The MMA Daily

UFC Fight Night 114: Pettis vs. Moreno

August 5, 2017

After an unbelievable weekend of fights stemming from UFC 214, the UFC is right back in action in Mexico City, Mexico. Headlining the card is a pair of Flyweight contenders in Sergio Pettis and Brandon Moreno. The stakes are high in this one, as both come into this bout on a three-fight win streak. A victory could catapult either into a number one contender fight or the motherload, a title shot.

Co-Headlining the card is a two upper-echelon Women’s Strawweight fighters in Randa Markos and Alexa Grasso. Markos, has been up and down throughout her UFC career, but her potential showed when she upset former Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza. As for Grasso, the former undefeated prospect took a minor step back, as she was most recently defeated by Felice Herrig. In a fight pitted against an all around veteran, Grasso proved that she was still green. However, make no mistake about it, her potential is that of Champion-status.

Anyways, let’s just get to the Predictions!

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

125 lbs.: Sergio Pettis vs. Brandon Moreno – Fun Fight, but I got Moreno. I believe that his pace is going to eventually break Pettis. He’s also very durable and will be weather any early storm Pettis puts on him. I’m not discrediting Pettis, but I really like Moreno’s all around game, albeit at times wild striking. Anyways, I got Moreno via late submission.

115 lbs.: Alexa Grasso vs. Randa Markos – Love this fight! Grasso is a legit prospect and despite a minor setback in her last fight, I bet it made her a better fighter. On the other end, the veteran Markos is coming off a huge win over former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza. It was a big upset and proved that Markos has untapped potential. In fact, I believe Markos will challenge for the belt one day. So obviously I have her winning this fight. I believe Markos improved striking will lead to her strong grappling abilities en route to a decision victory.

170 lbs.: Alan Jouban vs. Niko Price – I’ve heard good things about Price, but I have no idea about his skill set. Jouban ideas a talented and dynamic striker and I bet is ready to get back in the win column after falling short against Gunnar Nelson. So with that, I got Jouban via TKO.

145 lbs.: Humberto Bandenay vs. Martin Bravo – Ugh huh, Bravo via decision.

185 lbs.: Sam Alvey vs. Rashad Evans – Alvey is interesting in that he’s a hesistant striker that packs a punch. However due to being hesitant, inactivity follows and it’s been his downfall. Evans on the other hand is in a tough spot, as he’s lost three in a row and hasn’t won since 2013. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion has his back against the wall and I like it. He’s desperate for a win and with people around him talking retirement, prepare to see Evans go back to his roots with wrestling. So with that, I got Evans via decision.

135 lbs.: Alejandro Perez vs. Andre Soukhamthath – Ugh, don’t really know all that much about either. I do recall seeing Perez beat the shell of Jorgensen. However, this dude Soukhamthath has a sick last name. And that obviously equates to wins. So with that, I got Soukhamthath via decision.

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

185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Brad Scott – What I’ve noticed is that Scott is mediocre everywhere and it’s translated to a mediocre UFC career thus far. Hermansson is a solid striker and he’s going to show that in this fight. So with that, I envision Hermansson winning this via knockout!

125 lbs.: Dustin Ortiz vs. Hector Sandoval – This seems like a gatekeeper matchup, but one in which I see the young Sandoval getting humbled. Ortiz is the definition of a grinder and his striking has steadily improved. So with that, I got Ortiz via dominant decision.

135 lbs.: Henry Briones vs. Rani Yahya – Briones is tough, but Yahya’s grappling is tougher to thwart off. It’s smothering and frustrating. However, his striking is poor and cardio is suspect at times. But, I think Yahya’s got this via decision.

135 lbs.: Jose Quinonez vs. Diego Rivas – The dude with the amazing moustache from TUF: Latin America! Finally I know someone! And I’m going bold here, he’s winning…via TKO!

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

125 lbs.: Joseph Morales vs. Roberto Sanchez – Gosh this card is tough with known fighters… Morales via decision.

155 lbs.: Alvaro Herrera vs. Jordan Rinaldi – Who and who? Rinaldi via decision.
UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones II Predictions

July 29, 2017

The Biggest and Baddest UFC card this year has finally arrived! On paper, UFC 214 is can’t miss. From the prelims to the main card, every fight should be fireworks. I mean, we got THREE TITLE FIGHTS!

Headlining the card is one the most anticipated rematches in UFC History as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier looks to defend his title against Jon Jones. It’s been a long road to get to this rematch, as they were scheduled to have this rematch at UFC 197 and then UFC 200. At UFC 197, Cormier suffered an injury and had to pull out, leading for the rescheduling of the fight to take place at UFC 200. However, three days prior to the event, Jones was removed from the bout due to a potential ant-doping violation. A total mess and I may be an outsider with this statement, but it only built up the anticipation for this rematch even more.

Co-Headlining the card, UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley looks to defend his belt against BJJ specialist Demain Maia. Woodley, finally fights a fresh contender, as it took two fights against Stephen Thompson to put that rivalry to rest for now. As for Maia, it took seven straight victories to finally earn a title shot. Even crazier, Maia defeated Jorge Masvidal on May 13th, which makes this a little over a two month turnaround. The odds are not in his favor, but the storyline could be that of fairy tales.

Also on the card is a fight for the vacant Featherweight title between the Baddest woman on the planet in Cris Cyborg against a very game and worthy opponent in Tonya Evinger. O and on the card as well, a fight that promises pure violence between former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC 214 Main Card on PPV (10 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones – Honestly, this fight is tough to call on the stand point of Jones inactivity. In Jones fight against Ovince Saint Preux, he looked very rusty and vulnerable. He wound up easily winning the fight, but one wonders if he would of beat Cormier with that performance. On the other end, Cormier has been excellent since losing to Jones at UFC 182 in January of 2015. He’s won four straight fights, two against knockout artist Anthony Johnson, one against an elite Alexander Gustafsson and one against the one many acknowledge as the greatest mixed martial arts fighter ever in Anderson Silva.

As for a prediction, I’m going with Jones. I believe that if Cormier can’t get Jones down, which he failed to do at a successful rate in the first fight, then it’s Jones on the feet. The reach and height advantage will reign supreme and could see Jones finishing the fight, but due to the layoff and Cormier’s grit, I have Jones via decision.

170 lbs.: UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia – I’m extremely happy for Maia, as he finally get’s to fight for the belt. I mean, seven consecutive wins in my opinion is long overdue for a title shot. However, this fight comes just a little over two months of his last fight and stylistically this is a terrible matchup. Maia’s a one trick pony, as takes opponents down and submits them. His striking abilities are non-existent, although good enough to setup takedowns. Woodley, on the other end is a Division I wrestler, explosive and is heavy handed. According to ufc.com, Woodley’s takedown defense is 91.89%. So how’s Maia winning this fight? I mean, he struggled at times in his last fight to get Masvidal down and on the feet he was touched up very easily. So with that, my prediction is that Woodley retains his title via knockout.

145 lbs.: Cristiane Justino vs. Tonya Evinger for vacant women’s featherweight title – Evinger is tough and very worthy of this fight. She has the grappling abilities and cardio to make this one interesting. However, Cyborg has ridiculous power and it’s just something that will rule the women’s Featherweight division for as long as she’s around. So with that, I have Cyborg winning this via KO!

170 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler – This is probably my favorite fight on the card, just because I know it’s going to be pure chaos. I mean, you’ve got two strikers who have a knack for finishing fights. However and as much as I’m a fan of Donald Cerrone, I believe that aggressive strikers like Robbie Lawler are Cerrone’s downfall. He’s at his best when his opponent give him space, but I expect zero space to be given in this phone booth fight. So with that, I have Lawler winning this fight ultimately by TKO!

205 lbs.: Jimi Manuwa vs. Volkan Oezdemir – I understand Oezdemir has hit the UFC Light Heavyweight division by storm, but has he been hit by Jimi Manuwa punch before? The answer is no, but he will and he will be dealt with. So with that, I have Manuwa winning via KO!

UFC 214 Undercard on FXX (8 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Jason Knight vs. Ricardo Lamas – What an excellent matchup and a huge opportunity for Jason Knight. He’s fighting the third ranked Featherweight in Ricardo Lamas, which a victory would instantly catapult himself into the top five, if not take over Lamas #3 ranking spot. However and I’ve gone back and forth in this prediction, I’ve got Lamas winning this. As much as I love Knight’s fighting style, whether he’s slugging it out on the feet or pulling off slick reversals on the ground, Lamas is just too well rounded and experienced. This fight kind of reminds me of when Dennis Bermudez fought Lamas, as he headed into the bout on a seven-fight win streak, only to be dropped and submitted in round one. Not to say that’s going to happen, but I think Lamas is going to neutralize Knight with grappling and heavy top control. So with that, I have Lamas via decision.

140 lbs.: Renan Barao vs. Aljamain Sterling – Fun fight! I will admit, Barao and Sterling are my two favorite Featherweights, so this is an overly hard fight to call. Obviously in each prediction I try to not be bias, as each’s skill set’s speak for themselves. And in this fight, I have Sterling winning. He’s younger, athletic and just more active on the feet. Before Barao fought Dillashaw, i’d probably say the same about him, but he’s looked like a shell of himself. Against Jeremy Stephens he fared well and took Stephens best shots and kept coming. It was a valiant effort, but the judges saw it for Stephens. Then, against Phillipe Nover, Barao just looked terrible in my opinion. It’s a sad fall from grace, but it happens. So without further ado, I have Sterling taking this fight via decision.

145 lbs.: Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega – I don’t think Brian Ortega has ever won a round in the UFC, yet he finds himself a perfect 3-0 inside the Octagon. With three third-round finishes, Ortega should change his nickname to “The comeback kid”. As for Moicano, he’s quietly 3-0 inside the octagon and just pulled off an huge upset over Jeremy Stephens. Both are undefeated, so somebodies 0 has got to go. As for a prediction, the safer play is to go with Moicano, who is a very active counter striker. However and despite Ortega’s periods of inactivity, I just feel that he’s more dangerous in every round. He’s got the best shot to finish the fight and that’s just what he’ll do. So with that, I got Ortega via TKO!

145 lbs.: Andre Fili vs. Calvin Kattar – Never heard of Kattar, as he makes his UFC debut on short notice. I hope they give him another fight too, as I believe Fili will have his way in this fight and make short work of Kattar. With a 4-3 UFC record, Fili has yet to win two straight fights, so he’s definitely due to buck the trend. So with that, I have Fili winning via TKO.

UFC 214 Undercard on Fight Pass (6:30 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: Alexandra Albu vs. Kailin Curran – With a 1-4 record in the UFC, Curran desperately needs to get a victory. The UFC obviously likes her, keeping her around despite a crap record, but she needs to get it going now. Again, I like fighters with there backs up against the wall, but Curran’s fight IQ is very lacking. I recall her beating the snot out of Alex Chambers, only to get submitted in the third round. Against Moyle she was overly aggressive, leading to takedowns in which kept her matted for long periods of time. I’m not very knowledgeable about Albu, but I believe in her fight she used grappling to score a victory. I can see that same route working against Curran… Albu via decision.

125 lbs.: Jarred Brooks vs. Eric Shelton – Honestly my knowledge of both is limited to looking at there records. Given Brooks is undefeated and is the favorite, I probably should go with him. However, Shelton has already fought in the UFC, losing to Alexandre Pantoja via split decision. UFC jitters can haunt some and Shelton nearly pulled off a big upset, so I consider that a victory in it’s own right. As for a prediction, I’m going with Shelton via decision.

155 lbs.: Josh Burkman vs. Drew Dober – Honestly, Drew Dober should easily win this fight. Burkman is a shell of himself and has looked extremely poor since his upset victory over Jon Fitch in 2013. However, three straight losses and his career in jeopardy, I’m going to go with Burkman. I love to picks guys with there back to the wall and Burkman definitely is, if not caved into the wall. So with that, even after calling him a shell of himself, I got Burkman via decision.
UFC on Fox 25: Weidman vs. Gastelum Predictions

July 22, 2017

When the ban on mixed martial arts was finally lifted in New York, the UFC immediately hit the market in November of 2016. It would be a historical return to New York, as Conor McGregor would become the UFC’s first ever two-division champion at Madison Square Garden. The UFC didn’t stop there either, as they’ve already hosted events in Buffalo, Albany and Brooklyn. Now, the UFC comes the Island – Long Island.

Headlining the card is the former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman, who takes on rising contender and TUF 17 Winner Kelvin Gastelum. In what should be a great fight, the implications for the winner weigh heavily.

The Long Island native Weidman, has lost three fights in a row and is in must-win territory. A win would re-establish himself back into title contention and a loss would force either move to Light Heavyweight or fights against lower-tier Middleweights. As for Gastelum, the move to Middleweight has been very successful. A win over perennial contender Tim Kennedy, as well an annihilation of Vitor Belfort (overturned due to Marijuana) proved that Gastelum’s short stature means nothing. Skill overcomes brawn.

Anyways, let’s just get to the predictions!

UFC on FOX 25 Main Card (8 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum – This is a solid fight in the Middleweight division. Weidman comes into this bout on a three-fight losing streak and desperately needs to win here. Gastelum is on a two-fight win streak, although we all know it’s a three-fight win streak (Belfort win overturned). Weidman is a serviceable striker with superior wrestling and top control. His bread and butter is when he’s able to get into top control and reign down ground-and-pound. Gastelum on the other end has some wrestling abilities, but is more known for his technical striking. It doesn’t hurt that he packs a punch too.

As for a prediction, I’m going with Weidman. If you think about it, he’s a poor spinning back kick away from maybe not losing his title, a flying knee in the third round away from edging out a decision victory over Romero and a controversial/weird ending against Mousasi away from possible a decision victory. All hypothetical though… Anyways, I think that Weidman is going to have at least 20 pounds on Gastelum come fight night and add that with the fact that he’s 5 inches taller and will have a 6.5 reach advantage. I believe Weidman will have success on the feet, which will lead to his patented take downs. He’s going to be heavy on Gastelum and I think he will eventually sneak in a submission.

145 lbs.: Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins – So, I got Bermudez here. I think that while Elkins is one of the most durable fighters in the world, his skills are very simple. He’s a strong grappler that has subpar striking. He’s not an athlete, but he makes up for that with his ability to take punishment and keep coming forward with his ridiculous cardio. The problem here is that Elkin’s is basically a poor man’s Bermudez.

Bermudez is solid wrestler, with heavy hands and cardio for days. He’s also shown the ability to take punishment and keep coming forward, despite his recent losses. His athleticism alone is going to cause problems for Elkins and I envision a beat down here. I can see a route to a finish here, but Elkins is so damn tough. So with that, I got Bermudez via decision.

205 lbs.: Patrick Cummins vs. Gian Villante – This is a tough fight to call, just because of each’s weaknesses. Cummins is a great wrestler, but his striking abilities are subpar and his striking defense is even worse. Villante is power striker with no killer instincts and a porous gas tank. The deeper this fight goes, the better for Cummins. However, I just can’t trust Cummins chin to take a punch from Villante. So with that, I have Villante via KO.

135 lbs.: Thomas Almeida vs. Jimmie Rivera – Interesting fight with big implications for the winner. Almeida, has collected a 5-1 record in the UFC, with four of those wins coming via knockout. He’s a heavy handed striker, who will eat a punch just to throw a punch. However, that’s not going to work against Rivera. He’s a cerebral fighter, who will use a combination of leg strikes and punches to pick you apart. He doesn’t have huge power in his hands, but his volume will wear you down. Rivera also is a solid wrestler and could use that here to neutralize Almeida striking.

As for a prediction, I’ve got Rivera. With 19 consecutive victories, four of which are in the UFC, Rivera is clicking at the right time. Although the Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt is injured and challenger T.J. Dillashaw is awaiting that title shot, Rivera with a win will creep into contention. A fight against former Champion Dominick Cruz in my opinion would make sense. Anyways, Rivera via decision.

UFC on FOX 25 Prelims Card (6 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Lyman Good vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos – Honestly, this is a tough fight to call. But, from what I’ve seen is that Good is physically a brute and he’s got solid wrestling abilities. And While dos Santos is a volume striker, his takedown defense hasn’t looked all too sharp. I think Good could exploit that and take this one via a hard fought decision.

185 lbs.: Rafael Natal vs. Eryk Anders – Normally i’d side with the veteran in Natal here, but he’s been on a steady decline. And while he gets a debuting fighter, I think the athleticism of Anders is going to be too much. The former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker had a very successful amateur career and now he’s 8-0. While this is a very tough fight and on short notice, I think he’s going to find that Natal’s chin is on the decline. So with that, I have Anders via TKO!

170 lbs.: Ryan LaFlare vs. Alex Oliveira – This is a fun fight and a tough one to call. On one end, I can see LaFlare using his volume striking mixed with takedowns for three rounds en route to a decision victory. On the other, I can Oliveira catching LaFlare on the feet or even in guard. Ughhh…. I’m going to go with Olivieira. Despite his gas tank issues, he’s more dangerous on the feet and on the ground. LaFlare is not a power puncher or a finisher, so Oliveira is going to have three rounds to get it done. I think he does, as I have Oliveira winning this via submission.

265 lbs.: Chase Sherman vs. Damian Grabowski – I used to be high on Grabowski and always wondered why the UFC never signed him. Well they did and he’s looked like dog shit to be frank. It doesn’t get better here, as Sherman is going to hand Grabowski his pink slip after he wakes up. So with that, I have Sherman via knockout.

UFC on FOX 25 Prelims On Fight Pass (4 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Kyle Bochniak vs. Jeremy Kennedy – I’ve got Kennedy here, as I think he’s already shown to have a strong wrestling game with solid ground and pound. He’s already 2-0 in the UFC and his victory over veteran Rony Jason already proved to me that he’s got a bright future in the Featherweight division. So with that, I got Kennedy via decision.

135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Marlon Vera – I like Vera and I think he has potential, but his take down defense is poor. And it’s going to lead to his downfall in this fight, as Kelleher is going to take him down at will. So with that, I have Kelleher cruising to a decision victory.

265 lbs.: Junior Albini vs. Timothy Johnson – Never heard of Albini, but looking more in-depth at his record, he’s faced nothing spectacular competition-wise. Johnson isn’t the best striker, as his bead-and-butter is the grind. He puts his opponents against the cage and works his dirty boxing. I see more of the same here…. Johnson via decision.

145 lbs.: Shane Burgos vs. Godofredo Pepey – Man, Pepey is a wild man and he’s going to look to pull off some crazy submission or flying knee, but I like Burgos here. The dude is a solid striker and he’s definitely got some pop, as he showed in his last fight against Charles Rosa. With an already 2-0 record in New York UFC events, Burgos pushes that to 3-0 when Pepey runs into a punch. Burgos via KO!

155 lbs.: Frankie Perez vs. Chris Wade – Close fight, but I fade Wade. He’s definitely not going to win the striking exchanges, as he’s simply just not good on the feet. However, he’s a solid grappler and he’s going to get the better of Perez in that aspect en route to a decision victory.
UFC Fight Night 113: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio Predictions

July 16, 2017

We got ourselves a great main event, as the Icelandic Gunnar Nelson takes on the Argentinian Santiago Ponzinibbio. Nelson, heads into this bout on a two-fight win streak, finishing both via second-round submission. This will be the second UFC fight card Nelson has headlined, the first being of which when he lost to Rick Story in Stockolm, Sweden. Obviously that was a very high profile fight at the time, so with this second opportunity to headline, this could be the fight to catapult Nelson back into the upper echelon of a stacked Welterweight division.

As for Ponzinibbio, he’s been on a tear, winning four straight fights. This will be his first headlining fight in the UFC and by far his biggest profile fight. The opportunity to crack the top ten and announce himself as a legitimate contender in the Welterweight division.

Anyways, I’m late, so let’s get to the predictions!

UFC Fight Night 113 Main Card On FOX Sports 1 (3 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Gunnar Nelson vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – I think highly of Ponzinibbio, but this is stylistically not a great matchup. Nelson is a superior grappler and ground fighter, who’s striking has been vastly becoming just as big of a problem. If Nelson has Ponzinibbio thinking about the the threat of a takedown, it will just furthermore open up the striking abilities of Nelson. The only way Ponzinibbio can win this, is by using his athleticism and dancing around Nelson for five rounds. He needs to pick his shots and retreat early. That’s not going to happen though…. Nelson via submission.

115 lbs.: Joanne Calderwood vs. Cynthia Calvillo – Calderwood is not a Strawweight and she missed weight again. I suppose it was another attempt at a tough cut and she reached her breaking point. It’s a shame because it’s going to affect her in the fight as it usually does and I was going to pick her. So with that, I got the young gun Calvillo winning this via late submission.

155 lbs.: Paul Felder vs. Stevie Ray – This is a fun fight, but I got Felder here. Although he often fights below his abilities, I feel as if he’s turned the corner of late. His last fight against Alessandro Ricci, he just put an impressive performance that led to a first round finish. In Ray’s last fight, he had to survive an early storm against an old and shell of himself Joe Lauzon. No offense, it was a great comeback, but I wasn’t too impressed with who it was against as maybe other were. Anyways, Felder’s going to stuff Ray’s takedowns and out strike Ray, eventually TKO’n him in the third round.

185 lbs.: Ryan Janes vs. Jack Marshman – I got Marshmann here via knockout. Janes has no striking abilities nor striking defense to speak of. He’s a ground fighter and he’s going to get knocked out before he gets the chance to take it there. Marshmann via KO!

205 lbs.: Paul Craig vs. Khalil Rountree – I’m a fan of Rountree and I think eventually he’ll turn into a threat in the Light Heavyweight division. It all starts with shoring up his takedown defense and ground game. His athleticism and striking abilities are already good enough to beat some top guys at 205, but his lack of wrestling will never allow him to evolve. Craig is a guy who likes to get his opponents to the mat and submit them, which is Rountree hasn’t improved stopping that, then this won’t last long. I don’t think he’s shored up that kryptonite yet… Craig via submission.

265 lbs.: James Mulheron vs. Justin Willis – I have no idea who these men are, but when I saw Willis step on the scale…I thought he was at least 300 pounds. I mean, he’s massive! His cardio can’t be that great, but I don’t think he’ll need it here. So with that, I got Willis via TKO (smother)!

UFC Fight Night 113 “Prelims” On FOX Sports 1 (1 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Bobby Nash vs. Danny Roberts – Before getting knocked out by Mike Perry in the third round, I thought Roberts was doing very well in that fight. He took a lot Perry’s best shots and kept on coming. Besides that fight, I’ve been very impressed with Roberts and I think this is the perfect fight for him to rebound. Nash is a wrestler with heavy hands, which will be a good test for Roberts, but an easy one to crack. So with that, I got Roberts via KO!

125 lbs.: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Neil Seery – I like Seery, but he’s too old and slow for a young gun like Pantoja. Seery relies on being better on the feet and enduring punishment, but coming on strong late. That’s not going to work against Pantoja, as he’s going to get dominated from the start of the bell to the end. So with that, I got Pantoja via late stoppage.

170 lbs.: Galore Bofando vs. Charlie Ward – Never seen either of these guys, but record-wise, both are pretty inexperienced. Bofando’s record is 4-2, with both losses coming via DQ, which makes me think he’s a bit of a wild man. I like that, so I’m going with Bofando via TKO!

155 lbs.: Danny Henry vs. Daniel Teymur – If Daniel Teymur is anything like his brother, then this should be a breeze. Given that he’s undefeated and was a very successful kickboxer adds incentive here for me to side with Teymur via KO!

UFC Fight Night 113 “Prelims” On UFC Fight Pass (12 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Brett Johns vs. Albert Morales – I know Johns is the big favorite in this fight, but I’ve been a fan of Morales ever he went toe-to-toe with Thomas Almeida. He eventually got TKO’d in round two, but not before he made it an absolute war. Anyways, I’m going with the upset and say that Morales out strikes Johns to take it via decision.

135 lbs.: Amanda Lemos vs. Leslie Smith – Never heard of Lemos, but a fight this early against a grizzled veteran in Leslie Smith won’t spell well. I see this one ending in the third round via TKO, about the same time Smith lands her 100th strike in the fight.
UFC 213: Romero vs. Whittaker

July 8, 2017

After a hell of headliner between Justin Gaethje and Michael Johnson at the Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, the UFC is right back at it the following day. However, there’s a slight issue with what was once a stacked card. That issue is injuries. On the day of (today), UFC 213 lost it’s Women’s Bantamweight tile fight/headliner between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko due to Nunes falling ill. Before that, a Men’s Bantamweight title fight between champion Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw was scrapped, as well as entertaining fight between Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone. But, the show must go on!

So, headlining UFC 213 is now the Interim Middleweight title fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker. In what should be a entertaining scrap, the winner would not only receive a Middleweight title, but they will have the right to fight Michael Bisping to become the Undisputed Champion.

For Romero, it’s been a long road to finally get this shot at the title. With a perfect 8-0 UFC record, Romero has beaten some of the very best in the division. Names like Chris Weidman, Ronaldo Souza, Lyoto Machida, Tim Kennedy and Derek Brunson immediately jump out when observing this absurd run.

And as for Whittaker, it’s been an even crazier run to get this title shot. A former welterweight and Ultimate Fighter winner, Whittaker had just been mediocre in his early tenure with the UFC. The talent was there, but it just wasn’t clicking in fights. Then, Whittaker decided to go up 15 pounds, which at the time was a very rare move for a fighter to make. However, career-wise, it was life changing. Not only didn’t Whittaker have to kill himself to get down to 170 lbs., but he’s a perfect 6-0 in the Middleweight division, including finishing Jacare Souza for the first time since 2008.

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

UFC 213 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Yoel Romero vs. Robert Whittaker for Interim Middleweight Title – This fight is going to be fireworks and I’m really conflicted on who wins. On one hand, Romero’s wrestling abilities are among the elite and he’s got ridiculous power in his hands. His cardio however is suspect given the amount of muscle he carries. On the other hand, Whittaker is a technical striker with ridiculous power as well. He’s purely a striker and he’s improved his takedowns defense to the point where I’m actually conflicted if Romero can get him down. The only reason I see Romero being able to is the fact that he’s going to be at least 20 pounds heavier than Whittaker on fight day.

Anyways, both these men are on a tear and the way I see it, is that Romero is going to win this. Although his cardio is spotty and this is a five round fight, I don’t see this one going the distance. I believe that Romero’s footwork, speed and explosiveness are huge factors in this fight. I see them presenting Romero with perfectly timed takedowns. Then, I see heavy ground-and-pound getting this one done. If Whittaker can stop the takedowns and keep distance, then he definitely can win this inside the distance. However, I got Romero via TKO!

265 lbs.: Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum – This is a trilogy fight, as Werdum was able to defeat Overeem back in 2006 via submission in PRIDE and Overeem paid the favor by defeating Werdum via decision in 2011 for Strikeforce. I vividly remember there last fight being an odd one too, as Werdum was winning the striking exchanges despite mainly being a ground fighter, but he kept falling to his back trying to get Overeem to jump into his guard. Overeem wound up getting the decision victory, but this fight is between two different fighters now. Overeem is smaller than he used to be, as he’s improved his cardio. He’s also become a cerebral fighter, avoiding brawls and picking his shots on the feet. As for Werdum, he’s no longer just a ground fighter. He’s a complete mixed martial artist and a legit striker. It’s crazy to say that, but he’s soundly outstruck Travis Browne on two occasions, Mark Hunt and Cain Velasquez.

Anyways, as for a prediction, I’m going with Overeem. I’ve been infatuated with this new cerebral Overeem, that I believe he will be a UFC champion before his time is over. His chin isn’t the best and that’s because of his old ways, but he’s always had power and his knees and kicks are still vicious. Werdum is a future hall-of-famer and I think he’s far from done, but I think Overeem’s got this. So with that, I got Overeem via late knockout.

265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Nothing to see here. Omielanczuk is a standard heavyweight who has won fights by not gassing as much as his opponent has. That’s not going to work here, as not only is Blaydes not going to gas, but it’s not going the distance. Blaydes a physical beast with some power in his paws. Just the grappling alone will win this and I’m going to predict that Blaydes wins this via ground-and-pound TKO early.

155 lbs.: Jim Miller vs. Anthony Pettis – Talk about a decline. Pettis, the former Lightweight Champion has had a rough go these past two years. Not only did he lose his title, but he’s a combined 1-4 in his last five fights. A failed run at Featherweight has forced him back to Lightweight and he returns against the gritty Jim Miller. Is there something in New Jersey’s water because Miller has enjoyed a career resurgence. Miller is 3-1 in his last four fights, with the lone defeat coming via majority decision to Dustin Piorier. That’s pretty crazy given that Piorier nearly defeated the former Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez before illegal knees caused a no contest in that fight. Anyways, I’m going with Pettis here. While Miller’s route to victory of wrestling is Pettis achilles heel, I’m hoping here that Pettis has worked to improve that. I know he’s a dynamic striker, but he’s got to keep on the feet to be at his most advantageous position. I’m hoping for that, as I got Pettis winning this via decision.

135 lbs.: Rob Font vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade – I like Font here mainly because I have no idea who Douglas Silva de Andrade is. I see he has a lot of knockouts, which should make for a fun fight at least. However, I got Font here to piece de Andrade on the feet and win this via decision.

UFC 213 Prelims on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Travis Browne vs. Oleksiy Oleinik – Fun, but it’s about time Travis Browne get a victory. It’s been three straight losses for the former Heavyweight contender and the roughest thing about it, has been his rapid decline of skills. I mean, before his first fight against Fabricio Werdum, everyone thought that he bound to become a champion. Obviously that was far from the case, but he gets submission specialist here, who has a gas tank that last for less than a round. That spells well for Browne who will attack the body early and get this one done in round one via TKO.

170 lbs.: Brian Camozzi vs. Chad Laprise – Don’t know much about Brian, but this is a tough fight regardless. I gotta believe that Laprise is just going to piece Camozzi up on the feet en route to a decision victory.

185 lbs.: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Thiago Santos – Meerschaert has hit the UFC by storm with two quick first round stoppage victories. However, he’s running into stiff competition here, as Santos is no joke. His arsenal strikes and just the sheer power present problems for anyone. If he continues to shore up his take down defense, he will be a threat in an already stacked Middleweight division. Anyways, my prediction is that Santos wins this via KO!

170 lbs.: Jordan Mein vs. Belal Muhammad – If this fight happened two years ago when Mein was active, i’d of definitely sided with him. His arsenal of strikes make him a threat against anyone on the feet, but I feel like his brief retirement along with the amount of fights in such a short career has him looking lethargic. And despite Muhammad getting starched at UFC 200 against Vincente Luque, he bounced back nicely against Randy Brown. I think between his volume striking, timely takedowns and solid cardio, Muhammad should take this one via decision.

UFC 213 Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (7 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Cody Stamann vs. Terrion Ware – I somewhat know about Ware and his regional success, so I guess I’ll take him here. Ware via decision.

205 lbs.: James Bochnovic vs. Trevin Giles – No clue, but I remember a baseball player name Brian Giles…so I’ll go with Giles via decision.
TUF 25 Finale: Johnson vs. Gaethje Predictions

July 7, 2017

Sometimes, fate can be a bitch. Other times, and in this particular instance, fate has given us one hell of a headliner. If you’ve never seen Michael Johnson and Justin Gaethje fight before, then you’ve missed pure violence in the octagon. Both men are heavy handed strikers who aren’t afraid to take a punch to give one back. I expect this one to be an absolute war for however it may last, so don’t blink!

Anyways, let’s just get into the predictions!

FOX Sports 1 Main Card (9 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Michael Johnson vs. Justin Gaethje – This fight is going to be fireworks and it’s not even July 4th anymore! Like I previously mentioned, these two strikers are heavy handed and I can very well see this one ending within the opening minute. However, I’m siding with Michael Johnson to win this. I think of the two, he’s by far the more technical striker and his striking defense is light years better. I mean, Gaethje’s striking defense involves eating punches with his head. I rarely ever see head movement, as he’s always chasing down his opponent and slugging it out with them. Honestly, I don’t see that working to well in this fight and in the upper echelon of the Lightweight division.

So with that, my prediction is that Michael Johnson is going to pick apart Gaethje, eventually finishing him. I can Gaethje eating several hard punches and going into zombie mode, making this entertaining. Hell, he crack Johnson and finish him, but I just can’t see it…

170 lbs.: Dhiego Lima vs. Jesse Taylor (TUF 25 welterweight final) – I’m happy to see Lima back in the limelight, as I always saw talent within his skill set. However, he lacked a chin and looking at his time on the regional scene, he still does. Taylor might not crack with the best of them, but I can see him dropping Lima, jumping on top and then pursuing a fight ending submission. In fact, I’ll go with that… Taylor via submission!

155 lbs.: Marc Diakiese vs. Drakkar Klose – The last time I saw Diakiese, I thought he killed a guy… I mean, he landed a vicious spinning back kick for a knockout and after that, I became a believer. Hopefully Klose can grapple because he ain’t lasting on the feet. So with that, I got Diakiese via KO!

205 lbs.: Jared Cannonier vs. Nick Roehrick – Never heard of this Roehrick cat, but he’s got a rough night ahead of him. Cannonier has a ridiculous chin and is extremely heavy handed. In his last fight, he took a huge step up, taking on Glover Teixeira. While Cannonier lost, he went the distance and never stopped trying to get up from the mat and going for the knockout. Anyways, I think highly of Cannonier and I got him winning this one via knockout!

185 lbs.: Brad Tavares vs. Elias Theodorou – I’m siding with Theodorou here because I think this fight comes down to grappling, in which I see Theodorou being the better man in that department. I used to be somewhat high on Tavares, but as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten injured more and worse. That obviously doesn’t mean squat, but I’m going with Theodorou to grind this one out via decision.

205 lbs.: Marcel Fortuna vs. Jordan Johnson – I remember watching Fortuna make his UFC debut against Heavyweight Anthony Hamilton and stunning him via TKO. I don’t recall Mr. Johnson here, so I’m siding with Fortuna via TKO!

FOX Sports 1 Preliminary Card (7 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Tom Gallicchio vs. James Krause – I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch any of this Ultimate Fighter. It’s not that it’s bad, but I need my interest peeked and this season didn’t do it. A season of Heavyweight though and I’d definitely watch. Anyways, I’m siding with Krause here. He’s too well rounded of a fighter to lose this one. So with that, I got Krause via submission.

115 lbs.: Angela Hill vs. Ashley Yoder – Finally! If there’s anyone deserving of fighting someone a step down within the division, it’s Angela Hill. With little fight experience, she’s fought countless top ranked opponents. This time, she gets to hone her skills against someone who she can use her full arsenal against. And she will… Hill via TKO!

185 lbs.: C.B. Dollaway vs. Ed Herman – Honestly, I have no idea. I could see Dollaway grinding out Herman via decision or Herman cracking Dollaway’s suspect chin. I guess I’ll go with the wrestler…Dollaway via decision!

115 lbs.: Juliana Lima vs. Tecia Torres – Love this fight for Torres! I don’t really see how she loses this, as Lima doesn’t really hold any advantage other than a five inch reach advantage. However, that won’t matter, as Torres is the better striker and grappler. So with that, I have Torres via decision.

UFC Fight Pass Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Teruto Ishihara vs. Gray Maynard – I would love to pick Maynard here, thinking he’d go back to his elite wrestling roots and just grind down Ishihara. However, I don’t trust his chin, as it’s all but disintegrated. So with that, I have the heavy handed Ishihara winning this via 1st round KO!
UFC Fight Night Fight Night 112: Chiesa vs. Lee

June 25, 2017

There are no breaks, as the UFC is back in action for the fifth straight week. This time, the UFC touches down in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This will be the second time the UFC has hosted in Oklahoma City, as the first was way back in 2009 at UFC Fight Night 19!

Headlining the card is a pair of Lightweight contenders, as TUF 15 winner Michael Chiesa takes on “The Motown Phenom” Kevin Lee. This is a perfect fight, as both men have rapidly risen in the Lightweight division over the past three years and have an opportunity here to crack into the top five of a crowded Lightweight division.

Co-Headlining the card, is former Welterweight Champion Johnny Hendricks, who looks for continued success against “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch. Hendricks, an accomplished collegiate wrestler and UFC Champion has had a tough time making weight when he fought at 170 lbs. So after a losing streak and tough weight cuts, he moved up 15 pounds and defeated a tough opponent in Hector Lombard. Somehow, Hendricks found a way to miss weight again…at 185 lbs. no less. Unbelievable!

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 112 Main Card on FOX Sports 1 (9 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Lee – Man, I’ve been back and forth with this fight. On one hand, I see Chiesa winning. I think his grappling abilities are superior and his fight IQ is great. The one knock on Lee, is that he often gets cocky in the octagon and makes mistakes. Against a durable and smart fighter like Chiesa, it could spell problems. However, Lee is the complete mixed martial artist, as he’s a solid wrestler and his striking is ever improving. As for a prediction, gosh this is tough, but I’m going to side with Kevin Lee. I think that he’s going to crack Chiesa on the feet at some point and put him away. So with that, I got Lee via TKO!

185 lbs.: Tim Boetsch vs. Johny Hendricks – Boy o Boy, Hendricks still can’t make weight and he moved up 15 lbs… Despite that, I think he handled a very dangerous Hector Lombard very well. Boetsch is dangerous in his own right, but is he going to outgrapple Johnny? No… Outstrike Johnny? No… So with that, I have Hendricks via decision.

115 lbs.: Felice Herrig vs. Justine Kish – I think Herrig as an underdog is crazy, given her resurgence. She thoroughly defeated a highly touted prospect in Alexa Grasso. Heck, Herrig was supposed to be a stepping stone and she didn’t look that to me. Anyways, I know Kish is a good striker, but Herrig is a solid counter striker and has excellent grappling. I fully expect a mix, en route to a decision victory for Herrig!
205 lbs.: Joachim Christensen vs. Dominick Reyes – Who and Who? Emmm…Reyes via KO!
170 lbs.: Alex Garcia vs. Tim Means – Garcia is a heavy handed slugger with very limited cardio. So when that gas tank goes empty, the versatile striker Tim Means will thoroughly capitalize. I expect Means to crack Garcia at some point when he’s gassed with his patented standing elbows. So with that, I got Means via TKO!
145 lbs.: B.J. Penn vs. Dennis Siver – Well, now B.J. Penn fights an equal counterpart at last. Siver, who’s every bit of 38 years old, will look to add the legend B.J Penn to his record. He will also look to halt a two fight skid and win for the first time since 2014. That’s not as bad as B.J Penn, who has lost four in a row and hasn’t won since he knocked out Matt Hughes via knockout in 2010. Someone’s gotta win right? As much as Siver is probably the pick, I’m leaning towards Penn. Maybe he finally will use is superior grappling abilities… Penn via decision.

UFC Fight Night 112 Prelims on FOX Sports 2 (7 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Erik Koch – I feel for Koch, as if you remember he was at one point the number one contender in the Featherweight division and was scheduled to fight Jose Aldo. He lost that opportunity when Aldo got hurt and then when rescheduled, he got hurt. Anyways, Koch at 28 years old is still a threat, but I’m siding with Guida here. I think when the tough gets going and it’s been tough (two fight losing streak), Guida finds a way. I expect him to take down Koch and smother him en route to a decision victory.

185 lbs.: Vitor Miranda vs. Marvin Vettori – Miranda is pushing 40 and couldn’t even exploit Chris Camozzi’s glaring weakness to a victory. Seemingly everyone else can take him down and keep him there but Miranda. Vettori is the new-new and he’s going to control wherever he wants the fight. So with that, I have Vettori via decision.
115 lbs.: Carla Esparza vs. Maryna Moroz – I used to be somewhat interested in what Moroz could do in the Strawweight division. That was, until her fight against Danielle Taylor. She landed like 10 punches and won the fight via decision somehow. In this fight, you are going to have to land more than that, as Esparza is going to take you down and smother you with ground and pound. In fact, that’s what’s going down. Esparza via dominant decision.
155 lbs.: Devin Powell vs. Darrell Horcher – Powell is all grit and toughness, which is great for the fans. However, when you lack striking defense, you look like a punching bag. Horcher, who made his debut against Khabib Nurmagomedov, will finally get his “UFC debut” here. As far as I’m concerned, that fight never happened. So with that, I have Horcher using his top notch wrestling skills to grind down Powell.

UFC Fight Night 112 Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (5 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Jared Gordon vs. Michel Quinones – Don’t know either competitor, so the coin flip goes to Gordon!

155 lbs.: Johnny Case vs. Tony Martin – Haven’t seen Case fight in awhile, but I thought he had a lot of potential to rise in the Lightweight division. I still do! Even though Tony Martin is an excellent fighter, he lacks cardio and it’s seemingly always a problem in later stages of the fight. Case has the cardio and pace to push Martin to exhaustion. So with that, I got Case outworking Martin via decision.
205 lbs.: Jeremy Kimball vs. Josh Stansbury – I’ve only seen Kimball before, as Marcus Rogerio De Lima smoked him in less than a minute. However, Kimball’s record ain’t too shabby and he’s a finisher as opposed to Stansbury. So with that, I got Kimball via 3rd round TKO!
UFC Fight Night 111: Holm vs. Correia Predictions

June 17, 2017

In a little over a month, the UFC has held events in Texas (United States obviously), Sweden, Brazil, New Zealand and now Singapore. If you were to of traveled to each event, you would been in the air for around 24,570 miles. The craziest part of that, is that I believe John Morgan of MMA Junkie has endured that, covering each event. God Bless!

Anyways, like I previously mentioned, the UFC is touching down in Singapore for it’s fourth event in four weeks. This will also be the second time the UFC has hosted in Singapore, the first time being in 2014. Oddly enough, Tarec Saffiedine and Russell Doane who are on this card, were also on the card back in 2014. Also fun fact, current Featherweight Champion Max Holloway snapped a two fight skid, defeating Will Chope via TKO. This would be the first win in his eventual eleven-fight win streak.

Headlining the card is former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm, who has fallen on hard times of late, dropping three consecutive fights. After defeating Ronda Rousey back in 2015, Holm didn’t slowly come down from the peak, she fell completely off. However, she will have a chance to get back on that mountain, as she faces former UFC title challenger Bethe Correia. Since losing to Ronda Rousey via a 34 second knockout, it’s been a mixed bag for the Brazilian. She has gone 1-1-1, with her last fight ending in a draw, as Marion Reneau nearly finished her in a 10-8 third round. However, this will be a big opportunity for Correia to prove that she belongs in the upper echelon of the Women’s Bantamweight division.

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 111 Fight Pass Main Card (8 a.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Holly Holm vs. Bethe Correia – I don’t mean to discredit Correia, but this is a sacrificial fight. She has clearly been selected as Holm’s rebound and I don’t see how she doesn’t get feasted on. She’s a pressure striker, who is going to get out-struck and countered into oblivion by Holm. Correia also hasn’t faced someone with the pace Holm puts on and the fact this is five rounds, makes me believe that Holm is going to finish her at some point in the 4th or 5th round via TKO. The only thing Correia has going for her is toughness, but that will only delay the inevitable. Holm via TKO!

265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Marcin Tybura – This fight is ending in a knockout, but who? It’s probably easier to just say Arlovski goes to sleep, as he’s lost four in a row by knockout, but you know what…I’m going with the upset in Arlovski. I think he comes out a little more patient and less reluctant to get into a slugfest. His chin is all but denigrated, but o well. Arlovski via vintage KO!

170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Dong Hyun Kim – This is a fun fight and much closer than the odds might indicate. You got two superior grapplers, who both have evolved their striking abilities tremendously from when they first started. The veteran Kim, has won 7 of his last 8 fights, with 4 of the victories coming inside the distance. The only issue is that inactivity has plagued “Stun Gun” of late, as he’s fought only 3 times since 2015. As for Covington, since losing to Warley Alves, he has won three straight fights. More impressively, he has finished two of them and completely beat down Bryan Barberena in a dominant decision victory. His wrestling abilities are insane and his striking looked incredible in his last outing, which makes me lean towards him. So with that, I have Covington via decision.

170 lbs.: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tarec Saffiedine – This should be a great debut for Rafael Dos Anjos, as he no longer needs to kill himself to make weight, moving up from 155 lbs. to fight at Welterweight. I really believe this is a perfect opponent too, as Saffiedine is primarily a striker, who is very cerebral. He doesn’t throw punches in bunches per say, as he’s selective in his strikes. He also lacks power and over the course of his UFC career, I think he’s been very mediocre. The name value and recognition of being a solid striker is there, but that’s about it. So with that, I think Dos Anjos outworks Saffiedine to earn a decision victory.

UFC Fight Night 111 Fight Pass Preliminary Card (4 a.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Takanori Gomi vs. Jon Tuck – Realistically, Tuck should not only win this fight, but finish Gomi. Especially considering Gomi has lost three straight fights, all by first round TKO. It seems if you get Gomi down, he’s stuck and turtles up. However, I haven’t been impressed with Tuck. He seems like one of those fighters with potential to be special, but he always fights down to it. So I’m going on a limb and picking Gomi to out-strike Tuck, winning via decision.

265 lbs.: Cyril Asker vs. Walt Harris – Who is Asker and what has he done to deserve “The Big Ticket” to the UFC knockout highlight real. I mean, Walt Harris is one scary dude who is progressively getting better with his hands. That last knockout was a beauty and this one will be too. Harris via knockout!

145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Rolando Dy – No clue who Rolando Dy is, but he’s another guy who’s fighting less experience fighters on the regional scene. I mean, fighting Adin Mrouki and jumping to the UFC to fight Alex Caceres sounds like a rude awakening to me. So with that, I got Caceres winning this via submission.

125 lbs.: Ulka Sasaki vs. Justin Scoggins – This is Scoggins fight to lose. He’s a far superior striker and just needs to avoid grappling with Sasaki, who is very dangerous on the mat. On the feet, Sasaki lacks anything more than a jab. His striking defense is poor and I see him getting getting tagged over and over. So with that, I have Scoggins winning this via TKO!

170 lbs.: Frank Camacho vs. Li Jingliang – Remember when Demain Maia abandoned his grappling and thought he was a striker? That’s basically what Jingliang has done, but with way better success. I mean, his last three victories have been knockouts and his last over Bobby Nash was just vicious! He also proved in that fight that he has a chin and the durability to take punishment and keep on coming. As good as Camacho’s 20-4 record looks, he’s been feasting on lower level fights. His last six opponents have a combined record of 38-32-2. So with that, I got Liangling via first round knockout!

135 lbs.: Russell Doane vs. Kwan Ho Kwak – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a UFC fighter that doesn’t have a “name” be able to avoid the pink slips when losing four consecutive fights. However, I remember seeing promise in Doane in his earlier fights, especially his grappling abilities. If the UFC were to put on a fight in Hawaii, this would be a good time for Doane to finally get in the win column. I think he will too, as he takes this via decision.

125 lbs.: Carls John de Tomas vs. Naoki Inoue – Two UFC newcomers that I have no clue about other than they are undefeated. And wait a second, what’s the UFC doing bringing in new talent at 125 lbs? I thought Dana White is shutting down the division? Anyways, I got Inoue on the account that he didn’t miss weight by 6 lbs. like his counterpart. So with that, Inoue via late submission.

135 lbs.: Ji Yeon Kim vs. Lucie Pudilova – I slightly remember seeing Pudilova batter Lina Lansberg and getting robbed of a decision. But, that’s about the extent of my knowledge. As for a prediction, Emmm… Kim via decision.
UFC Fight Night 110: Lewis vs. Hunt Predictions

June 10, 2017

The UFC continues it’s travels overseas, as in the last two weeks, they’ve touched down in Sweden and Brazil. Now, the UFC touched down in Auckland, New Zealand with a hell of a headliner. Said headliner, features two of the hardest hitting Heavyweights on the planet, as Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis locks horns with hometown favorite Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt. This is an important fight for both, as Lewis is riding on six fight-win streak and a victory over Hunt could very well mean a title shot. As for Hunt, this is a career defining moment. At 43 years of age, a victory over Lewis would instantly catapult Hunt back into contender status. A loss, could mean the end.

Co-Headlining the card, a pair of ranked Middleweights collide, as Derek Brunson takes on hometown favorite Dan Kelly. It’s been rough sledding for Brunson his last two fights, as his overly aggressive gameplan got him knocked out by Robert Whittaker and most recently, he fell defeat to Anderson Silva in a very controversial decision. A victory here, is much needed. As for Dan Kelly, at 39 years old and with basically one leg, he’s getting the job done somehow. Seemingly an underdog in every fight, Kelly has amassed a 6-1 UFC record. In his last fight, he edged out former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans via split decision. Nevertheless, Kelly proved he belonged and broke the top 15 Middleweight rankings. A victory over Brunson could very well catapult the unlikely contender into the Top 10.

Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC Fight Night 110 Main Card On FOX Sports 1 (10 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Derrick Lewis vs. Mark Hunt – I can tell you this, we don’t need five rounds to decide your winner. These are two sluggers with one goal in mind, knock the other out. The man that’s going to be putting the lights out of his opponent, is going to be Mark Hunt. Technique wise, he’s far superior to Derrick Lewis. If Lewis though Travis Browne’s leg kick to the body hurts, then wait till he feels a “Super Samaon” leg kick to the shin or simply a punch to the body. However, predicting Heavyweight fights is like playing Black or Red on roulette. You have a 50-50 shot of winning…

Anyways, Lewis has been very impressive on this six-fight win streak, finishing all of his opponents except Roy Nelson. But, he’s still too wild of a striker for my liking and it’s cost in the past. I mean, Shawn Jordan lit him up and Mitrione knocked him out in 41 seconds. Hunt might be on a skid, but it’s not due to being wild, it’s more so the competition. Lewis is tough competition, but he’s never fought someone like Hunt and he’s going to find that out in the very first round. Hunt via KO!

185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Daniel Kelly – Gosh, I really hate to do this…but I can’t see how Dan Kelly wins this fight. Keep in mind, I’ve said this about Kelly in just about everyone of his fights. I’ve been pretty much wrong, as Kelly has amassed an impressive 6-1 record. However, Brunson is heavy handed striker and an excellent wrestler. So what in the world is Kelly going to offer??? Add that with the fact that Brunson is on a two fight skid and there is going to be a wrath. So with that, I got Brunson via knockout!

155 lbs.: Dan Hooker vs. Ross Pearson – This has potential “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Two strikers, who will go toe to toe. I’d say Pearson has the edge in striking just based off technique, but Hooker is going to have a 6.5 reach advantage. That’s huge and if Hooker can use his distance, he could pick apart Pearson. However, I’m siding with Pearson here. I think he’s just too good of a striker to let that reach advantage disrupt him. Pearson’s going to find a way to get inside and pick apart Hooker en route to a decision victory.

205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba vs. Henrique da Silva – I used to think that Henrique da Silva was going to potentially be a contender in the Light Heavyweight division. However, he’s lost two straight fights and his cardio looks to be nothing to write home about. On the other hand, Cutelaba is very durable and keeps a strong pace. I believe that once this fight hits deep waters, Cutelaba is going to finish da Silva. So with that, I got Cutelaba via third round knockout.

125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Ben Nguyen – Aww yeaaa! I love how Flyweights get no respect, especially when you get matchups like this. Tim Elliott is one of the most exciting fighters in all of the UFC, which is funny considering this is his second UFC stint. However, with a very competitive fight against Champion Demetrious Johnson and a highly entertaining victory over Luis Smolka, it’s safe to say he’s going nowhere. As for this fight, Nguyen would like to keep this on the feet, where he probably holds a striking advantage, especially in the power department. Then again though, Elliott is such an awkward striker and is often unpredictable. The big edge in this fight goes to Elliott in the grappling department, as he’s just so crafty and slick. So with that, I got Elliott via decision.

145 lbs.: Mizuto Hirota vs. Alex Volkanovski – Man, I really like Hirota and I think the odds in this fight are a little crazy. He proved he could handle a striker in Teruto Ishihara and a huge Featherweight in Cole Miller, who is an exceptional grappler. But, Volkanovski has a lot of hype heading into this match and he looked fairly solid, especially grappling wise in his debut. So, I guess I’ll side with him via decision in a closely contested fight.

UFC Fight Night 110 “Prelims” On FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Damien Brown vs. Vinc Pichel – Been impressed with Brown, as I didn’t expect him to stick around the UFC. I just didn’t see the talent, but his heart has proved to be that of a lion. However, I’m picking Pichel here. Since getting suplex city’d by Rustam Khabilov, he’s has vastly improved his grappling abilities to go along with his already good striking. This should be relatively competitive, but again I got Pichel here via decision.

170 lbs.: Luke Jumeau vs. Dominique Steele – Jeez, another newcomer…I guess I’m siding with Steele here. Albeit wild, he does pack a hell of a punch and he’s also got a hell of a chin. So with that, I’m thinking Steele gets it done early via knockout

125 lbs.: Ashkan Mokhtarian vs. John Moraga – Never heard of this Mokhtarian cat, but he’s definitely got a shot here. Moraga, a former title challenger has been in a terrible downward spiral. With three straight losses, he could be facing a pink slip with another loss. However, I’m not picking against Moraga here. His boxing is crisp and he’s got serviceable grappling. Think he makes a statement here and wins this via submission.

170 lbs.: Kiichi Kunimoto vs. Zak Ottow – So far, Ottow has had two UFC fights, both of which were split decisions. He was awarded the victory in one of them, which happened to be a solid win over Josh Burkman. I probably should be siding with him here, but Kunimoto is going to grab the upset here. I believe he’s got better grappling abilities and despite a long layoff, his cardio and durability have always been solid. So with that, I got Kunimoto via decision.

UFC Fight Night 110 “Prelims” On Fight Pass (7 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: J.J. Aldrich vs. Chan-Mi Jeon – Don’t know…I guess Mi Jeon via decision.

155 lbs.: Thibault Gouti vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Think I’ve seen Gouti get starched three times in a row, make it four as little “Stun Gun” knocks him out in round one.
UFC 212: Aldo vs. Holloway Predictions

June 3, 2017

A week after an action packed UFC Fight Night in Sweden, the UFC continues it’s international travels to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Headlining the event, is perhaps in some eyes the most accomplished Brazilian mixed martial artist and current UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. His combatant is in the form of Interim Featherweight Champion Max Holloway, who will look to shed the “Interim” tag, as well establish himself as the kinpin in the Featherweight division.

Co-Headlining the event, is two former Strawweight title challengers in Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Neither won the title, but both gave Joanna Jędrzejczyk her toughest title defenses by far. The winner of this bout, clearly is the number one contender in the Strawweight division, but a title shot is not guaranteed with both having just recently faced her. For Gadelha, it would be a third fight against Jędrzejczyk, which if she had won one of their previous two meetings, a third would be a no doubter. However, we’ve seen Joseph Benavidez in this same predicament and no third opportunity has come.

Anyways, let’s get to the predictions!

UFC 212 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Interim Champion Max Holloway – Honestly, I don’t know… On one hand, Aldo is so good, that he shut down Frankie Edgar. I mean, Edgar is the guy that neutralizes everyone and breaks them to the point of quitting. Aldo beat that guy, twice and the last was practically a cakewalk. On the other hand, you have a young phenom taking the Featherweight division by storm. A guy that I touted before he even stepped into that Octagon for the first time. His current 10 fight win streak has been insanely impressive and he has finished 7 of those wins, including an absolute beat down on Cub Swanson.

As far as this fight, I think if Aldo keeps distance and lands those patented leg kicks at will, he can shut down Holloway. If Holloway can avoid those said leg kicks and pressure Aldo, throwing those unpredictable strikes of his, he can get Aldo uncomfortable quick. Now, I will say, I want Holloway to win because he is one of my favorites. However, I’m unbiased when it comes to predictions or try to be and I’m going to side with Aldo here. It’s a five round fight and I’m sure Holloway has the cardio for it, but Aldo is known for making solid adjustments throughout the fight and picking his shots. Holloway can get a little wild at times and if he can’t land early on Aldo, we might see forced striking to get inside. So with that, I have Aldo retaining and winning via decision.

115 lbs.: Claudia Gadelha vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – This is the toughest fight to call! Gadelha has proven that she is the best Strawweight not named Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Her grappling is top notch, as she is just physically so strong. I’d say Gadelha’s weakness is probably her striking defense. It’s not even that bad, but If I’m nitpicking, that would be it. Kowalkiewicz is the same, as she has limited weaknesses…

However, in this fight, I just can’t see Kowalkiewicz being able to physically shrug off Gadelha’s takedowns. And while Kowalkiewicz has an active guard, Gadelha neutralizes that with her heavy top control. So with that, I got Gadelha via decision.

185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Nate Marquardt – Honestly, I see that Belfort or TRT Belfort has definitely regressed, but his hand speed and power is still there. Marquardt however, I think is far more regressed and I don’t see how he makes it out of the first round here. Unlike Alvey, Belfort is going to attack you in that first round with flurries and in this camp, he’s been training at Tristar. Maybe we some leg kicks or even a wheel kick… Anyways, I got Belfort easily knocking out Marquardt here….

185 lbs.: Paulo Borrachinha vs. Oluwale Bamgbose – This one is going to end early judging from all their first round knockout combined… I’m going to go upset and say that Bamgbose lands first and wins this bad boy by KO!
170 lbs.: Erick Silva vs. Yancy Medeiros – Man, talk about a fall from grace. I remember when Silva was touted to be the future welterweight champion and then…USADA? Honestly, I have no idea, but he looks like a shell of himself despite his last outing resulting in a victory. Medeiros is on the up and I think if he stays technical, he’s going to crack Silva’s chin in the very first round. So with that, I got Medeiros via KO!

UFC 212 Prelims on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Marlon Moraes vs. Raphael Assuncao – This is a tough one to call. The odds have Moraes as a moderate favorite, which is a little crazy to me. I mean, in terms of resume, Assuncao has fought the best of the best. He’s been a top five bantamweight for over five years and Moraes is debuting in the UFC. I realize that Moraes is riding a 13 fight win streak, but name the best opponent he has beaten in that span…

Anyways, to totally contradict myself, I think Moraes wins this fight. His aggressive striking style will be enough to get Assuncao backpedaling and not give him a chance to find his rhythm. Both men have solid cardio and are durable. so I expect this to be a decision victory for Moraes.
185 lbs.: Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Eric Spicely – Interesting fight, but I’m going with Carlos Junior. I think the once promising prospect is starting to put it together and fulfill his potential. He neutralizes anything Spicely offers and should be able to easily win this fight via decision.
135 lbs.: Johnny Eduardo vs. Matthew Lopez – This is your typical striker against wrestler matchup and I tend to lean wrestler. If Eduardo can shrug off Lopez’s attempts to take this one to the mat, then he will have a big advantage. However, I can’t see that, as I have Lopez grinding this one out via decision.
145 lbs.: Iuri Alcantara vs. Brian Kelleher – It’s been a long road for Kelleher just to get this opportunity and on short notice, it’s a tough task. Alcantara has 35 professional wins, 9 of which are in the UFC. He’s a solid striker, with heavy legs kicks. However, his bread a butter is grappling and submission game. Something in which will come into play very early in this fight, as I got Alcantara via first round submission.

UFC 212 Prelims on Fight Pass (6:30 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Jamie Moyle vs. Viviane Pereira – I was very impressed with Moyle’s victory over Kailin Curran and I’m siding with her here. I think her grappling is very solid and she kept active while on top. Pereira is coming off a huge win over former Strawweight title challenger Valerie Letourneau, which was a very odd fight. It seemed like Letourneau was diminished and checked out from the fight. Anwyays, I got Moyle via decision here.

170 lbs.: Luan Chagas vs. Jim Wallhead – Never got to see Chagas before, although I here good things about him. Wallhead is a veteran and his UFC debut was a razor thin split decision loss, but an exciting fight. Since I don’t know Chagas, I’m a go ahead and pick “Judo” Jim Wallhead via decision.
125 lbs.: Marco Beltran vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Never heard of this Figuieredo cat, but I see he is undefeated. Beltran is debuting at Flyweight, which could be trouble if the weight cut is tough. But, his cardio and durability have been fairly solid at Bantamweight, so I’ll just give him the nod here via decision.