used a heavy dose of takedowns to take a split decision victory. However, in this fight, I don’t expect Al-Hassan to worry about takedowns and that’s a scary as everything he throws has fight ending intentions. As for Homasi, his last fight came on short notice against Tim Means. While Homasi showed toughness against Means, even scoring some success at times with takedowns, it was his cardio that failed him. 

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Al-Hassan. He’s just got too much power in his hands and while I mentioned Homasi’s toughness, that was to a pitter patter puncher in Means. Al-Hassan is a one punch knockout artist. So with that, I’ve got Al-Hassan via knockout. 

    205 lbs.: Jeremy Kimball vs. Dominick Reyes – I’m excited for this fight, as Reyes is a prospect in which I believe will contend for the belt one day. He’s lanky and lengthy, especially in this fight, as Reyes has 4′ inch height and 5′ inch reach advantage over Kimball. With only seven professional fights, Reyes has shown excellent striking abilities. His precision and power are problems for any Light Heavyweight and as he gains more experience, he’s going to be a tough out for anyone. As for a prediction, Reyes via first-round knockout.

    265 lbs.: Allen Crowder vs. Justin Willis – Oddly at 265 lbs, Willis is a pretty quick individual. He’s got some pop in his hands and in his debut, he had some nice takedowns. In Dana White’s contender series, before Crowder ultimately won, he was put on his back and didn’t seem comfortable there. I could see Willis take advantage of this, taking Crowder down whenever and grinding out a decision victory. 

    115 lbs.: Amanda Cooper vs. Angela Magana – Although Magana is a huge underdog, I believe her grappling game could allow her to edge this one out. However, she hasn’t fought in over two year, nor won one in six years. Based on that, it’s tough to expect her to shake off the rust and win this. So with that, I’ve got Cooper via decision.

  • TUF 26 Finale: Montana vs. Modafferi Predictions

    TUF 26 Finale: Montana vs. Modafferi Predictions

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    Sixteen female Flyweight’s entered the Ultimate Fighter house two month’s ago, vying for a chance to fight at the Ultimate Fighter Finale. This however wouldn’t be just any Ultimate Fighter finale, as two women who remained, would fight each for the inaugural 125 lbs. Championship. It’s an exciting proposition tied into the Ultimate Fighter show, one in which I believe really motivates the fighters even more so than the opportunity to just be under the UFC banner. We all know, generally the fighters who make the most money are the Champions. So for one of these women, there lives will drastically be changed for the better.

    As for the finalist in the headliner, originally it was supposed to be Sijara Eubanks against Nicco Montano. Unfortunately for Eubanks, a bad weight cut forced her out of the fight and in stepped Roxanne Modafferi. This is the ultimate redemption for Modafferi, as she was eliminated in the Semi-Finals by Eubanks and now has an opportunity to be a UFC world champion.

    Anyways, I’m going be honest. I barely watched this season and probably the previous three as well. So bear with my lack of knowledge on these predictions!

    FOX Sports 1 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Roxanne Modafferi vs. Nicco Montano for inaugural women’s flyweight title – I’m going to be honest, I lack knowledge of Montano’s abilities. I know she defeated Honchak in the Semi-Finals, which is impressive. However, Modafferi is a very experienced fighter and has really turned her career around. At rock bottom, she had lost six fights in a row and was cut by the UFC. It appeared like retirement was near, as her skill set was diminished. Then, she left Japan and went to train in the states, finding coach John Wood at Syndicate MMA. It’s couldn’t of been a better fit, as Modafferi has won the last six out of eight fights. 

    Anyways, Modafferi has vastly improved herself as a striker. So much to the point where she could win a fight standing up, which wasn’t the case before. Her grappling abilities are still superior and I think that’s what will ultimately get her the nod in this fight. I see a heavy dose of grappling and top control, ultimately opening up a submission victory, capping off Modafferi’s Cinderella story as the Inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion.

    135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Terrion Ware – O’Malley is a fun fighter and I’m curious to watch his growth inside the octagon. However, all that flashiness doesn’t work against someone who is well rounded like Ware. He’s show excellent kickboxing abilities and I believe that he can avoid that one-shot knockout blow O’Malley strives for. Ware is going to get inside and make this an ugly fight, either with takedowns or clinch strikes. I think this fight is going to play out the way Matt Brown and Stephen Thomson did, which in the end is going to turn O’Malley into a better fighter for it. But for now, I got Ware taking this one via decision.

    125 lbs.: Barb Honchak vs. Lauren Murphy – The one problem with Murphy is that she is better than she performs in the octagon. She has a well rounded game, but her hesitancy to strike and mostly failed takedown attempts have cost her. Murphy usually is pushing her opponent to the cage and “attempting” to take them down, while lacking volume or any powerful shots while in the clinch.

    As much as I believe in Murphy’s abilities, Honchak is just better in every aspect. So with that, I have Honchak via decision.

    185 lbs.: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Eric Spicely – This is a fun fight between two high level grapplers. Hopefully the grappling doesn’t cancel each other and we get a striking battle, but who knows. If it stays on the feet, I’d edge in favor of Meerschaert. He’s definitely the more athletic of the two. However, I believe that Spicely, perhaps due to his physique is overlooked and thought of an easy victory. I think that’s exactly what Thiago Santos thought and he paid for it. Now Meerschaert might not be in that same mentality, but I could see him not respecting Spicely on the feet only to be caught and submitted.

    125 lbs.: DeAnna Bennett vs. Melinda Fabian – This going to be a one-sided takedown-fest. Bennett via decision.

    135 lbs.: Brett Johns vs. Joe Soto – Johns looks to be a legit prospect at only 25 years of age and a perfect 14-0 record. He’s already 2-0 inside the octagon and has shown solid striking and grappling abilities thus far. However, he hasn’t faced anyone of Soto’s caliber. With three straight wins, Soto has really shown vast improvements. In his last fight against Rani Yahya, showed his takedown defense to be solid and even was outgrappling a superior grappler in Yahya. 

    This fight won’t be easy, but I think Soto is going to edge this out via decision.

    FOX Sports 1 Prelims (8 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Montana De La Rosa vs. Christina Marks – De La Rosa has a lot of heart and has a nice submission game to boot. Considering Marks has been submitted six times, I would have to assume she’s uncomfortable when she’s put on her back. So with that, I got De La Rosa via submission.

    185 lbs.: Ryan Janes vs. Andrew Sanchez – This is a terrible fight for Janes, as I don’t see where he is going to be able to use any of strengths. Sanchez is a superior wrestler with smothering top control and decent ground-and-pound. He was a round away from defeating Anthony Smith, which would of extended his UFC record to 3-0. Expect him to bounce back and in a vicious way. Sanchez via TKO!

    125 lbs.: Karine Gevorgyan vs. Rachael Ostovich – Gevorgyan is a poor defensive wrestler, which is going to be exploited heavily by a strong wrestler in Ostovich. I expect Ostovich to take Gevorgyan down at will, eventually submitting her in the second round.

    125 lbs.: Ariel Beck vs. Shana Dobson – Both women are rather inexperienced, but I’m going with Dobson via decision. 

    UFC Fight Pass Prelims (7:30 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Gillian Robertson vs. Emily Whitmire – I’m going with Robertson…actually what happened to Kenny Robertson? Two split decision losses and then cut? That’s crap!

    Back on topic. Robertson via decision.

  • Solving the: UFC Light Heavyweight Division

    Solving the: UFC Light Heavyweight Division

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    When Jon Jones returned at UFC 214, he brought an obvious boost to the Light Heavyweight division. A division, in which had been in good hands by Daniel Cormier, but obviously missed having whom many consider to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time. That statement held true, as Jones successfully recaptured his belt by defeating Daniel Cormier by knockout. It was a rivalry like no other, perhaps the best in UFC history. However, all good things seemingly come to an end.

    On August 22, 2017, Jones was flagged by USADA for a potential violation. That violation would wind up being for a steroid named Turinabol. A major blow, considering the result of his comeback and the fact that he just returned from a one year suspension handed down from a previously violation by USADA. Now, this second violation could result in a four year suspension, which would all but end the career of Jones. A man whom was the greatest at his craft and in route to immortality among the combat sports greats. A legacy that will always be talked about in “What if’s”.

    With Jones looming suspension, the result of his victory over Cormier was overturned and he was stripped of his Light Heavyweight Championship. The belt was returned to Cormier, who was set to move on and make a title defense against Volkan Oezdemir in the first quarter of 2018. However, yet again, Cormier seems to have been dealt a bad card. On November 19, 2017, Oezdemir was arrested on aggravated battery charges. The arrest all but shelves Oezdemir for the time being and puts Cormier in a precarious position. So what should he do?

    Well, I’ll tell you that and how to get this Light Heavyweight division back on track. However, let’s first see what upcoming fights are already booked, along with their significance.

     

    Glover Teixeira vs. Misha Cirkunov (December 16, 2017 – UFC on Fox 26)

    – This is a big fight in the Light Heavyweight division, as Teixeira looks to maintain his status as a contender, while making one more push for gold. Meanwhile, Cirkunov looks to rebound from his first defeat in five years, as well as crack the top five in the Light Heavyweight division. Given the lack of depth within the Light Heavyweight division, the winner of this bout could very well be fighting in a number one contender fight next.

     

    Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ilir Latifi (January 27, 2018 – UFC on Fox 27)

    – At UFC 217 in Madison Square Garden, Ovince Saint Preux returned to contender status, as he knocked out Corey Anderson in the third-round. It was a closely contested fight, however the judges had Anderson winning heading into the final round. A timely head kick disposed of any need to go to the scorecards and extended Saint Preux’s winning streak to three. Previous to the streak, Saint Preux had lost three consecutive fights, which caused many to write off the former title challenger.

    As for Latifi, it must of been somewhat of a shock to be called out by Saint Preux given their recent trajectory and the fact that Saint Preux is ranked ahead of him. Make no mistake about it though, Latifi is steadily climbing the Light Heavyweight division. With a 6-3 UFC record, Latifi has cleaned up the bottom of the division. It’s the the top of the division that he can’t crack, as his last defeat to Ryan Bader was a golden opportunity missed. Latifi would bounce back at UFC 215 against Tyson Pedro and now has another golden opportunity to make noise against Saint Preux.

    The winner of this bout will no doubt line themselves up for something special, but it’s Ovince Saint Preux who could potentially earn a title shot.

     

    Jan Blachowicz vs. Jared Cannonier (December 16, 2017 – UFC on Fox 26)

    – This should be an exciting fight, as both men are strikers whom happen to have legit power in their hands. Blachowicz might be a little craftier when it comes to submissions, as he showed in his last fight against Devin Clark. Also, Blachowicz’s vastly improved takedown defense has turned him into a legit threat. If you think about his four UFC losses, he was taken down and smothered in three of them. That includes Alexander Gustafsson, who Blachowicz was getting the better of on the feet.

    As for Cannonier, this is a big opportunity at building a streak and having some consistency in the UFC. With a 3-2 UFC record, the heavy-handed brawler hasn’t quite took the UFC by storm. Perhaps fighting Glover Teixeira in only eleventh professional fight, fourth in the UFC, was a bit too soon. However, Cannonier still has potential and his style always will have a place inside the octagon. Can he get back on track? We’ll see!

    Much like the UFC Heavyweight division, the Light Heavyweight division lacks depth. It’s a top heavy division that features aged fighters, with most coming over the age of 32. That’s an issue now and potentially a real problem in five years when the division’s best are retired. Now I know part of the issue regarding the depth of the division stems from losing Ryan Bader and Phil Davis to Bellator, but there’s plenty of talent out there. Guys like Rashid Yusopov, Batraz Agnaev, Viktor Nemkov, Tomasz Narkun, Stephan Puetz are top tier talent out there. Even bringing back Nikita Krylov should be an option.

    Anyways, even with the lack of depth, there’s fights to make and names to build. So let’s get to it…

    Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson II

    –  With Volkan Oezdemir getting arrested on aggravated assault charges, his guaranteed title shot is all but gone. The most logical replacement would Alexander Gustafsson, who fought Cormier to a split decision loss at UFC 192. Since that defeat, Gustafsson has reeled off two straight victories. The last performance was spectacular, as he thoroughly out-struck Glover Teixeira for the better part of five rounds before finally knocking him out. It’a pretty clear that this is the fight to make now.

     

    Volkan Oezdemir vs. Winner of Saint Preux vs. Latifi

    – With Oezdemir’s legal issues up in the air, I think it’s safe to say he’s not fighting Daniel Cormier in late January as expected. I don’t foresee an overly lengthy absence from the octagon, but I would have to assume upon returning it will be against someone else. The most likely scenario would be against the winner of Ovince Saint Preux and Ilir Latifi. It would be especially hard to deny Saint Preux a number one contenders fight if he gets by Latifi, as four wins in a row would be the longest in the division. I could also see a scenario in which Glover Teixeira should he defeat Misha Cirkunov get this fight.

     

    Mauricio Rua vs. Winner of Teixeira vs. Cirkunov

    – As stated above, I could see a scenario where Teixeira fights Oezdemir, but this fight would make a lot of sense too. Rua has stringed together three consecutive wins and is line for a higher profile fight. The winner of Teixeira against Cirkunov would be just what the doctor ordered in terms of that. 

     

    Jimi Manuwa vs. Winner of Blachowicz vs. Cannonier

    – Manuwa must be besides himself, as he most likely would of been fighting Daniel Cormier in late January. However, he took Volkan Oezdemir lightly and paid for it, as he was knocked out in the first round. The war of words leading up to his fight against Oezdemir, was solely with Cormier. He had seemed to look past the fight rather than focusing on what was in front of him. So, now it’s back to the drawing board and great fight back would be against the winner of Blachowicz versus Cannonier. Both men are strikers, which is ideal for Manuwa and the fans.

     

    Patrick Cummins vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov

    – In 2017, Cummins has stringed together two consecutive wins, one coming via majority decision and the other via split decision. Perhaps a little luck, but it’s two wins and it’s got Cummins in a good position to go on a run here. A perfect fight would be against Antigulov, whom has won fourteen consecutive fights, two of which have come in the UFC. Antigulov boost a four year unbeaten streak and has taken the UFC by storm, winning both those UFC fights in the first round via submission. For Cummins, this would be an ideal opponent, as it’s not against a power puncher. Something in which Cummins has problems with.

     

    Corey Anderson vs. C.B. Dollaway

    – Corey Anderson was less than four minutes away from defeating Ovince St. Preux and getting back on track. However, Saint Preux had other plans, as he knocked out Anderson via a vicious head kick. The loss would be Anderson’s second in a row and third in his last four fights. The Ultimate Fighter 19 winner initially began his UFC career with an impressive 5-1 record, but has now tailed off. Make no mistake about it though, Anderson has all the talent to be a contender and I think he should be properly rebuilt.

    A fight that comes to mind would be against veteran and a fellow wrestler in C.B. Dollaway. The 18-fight UFC veteran has recently made the move up to the Light Heavyweight division, defeating Ed Herman. A fight against Anderson would be ideal, as it could catapult Dollaway into the top fifteen. Also for Anderson, he wouldn’t be fighting a knockout artist, which has haunted him in his last two fights.

     

    Jordon Johnson vs. Jake Collier

    – Johnson is a perfect 8-0 in his career, with two of the wins coming inside the octagon. The former Division collegiate wrestler looks like he could be something special, but it’s time to get tested. An opponent that comes to mind is Jake Collier. He’s an aggressive pressure fighter, who isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe in the pocket. Collier is also durable, but his style often leads him wide open to getting tagged, which eventually takes it toll. Collier has had issues with wrestlers, so this would be a perfect fight to exercise those demons. For Johnson this fight would be ideal, as it’s against a fairly notable name, which is essential in his rise among the ranks.

  • UFC Fight Night 122: Bisping vs. Gastelum Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 122: Bisping vs. Gastelum Predictions

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    On November 4th, Michael Bisping lost his Middleweight title to George St. Pierre, as he was knocked down and submitted in the third round. Three weeks later, Bisping is returning to the octagon, replacing original headliner and former foe Anderson Silva. This is the second time in two UFC events that one half of the headliner was replaced, although Mark Hunt wasn’t removed due to a potential violation by USADA like Silva. This would be the second violation by Silva, which could result in a four-year ban and the end of his career.

    Luckily enough though, a true company man and future UFC Hall-of-Famer in Bisping is stepping up to take on Kelvin Gastelum. And while Gastelum probably preferred to take on Silva due to his legendary status, in terms of rankings, this is a jackpot. Gastelum goes from taking on #8 Anderson Silva to #2 Michael Bisping. An opportunity to cut the line is here for the taking now.

    Small factoid, but the last time the UFC was in China, Michael Bisping headlined against Cung Le. Bisping would defeat Le, then go on to fight Rockhold, igniting a rivalry that got him a short notice title shot. One in which he would capitalize on. Crazy!

    Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

    UFC Fight Night 122 Main Card (7 a.m. ET):

    185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Kelvin Gastelum – I’ve got nothing but respect for Michael Bisping, as he’s a fighter to his core. To step in on short notice, less than a month after losing your title against a monster, is downright bold. As for the fight, it’s hard to grasp whether Bisping is 100% coming into this. He took several punches and elbows for three rounds, as well as eventually being choked unconscious. However and despite being an underdog, I think Bisping walks away the winner in this fight.

    Gastelum may be faster and have more power in his hands, but he’s also simply just too small for the weight class. Bisping will have a 4′ height and reach advantage. And while Bisping is not known for his wrestling, I expect him to surprise Gastelum with some timely takedowns. Weidman laid out the blueprint and Bisping knows that. He wouldn’t of taken this fight if he didn’t think he could win. He could of enjoyed Thanksgiving with the family instead of weight cutting.

    Anyways, I believe that Bisping will take down and tire Gastelum early, dragging him into the later rounds. From there, Bisping’s cardio and striking takes over en route to a decision victory.

    170 lbs.: Li Jingliang vs. Zak Ottow – While tough, Ottow just doesn’t provide enough offense to win this fight. Jingliang is a good wrestler, who happens to love a good ole fashion brawl. With a granite chin and cement in his hands, there’s a good reason why he doesn’t mind slugging it out in the pocket. So with that, I got Jingliang extending his winning streak to four via late TKO victory.

    145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Wang Guan – The promotional newcomer Guan might be an impressive 19-1-1, but who the hell has he beaten? Nobody… While Caceres has his flaws, there’s no way I see him faltering to this step down in completion. Caceres via submission.

    170 lbs.: Alex Garcia vs. Muslim Salikhov – I’ve been complaining about the UFC’s failure to sign more of these Russian talents, especially in the upper weight classes. This is a good step, as Salikhov is a special talent who I could see becoming a contender. Salikhov is a gifted counter striker, who packs a serious punch. However, he’s been noted for several spinning back kick knockouts, which demonstrates the arsenal of striking we are dealing with here. Nothing against Garcia, but he’s a one round fighter with legit power. His explosiveness and cardio wanes as the fight goes into the later rounds and I could very well see that being the opportunity when Salikhov knocks him out.

    UFC Fight Night 122 Prelims (3:45 a.m. ET):

    145 lbs.: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Sheymon Moraes – Moraes is a great addition to the Featherweight division, but this is a rough debut. Magomedsharipov looks to be a future contender, as his already well rounded abilities flashed in his debut against Mike Santiago. At 6’1 and with a 73′ inch reach advantage, the lanky Russian is a nightmare fight for anyone. That includes Moraes, who’s going to outmatched in the grappling and striking department. Magomedsharipov is just too well rounded and with an ever expanding arsenal of strikes on the feet, it’s only a matter of time before he puts away Moraes. So with that, I have Magomedsharipov via TKO.

    170 lbs.: Bobby Nash vs. Kenan Song – All I know is debuting in the UFC on a two-fight losing streak, probably a first in the UFC. Bobby Nash also happens to be on a two-fight losing streak, but unlike Song, he’s actually UFC caliber. Nash is legit collegiate wrestler out of Michigan St. who also happens to have bricks in his hands. So with that, I expect Nash to win this one via knockout in round one.

    125 lbs.: Kailin Curran vs. Xiaonan Yan – Besides Yan’s last fight in which was a no contest, her previous nine opponents combined for a 0-2 record. My skeptical eyes consider that to be a can crusher. Now, Curran has had her problems. Hell, she’s 1-5 in the UFC and lucky to still be in the promotion. However, there’s no way I can see her losing this fight. She’s a high volume striker, who just needs to improve her fight IQ. She’s her own problem and I think she realizes that in this fight. So with that, Curran via decision.

    135 lbs.: Bharat Khandare vs. Yaodong Song – No clue, but I’m going with the Super Fight League veteran Khandare. Looking at his highlight clip, he looks to be a pretty good wrestler with some pop in his hands. That’s all I need to side with Khandare via TKO.

    265 lbs.: Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chase Sherman – In a card mixed with newcomers and unknowns, this is a breath of fresh air. Abdurakhimov looks to get back in the win column, as he was defeated by Derrick Lewis in his most recent fight. In that fight, Abdurakhimov took down Lewis at will and easily controlled him in top control. If it was a three round fight, Abdurakhimov would of won. Unfortunately, it was five rounds and his cardio eventually cost him in the fourth.

    As for Sherman, the “Vanilla Gorilla” started out his UFC career rough, losing two straight fights. Most likely on the brink of being cut, Sherman turned it around with two straight victories, one in which won him a bonus for “Fight of the Night”. And now with another victory, Sherman could catapult himself into a top ten fight.

    As for a prediction, I’ve got Abdurakhimov. Sherman is good striker, but his upright stance is worrisome in a fight like this. Abdurakhimov is a rugged wrestler with solid top control and I could very well see him smothering Sherman via decision.

    135 lbs.: Gina Mazany vs. Yanan Wu – I’m a little concerned, as Wu debuts in the UFC on a two-fight win streak that comes against two opponents with a combined 0-4 record. I’ll pass and take Mazany who has already fought top tier talent in Juliana Pena and Sara McMann. So with that, I got Mazany winning via decision.

    145 lbs.: Wuliji Buren vs. Rolando Dy – Never heard of Buren, but when looking at his record, I notice he lost to an opponent named Yuri. An opponent who only has one name and never had a professional fight previous to fighting Buren. That’s sad. So with that, I have Dy winning via TKO.

    205 lbs.: Cyril Asker vs. Yaozong Hu – With only three professional fights and his best win coming over a 2-3 opponent, Hu might be biting off more than he can chew in this short notice fight. Can’t fault him though for taking this big opportunity, however I can’t see him winning it either. So with that, I got Asker winning via knockout.

     

  • UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura Predictions

    UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura Predictions

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    The UFC continues it’s eleven events in eleven consecutive weeks with it’s fifth event down under in Sydney, Australia. Originally the headliner of this card was supposed to be Mark Hunt against Marcin Tybura, but Hunt was removed from the main event stemming from an interview where he revealed to have some concerning health issues. In stepped Fabricio Werdum, who is coming off a 65-second submission victory over Walt Harris just a little over a month ago. The new main event offers an excellent opportunity for both, as a victory for Werdum puts him one fight away from fighting for the title again and for Tybura, an opportunity to catapult himself into the top five.

    Let’s get to the Predictions!

    FOX Sports 1 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

    265 lbs.: Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura – So, I don’t want to completely dismiss Tybura’s chances in this fight, but this is just too big of a step up in competition. It’s also a nightmare of a matchup, as Werdum is going to have the height and reach advantage. He’s also a better striker, grappler, submission artist and anything else you can think of. Tybura doesn’t throw lots of volume, he’s not the most athletic Heavyweight and his route to victory is only knocking out Werdum. Possible, but implausible. So with that, I’ve got Werdum winning this fight via submission in round one.  

    125 lbs.: Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Bec Rawlings – Fun fight and it’s good to see Rawlings fighting at her natural weight of 125 lbs. Also, it’s about time “Jessy Jess” got her shot in the UFC. As for the fight, this should be an exciting scrap, as both women are strikers. Rawlings will rely on her sharp boxing and sheer size advantage, while Clark will look to chop down her opponent with combinations that feature heavy leg kicks. As for a prediction, I’ve got Clark. She’s going to have the speed advantage, she’s durable as hell, she has better cardio and those leg kicks are going to slow down Rawlings tremendously. So with that, I’ve got Clark via decision.

    170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Belal Muhammad – This might be your “Fight of the Night”, as both men have contrasting styles, but a glutton for punishment. Means, is one of the best strikers in the UFC and uses standing elbows like no other. Means does his best when he can maintain distance with his opponent, but he’s not afraid to work inside with said standing elbows. Muhammad has legit power in his hands, but an opponent like Means will require him to get inside. From there, he could also work in some takedowns, in which could be the difference in this fight. If there’s a weakness of Means, it’s wrestlers. 

    However, Muhammad isn’t a lock down wrestler and even if he keeps Mean’s down, he’s going to take a litany of strikes from the bottom. Mean’s length only makes it worse too, as he can hit you from anywhere, probably even totally postured. So with that, in a fun and entertaining fight, I’ve got Mean’s via decision. I think that Muhammad’s takedowns, toughness and cardio keep him in the fight though for all three rounds. 

    170 lbs.: Jake Matthews vs. Bojan Velickovic – Originally I had Velickovic based on the downward trajectory of Matthews and the fact that he’s exponentially a better striker than Matthews. But, Matthews is still a prospect and his wrestling abilities are solid. This fight really comes down to if Matthews can secure takedowns and I believe he can. So with that, I have Matthews via decision. 

    185 lbs.: Daniel Kelly vs. Elias Theodorou – “Don’t Pick against Dan Kelly”, “Don’t Pick against Dan Kelly”, “Don’t Pick against Dan Kelly”… I’ve got Dan Kelly via upset. I think that Theodorou is the more talented fighter, but also he lacks strength in any martial art. He’s well rounded, but a watered down version if you know what I mean. And not that Kelly is anything special, but he’s hard to take down, he throws with volume and he’s not afraid of the brawl. Minus his Judo, he too isn’t special anywhere, but his toughness and volume gets it done here via decision.

    145 lbs.: Alex Volkanovski vs. Shane Young – I give Young a lot of credit for stepping up on short notice. However, this is going to be a nightmare of a fight for him, as Volkanovski is just too big of a step up in competition. A fantastic wrestler with brutal ground-and-pound, Volkanovski is the real deal. Expect this one to end early, as Volkanovski wins via TKO.

    FOX Sports 1 Prelims (8 p.m. ET):

    125 lbs.: Ryan Benoit vs. Ashkan Mokhtarian – This is an odd prelim headliner, but I’m siding with Benoit in this fight. He’s got legit power in hands, perhaps the best in the division. He’s also a solid wrestler and has shown to have a hell of chin. So with that, I believe that Benoit finishes this one inside the first round via knockout.

    155 lbs.: Will Brooks vs. Nik Lentz – I still can’t fathom how Will Brooks is 1-2 in the UFC. After defeating Michael Chandler twice and coming into the UFC on an eight-fight win streak, it seemed inevitable that Brooks would be fighting for the UFC Lightweight Championship at some point. However, it’s been the complete opposite, but I still believe in the talent. I also like this matchup, as Lentz clearly is past his prime and is going against a more athletic, bigger and equally if not better wrestler. So with that, Brooks gets back on track with an emphatic third-round TKO. 

    265 lbs.: Rashad Coulter vs. Tai Tuivasa – I can tell you one thing about this fight, this one ain’t going the distance. Coulter comes into the bout at an 8-2 record, with a 100% finish rate and has never been to a decision. Tuivasa is making his promotional debut with a 5-0 debut, with a 100% finish rate. Someone’s getting finished here and my prediction is that it’s Tuivasa. So with that, I got Coulter via KO. 

    155 lbs.: Damien Brown vs. Frank Camacho – This could be a fun brawl, as both guys like to throw hands. However, I’ve been more impressed with Brown of late, despite being finished in his last fight against Vinc Pichel. Before that, he pulled off an impressive upset against Jon Tuck. He’s also the more well rounded fighter, as Camacho has no grappling abilities and can easily be smothered into defeat. So with that, I’m going with Brown via 3rd-round TKO.

    UFC Fight Pass Prelims (6:30 p.m. ET):

    115 lbs.: Alex Chambers vs. Nadia Kassem – I have no idea who Kassem is, but she’s fought four girls with a combined 0-4 record. None of those opponents have a win to date. Chambers has fought her fair share of talent and despite the two-year layoff, I expect her to lock in a submission victory.

    125 lbs.: Jenel Lausa vs. Eric Shelton – I got Shelton all day here. With an 0-2 UFC record and both defeats coming via split decision, I expect the killer to come out in Shelton. Arguably he could of won both fights, be a ranked fighter and be targeted to fight a top ten flyweight. The rise of Shelton starts here, as he defeats a rather untested Lausa via submission.  

    265 lbs.: Anthony Hamilton vs. Adam Wieczorek – Anthony Hamilton retired after being finished for the third consecutive time. However, he un-retired to book a fight a little over a month later, only for it to get pushed back an extra month to this card. I have no idea who Wieczorek is, but I can’t get behind Hamilton coming back to fight. I’ve said it before, Hamilton is one of the most talent strikers, but he’s hindered by a disintegrated chin. It fails him again, as Wieczorek knocks out Hamilton in the first round.

  • Solving the: UFC Heavyweight Division

    Solving the: UFC Heavyweight Division

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    Since winning the UFC Heavyweight title on May 14, 2016 at UFC 198, Stipe Miocic has defended the title two times. However, Miocic last fought on May 13, 2017 at UFC 211 and is not scheduled to fight again this year. That’s a problem, especially considering the UFC Heavyweight division has been moving at a snails pace for the pace three years. The once “Golden Child” division, seemingly has lost it’s luster. It could be due to Brock Lesnar leaving the UFC or even Cain Velasquez’s broken down body, but how can we get behind a division that puts out a title fight once or at the very most twice a year?

    I could rant about this issue until I’m blue in the face, but I’ll just get to the point. How do we solve this problem in the UFC Heavyweight division? We’ll before I do that, let’s first see what upcoming fights are already booked, along with their significance.

    Alistair Overeem vs. Francis Ngannou (December 2, 2017 – UFC 218)

    – Clearly a number one contenders fight, as Cain Velasquez’s recovery from an injury opens the doors for one of these men to contend for the title. Overeem looks to add his third consecutive victory since being defeated by Stipe Miocic in a title fight back at UFC 203. A rematch would definitely be warranted if he can get by Ngannou.

    However, that won’t be an easy feat, as the one they call the “Predator” has been feasting on foes in the UFC Heavyweight division. Ngannou, who many claim to be a future Champion has already had five fights in the UFC in less than two years. Those five fights resulted in five victories, all via finish. Ngannou has been in the octagon for just under 23 minutes and is a victory away from contending for the belt. Crazy!

    Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (November 19, 2017 – UFC Fight Night 121)

    – Originally Marcin Tybura was scheduled to fight Mark Hunt, which was a huge profile fight and a chance to crack the top five in the UFC rankings. However, Hunt was removed from the card, stemming from an interview where Hunt revealed to have some concerning health issues. Without an opponent, Tybura couldn’t of possibly thought that the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabrico Werdum would step up. Well Werdum did.

    In terms of implications, for Werdum, a defeat would be a huge setback in his run to a title shot. A victory though would be two in a row and I could very well see Werdum fighting in a number one contenders fight against Cain Velasquez. As for Tybura, a victory would instantly catapult him into the top five of the division. A defeat doesn’t hurt his stock, as it’s against a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current contender.

    Given that there are only a few significant fights booked is problematic. Throw in the fact that three top contenders have been flagged by USADA and there’s not much to work with. The UFC Heavyweight division is in flux and perhaps an Ultimate Fighter featuring Heavyweights could help. That, or just attempting to sign a Vitaly Minakov, Blagoy Ivanov, Sergey Pavlovich, Ivan Shtyrkov, Amir Aliakbari, Michal Andryszak, Zelimkhan Umiev, etc… As you can see, there’s plenty of talent out there.

    Anyways, even with the shallow roster, there’s fights to make and names to build. So let’s get to it…

    Cain Velasquez vs. Winner of Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura

    – With Velasquez recovering from yet another injury, it wouldn’t make sense for him to get a title shot upon his return. Also, clearly the winner of Alistair Overeem vs. Francis Ngannou is more than deserving of that shot and should be treated as a title eliminator. As for Velasquez, the most logical fight would be a number one contenders bout against the winner of Fabricio Werdum and Marcin Tybura. Obviously the money fight would be a rematch against Werdum, but Tybura definitely could be catapulted into this opportunity if he can emphatically defeat Werdum on November 19, 2017. 

    Mark Hunt vs. Alexander Volkov

    – As long as the Mark Hunt saga is cleared, then this fight makes a lot of sense. Hunt is 3-1 with one no contest in his last five fights and is coming off a TKO victory over Derrick Lewis. Volkov, has stringed together five consecutive victories, three of which have come in the UFC.  Notable wins over Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve have catapulted him for an opportunity at a top five ranked fighter. Mark Hunt is that guy. 

    Derrick Lewis vs. Stefan Struve

    – As long as Derrick Lewis can sort out his back issues, whether it requires an extended period of rest or to go under the knife, then this would be the fight to make. Struve is coming off a loss to Alexander Volkov, which halted a two-fight win streak. In that fight against Volkov, Struve showed solid striking and his chin held up for the most part. It was more or less the pace of the fight and cardio that was his downfall. As for Lewis, this would be a good opportunity to build back the momentum that Mark Hunt stopped. A win over Struve adds another name to the resume and puts Lewis back in the mix.

    Curtis Blaydes vs. Winner of Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chase Sherman

    – I’m very interested in the rise of Curtis Blaydes. At 26 years old, he’s exactly the influx of young talent I want in the Heavyweight division. However, I believe it’s imperative to build him up slowly. He’s only fought professionally ten times, with his only blemish coming to a monster among men, Francis Ngannou. The winner of Abdurakhimov and Sherman offers two contrasting styles that would test Blaydes. Abdurakhimov is a talented wrestler, while Sherman has showed each fight an impressive striking game. Either way, the winner should be paired up with Blaydes, with the victor of this bout earning themselves a bout against a top ten foe. 

    Andrei Arlovski vs. Justin Ledet

    – After losing five consecutive fights, it had seemed like Arlovski perhaps had finally reached the end of an illustrious career. However, Arlovski took a fight against the younger and talented Junior Albini. With the odds against him and his career on the line, Arlovski put on a striking clinic and earned a clear unanimous decision victory. Up next, another young lion in Justin Ledet. With a perfect 9-0 record, Ledet looks like the real deal. With wins in the UFC over Chase Sherman, Mark Godbeer and Azunna Anyanwu, it’s time for a step up in competition. Arlovski would be perfect and stylistically this would be a striking contest that would please the fans.

    Alexey Oliynyk vs. Timothy Johnson

    – Oliynyk was starting to build momentum with two straight victories, the last coming against former contender Travis Browne. However, a recent fight against Curtis Blaydes put that momentum to rest, as Oliynyk was defeated by TKO. As for Johnson, he too was most recently defeated by a young buck in Junior Albini. The debuting Albini only needed the first round to finish Johnson via strikes, which had never happened to the 15-fight veteran before. With men coming off losses, as well as being ranked among the top fifteen Heavyweights, this fight makes sense. Stylistically it’s fun too, as both men are down right gritty.

    Walt Harris vs. Junior Albini

    – Although Walt Harris was disqualified in his last fight against Mark Godbeer, it had appeared to me that he was winning and starting to get into a grove. However, I’m not trying to see that rematch right away, so a fight against Albini will have to do. Both men have an opportunity to get back in the win column and the fans win, as both men are strikers.

    Travis Browne vs. Winner of Anthony Hamilton vs. Adam Wieczorek

    – I’m unsure of the status of Browne, but it’s really a shame to see talent wasted. I really thought he was a sure bet to be a Champion or at least fight in a Championship bout. Instead, he’s been a major disappointment and  this four-fight losing streak is very concerning. If he still wants to give it a go, it would be in the UFC’s best interest to build him back up. The winner of Anthony Hamilton against Adam Wieczorek would be just what the doctor ordered. And that’s not to say either is an easy opponent, but it’s not a Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez or Derrick Lewis.

    Todd Duffee vs. Mark Godbeer

    – Duffee is looking to return in January and a perfect opponent would be the one he was originally scheduled to face at UFC 209, Mark Godbeer. This also gives Godbeer an opportunity to add a formidable name to the resume and potentially get a fight against top fifteen Heavyweight next. 

    Marcel Golm vs. Winner of Tai Tuivasa vs. Rashad Coulter

    – Golm is coming off a successful UFC debut, destroying opponent Christian Colombo in the very first round. With only 6 professional fights, it only makes sense to match him up with an opponent of similar experience. Tuivasa comes into his UFC debut fight with a perfect 5-0 record in comparison to Coulter’s 8-2 record. Both men are strikers, which falls into Golm’s realm.

    Arjan Bhullar vs. Daniel Spitz

    – The UFC has a potential goldmine here, as Bhullar is an Indo-Canadian. He is of Indian Sikh descent, which is a first in the UFC. Considering the fact that India has a population over a billion, it would be imperative that the UFC capitalize on this international superstar in the making. With Olympic wrestling and an ever improving striking game, Bhullar can certainly carry his weight. A fight against Spitz would be an interesting one, as Spitz showed against Anthony Hamilton that he has the power to put anyone away quickly.