The MMA Daily

Tap or get Knocked Out

recent posts

about

Family and Sports are my life!

UFC Fight Night 120: Poirier vs. Pettis

November 11, 2017

A week after UFC 217, which was one of the best fight cards in mixed martial arts history, the UFC looks to replicate success as it heads to Norfolk, Virginia. The headliner is a banger, as two strikers in Dustin Poirier and Anthony Pettis meet in a pivotal fight in the Lightweight division. The winner undoubtedly will catapult themselves into a top five fight in an increasingly tough division.

Anyways, Let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 120 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Anthony Pettis – I’m really torn on this prediction, as I was all on Poirier leading up to this fight. I thought that the performance against Eddie Alvarez was spectacular and a true sign that Poirier had cracked through the wall that has kept him from title contention. However, while Poirier is an excellent boxer, I feel like Pettis being a more diverse striker is the difference. Pettis has the ability to break Poirier down with leg kicks, just as long as he can establish distance.

Also, if Poirier decides to take Pettis down, it might be a mistake. Pettis has an underrated guard, one in which won him the Lightweight title against Benson Henderson. If you recall, Pettis locked in an armbar from his guard to win it. Anyways, this fight is going to be awesome, but my prediction is that Pettis wins via late TKO.

170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Diego Sanchez – Although Sanchez is known for his durability and toughness, I see the former shell of himself getting absolutely destroyed here. And I know Matt Brown has hit a rough patch of him own, but his last fight against Cerrone showed vast improvement. I mean, Brown landed some solid strikes against Cerrone and it was a close fight until Cerrone landed a head kick that ended it in the third round.

When’s the last fight that Sanchez realistically looked solid in the striking department? Maybe against Jake Ellenberger in 2012? Anyways, like I said, I’ve got Brown via complete destruction. I believe the “Immortal” will head into retirement with a vicious knockout victory over Sanchez.

265 lbs.: Junior Albini vs. Andrei Arlovski – Honestly, I have no idea what to expect in this fight. Arlovski has lost five in row and has been stopped in four of the defeats. Rewind to September 5, 2015 and Arlovski was on a six-fight win streak and being discussed to contend for the Heavyweight title. How crazy?

Albini, is coming an incredible UFC debut, as he TKO’d Timothy Johnson. Now, Johnson had only been finished once in his career, via submission in his second professional fight. To finish Johnson in the very first round due to strikes, speaks volumes about the striker that Albini is.

That doesn’t bode well for Arlovski, but call me crazy, I’m siding with Arlovski here. I know his chin is all but deteriorated, but his power hasn’t. I see a young Heavyweight licking his chops, winging punches and being overly sloppy. That’s when Arlovski ends a counter right that ends Albini’s night. So with that, I got Arlovski via knockout!

185 lbs.: Cezar Ferreira vs. Nate Marquardt – Now, I’ll never tell a fighter when it’s time to retire, but Marquardt is 3-7 in his last ten fights. Of those seven defeats, he was knocked out four times. A fight against a veteran would be more beneficial then fighting a physical specimen who will have size and strength advantage in Ferreira. This just seems sacrificial to me, as Marquardt is the Lamb and Ferreira is the Wolf. So without further ado, I’ve got Ferreira via TKO!

135 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao vs. Matthew Lopez – The fact that Lopez missed weight, is enough to side with Assuncao. Often missed weight stems from a sickness or just a poor weight cut, in which the fighter endured a lot of pain attempting to make the weight limit. That doesn’t bode well for me in Lopez’s biggest fight to date, one in which could catapult him into the top five of the Bantamweight division.

Anyways, Assuncao is one of the more underrated fighters in the UFC and this is just way to big of a step up for Lopez. I see Assuncao keeping this on the feet, hitting Lopez with plenty of volume en route to a decision victory.

155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Joe Lauzon – This is great matchmaking, as both men are veterans and aren’t being fed to a young lion trying to make him name here. If this fight happened six years ago, this would of resulted in a “Fight of the Night” bonus. However, it happens now and I’ve got Guida winning. I think Lauzon has now become a fast starter, who gasses out after round one. Guida is one of the more conditioned athletes, who’s cardio has never been in question, even as he ages.

I see Guida’s time at Team Alpha Male carrying him to a relatively easy victory, as he takes down Lauzon and controls him in the mat. In the later rounds, Guida will be fresher and I could definitely see a late finish. However, Lauzon has shown insane toughness and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt to survive. So with that, I got Guida via decision.

UFC Fight Night 120 Prelims On FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: John Dodson vs. Marlon Moraes – This is an incredibly tough fight to call, but I’m going to side with Dodson. I believe that Dodson’s speed and volume striking is the difference here. Moraes, while a dangerous striker, I feel lacks the volume needed to win this fight. He’s a combination striker with legit knockout power, but his periods of inactivity hampered him in his last fight against Raphael Assuncao.

In order for Moraes to implement him game, he must heavily involve leg strikes to slow down Dodson. If he does that, then I believe he wins. However, I don’t see that happening, as Dodson is just too elusive and fast for these Bantamweights. So with that, I got Dodson via decision.

115 lbs.: Viviane Pereira vs. Tatiana Suarez – Kudos to Pereira for remaining undefeated, beating two tough foes in the UFC in Valerie Letourneau and Jamie Moyle. However, I think that O goes here. Suarez, the Ultimate Fighter 23 winner is my darkhorse in this division. She’s a monster wrestler, who’s top control is impossible to escape. Once on the ground, her solid submission game finishes the job.

With a 5′ inch height advantage, I think that Suarez will hit Pereira with some hard jabs, opening up the take down. Once Pereira is matted, Suarez will land some hard ground-and-pound, eventually opening up the submission victory.

Suarez is a future Champion, mark my words!

170 lbs.: Sage Northcutt vs. Michel Quinones – I probably should side with Quinones here, but something tells me that Northcutt’s time at Team Alpha Male is going to win him this fight. I believe that while Northcutt appreciates the fact that Quinones is a striker, he won’t partake in much of that. Instead he will turn into a wrestler here and take Quinones down at will en route to a decision victory.

115 lbs.: Nina Ansaroff vs. Angela Hill – I’m going to side with Hill here. I just believe that Hill has been through the lowest of lows, which came early in her career when she was fed to the wolves while inexperienced. Then she was given a chance to develop herself in Invicta and flourished, which ultimately led to her return as a legit contender. Make no mistake though, this is a tough fight for Hill.

Ansaroff is equally a talented striker, but I believe she’s going to try and take Hill down instead of try to out strike her. While Ansaroff might see some success early in that gameplan, I see Hill attacking from bottom and getting back rather easily. A drained Ansaroff then will be picked apart in the later rounds and my prediction is that Hill wins this via decision.

UFC Fight Night 120 Prelims On Fight Pass (6:30 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Sean Strickland – I wish Court McGee would just fight veterans, as he’s clearly lost a step. However, he’s still insanely durable and a pressure fighter that just keep on coming no matter how battered he is. Problem is, Strickland is very well rounded and despite getting beat up by Kamara Usman (Future Champion) in his last fight, he was steadily starting to build momentum. So with that, I believe Strickland gets back on track here and I hate to say this, but via a beat down third-round stoppage.

205 lbs.: Jake Collier vs. Marcel Fortuna – Honestly, Fortuna is probably the pick here, but I’m going with the wild and durable Collier. He’s feisty as hell and I just can’t get enough of that combination he finished Alberto Uda with. As long as he can stuff Fortuna’s attempt to take this one to the mat, then I think we got a real shot to win this. So with that, I got Collier via third-round knockout.

185 lbs.: Karl Roberson vs. Darren Stewart – Both fighters are finishers, with Stewart entering this contest at a 71% finishing rate and Roberson at a 80% finishing rate. Stewart is coming off his first career defeat, in which he was taken down repeatedly and controlled while on the mat. Luckily for him, Roberson is a striker. However, Roberson is a more technical striker and unlike Stewart, he won’t fade as the rounds go on. So with that, I’m going to go with the more refined striker in Roberson to win this via knockout.
UFC 217: Bisping vs. St. Pierre Predictions

November 4, 2017

In a year without superstars like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar and even Nate Diaz, the UFC has struggled mightily to sell there Pay-Per-View cards. According to Tapology, UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones II did 860,000 PPV buys. Those are solid numbers considering, however the cause for alarm is that the next best UFC PPV of 2017 is UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson II. That card did a mere 300,000 PPV buys.

Opportunity however to potentially crack the PPV market comes in the form of UFC 217. A card in which features three Championship fights and more importantly, the return of Welterweight kingpin George St. Pierre. The former UFC Welterweight Champion has been on a four year hiatus, which is notable given the evolution of mixed martial arts during his absence. Also, St. Pierre will head into uncharted waters, as he climbs to the Middleweight division to take on UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping. A worthy headliner on the biggest UFC card this year.

Perhaps the biggest buzz from UFC 217 is the Bantamweight Title fight pitting former training partners T.J. Dillashaw and the Champ Cody Garbrandt. In what has been a war of words, the rilvary between the two has only grown and there’s no question that this matchup could result in one of the greatest UFC fights ever. The talent glows from both and the hatred even more. Also, don’t forget that Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk takes on Rose Namajunas. Another fight that has all the makings of a classic, as well has historical implications for Jedrzejczyk. A win will tie Ronda Rousey for the most title defense’s by a female Champion.

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC 217 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET)

185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre – There’s no denying that there is a real unknown what to expect from George St. Pierre in this fight. He hasn’t fought in four years, he’s had ACL surgery during that time off and mixed martial arts has substantially evolved since he last fought.

However, I get why GSP is returning for this fight against Michael Bisping. It’s a shot to win the UFC Middleweight Championship, further cementing his legacy as one of the best ever. It’s also a matchup that favors him. Bisping is a volume striker, who despite knocking out Luke Rockhold, isn’t known for having power. He never uses grappling, so he’s no threat in that department. His one knock besides the lack of power, is that he has faltered to wrestlers. Just watch Bisping against Chael Sonnen or Tim Kenndy. Even Jason Miller was able to easily take Bisping down and keep him there early in the fight.

But, those fights I’m referring to happened over three years ago and clearly Bisping has evolved since then. Has GSP evolved? No idea! But dammit, I refuse to pick against him because we all know that GSP is a not only a cerebral fighter, but he’s a calculated and bright individual. There’s no way he would return four years later if he didn’t believe he would win. And it’s clear he hand picked Bisping because of the matchup and the stakes of becoming the Middleweight Champion. So I’m going with master genius GSP and taking him via decision!

135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Mother of God! While I could go on forever about this fight and break it down well past the fights end, I won’t. I’ll instead be brief!

I have Garbrandt winning this fight. When he dominated Dominick Cruz, he easily mastered Cruz’s footwork and movement. That’s crazy given that no one has mastered that, although Dillashaw had some success. Garbrandt also showed off his power, dropping Cruz multiple times, which again is something that rarely ever happens to Cruz. And while MMA math is dumb, in this particular instance I just believe that Garbrandt defeated a more healthier version of Cruz then Dillashaw fought.

In this fight, Dillashaw has more offensive weapons when it comes to striking, but Garbrandt has the speed and power advantage. Dillashaw will need to use distance, avoiding the pocket and potential brawl Garbrandt welcomes. However with all the hostility in this fight, I just feel like emotions will put Dillashaw in jeopardy. In fact, I think it gets him knocked out.

115 lbs.: UFC Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas – Even though I’m really pumped for this fight, I do recognize that this is a terrible matchup for Namajunas. And while Jedrzejczyk is a nightmare for anyone, she has shown that a strong grappler like Claudia Gadelha can present issues. Namajunas is a solid grappler, but she doesn’t have the strength to take Jedrzejczyk down. On the feet, Jedrzejczyk has a clear edge, as she might just be the best striker in all of mixed martial arts.

As for a prediction, barring Namajunas landing a punch that stifle’s Jedrzejczyk enough to use her excellent submission attacks, I just don’t see any clear route to victory for her. Jedrzejczyk will keep this one on the feet and slowly pick apart Namajunas. As we reach the championship rounds, a battered Namajunas will succumb via TKO. Jedrzejczyk with the victory will tie Ronda Rousey’s title defense record for a female fighter and will be one win away from being the baddest women to ever step on the planet!

170 lbs.: Stephen Thompson vs Jorge Masvidal – Like most of the fights on this stacked card, this is a tough one to call. Thompson is an excellent striker, who uses his karate base like to no other in the UFC. His ability to keep distance is special, as it allows him to get off his arsenal of strikes. However, Thompson lacks wrestling despite attempting to improve that aspect of his game. Masvidal is one of the most well rounded fighters in the UFC and it would be in his best interest to mix in some grappling exchanges.

As for a prediction, I’m siding with Masvidal. In order for Thompson to get into a groove, he will need to create distance. I don’t expect Masvidal to allow him too, as I believe that Masvidal will be aggressive and turn this into a phone booth fight. While inside and I know Masvidal doesn’t usually do this, but I believe he will attempt to take Thompson down. With a title shot potentially in the grasp, there’s no way Masvidal will oblige to strike with one of the most feared strikers in mixed martial arts. So with that, I have Masvidal edging this one out via a close decision.

185 lbs.: Paulo Borrachinha vs. Johny Hendricks – I feel like a fool thinking that Hendricks is going to win this fight. He is clearly a shell of himself and his once left hand from hell has turned into basically a pillow. However, Hendricks has changed camps to Jackson’s and that’s notable due to their excellent job with forming successful game plans. I could envision they will have him go back to his wrestling roots, although Borrachinha is just massive compared to Hendricks. Borrachinha’s power is also a huge threat and I have no idea why I believe in Hendricks here. Take this with a grain of salt, but I got Hendricks via decision.

UFC 217 Prelims on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: James Vick vs. Joe Duffy – Good lord this is an excellent fight. Both men are talented strikers and I must credit Vick for really developing into a fighter that no one wants a piece of. At a massive height of 6’3, Vick is an anomaly in the Lightweight division. He uses his length to crush foes with massive hooks and jabs.

However, I believe that his height might be his downfall in this fight. Hear me out! Duffy is an excellent boxer who notably attacks the body. The amount of weight Vick cuts to get down to 155 lbs. must be substantial and if his body is targeted, I could see a route to victory. Vick’s lack of wrestling hurts too, as Duffy has shown to mix in his grappling and submission abilities with an already smooth boxing game. So with that, I’m going to side with Duffy to edge this one out in a very close fight via decision.

265 lbs.: Walt Harris vs. Mark Godbeer – I used to believe that Walt Harris was just a massive man with very little skill and no chin. Well, I was wrong. Harris is a good striker with plenty of pop, as he reeled off two consecutive knockout victories prior to being defeated on literally hours notice against Fabricio Werdum. His opponent Mark Godbeer isn’t very good, as his cardio and striking are sloppy at best. So with that, I got Harris via KO!

205 lbs.: Corey Anderson vs. Ovince Saint Preux – This is an excellent fight and a super tough prediction. I believe that Corey Anderson is better equipped to win this fight, in that he has good striking, solid wrestling, and an incredible pace that stems from never ending cardio. However, his chin has been his downfall. OSP has legit power and shown to be very explosive at times. On the mat too, his submission abilities have been nothing short of incredible. The knock on OSP though has been his cardio, which plays right into Anderson’s game. But, I’m going to lean on OSP because of finishing abilities and Anderson’s lack of chin. So with that, I’m taking OSP via submission.

170 lbs.: Mickey Gall vs. Randy Brown – I’ve been swaying back-and-forth with this fight, but I’m going to side with Gall. I believe that Brown has real potential, but his lack of grappling abilities has halted him truly breaking out. Gall, although inexperienced, is an excellent grappler and shown to have top notch submission abilities. Brown should have the edge on the feet, but I expect Gall to immediately look to take this one to the mat. I don’t think he will have issues either with Brown’s takedown defense and I predict that Gall will eventually put away Brown via submission.

UFC 217 Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (7:00 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Aleksei Oleinik – While Blaydes is younger, bigger, explosive and has a bright future in the Heavyweight division, I see him losing this fight. Oleinik is every bit of 40 years old and extremely stiff on the feet. However, his ability to take a punch and clinch opponents to take them down, has been a very successful recipe. On the ground, whether mounted or in top control, Oleinik has proved that his submission abilities on par with Frank Mir and Fabricio Werdum’s.

Blaydes is a serviceable striker and an excellent wrestler, but if he chooses to wrestle, he also chooses to play right into Oleinik’s strength. For Blaydes to win this fight, he has to keep this one on the feet and avoid wrestling or grappling exchanges thwarted at him. Oleinik’s gas tank isn’t made for three rounds and Blaydes has shown to grind out victories. However, with only 8 fights under his belt, I just feel like Blaydes fight IQ is going to put him in a dangerous position. Oleinik will capitalize and submit Blaydes.

135 lbs.: Ricardo Ramos vs. Aiemann Zahabi – This is a tough fight to predict given that both men have are making there sophomore appearance inside the octagon. While I wasn’t overly impressed with Zahabi in his UFC debut, I will give him a pass on the basis that the bright lights got to him. In a coin flip of a fight, I’m just going to side with Zahabi via decision.
UFC Fight Night 119: Machida vs. Brunson Predictions

October 28, 2017

The UFC is back in action, as UFC Fight Night 119 marks the second of eleven UFC events in eleven consecutive weeks. Headlining the card is the return of the Dragon, Lyoto Machida. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has been shelved for the past two years with a suspension and will need to shake off any rust, as his combatant is in the form of Middleweight contender Derek Brunson. The hard hitting Brunson most recently disposed of opponent Dan Kelly in a 76-second knockout. Brunson showed a less aggressive and more patient approach than he has in the past and it proved immediate dividends. That style will be needed, as the Machida has shown to halt aggressive fighters in their tracks (See Ryan Bader).

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 119 Main Card On FS1 (10 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Lyoto Machida vs. Derek Brunson – It’s been over two years since Lyoto Machida last stepped into the octagon. A failed drug test stemming from a steroid is the culprit for Machida’s lengthy absence, as he was suspended for 18 months. A mistake, which has cost Machida potentially the last of his prime. However, he has returned and has obliged to take on the heavy handed Derek Brunson. The rising Middleweight has been on tear of late, winning six of his last eight fights. Five of those six wins have come via first round knockout.

As for a prediction, I’m going with Machida. Although he’s been inactive for over two years, he’s also been able to heal up and improve him game. Machida uses his karate base to keep distance and throw several creative kicks. Opponents who have tried to be aggressive have found luck sometimes, but in most instances, they’ve been dropped.

With Machida’s excellent takedown defense, it will be up to Brunson’s power to get this one done. The once overly aggressive Brunson dialed it back in his last fight, using patience to dispose of Dan Kelly in 77 seconds. However, I envision Machida’s patience frustrating Brunson to the point where Brunson reverts to being overly aggressive. And when that happens, Machida will hault Brunson in his tracks. So with that, I have Machida via 3rd round knockout.

170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Demian Maia – Colby Covington has developed a mouth and look what it did. It got him a fight against Demian Maia, who is coming of a Welterweight Title fight defeat to Champion Tyron Woodley. Talk about the potential to fast track himself to a title fight, one in which could be interesting given his “beef” with Tyron Woodley.

Anyways, Covington is an excellent wrestler and his striking abilities are improving each fight. Maia on the other hand is a specialist, who’s grappling and submission abilities are perhaps the best in MMA. The one thing I always found fascinating is that is Maia’s gameplan is no secret and opponents know what’s coming. However, they can’t stop it.

As for a prediction, I believe that Covington has bit off more than he can chew. His wrestling which has guided him through many fights is virtually useless, unless he wishes to be in Maia’s dangerous guard. His striking has improved, but how much is he going to be able use if Maia is constantly trying to take him down? So with that, I like Maia’s chances to overpower Covington and floor him, wearing him out and eventually winning this one via submission.

135 lbs.: Rob Font vs. Pedro Munhoz – This is a great fight and I envision the winner being in store for a potential top-five fight. Font is a talented striker, who uses excellent movement to set up his strikes. Coming into this fight, Font is on a two-fight win streak and has finished both foes. As for Munhoz, the young talent has strung together an impressive three-fight win streak. Munhoz is more known for his grappling and ground game, as his striking abilities are more of a work in progress.

It would be imperative of Font to keep distance and avoid grappling exchanges. With a 6.5′ inch reach disadvantage, Munhoz has to get inside and get this one floored. As for a prediction, I’m honestly unsure, but I’ll go with Munhoz via decision.

155 lbs.: Jim Miller vs. Francisco Trinaldo – This has the feels of what Vitor Belfort seeks to create, a “Legend’s division”. These are two veteran Lightweights, who have a combined 64 fights. However, the trajectory of Jim Miller has been of mediocrity of late, while Trinaldo just had a seven-fight win streak snapped at UFC Fight Night 106 by Kevin Lee. In that defeat, Trinaldo looked amazing in the first round. He controlled the younger and talented Lee with grappling and hit him with several hard shots. In the second round however, Lee connected with a beautiful head kick that turned the tide of the fight.

Anyways, I’ve Trinaldo winning this fight. His record in Brazil is 20-4 and his grappling abilities I feel are more superior to that of Miller. Trinaldo also packs a punch, but I could see Miller’s durability and cardio keeping him around for three rounds. So with that, I’ve Trinaldo via decision.

185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Thiago Santos – This is great matchmaking, as you have two rising talents in the Middleweight division. Both happen to be strikers, who aim to finish fights. Hermansson usually gets it done with his hands, while Santos is known for basically decapitating-like head kicks. As for a prediction, I’ve got Santos. I believe that competition-wise, Hermansson hasn’t had to face any sharks yet in the UFC. Santos is battle tested and has fought his share of talented UFC foes. So with that, I’m going with Santos to be the victor via knockout.

135 lbs.: John Lineker vs. Marlon Vera – This is just too soon for Vera. While he may be riding high on a three-fight win streak, I wouldn’t suggest the jump up in competition being against a top-five fighter in Lineker. The man nicknamed “Hands of Stone” literally has hands of stone, as he’s a legit knockout artist who only comes forward and has the pace and cardio to break you. The 5′ height advantage and 3.5′ reach advantage won’t matter, as I predict Lineker to defeat Vera via knockout.

UFC Fight Night 119 Prelims On FS2 (8 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Niko Price vs. Vicente Luque – Fun fight and definitely a contender for a bonus. As far as a prediction, I’ve been back-and-forth. I could envision Luque using Price’s brawling style to his advantage and taking him down. On the ground, Luque is world class and has the BJJ to stifle Price. However, with Luque’s improving striking, I could also see him engaging in Price’s brawling style. While Luque could manage to knock Price out, I would advise not to get into a phone booth type fight where Price strives in. Ughh, this is a tough one, but I’ll go with that latter and say that Price knocks out a very willing striker in Luque.

185 lbs.: Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Jack Marshman – Talk about a roller coaster with ACJ, as the TUF Brazil 3 winner has had his fair share of highs and lows. However, right now ACJ is on a three-fight win streak and he’s evolving each fight. Grappling-wise, I don’t see how Marshman is going to keep this one standing for three rounds. His cardio fades the later this fight goes and I can’t see him not eventually being floored. When his back does hit the mat, the dangerous submission artist ACJ will eventually finish Marshmann via…well…submission.

155 lbs.: Hacran Dias vs. Jared Gordon – If this fight were to of happened three years ago, Dias would of eaten up Jared Gordon like Kobayashi. However, Dias is a shell of himself and hasn’t fought in over a year. That inactivity will show early, as Dias won’t be able to find his footing due to Gordon’s always forward style. I expect Dias to hang around in this fight due to his toughness, but at the same time be engulfed by Gordon’s pace. So with that, I have “Flash” Gordon winning this via decision.

170 lbs.: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Max Griffin – This could be an early candidate for a bonus, as you have two strikers with different styles going to toe-to-toe. dos Santos brings forth a more diverse striking attack, tying in his capoeira background to land more creative strikes. Griffin is more of a slugger, coming forward and swinging for the fences. It worked against Erick Montano, but I don’t see that style working here. dos Santos can take a punch and his more diverse arsenal of strikes will keep Griffin from getting inside. The deeper this fights goes, the more Griffin fades and my prediction is that dos Santos will finish Griffin via second round knockout.

UFC Fight Night 119 Prelims On Fight Pass (7 p.m. ET):

125 lbs.: Jarred Brooks vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Tough fight to call and someone’s 0 has to go. Initially I was leaning with Figueiredo who shined in his UFC debut against Marco Beltran, but a strong wrestling background can stifle any striker. That’s what “The Monkey God” Brooks has, as I expect multiple takedowns to decide the difference in this fight. So with that, I have Brooks edging this one out via decision.

265 lbs.: Christian Colombo vs. Marcelo Golm – I’ve seen Colombo fight several times and he’s extremely sloppy and vulnerable to getting knocked out. While Golm hasn’t fought anyone relevant, he’s still disposed of his five opponents via first round round knockouts. Usually I’d side with the veteran, but I’ve seen nothing from Colombo to suggest he’ll run through this upstart Heavyweight knockout artist. So with that, I have Golm via knockout!
UFC Fight Night 118: Cerrone vs. Till Predictions

October 21, 2017

The UFC is back in action, as they begin their tour of eleven events in eleven weeks starting with UFC Fight Night 118 in Gdańsk, Poland. Headlining the card are two top notch strikers in UFC staple Donald Cerrone and rising talent Darren Till.

When announced, fans clamored over why Donald Cerrone was fighting a relatively unknown commodity in Darren Till. The reasoning also stemmed from a UFC rankings point of view, basically stating that this fight does nothing for Cerrone, but is huge for Till. However, in my opinion, this is a fun stylistic fight. Why have we strayed from making these types of fights, the one’s in which has the potential for major fireworks. The UFC rankings and everyone including mine are off anyways, as it’s completely subjective. Cerrone vs. Till is the fights we need to making more of and I’m just mad that this potential barnburner is going far under the radar.

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 118 Main Card (3 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Darren Till – I can’t wait for this fight! I mean, where is the love? Stylistically we have two strikers who are going to go toe to toe with each other for potentially five rounds. Everyone get’s caught up in “Names” and yes Till is relatively unknown, but he’s a killer. You just don’t go 15-0-1 because you suck…

Anyways, although I could see Till upset Cerrone, I’m not siding that way. I believe that experience and the fact that Cerrone has fought best-of-the-best, as well as fought and defeated rising talent before is a huge factor in this fight. Remember when Myles Jury was all rave and stepped into the octagon with a perfect 15-0 record against Donald Cerrone? Well, Cerrone dominated Jury. While I don’t think he does the same against Till, as I see a competitive fight for the first three rounds. However in those championship rounds, I believe that Till will fade and Cerrone’s pace and pressure will break Till. So with that, I have Cerrone via knockout in the 4th round.

115 lbs.: Jodie Esquibel vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – I know Esquibel comes from Invicta where she was pretty successful, but fighting a talent like Kowalkiewicz is a totally different ballgame. In my opinion, Kowalkiewicz takes this fight wherever she wants and eventually submits Esquibel in the later rounds.

205 lbs.: Jan Blachowicz vs. Devin Clark – Blachowicz is 1-4 in his last five fights and desperately needs to win in order to stay in the UFC. Clark on the other hand has bounced back since losing his UFC debut by winning two straight fights. While I should side with Clark, as he’s a wrestler and Blachowicz has struggled against really anyone who can set up a takedown. I just believe that I’ve seen improvements in Blachowicz to suggest that he can keep this one on the feet and finish Clark on the feet. If you’ve seen Blachowicz’s fight against Alexander Gustafsson, he actually was the better striker and forced Gustafsson to turn into a wrestler. Anyways, like I said, I’ve got Blachowicz via knockout.

185 lbs.: Oskar Piechota vs. Jonathan Wilson – Based on the trajectory of Jonathan Wilson and the fact that Oskar Piechota is mowing down opponents within the first round, I’m going to have to side with the promotional newcomer Piechota. After watching a couple of his fights, his grappling abilities aren’t too bad and his power is legit. I’m actually excited to see his debut and as I’ve already stated, I’ve got Piechota. Let’s go by knockout in the first round.

UFC Fight Night 118 Prelims (12 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Marcin Held vs. Nasrat Haqparast – Held is too talented to lose four consecutive fights in the UFC. At 25 years of age, Held has plenty of time to grow, but he must win in order to stay in the UFC. I think he should easily win this one though, as Haqparast is jumping in on short notice and hasn’t fought any quality competition. So with that, I have Held taking this one via submission

135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Damian Stasiak – I’m conflicted in this prediction, as I’ve seen Kelleher go into Brazil and beat Iuri Alcantara via submission in the first round. Then when he fought on home soil in Long Island, he faltered via submission to Marlon Vera. It’s a mixed bag, just like his opponent Damian Stasiak. A fighter who is excellent on the feet with his karate background and on his back looks formidable to submit foes. However, Stasiak can’t stop a takedown and that’s ultimately where Kelleher will capitalize in this fight. This one should be close, but I’ll take the wrestler and better grappler to win this fight via split decision.

185 lbs.: Ramazan Emeev vs. Sam Alvey – I’m very high on the UFC signing Emeev, as he’s got enough talent to quickly rise up the Middleweight division. However, this is a tough debut, as Sam Alvey is not to be taken lightly. He’s got legit power in his hands, but his hesitancy to throw strikes has cost him in several fights. It’s going to cost him here too, as Emeev’s aggression and pace is going to be enough on the scorecards to get him the nod.

145 lbs.: Andre Fili vs. Artem Lobov – This is a toss-up and at first I was siding with Lobov based on his toughness, power, forward pressure and Fili’s inabilities to mix in takedowns with his striking. However, Fili will have a massive 9 inch reach advantage and I could see the Team Alpha Male product constantly circling away while peppering Lobov with his jab. That’s unless Fili decides to fight reckless, which has often seen him on the wrong end of a highlight reel finish. Let’s hope for my prediction’s sake, as I’ve got Fili via decision.

170 lbs.: Salim Touahri vs. Warlley Alves – Never head of Touahari, but it’s a huge opportunity and a major step up in competition. The last part is going to be his downfall, as Alves is on another level and is a very talented fighter that’s desperate to get back into the win column. Cardio issues aside, Alves shouldn’t need the full three rounds to get this done. So with that, I got Alves via submission.

135 lbs.: Aspen Ladd vs. Lina Lansberg – Don’t know too much about either women, except for the fact that Lansberg got smoked by Cyborg and then she was awarded a decision victory that should of went the other way. In fact, I’m going the other way here. Ladd via decision.

145 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Josh Emmett – When Emmett stormed onto the UFC scene with two consecutive wins, I thought this Team Alpha Male product might be the real deal. However, when he fought promitional newcomer Desmond Green, a weakness was pointed out for me. If Emmett can’t get the takedown, on the feet he could be technically outpointed. Which is exactly what I can see Arantes doing, as I have him pulling off the upset via decision.
UFC Fight Night 118: Those seeking to avoid pink slips

October 20, 2017

The UFC returns to action on October 21, 2017 in Gdańsk, Poland. Headlining the event, is Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone against Darren Till. It should be a fun and entertaining striking contest and I feel as if this fight isn’t getting enough love because Till is relatively unknown. As much as people clamor over how rankings don’t matter, this is exactly that type of fight. It’s a stylistically fun matchup where rankings are completely thrown out the window. I could go on a rant about this, but that’s not what this article is about. It’s about what fighters can’t afford to lose this weekend.

Usually every card has a few fighters who are in dire need of a win, but this one in particular has more than the norm. So let’s get to it.

(In no particular order)

Embed from Getty Images

Jan Błachowicz

When Jan Błachowicz signed with the UFC, he entered as the reigning KSW Light Heavyweight Champion. He also had a solid 17-3 record, with five consecutive victories, four of which came over UFC veterans.

In Błachowicz’s UFC debut, he faced Ilir Latifi in Stockholm, Sweden. As the underdog and much to my surprise, Błachowicz TKO’d Latifi in the very first round. It would be by far Błachowicz’s biggest UFC accomplishment, as his success inside the octagon has been minimal. With a 2-4 UFC record, as well as being 1-4 in his last five fights, it’s kind of a surprise that Błachowicz is still in the UFC. However, if I’m being honest, it’s probably due to the fact that the Light Heavyweight division is very shallow.

On Saturday, Błachowicz will enter the Octagon again, looking to avoid what I believe would be his pink slip shall he be defeated. His combatant comes in the form of Devin Clark, who was scouted and signed by Dana White off the show “Dana White: Looking for a Fight”. Clark, lost his UFC debut, but has since bounced back with two straight victories. Mainly a wrestler, Clark would seem to have the upper hand on Blachowicz, who has seen defeat by his inability to stuff a take down. Corey Anderson, Alexander Gustafsson and Patrick Cummins combined for 11 takedowns on Blachowicz, who according to the UFC has been able to only avoid 50% of takedowns. So in other words, it would be in the best interest of the Poland native to show better takedown defense and keep this fight standing.

Embed from Getty Images

Anthony Hamilton

After suffering a 24-second knockout defeat to Daniel Spitz at UFC Fight Night 116, Hamilton seemed to insist that he was retiring. It would be his third consecutive loss, with all three coming via finish in the first round. Hamilton seemed to understand that at Heavyweight, the margin for error is slim and he’d already endured his fair share of rough defeats.

However, Hamilton has decided against retirement and steps into this fight on short notice. Now remember, UFC Fight Night 116 happened on September 16, 2017. So, in just over a month, Hamilton has decided against retirement and steps back into the octagon after just recently suffering a 24-second knockout. Eek!

Hamilton’s opponent, Adam Wieczorek will be making his UFC debut. With a 7-1 record and 100% finish rate, this could be short night either man. In my opinion, Hamilton is one of the more skilled Heavyweight striking-wise, but his chin has been his downfall. It’s led to a 3-6 UFC record and it’s shame because the Heavyweight division could always use some more top contenders.

Embed from Getty Images

Marcin Held

This is the most surprising talent on the list, given his previous success while in Bellator. Held, a toe hold submission specialist was 11-3 with Bellator, with his only defeats coming to the likes of Michael Chandler, Dave Jansen and Will Brooks. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, given that Chandler and Brooks were Bellator Lightweight Champions. Also, Held avenged his defeat to Dave Jansen in his last fight in Bellator.

Since crossing over from Bellator to the UFC, it’s been tough sledding for Held. It started with a debut defeat to Diego Sanchez, which was a tough debut in it’s own right. Then, in Held’s second fight in the UFC, the judges shafted him. Opponent Joe Lauzon was awarded a split decision victory and said in his post fight interview that the wrong man won. Fine. However, Held got another opportunity against Damir Hadžović. That opportunity was spoiled by a perfectly timed knee on a takedown attempt by Held, which led to a knockout defeat.

With three fights in the UFC and three losses, it’s kind of surprising that Held got another opportunity. Then again, the kid has talent and maybe you chalk up this rough start in the UFC to a string of bad luck. Either way, Held gets another shot in his home country Poland against newcomer Nasrat Haqparast.

Embed from Getty Images

Jonathan Wilson

In 2015, Jonathan Wilson stepped into the octagon for the first time with a perfect 6-0 record and debuted at Light Heavyweight. The fight couldn’t of gone any better, as Wilson knocked out Chris Dempsey in just 50 seconds. It was a breath of fresh air to see a young talent introduce himself to the Light Heavyweight division with a quick knockout. God knows that the Light heavyweight division could use the infusion of youth and talent.

However, Wilson couldn’t duplicate the same success in his next two fights. At UFC 199, Wilson faced off against the debuting Henrique da Silva (Currently has lost four straight UFC fights). It wasn’t pretty, as Wilson succumbed to da Silva via TKO in the second round. The defeat was Wilson’s first professionally. Then at UFC Fight Night 96, Wilson tried to get back in the win column against Ion Cutelaba. Unfortunately, Wilson couldn’t pull the trigger all night and Cutelaba swept him on all three scorecards 30-27.

Now, Wilson with two consecutive losses will have to not only overcome an over year off layoff, but also avoid the potential pink slip with another loss. Inexperience could be the issue with Wilson’s latest rough patch, but the UFC waits for no man, so it would be in Wilson’s best interest to get a win here against newcomer Oskar Piechota. It won’t be easy too, as Piechota is a perfect 9-0, with all his wins coming via finish.
UFC 216: Ferguson vs. Lee Predictions

October 7, 2017

The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada will play host to UFC 216, which features two title fights. Headlining the card is an Interim Lightweight Championship fight between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee.

Ferguson, who comes into this bout on a nine-fight win streak is the consensus number one contender (despite UFC Rankings) in the Lightweight division. A title shot is more then due and with a victory, perhaps a money fight with Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor is possible. As for Lee, the young phenom has knocked off five consecutive victories and earns this opportunity for gold with a little luck. The 7th ranked Lightweight according to the UFC Rankings obviously wasn’t the first choice, but with scheduled fights (#5 Justin Gaethje vs. #3 Eddie Alvarez), Injuries (#4 Edson Barboza, #1 Khabib Nurmagomedov) and Holdouts (#6 Nate Diaz), Lee was next in line and willing to sign the dotted line.

Co-Headlining the card is a Flyweight title fight between Champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Ray Borg. Originally, this Flyweight Championship fight was due to take place at UFC 215, but was scrapped when Ray Borg had to pull out due to an illness.

Johnson, the consensus #1 Pound for Pound fighter, heads into this bout on a twelve-fight win streak and with an opportunity to make History. With already ten consecutive title defenses, Johnson is tied with Middleweight great Anderson Silva for the most ever in UFC History. A victory over Borg would put Johnson in a league of his own, and immortality.. As for Borg, an opportunity to play spoiler and win UFC gold is on the line. Coming into this bout on a two-fight win streak, the “Tazmexican Devil” is finding his stride at the right time. Will he seize the opportunity? We’ll see!

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC 216 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee for interim lightweight title – First off, I’m super high on Kevin Lee. His cockiness fuels his confidence, but sometimes that gets you into trouble like against Leonardo Santos. However, make no mistake, Lee is a superstar in the making. The way he talks and fights is going to get him into huge fights such as this.

But, when I saw a drained Kevin Lee not make Championship weight (155 lbs), only to come back an hour later and make it, I wonder what effects this might have on the fight. He’s clearly outgrowing this weight class (Lightweight) and he looks super unhealthy cutting weight. And I really believe this weight cut is going to hurt him in this fight.

Ferguson is very talented on the feet and a monster on the mat. His unpredictability and wild style make for exciting fights, but one’s in which he comes out on top via something spectacular. Now that Lee had troubles making weight, I believe Ferguson will focus on the body. Attacking the body will zap the life out of a Kevin Lee, who I can’t see having the energy to make it to the Championship rounds anyways. So with that, I have Tony Ferguson winning the Interim Lightweight belt via submission (D’arce).

125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg – With history on the line (11 consecutive title defenses), there’s no way Demetrious Johnson will let this fight slip from his grasp. He’s the best all-around fighter in the UFC and sure his competition isn’t the best, but he dominates and finishes them. He could very easily lay and pray and win, but he doesn’t. He goes for the kill and that often goes overlooked, very much like this historical attempt at eleven consecutive title defenses.

Anyways, Borg is a talent. His grappling and submission abilities are upper echelon, but his striking is not very good. If he could shore up that part of his game, and he’s young, he could very well be a legit threat to Johnson. However, at this current moment, Borg’s striking is sub-par. Against Johnson, sub-par Striking isn’t going to setup takedowns. It’s going to get you systematically picked apart. So with that, Johnson takes this fight wherever he wants and eventually submits a tired Borg in the Championship rounds.

265 lbs.: ~~Derrick Lewis~~ Walt Harris vs. Fabricio Werdum – Walt Harris was going to have an awesome night, as I believe he was going to piece up Mark Godbeer. Now, he’s stepping in last second for an injured Derrick Lewis to take on Fabricio Werdum. It’s a huge opportunity and unbelievable chance catapult into the top five of the Heavyweight division. However, I don’t foresee Harris landing the knockout blow. Instead I foresee Werdum submitting Harris in the very first round.

125 lbs.: Mara Romero Borella vs. Kalindra Faria – Honestly, I have no idea. Originally Andrea Lee was supposed to fight, which I was pumped for…and now I’m clueless here. So with that, I guess I got Faria via decision.

155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Evan Dunham – Fun fight and I have to give some kudos to Evan Dunham for reviving his career, but Dariush is a darkhorse in this division. He’s very well rounded, with top notch grappling and technical striking. Dariush is excellent with his use of range, playing the game of hitting and not getting hit back. I believe Dariush will frustrate Dunham on the feet, picking him apart slowly en route to a decision victory.

UFC 216 Prelims On FX (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Tom Duquesnoy vs. Cody Stamann – Don’t know too much about Stamann, but I’ve seen Duquesnoy. He’s a young and talented striker, but in his UFC debut, a wrestler almost knocked him out. Duquesnoy looked a little sloppy before finishing his opponent, but I chalk that up to UFC jitters. So with that, I believe that Duquesnoy will show off his talents here properly to the world and knockout Stamann.

125 lbs.: Marco Beltran vs. Matt Schnell – Um…. Schnell via decision.

155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata – This fight isn’t getting enough love. It’s almost guaranteed to be fireworks, as you have two strikers that won’t back down. However, I’m going with Vannata. As good of a striker Green is, he’s actually a wrestler first, but he’s fallen in love with talking trash while striking with opponents. That didn’t work against Dustin Poirier and it won’t work here. Vannata is a dynamic striker with an arsenal that is going to put Green to sleep. So with that, I got Vannata via KO!

115 lbs.: Poliana Botelho vs. Pearl Gonzalez – I have no idea about this fight, as I’ve only seen Pearl Gonzalez fight for as little as her debut went. However, I’ll just side with her based on that… Gonzalez via decision.

UFC 216 Prelims On Fight Pass (6:30 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Mark Godbeer vs. ~~Walt Harris~~ (Fight Cancelled, Harris taking place of injured Derrick Lewis) – I used to believe that Walt Harris was just a massive man with very little skill and no chin. Well, I was wrong. Harris is a good striker with plenty of pop, as he’s reeled off two consecutive knockout victories. His opponent Mark Godbeer isn’t very good, as his cardio and striking are sloppy at best. So with that, I got Harris via KO!

125 lbs.: Magomed Bibulatov vs. John Moraga – I don’t know what happened to Moraga, but ever since defeating Willie Gates back in 2014, he’s been a shell of himself. That crisp boxing with legit power is no more and what happened to that sneaky guillotine choke he’d slip in while defending a takedown?

Bibulatov is very talented and if he can shore up his striking, he’s going to be an eventual threat to Demetrious Johnson. I believe he’ll use a heavy dose of grappling to wear down and edge out Moraga. So with that, I’ve got Bibulatov via decision.

185 lbs.: Thales Leites vs. Brad Tavares – This one is a toss up, but I’m going to go with Thales Leites. Although his gas tank is suspect, he’s vastly improved his striking abilities to go along with his already top notch grappling and submission game. So with that, I’ll take Leites via decision.
UFC Fight Night 117: Saint Preux vs. Okami Predictions

September 22, 2017

If UFC Fight Night 116 proved anything, it’s that the most overlooked cards without star power can absolutely deliver. I mean, eight of the ten bouts resulted in finishes, with definite highlight reel material. So, could we potentially be in for an encore at UFC Fight Night 117? I think yes!

Headlining the card is once promising Light Heavyweight contender Ovince St. Preux, who looks to make it two straight victories against returning UFC veteran Yushin Okami. On August 8th, 2015, Ovince St. Preux was believed to be a definite contender and potential threat to Jon Jones in the Light Heavyweight Division. However, Glover Teixeira would halt that talk, as OSP was finished in the 3rd round. The next five fights would see OSP regress, as he lost three of them. As for Okami, it’s been over four years since he last fought in the UFC. A knockout defeat at the hands of Jacare Souza, saw the eighteen UFC fight veteran surprisingly get cut. With a 13-5 UFC record and title challenge under his belt, you best believe that Okami has the experience and whereabouts of how exactly to edge out victories.

Anyways, let;s just get to the predictions!

UFC Fight Night 117 Main Card on FXX (10 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Yushin Okami – I appreciate Okami for stepping in and getting back into the UFC like this, but this won’t be pretty. Even despite a regressed OSP, his athleticism and sheer size advantage will finish this one inside one. No discredit to Okami, but he’s been fighting at Welterweight (170 lbs) his past five fights and will make the jump up 35 lbs to Light Heavyweight. That’s pretty ridiculous!

Okami’s a grappler and without a size or strength advantage, he won’t be able to implement his game. He’s basically got to shoot his shot early and go for broke to get this one the mat, otherwise and what’s going to my prediction, he’s going to be matted on his back via knockout.

115 lbs.: Jessica Andrade vs. Claudia Gadelha – Love this fight, but I’m siding with Gadelha. I think her strength at Strawweight is unmatched and her striking at times is awkward, but effective. She’s got a granite chin and if she somehow get this fight to ground, her top control is smothering and dangerous. Andrade is a brute, as she uses her granite chin to walk down opponents and implement her volume striking. However, her toughness will be tested against the cage and perhaps the mat, as I fully expect Gadelha to bring it. A win here would warrant a third crack at Joanna Champion and one in which be another classic. So with that, I got Gadelha via decision.

155 lbs.: Takanori Gomi vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Honestly, this fight is sad. Gomi should clearly retire, as he’s lost four straight fights via submission or T/KO in the first round. The “Fireball Kid” has nothing left to prove in an already decorated career that saw him once regarded as the number one Lightweight on the planet. However, he wishes to continue to fight and it’s against a kill or be killed fighter in Dong Hyun Kim. The tough as nails striker has only one UFC victory, but has already established himself as a brawler with a chin on him. Please watch his fight against Polo Reyes for reference.

Anyways, I should go with the easy pick and side with DHK via knockout, but maybe Gomi comes into this bout ~~juiced to the gills~~ with extra incentive on retiring on a win in his home country of Japan. Gomi via KO!

205 lbs.: Henrique da Silva vs. Gokhan Saki – I really should pick da Silva here, as his route to victory can easily be obtained via grappling. However, he’s lost three straight fights and was brutally knocked out in his last outing by Ion Cutelaba. I expect more of the same for “Frankenstein”, as the UFC looks to showcase Saki in this fight. Prepare to watch striking at it’s best, as Saki knocked out da Silva in the first round.

145 lbs.: Rolando Dy vs. Teruto Ishihara – What the hell happened to Ishihara? I used to be so high on him, as his tenacity and constant forward pressure used to break opponents. Instead, he’s getting broken a 38 year old Gray Maynard who was 1-5 in his last six heading into that bout. The regression of Ishihara is scary, but this is the right opponent to turn it around. Dy isn’t going to throw awkward strikes to set up constant takedowns like Gray Maynard. He’s going to get walked down and knocked out, resulting in Ishihara grabbing the microphone in his post-fight interview and telling the quiet and respectful Japanese crowd “I love my Japan bitches”. Again, my prediction is Ishihara via KO!

125 lbs.: Jussier Formiga vs. Ulka Sasaki – This is a fight in which Formiga needs to desperately win in order to ever contend for the belt. He’s been way too inconsistent, as he’s gone 5-4 inside the octagon. Oddly enough, every opponent he’s lost to in the UFC, has gone on to fight for the title in their next fight. That would mean he’s already dropped four title eliminators…

Anyways, Sasaki surprised in his last fight against Justin Scoggins. In a fight that was more competitive than I thought, Sasaki eventually slapped on rear-naked choke to complete the upset. However, he’s 2-3 in the UFC and the majority of his losses came against grapplers. Sasaki himself is a grappler, but Leandro Issa and Wilson Reis proved to be more superior. Formiga is a one of the most decorated grapplers in the Flyweight division and his striking is starting to come around. I expect Formiga to control wherever he wants to fight and eventually slap on a submission victory late in the third when Sasaki goes for broke.

UFC Fight Night 117 Prelims on FXX (8 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Alex Morono vs. Keita Nakamura – This is a tough fight to call and could very well be your fight of the night. Morono is a solid striker, who uses his footwork and volume striking to pick apart foes. On the other hand, Nakamura has a very awkward and rugged fighting style. On the feet, he’s nothing special, but he’s tough and is very willing to take a shot to give one back. However, his bread and butter is his top notch grappling abilities. If he Nakamura can take Morono down, his top control is mothering and submission prowess is dangerous.

Again, this a tough fight to call, but I got Nakamura edging out a decision victory. With a 27-1-1 record in Japan, I’ll take that success and potentially a hometown discount from the judges.

115 lbs.: Chan-Mi Jeon vs. Syuri Kondo – Who and Who? Kondo via decision.

170 lbs.: Shinsho Anzai vs. Luke Jumeau – I expect Anzai to implement a heavy dose of wrestling, with the key of making this fight an ugly grappling match. However, Anzai’s wrestling is too predictable and Jumeau just dealt with a physically strong wrestler in Dominique Steele. So with that, I believe Jumeau will keep the action on the feet and finish Anzai via TKO!

170 lbs.: Daichi Abe vs. Hyun Gyu Lim – After Lim impressed against Tarec Saffiedine back at UFC Fight Night 34, I really thought he could become a force. I mean, Lim’s a massive Welterweight, standing at 6’2 with a reach of 79 inches. He’s got dynamite in hands, as he’s showed in his three UFC victories. He’s also got porous striking defense, as he’s gotten viciously knocked out in his last two fights. Quite frankly, Lim is turning into a kill or be killed fighter. Fun for the fans, but the best strategy for longevity…

As for a prediction, I expect a more technical Lim, with his power eventually ending the fight late in the first round. His UFC career hangs in the balance!
UFC Fight Night 116: Rockhold vs. Branch Predictions

September 16, 2017

After a mediocre UFC 215 card, the UFC returns a week later for a Fight Night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Headlining the card, is a pair of middleweight contenders in former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold and former WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion David Branch. This will be Luke Rockhold’s first fight since losing the Middleweight title to Michael Bisping back in June of 2016. Injuries have kept out of action since and it will be interesting to see if he can shake off the rust against a formidable foe. Branch, in his second UFC stint, made a successful return defeating Krzystof Jotko via split decision at UFC 211. The victory was Branch’s eleventh straight and elevated him to this big fight against Luke Rockhold.

Anyways, let’s just get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 116 Main Card On FOX Sports 1 (10 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold vs. David Branch – Alright, so I’ve got Rockhold here. Now, Rockhold hasn’t fought in over a year and in his last fight, he lost his Middleweight title in a shocking knockout loss to Michael Bisping. Those are all factors favoring Branch, who enters this fight on an impressive eleven-fight win streak. Branch, who many hardcore fans remember, is the guy who violently got knocked out via a slam by Gerald Harris in his first UFC stint. Three fights later, Branch found himself cut by the UFC and I can’t say I would of ever predicted his success outside the UFC. He went 11-2, won both the WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight belts simultaneously and even defended them multiple times. Super impressive to say the least, especially given that Branch was dubbed “boring” in his first UFC stint due to his grappling attack that led to smothering and zero attempts to finish a fight.

Anyways, despite Rockhold’s inactivity, he’s on another level than Branch. There is levels to this game and Rockhold is in the first tier, meanwhile Branch isn’t even sniffing the third tier. Rockhold’s a dynamic striker, with excellent grappling abilities and in top control, he’s a bonafide finisher. Anywhere this fight takes place will be dictated by Rockhold and I believe that he’ll finish this fight inside one. Even with the layoff and rust, Rockhold will drop Branch on the feet and then lock in a first-round submission victory!

170 lbs.: Mike Perry vs. Alex Reyes – Ouch! A short notice fight for both, but for Reyes this will be his debut. He will have to enter the octagon against a fearsome knockout artist, who has shown the ability to take a punch and keep coming forward like that of the Terminator. I commend him for signing up, but I can’t see how he pulls of the upset here. So with that, I got Perry via knockout!

185 lbs.: Hector Lombard vs. Anthony Smith – This is a solid fight, especially for the fans. I’ve been touting Anthony Smith for a bit and I feel as if he’s been underrated. He’s won two straight fights, both via knockout and his last came in the 3rd round of a fight he was losing. His durability and toughness have gotten him far, but will certainly be tested against Lombard. The aforementioned Lombard has lost three straight fights and I firmly believe his UFC career hangs in the balance here. He’s shown tremendous explosiveness and power in the first round of fights like Vitor Belfort, but as the fights goes into the later rounds, he fades.

Despite being 39 years old and clearly a decline in his abilities, I believe that Lombard will get the job done. If he mixes in some of his Judo and smothers Smith in top control, this could be a breeze. However, I’m confident on the feet too that Lombard can put away Smith. In fact, I’m predicting just that. Lombard via first-round knockout.

155 lbs.: Gregor Gillespie vs. Jason Gonzalez – Don’t know much about either, but I hear good things about Gillespie. He’s going to give up 3 inches in the reach department and will be towered over by 5 inches, so I’m intrigued to see how he handles the rarity of a 6’2 lightweight. Anyways, I’m going to make a blind prediction and side with Gillespie via TKO.

170 lbs.: Sergio Moraes vs. Kamaru Usman – It’s kind of crazy that Moraes is 6-1-1 in the UFC including a victory over Neil Magny. However, that was a younger and less skilled Magny who clearly felt the pressure in Brazil. Anyways, Usman is a future Champion in the Welterweight division and I’m certain of that. He’s got superior wrestling and his striking abilities have exponentially gotten better. I just hope he doesn’t fall in love with them, although he can in this fight. The only way Moraes can spring the upset is that if on his way to being taken down, he can transition into a submission attempt. Moreas surprisingly has power on the feet, but he’s super sloppy in his technique and it reaches an even worse state in the later rounds. So with that, I believe that Usman is going to dominate on the feet and eventually TKO Moraes.

265 lbs.: Justin Ledet vs. Zu Anyanwu – I know this dude Anyanwu is from Dana White’s Contender Series, but this is a tough fighter to debut against. Ledet is going to be 3 inches taller and have a 9 inch reach advantage, which is tremendous given his already top notch striking abilities. I foresee a knockout victory victory for Ledet.

UFC Fight Night 116 Prelims On FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Tony Martin vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier – Fun fight and I’m on the fence with this prediction, but I’ll side with Martin. While Martin looked promising earlier in his career, his ability to get himself into bad positions nearly derailed that promise. However, with three straight wins and an impressive display against Case, I believe he’s got a legit chance to make a run into cracking the rankings. As for OAM, he too has looked promising and his striking has improved to compliment his already legit grappling and ground game, but I’m not 100% percent sold yet. So with that, I’ve got Martin via decision

265 lbs.: Anthony Hamilton vs. Daniel Spitz – Now, I know Heavyweight’s crack the hardest and it leads to a higher chance of being finished. However, Hamilton has a shaky chin regardless and it’s a shame given his skill set. He’s talented, but insanely prone to being finished. And although Spitz looked terrible in his debut, I feel as if he can catch lightning in a bottle in this fight against Hamilton’s suspect chin. So with that, Spitz via TKO!

185 lbs.: Uriah Hall vs. Krzysztof Jotko – I’ve been super high on Jotko and I still am, but for some reason, I feel like Hall is finally going to show up. Hall has lost three straight fights and the last two via TKO. The once dubbed “Next Anderson Silva” is now fighting for his UFC career and it could be noted that his genuine kindness has dearly cost him. Can he finally realize that his opponents are trying to hurt him and shed his “kindness” when he enters the cage? I think so, Hall via TKO!

155 lbs.: Gilbert Burns vs. Jason Saggo – This should be an evenly contested fight, but I’m going to side with Burns. I believe that if can get top control at any point in this fight, he has the ability submit Saggo. However, I got Burns via decision.
UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko II Predictions

September 9, 2017

The injury/illness bug struck again, as UFC 215 was originally supposed to be headlined by Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson against Ray Borg. The bout carried significance as Johnson looked to defend his belt for an all-time record eleven times. Also, a Heavyweight bout between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos and rising contender Francis Ngannou was scrapped due to Dos Santos being flagged by USADA for potential doping. It’s a bummer for Ngannou, as a victory here all but guaranteed him a title shot.

Anyways, the new headliner of Amanda Nunes against Valentina Shevchenko is in my opinion, a fight that pits two of the very best female mixed martial artist on the planet. In fact, I believe this is the best women’s fight in mixed martial artist history. These two women are insanely talented and at the peak of their careers, both fighting at an extremely high level. Nunes, will look to defend her Bantamweight title for the second time, while ending what could be an eventual trilogy fight against Shevchenko. As for the aforementioned Shevchenko, this is an opportunity to avenge her only defeat in the UFC, while capturing UFC gold.

Let’s get to the predictions!

UFC 215 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko – This is one is going be a barnburner! The Champ Nunes has been a force since entering the UFC, amassing a 7-1 record, finishing 6 of her opponents. She’s earned performances of the night bonuses in 3 of her last 4 fights and is slowly turning into an intimidating force like that of Cyborg Santos. However and despite already defeating her, she faces a much improved and scary Valentina Shevchenko. Armed with an all around mixed martial arts game, Shevchenko is a nightmare matchup for anyone. Dominant victories over Holly Holm and Juliana Pena only proved that Shevchenko is not only ready for this title opportunity, but if she wins this belt, she has the abilities to reign for a long time.

As for my prediction, I have Shevchenko. While Nunes defeated her the first time, if you watch the third round, the tide changed and favored Shevchenko. That’s due to Nunes cardio issues, which caused her to fall defeat in her lone UFC loss to Cat Zingano back at UFC 178. I expect Shevchenko to use her distance, while implementing leg kicks to slow down the explosiveness of Nunes. As we get into the later rounds, a depleted Nunes will eventually get finished by Shevchenko via submission. Let’s say 4th round!

170 lbs.: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Neil Magny – I’ve gone back-and-forth with this prediction, but I’m eventually siding with dos Anjos here. While, I wasn’t overly impressed with his debut, he got the job done. However, Magny is a tall task, as he’s going to have an obvious size and reach advantage. His jab will be tough to evade, but the reason I believe dos Anjos will win this fight, is his ability to get inside. Magny doesn’t have power, but he makes that up with volume and pace. dos Anjos can match that, especially given he doesn’t have to cut anymore. So with that, I believe dos Anjos will eventually adapt and defeat Magny both on the feet and the mat, winning via decision.

125 lbs.: Henry Cejudo vs. Wilson Reis – Another fun fight, but Cejudo takes this. While Reis has some pop in his hands, is a solid grappler and even better submission artist… Cejudo negates all that. Cejudo is an amazing wrestler, his striking has vastly improved to the point where he can defeat guys just with his fists and his top control is suffocating. Reis is a solid flyweight, but he’s headed for two straight defeats. Cejudo via decision!

205 lbs.: Ilir Latifi vs. Tyson Pedro – I’m still not sold on Pedro, but if he were to defeat a wrecking ball of a man in Latifi, I’d have to alter my opinion. Latifi via TKO!

145 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jeremy Stephens – Another fun fight and while I think Stephens is the better pick, I’m siding with Melendez. Now, I know Stephens has been active and can crack, but he’s only knocked out one opponent in his last eight fights. Melendez is a smart fighter and while he will slug it out, I see him using his grappling abilities to carry him in this fight. His career very much is on the line here to boot, so with his back against the wall, I’m siding wth Melendez via decision.

UFC 215 Prelims On FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Sara McMann vs. Ketlen Vieira – I’ve got McMann here. In her last three fights, she’s vastly improved her striking, which has granted her power wrestling easier takedowns. Once McMann has matted her opponents, it’s pretty much a moot point to attempt to get up. So with that, I have McMann via dominant decision.

135 lbs.: Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Sarah Moras – I’ve got Evans-Smith here via decision. Moras has been out too long and she’s a pretty strong grappler, but that’s about it.

145 lbs.: Rick Glenn vs. Gavin Tucker – This should be a fun scrap, as you have the American Zombie Glenn against an elusive striker in Tucker. However while it might be fun, it’s going to be more fun for Tucker. Glenn offers zero striking defense, meanwhile Tucker is and out with his attacks. So, I am confident in saying that Tucker should easily dominate this fight and will finish Glenn late via TKO!

155 lbs.: Alex White vs. Mitch Clarke – Not sure who to pick in this fight, as both men have fallen on hard times. Clarke, who has lost two fights in a row, has proved that he can’t hang with the top of the division. His striking is serviceable, but often relied on when his bread and butter grappling is denied. White is a good striker, but has often been defeated by grapplers. So advantage Clarke, however, I’m not convinced he’s good enough. So with that, I have White via decision.

UFC 215 Prelims On UFC Fight Pass (6 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Arjan Bhullar vs. Luis Henrique – I’m siding with Bhullar here, although I’ve admittedly never seen him fight. His Olympic wrestling background and the fact that he’s fought a five-round fight, tells me that he’s a grinder with good cardio. Henrique is also a grinder, but his style is odd given that his cardio is poor. So with that, I have Bhullar outlasting Henrique, eventually winning this via late TKO!

155 lbs.: Kajan Johnson vs. Adriano Martins – This should be an entertaining scrap, as both men are finishers. Martins boost 13 knockouts and 3 submission victories, finishing foes at a 57% clip. Meanwhile, Johnson has 4 knockouts and 11 submission victories, finishing opponents at a 71% clip. The only problem here, is that Martins has a solid chin and very durable. The same can’t be said about Johnson, who has lost 12 fights in 31 fights and of the 12 defeats, he’s been finished in 8 of them. So with that, I have Martins eventually finding a scrappy Kajan Johnson’s chin, winning this one via KO!
UFC Fight Night 115: Volkov vs. Struve

September 2, 2017

It’s been almost a month since the last UFC event, which understandable considering Zuffa spent the month of August promoting Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather. A fight in which was entertaining and worth every penny of the $100 charge for the PPV. Anyways, the UFC is back and they continue there oversea’s dominance, as they play host to Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Headlining the card is a pair of towering Heavyweights in Dutch mixed martial artist Stefan Struve and Alexander Volkov. Riding a two-fight win streak, Struve will look to continue his resurgence and add his name to a shortlist of Heavyweight contenders. As for Volkov, it’s been nothing but success since he stepped foot into the Octagon. With two UFC victories under his belt, including one over Roy Nelson, Volkov is a victory over Struve from cracking the top five. Imagine that, three UFC victories and instantly you’re in the top five.

Anyways, let’s just get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 115 Main Card (3 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Alexander Volkov vs. Stefan Struve – Normally I’d break this main event down the longest of any of my predictions, but I have a relatively brief hunch here. I believe that Volkov is too good of a striker for Struve to hang. I also don’t think that Struve can get this to the mat, where he’d have a substantial advantage and legitimate chance to win via submission. I mean, Volkov is no spring chicken, as he’s already had 34 fights at only 28 years of age. He’s very well rounded and is going to make Struve pay on the feet, eventually finishing him via KO!

135 lbs.: Marion Reneau vs. Talita de Oliveira – No clue who Oliveira is, but Reneau is a good enough striker to control this fight on the feet and win via decision.

185 lbs.: Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson – Never heard of Wilkinson, but Bahadurzada is a bazooka. If not for injuries, I truly believe Bahadurzada’s would have a highlight reel of UFC knockouts by now. Well, I guess it’s never too late though… Bahadurzada via KO!

170 lbs.: Bryan Barberena vs. Leon Edwards – Fun fight, but I have Edwards here. I believe that his improvements in each fight have legitimately swayed to believe that he will crack the top ten of the welterweight division in 2018. He’s a striker, but his grappling abilities have vastly improved to the point where he’s gaining the ability to control the fight wherever it goes. Now, I love Barberena’s will to fill and the pace/cardio he has, but he’s not superior in any aspects of his game. So with that, Edwards takes this via dominant decision.

UFC Fight Night 115 Prelims (11:30 a.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Darren Till vs. Bojan Velickovic – Never heard of Velickovic, but I’ve seen Till a handful of times and his striking abilities make for fun fights. He’s got to shore up his defense, but this fight should help him craft that. So with that, I have Till via late knockout.

155 lbs.: Felipe Silva vs. Mairbek Taisumov – Silva is a sacrificial lamb here, as the UFC continues to build up the dynamic striker Taisumov. So with that, I got Taisumov via KO!

155 lbs.: Mads Burnell vs. Michel Prazeres – I bet Burnell hasn’t faced anyone with the grappling abilities of Prazeres. So with that, expect a lesson in grappling here, as Prazeres eventually win this via submission.

155 lbs.: Desmond Green vs. Rustam Khabilov – This is a really tough fight to call. On one hand, I was overly impressed by Desmond Green in UFC debut. I had seen him before in Bellator and I didn’t see anything more than a serviceable fighter. However, in his UFC debut against Josh Emmett, his striking and more so counter attacks were beautiful. As for Khabilov, I used to believe he would be a world champion. His superior grappling proved to be effective and it still has, but his striking hasn’t developed like I had hoped. Anyways, despite Khabilov strolling into this fight with a four-fight win streak, I think Green is going to fend him off and tag him on the feet en route to a decision victory.

205 lbs.: Francimar Barroso vs. Aleksandar Rakic – Never heard of Rakic, but Barroso has been had his fair share of success in the UFC. His striking is nothing to write home about, but his grappling is good enough to get him victories. So with that, I got Barroso via decision.

145 lbs.: Mike Santiago vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov – This card is going to be a tad rough, but I’ll go with the Russian here who’s been starching his competition in the first round. So with that, I got Magomedsharipov via KO!

205 lbs.: Abdul-Kerim Edilov vs. Bojan Mihajlovic – Who and Who? Umm…Edilov via KO!

155 lbs.: Thibault Gouti vs. Andrew Holbrook – I’m really surprised Gouti is getting another chance here, as he’s 0-3 in the UFC and has been finished in all three defeats. So with that, I have Holbrook winning this, but I’ll go via decision.