The MMA Daily

UFC on Fox 21: Survivor Game

August 27, 2016

I once again continued a ridiculous streak, as Tim Means absolutely dominated promotional newcomer Sabbah Homasi. It wasnt even fair! My upset pick Glover Teixeira got KO’d in 13 seconds, so let’s not talk about it. Anyways, if you don’t know what this post is all about, I’ll briefly fill you in. I can only select one fighter to be my lock of the week and that said fighter, can only be selected once this year (2016). I earn 1 point for a correct pick, however a wrong pick will reset me back to 0. I can add an additional 1 point to my total by picking an upset right, which does not reset my total if it’s wrong (That’s to make me look better). I will tweak this as we go!

Streak: 15 (Lock of the Day) + 8 (Upset of the Day) = 23

Lock of the Day: Chad Laprise

Note: Laprise has so much talent and more tools to win this bout. And despite Gouti dropping two straight, that makes him even more dangerous. Anyways, I’m confident Laprise will walk away the victor!

Upset of the Day: Jim Miller

Note: Now, I think Lauzon has a better shot at winning the fight this time around, but Miller’s wrestling here is key. If he can smother Lauzon again, which could very well happen – then this id the bag. However Miller’s on his last legs with tons of miles – so we’ll see.

Lock of the Day Picks (So Far): Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Demian Maia, Kyoji Horiguchi, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Mairbek Taisumov, Antonio Carlos Jr., Conor McGregor, (Tom Breese, Rustam Khabilov), Joseph Benavidez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, John Makdessi, Will Brooks, T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson, Francis Ngannou, Nikita Krylov, Maryna Moroz, Tim Means

Upset of the Day Pick (So Far): Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Silva, Edson Barboza, Court McGee, Timothy Johnson, Johnny Case, Deigo Sanchez, Martin Svensson, K.J. Noons, Patrick Cote, Derrick Lewis, Josh Stansbury, Brock Lesnar, Keita Nakamura, Gilbert Melendez, Francisco Rivera, Zak Cummings, Glover Teixeira
UFC on Fox 21: Maia vs. Condit Predictions

August 27, 2016

After an unbelievably epic UFC 202 fight card, the UFC is back in action a week later on big Fox. Headlining the card is a Welterweight showdown between contenders Demian Maia and Carlos Condit. For Maia, a win over Condit all but guarantees a title shot (After Stephen Thompson). It would mark his six consecutive victory, one in which includes notable wins over Neil Magny, Gunnar Nelson and Matt Brown. And for Condit, a win over Maia gets him right back where he want to be, on the cusp of another shot at UFC gold.

Co-Headling the card is a Featherweight contest between Charles Oliveira and former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. Oliveira will look to build off his victory over Myles Jury last year in December, while Pettis who makes his Featherweight debut, will look to put an end to a three fight losing streak.

Also on the card, is the return of Paige VanZant against the Aussie Bec Rawlings, as well a rematch between longtime UFC veterans Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller. Other than that, the card is rather lacking… Anyways, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC on FOX 21 Main Card (8 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Demian Maia vs. Carlos Condit – What a great main event, that has big implications riding on it. For Maia, this a chance to earn a title shot. He’s won five straight heading in and now faces the former Welterweight Interim Champion Carlos Condit. The aforementioned Condit recently thought about retirement after his split decision loss to then Champion Robbie Lawler. However, he’s back and hungry for another opportunity at UFC gold. And a win over Maia would put him right back into title contention. As for the fight, Maia is going to look to take this one to the ground and dominate like he usually does. And Condit is very susceptible to the takedown, but he’s also very good in getting back up from him back. However Maia is a completely different person on the ground – just ask every opponent who he’s been on top of and still hasn’t got up. As for his combatant Condit, he’s one of the more well rounded fighters who thrives on the feet. He’s got an arsenal of strikes, volume to back it and the a pace with cardio like no other. And it’s only this reason alone I’m picking Condit – Cardio. In a five round fight, I doubt that Maia is going to knock Condit out or submit him. And Maia’s cardio has always been suspect. So when Maia fades, Condit is going to take control and TKO him. Lock it in!

145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Anthony Pettis – Oliveira most recently defeated Myles Jury and in a crowded Featherweight division, a win is important here to stay in relevancy. For Pettis, this must feel like a rock bottom. He had it all, the flashy kicks and slick submissions, the cover of the Wheaties Box and the UFC Lightweight Championship. And then he lost his Championship, then dropped a split decision to Eddie Alvarez and again took an L to Edson Barboza. For a guy who never lost more than two fights in a row, three is new territory. So now Pettis drops down to Featherweight, in hopes of getting back on track – And I think he does, as Oliveira has always struggled with strikers. However, Pettis is vulnerable to the takedown and that’s exactly what Oliveira’s gameplan is going to be. But, I believe Pettis will pick him apart on the feet before any of that happens, especially when you consider the body kicks Pettis will unload on Charles Oliveira’s body. So with that, Pettis via TKO!
115 lbs.: Bec Rawlings vs. Paige VanZant – Little do people know, but Bec Rawlings has the third longest winning streak in the Strawweight division at 2. Obviously it’s nothing to go crazy about, but in a shallow division – Rawling could surprisingly be a contender with a victory here. As for VanZant, it’s been since December of 2015 since she last stepped into the Octagon. She took time off to be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, in which she finished as the runner up. Anyways, as for the fight…I’m going with VanZant. Although she might be green, I’ve always liked her feisty style and the heart that she shows. Rawling on the other end is decent everywhere, but recklessness on the feet where she loads up on punches kills her in the later rounds. And VanZant has great cardio, so while Rawling fades – VanZant beats her down. VanZant via decision.
155 lbs.: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller – This is a rematch between two UFC veterans, who at this point in their careers are more interested in entertaining the fans then winning UFC gold. In other words, this should be an awesome fight! In the last one, Miller used a heavy wrestling attack to stifle Lauzon. He could very well implement the same gameplan, but something tells me that this isn’t the same guy from 2012. Back then, he a little pep in his step and seemed rejuvenated. And now, he’s like a shell of himself. Not to say Lauzon isn’t either, but I was very impressed with his last victory over Diego Sanchez. So with that, I’m going to side with Lauzon via decision.

UFC on FOX 21 “Prelims” (6 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Sam Alvey vs. Kevin Casey – Finally, two fighters I know about! Alvey, recently halted a two fight skid, as he defeated Eric Spicely via submission at UFC Fight Night 91. Meanwhile, Casey most recently fought to a draw against Elvis Mutapcic at UFC 199. And oddly enough, in Casey’s last five fights, he’s 1-1-1 with 2 no contests. As for the fight, I got to go with Sam Alvey. I like his patience on the feet, as he doesn’t swing for the fences like a Francisco Rivera. He instead carefully picks his shots and with heavy hands, that makes him even more dangerous. As for his combatant, Casey is a decent striker with good power in his hands. His bread and butter however is top control on the ground, where he not only applies lethal ground-and-pound, but also is threat in the submission department. Casey’s demise however is his over muscular physique. It takes too much energy to feed all that muscle and it shows in the later rounds when he fades. So, if Casey doesn’t blitz Alvey early, I’m fairly confident that Alvey will TKO Casey in round 3.
145 lbs.: Enrique Barzola vs. Kyle Bochniak – What in the hell is with this card? I again am clueless…so I’m going with Bochniak via decision for no reason whatsoever.
155 lbs.: Shane Campbell vs. Felipe Silva – No clue who Felipe Silva is, but I know Campbell is a Shaolin…so I got him via decision!

UFC Fight Pass “Prelims” (4:30 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Thibault Gouti vs. Chad Laprise – Gouti is fighting for the third time this year and has not been successful in his previous two. He lost his UFC debut in 24 seconds and then in a fairly competitive bout, lost to Olivier Aubin-Mercier. His combatant Laprise is a TUF winner that has recently fell on hard times, as he’s dropped two straight fights. His most recent defeat came in a highly competitive fight against UFC veteran Ross Pearson. And while Laprise has hit this rough patch, there’s no reason to panic on this potential Lightweight contender. As for the fight, I’m siding with Laprise. He has more tools in his tool chest and I’m confident he will be able to dictate where this fight goes. Laprise via TKO!

185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Garreth Mclelland – I’ve seen the South African Garreth Mclelland before and I haven’t remotely been impressed. Even when he defeated Bubba Bush, he put himself in terrible positions throughout the fight. Di Chirico I have no idea about, but he can’t be any worse then Mclelland…Di Chirico via KO!

155 lbs.: Jeremy Kennedy vs. Alex Ricci – Who and Who? Um, I’m going with Ricci here, as he’s 11 years old and will have that “Veteran experience” over Kennedy. Ricci via decision!
185 lbs.: Adam Hunter vs. Ryan James – When you have over 500 fighters on the roster, you have fighters you don’t know about and fights like this… And the only Adam Hunter I know is the comedian, so I guess I pick him via TKO.
UFC 202: Survivor Game

August 20, 2016

I lucked out with Moroz, who won a split decision in a bout she maybe landed 10 punches. And like I said in the post when I made the Moroz prediction, I probably should pick Teruto Ishihara… O well, she won and improved my streak to 14! My upset pick of Zak Cummings was upsetting, as I thought he’d really try hard to this one to the ground. I thought his striking was good enough to hang with Ponzinibbio too, so I was dead wrong on that front. Anyways, if you don’t know what this post is all about, I’ll briefly fill you in. I can only select one fighter to be my lock of the week and that said fighter, can only be selected once this year (2016). I earn 1 point for a correct pick, however a wrong pick will reset me back to 0. I can add an additional 1 point to my total by picking an upset right, which does not reset my total if it’s wrong (That’s to make me look better). I will tweak this as we go!

Streak: 14 (Lock of the Day) + 8 (Upset of the Day) = 22

Lock of the Day: Tim Means

Note: Tim Means is a top welterweight and he is facing a promotional newcomer – so I can’t help but to feast on this opportunity like Means will feast on Sabbah Homasi.

Upset of the Day: Glover Teixeira

Note: Last week I took a barely underdog, so this fight I won’t do the same with picking Nate Diaz. Instead I’m going to side with Teixeira in a fight he could very well be knocked out in the first round. However, he’s shown to be durable and if he can withstand the initial barrage of Anthony Johnson, the higher his chances are to win. The later this fight goes and Johnson begins to fade, the more likely it is that Teixeira can win this.

Lock of the Day Picks (So Far): Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Demian Maia, Kyoji Horiguchi, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Mairbek Taisumov, Antonio Carlos Jr., Conor McGregor, (Tom Breese, Rustam Khabilov), Joseph Benavidez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, John Makdessi, Will Brooks, T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson, Francis Ngannou, Nikita Krylov, Maryna Moroz

Upset of the Day Pick (So Far): Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Silva, Edson Barboza, Court McGee, Timothy Johnson, Johnny Case, Deigo Sanchez, Martin Svensson, K.J. Noons, Patrick Cote, Derrick Lewis, Josh Stansbury, Brock Lesnar, Keita Nakamura, Gilbert Melendez, Francisco Rivera, Zak Cummings
UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor Predictions

August 20, 2016

It’s been 42 days since UFC 200, which was originally supposed to feature this epic rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. However, after McGregor refused to do some promotional press a few months out to instead train for the upcoming fight, the UFC pulled him off the card. Obviously a bummer, but a fight of this magnitude can carry it’s own card and sometimes the longer the wait – the more anticipated the fight.

Co-headlining the card is an all important fight at light heavyweight, as contenders Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Glover Teixeira lock horns in what is most likely a title eliminator fight. Rumble, is on the heels of a two fight win streak, knocking out both Jimi Manuwa and Ryan Bader. A win over Teixeira would most certainly warrant a title shot, one in which would be a rematch with Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier. As for Glover Teixeira, age has not slowed him down, as he’s rattled off three consecutive wins in a row – All via finish. A victory over Anthony Johnson is not only huge name to have on the resume, but it’s one that would promise Teixeira’s second chance at UFC gold.

Also on the card is a barnburner in the Welterweight division, as Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone squares off against Rick Story. Since moving up to 170 lbs., Cerrone has won two fights in a row, earning performances bonuses in both. And most recently, he defeated Patrick Cote, who in 33 professional fights had never been finished due to strikes up until then. Meanwhile, Story made a triumphant return to the Octagon after an injury plagued year and a half layoff, defeating Tarec Saffiedine. Story looked good, showing little rust if any, so I expect this to be a front runner for “Fight of the Night” honors.

A few other fights on this card to look out for include a bout at 135 lbs. between rising contender Cody Garbrandt and veteran Takeya Mizugaki. Garbrandt is on the fast track for a title shot, as a feud between Champion Dominick Cruz is generating buzz. Another bout that should be fun is in the Welterweight division, as the dynamic Lorenz Larkin takes on contender Neil Magny. I say contender because despite being in a stacked Welterweight division, it can’t be overlooked that Magny is 10-1 in his last eleven fights. Anyways, enough of this, let’s just get to the predictions!

UFC 202 Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor – I don’t think I’ve anticipated a fight like this since Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor, which is a tip of the hat to McGregor. He just knows how to make people want to watch him either win or lose. Take for example his comments against the WWE calling them p*ssies, which rightfully riled up the athletes and fans. Those same athletes and fans now want to see him lose and buy the PPV, in which further fills up his pockets. It’s genius! Anyways if this fight is anything like the first one, this should be an instant classic. Nate Diaz is a boxer, who will attack you from a distance with his lengthy reach. He doesn’t have one-punch knockout abilities, but his volume striking and precision eventually will get to you like it did to McGregor in the first fight. And if this fight hits the mat, we all know that Diaz one of the best jui-jitsu practitioners and if you aren’t smothering wrestler – then you are in a world of trouble. As for McGregor, he’s primarily a striker who has devastating power. He’s got some flashy kicks, but oddly never peppers the legs. And Diaz has shown to be susceptible to leg kicks, so a gameplan implementing leg kicks would be smart. As for a prediction, Diaz is just too big and if this fight ever hits the ground, McGregor is going to get eaten up again. Now, I don’t think this fight ends quick, as McGregor is going to be technical this time around and not expend all his energy trying to knock Diaz out. However like I said I have Diaz winning this fight, which in the last go around I had McGregor. Diaz via TKO in the fourth round, as his durability withstand punishment and keep coming once again earns him the nod!

205 lbs.: Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira – Gosh this card is awesome! Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira are two of the very best Light Heavyweights and the implications of this fight should definitely have title shot written all over it. Johnson has won his last two fights, finishing both opponents with his signature heavy hands. I still can’t wrap my head over how he used to fight at 170 lbs. back in the day – as he will probably come in around 225 lbs. for this fight. His combatant Glover Teixeira has won three consecutive fights and at 36 years old, has show no signs of slowing down. This fight however will test his age, as Anthony Johnson’s athleticism and pure explosion abilities presents issues for Teixeira. But, Teixeira’s durability could be the difference in this fight, as Johnson has shown to fade the later a fight goes. Mix that in with Teixeira’s timely takedowns and smothering top control and we got ourselves a tough fight to call. One in which I have to make obviously, so I’m going to side with…Glover Teixeira. His overall skillset, durability and cardio will be the difference here, as I have Teixeira via late submission.

170 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Rick Story – This one should be fireworks, as both Cerrone and Story come to scrap. Cerrone enters this fight on a two fight win streak and has made this move to Welterweight look genius. One can argue that Cerrone looks better than ever and is due time, could eventually challenge for the title. His combatant Rick Story is on a three fight win streak, defeating the likes of Leonardo Mafra, Gunnar Nelson and Tarec Saffiedine. And one can argue her too, that Story has never looked better either. As for a prediction, this is a toss up. You have a pressure fighter like Story, who primarily strikes, but is a strong grappling. His style could present problems for Cerrone, who is also primarily a striker that uses his range to stifle opponents. Cerrone is also a problem on the ground, especially when fighters are in his guard – which is pretty crazy. And if I have to be honest here, I’m going to side with Cerrone on the sheer fact of that. Even if Story gets this one to ground, Cerrone is going to make him very uncomfortable and threaten with submission attempt after submission attempt. So with that, I have Cerrone edging out Story everywhere in route to a decision victory.
170 lbs.: Hyun Gyu Lim vs. Mike Perry – Another welcome back, as Korean knockout artist Hyun Gyu Lim makes his return to the octagon. Lim had been out of action since May of 2015, so ring rust could be a factor here. His combatant is promotional newcomer Mike Perry, who is an undefeated knockout artist. In other words, this one should be a slugfest. As for a prediction, I’m siding with the UFC veteran Hyun Gyu Lim, as this just seems like too much of a step up for Mike Perry. So with that, I have Lim via KO!
170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Sabah Homasi – The “Dirty Bird” Tim Means is back, as he takes on promotional newcomer Sabah Homasi. I have no idea who Homasi is, but I do know that Tim Means is one of the baddest men to walk the planet. He’s as aggressive as they come and his precise volume striking, especially those timely standing elbows. Kudos to Homasi for taking this fight, but it’s going to be a short night. Means via TKO!

UFC 202 “Prelims” on FOX Sports 1 (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Cody Garbrandt vs. Takeya Mizugaki – The rise of Cody Garbrandt continues, as he takes on longtime UFC/WEC veteran Takeya Mizugaki. In a fight in which probably everyone predicts Garbrandt to destroy Mizugaki, I’m not so sure that he does. Now, Garbrandt is 4-0 in the UFC and is coming off a huge win over fellow bantamweight contender Thomas Almeida. The momentum is in his favor to keep climbing the bantamweight ladder, but he first must get past the cerebral Takeya Mizugaki. I say cerebral because Mizugaki is very smart and technical in his approach. He’s got good boxing and a smothering-like grappling. As for a prediction, I have to side with Cody Garbrandt. He’s the complete package and I expect a combination of his footwork, speed and power to give Mizugaki some issues. However, I don’t expect a beatdown, but I do expect a Garbrandt TKo in the third round.
135 lbs.: Raquel Pennington vs. Elizabeth Phillips – “Rocky” Raquel Pennington all day here. She’s a more complete fighter and has been active, as opposed to Elizabeth Phillips. And no offense to Phillips, but she holds a 1-2 record in the UFC, with her only win coming against Jessamyn Duke. The same Duke that has lost five consecutive bouts and hasn’t won since 2013. As for Pennington, she’s won two consecutive fights, most recently defeating former Bantamweight title challenger Bethe Correia. And I don’t expect that winning streak to end here, as I have Pennington winning via submission.
145 lbs.: Chris Avila vs. Artem Lobov – Man this is a tough fight to call, as on one end you have a promising newcomer in Chris Avila and on the other, you have a guy who carved through the TUF house, but has a sub .500 record in Artem Lobov. I’ve seen some footage of Avila and he couldn’t be more similar to his training partners, the Diaz brothers. And Lobov I’ve seen several times and besides his TUF run, he’s really flaked out. He’s a striker with legit power and that’s absolutely all. But, Avila’s style plays right into Lobov’s, which makes this tough to call. Ughh – I’m going to side with Avila, as he’s actually tasted victory lately. Poor prediction method, but what the hell, Avila via decision.
135 lbs.: Randa Markos vs. Cortney Casey – In my last predictions of Randa Markos, I said that she has all the tools to be a contender in the Strawweight division. And in her last fight, she displayed improved striking abilities, which with already solid grappling – could mean that she’s ready to make the leap. Her opponent Cortney Casey is one of the more fierce Strawweights, as her aggressiveness and striking presents problems. As for the fight, I have Randa Markos here. She seems more cerebral in her attacks then Casey and more tools to win this fight. Her athleticism alone will present issues for Casey, so with that, I have Randa Markos winning this fight via submission!

UFC 202 “Prelims” on UFC Fight Pass (6 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Neil Magny vs. Lorenz Larkin – What an awesome fight in the Welterweight division and a huge opportunity for Lorenz Larkin. Since moving down to 170 lbs., Larkin has won three of four fights, including most recently defeating Jorge Masvidal. His combatant Neil Magny has like I mentioned before, won ten of his last eleven fights. His lone defeat came against Demain Maia, who has been dominating everyone of late. Anyways, this is a tough fight Magny, as he has more to lose than gain. A victory is always beneficial, but Larkin isn’t ranked and going to push Magny into the title picture. As for the fight, Larkin is one of the best strikers in the division, which is crazy given that in his earlier days, he relied heavily on wrestling. Magny is a complete package, as he will attack you with a high volume of strikes and will also occasionally take you down and apply some serious ground and pound. His cardio is unmatched and has aided him in keeping a pace that most opponents couldn’t handle. In a tough fight to call, I’ll take pace, volume and cardio all day. Magny via decision.
170 lbs.: Colby Covington vs. Max Griffin – Convington has serious potential, especially with his wrestling pedigree. His ability to grind down opponents has aided him in his four UFC victories. His opponent is promotional newcomer Max Griffin, who is coming off a KO victory over former UFC fighter David Mitchell. I don’t know much about him, but I hope he’s a wrestler – if not it’s going to be a long night. Either way though, Covington should control this bout en route to a decision victory.
185 lbs.: Alberto Uda vs. Marvin Vettori – I remember hearing good things about Alberto Uda when he made his UFC debut. I remember picking him to beat Jake Collier and getting starched. I won’t make that mistake again (the picking of Uda part), so I’m going with Marvin Vettori via TKO!
UFC Fight Night 92: Survivor Game

August 6, 2016

I looked smart with my Nikita Krylov pick against Ed Herman, who absolutely flatlined him…no literally. I also looked ok in my upset pick of Francisco Rivera, well until the third round, when he did what he always does…swings for the fences and more often then not, he puts himself in bad situations. This was a new though, as he he actually gassed himself out by whiffing on punches and then served about four minutes of the third round from his back. Anyways, if you don’t know what this post is all about, I’ll briefly fill you in. I can only select one fighter to be my lock of the week and that said fighter, can only be selected once this year (2016). I earn 1 point for a correct pick, however a wrong pick will reset me back to 0. I can add an additional 1 point to my total by picking an upset right, which does not reset my total if it’s wrong (That’s to make me look better). I will tweak this as we go!

Streak: 13 (Lock of the Day) + 8 (Upset of the Day) = 21

Lock of the Day: Maryna Moroz

Note: While I’d rather pick Teruto Ishihara…he’s just so damn reckless (even though amazingly awesome at the same time) for me to risk my streak on him. So, I’m going with the one they call “The Iron Woman” to throughly dominate this last second replacement chick I never heard of.

Upset of the Day: Zak Cummings

Note: Normally I wouldn’t take an underdog who’s currently +100, but I am here. Cummings is a great talent in the Middleweight division. I mean he’s huge for the weight class, uses his strength advantage to a tee and he can handle himself anywhere the fight goes. Ponzinibbio is also a talent, but he exposes himself during striking, which is enough for me to think Cummings will capitalize on that.

Lock of the Day Picks (So Far): Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Demian Maia, Kyoji Horiguchi, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Mairbek Taisumov, Antonio Carlos Jr., Conor McGregor, (Tom Breese, Rustam Khabilov), Joseph Benavidez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, John Makdessi, Will Brooks, T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson, Francis Ngannou, Nikita Krylov

Upset of the Day Pick (So Far): Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Silva, Edson Barboza, Court McGee, Timothy Johnson, Johnny Case, Deigo Sanchez, Martin Svensson, K.J. Noons, Patrick Cote, Derrick Lewis, Josh Stansbury, Brock Lesnar, Keita Nakamura, Gilbert Melendez, Francisco Rivera
UFC Fight Night 92: Rodriguez vs. Caceres Predictions

August 6, 2016

A week after Tyron Woodley dethroned Robbie Lawler, the UFC returns to action in Utah for the first time ever. Headlining the card is The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America winner Yair Rodriguez against the one they call “Bruce Leroy” Alex Caceres. Rodriguez is on the heels a five fight win streak, four of which have come in the UFC. Most recently, he defeated fellow prospect Andre Fili by knockout via a highlight reel flying head kick. As for Alex Caceres, he’s won two straight fights including a signature victory over Cole Miller. It’s been a roller coaster of a career for Caceres, as he’s endured several losing streaks and winning streaks, but a win over Rodriguez would elevate him to stardom he’s never reached.

Co-Headlining, is another contest in the Featherweight division between Dennis Bermudez and Rony Jason. If there’s anything to this fight, it’s that it almost guarantee’s to be your “Fight of the Night”. Also on the card is a pivotal Middleweight bout, as Thales Leites and Chris Camozzi lock horns. I say pivotal because in a stacked Middleweight division, a loss keeps you out of contender status for at least another year. Other names on the card include Cub Swanson, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Zak Cummings, Tatsuya Kawajiri, etc… Anyways, let’s just get to the Predictions!

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

145 lbs.: Yair Rodriguez vs. Alex Caceres – This main event is all about Yair Rodriguez, as the UFC’s looks to spotlight this rising talent and absolute diamond in the rough. This top billing is going to give Rodriguez more notoriety and elevate him to bigger and better things. However, with all the recent upsets going on, Caceres is not to be overlooked. Caceres is mainly a striker, but has shown decent grappling abilities. His last win over Cole Miller he used his reach and picked apart Cole Miller on the feet. However, against Rodriguez, he won’t have the luxury of holding a striking advantage over his opponent. Rodriguez is a dynamic striker, who will just about do anything you’ve never seen a typical striker do. From cartwheel kicks to flying roundhouse kicks – he’s a bundle of excitement. He’s also worked on his grappling abilities, which has shown in his last few fights, as he’s either tried for crazy submissions or immediately has gotten up when taken down. Now, I think Caceres is going to have his moments, but in the end, he’s going to be on the wrong the result of a highlight reel KO. So with that, I have Rodriguez via KO within the first two rounds.

145 lbs.: Dennis Bermudez vs. Rony Bezerra – If the non-careless Bermudez shows up here, he should have no issues with Rony “Jason” Bezerra. Bermudez is a superior wrestler, with excellent top control and he’s a formidable striker. The issue though is that he intends to get into brawls, one’s in which have cost him fights or at least put him dangerous situations. Bezerra strives in brawls and he has no issues going toe to toe with you. Even if Bermudez is a bit careless, he’s a better mixed martial artist then Bezerra and I believe that his strength and his wrestling abilities are going to put him over the top here. Bermudez via TKO!

185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Thales Leites – Now I think Camozzi is an absolute warrior and he’s a fan friendly fighter for sure. He’s always down to brawl, but he has the whits to take a fight to the ground to get a win too. Unfortunately, he has historically never fared well against the upper-echelon of the middleweight division. And that’s not to say he can’t beat them, hell the guy has invaluable time with Jacare Souza, who he fought twice. He might of lost both, but he learned what it’s going to take to be championship material. So with three straight victories, he has to now face Thales Leites. A former title challenger, Leites has recently stumbled in two straight fights. He lost to current UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping in a close decision and to Gegard Mousasi via decision. Those two losses are nothing to be ashamed about and he’s really shown in this second UFC stint, that he is certainly a contender. No offense Camozzi, but I think Leites is going dominate this one. His grappling abilities alone have the ability to stifle Camozzi, which is exactly what I think is going to happen. So with that, Leites via submission.

170 lbs.: Zak Cummings vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Man o Man, this is an underrated fight! Two solid up-and-coming middleweights. Ponzinibbio is a striker who packs a punch and takes one to give one. He also is a great athlete and his speed has given recent opponents loads of trouble. As for Cummings, he’s so underrated. He’s a sneaky serviceable striker, powerful grappler and is excellent on the ground – in other words, a well rounded mixed martial artist. I like Ponzinibbio, but his style leaves him open to being hit ala against Lorenz Larkin. It also plays right into Cummings game, which is why I believe that Cummings will take this one via late TKO!

185 lbs.: Joseph Gigliotti vs. Trevor Smith -I’ve never seen Gigliotti fight, but I’ve heard that’s he’s a legit prospect. However, I’m not going to side with anyone I haven’t seen, so take this prediction with a grain of salt, as I’m going to pick “Hot Sauce” Trevor Smith. The way I see this fight going is either Smith gets finished in the first or he survives and rallies for a decision victory. I’m going with the latter, Smith via decision!

115 lbs.: Maryna Moroz vs. Danielle Taylor – Danielle Taylor who? Moroz via complete an utter domination, with the end result coming via submission!

FOX Sports 1 “Prelims” (8 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Dominique Steele vs. Court McGee – Speaking of a reckless fighter, Steele perfectly fits that category too. He’s definitely a fan friendly fighter and maybe it’s affected his record, but the hardcore fans appreciate his fights. As for McGee, it’s been along time since the TUF 11 winner has really looked like himself. However, Steele’s recklessness plays right into McGee’s game. Expect lots of takedowns en route to a decision victory!

265 lbs.: Marcin Tybura vs. Viktor Pesta – I’m siding with Tybura here, just because he’s a technical striking (albeit nothing special) and he’s not a bad grappler to boot. Pesta in my opinion is just too small for this weight class and it’s going to show. Tybura via decision.

155 lbs.: Jason Novelli vs. David Teymur – No clue who they are, although I feel like I’ve heard the name Teymur before – so that’s good enough for me to pick him via decision.

145 lbs.: Horacio Gutierrez vs. Teruto Ishihara – Ishihara all day! He’s one of the more unknown exciting talents in the UFC and he’s the right kind of reckless to ensure the fans of pure entertainment. So with that, Ishihara via first round KO!

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

145 lbs.: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Cub Swanson – Fun Fight! Kawajiri is one of the more underrated Featherweights and despite having 46 professional fights and being 38 years old, I think he’s got a real shot in this fight. His combatant Swanson, recently made a successful return to the UFC, defeating Hacran Dias after nearly a year off. He looked pretty good and ala Frank Mir, it has shown that time off has been beneficial. As for the fight, I’m going to side with Kawajiri. He might have be at a disadvantage in the striking department, but he’s a relentless grappler who embraces the grind. I’m not saying Kawajiri is going to dominate, but I envision him making this an ugly fight while mixing in takedowns and using his suffocating top control to keep Swanson at bay. So with that, Kawajiri via decision.

265 lbs.: Justin Ledet vs. Chase Sherman – I’m going with the Sherminator (American Pie) here and if that’s not his nickname already – it better be by next fight. Anyways with a huge size advantage, I got Sherman winning via first round KO!
UFC 201: Survivor Game

July 30, 2016

It only took a minute and forty four seconds to extend my streak to 12 and overall 20. Unfortunately I couldn’t add an extra point, as my upset pick couldn’t of been more wrong in Gilbert Melendez. He was thoroughly dominated by Edson Barboza and I didn’t expect him to just stand toe to toe the whole time, especially when you’ve gone 1-3 in the UFC. Anyways, if you don’t know what this post is all about, I’ll briefly fill you in. I can only select one fighter to be my lock of the week and that said fighter, can only be selected once this year (2016). I earn 1 point for a correct pick, however a wrong pick will reset me back to 0. I can add an additional 1 point to my total by picking an upset right, which does not reset my total if it’s wrong (That’s to make me look better). I will tweak this as we go!

Streak: 12 (Lock of the Day) + 8 (Upset of the Day) = 20

Lock of the Day: Nikita Krylov

Note: While I’m tempted to pick Wilson Reis, I’m going instead side with “Al Capone” here. He’s facing a tough and gritty veteran in Ed Herman, who is a great test for the rising Light Heavyweight talent. However, Krylov has vastly been improving each fight and he’s shown a well rounded arsenal, from slick submissions to dangerous striking. I expect Herman to fall at some point and Krylov to finish him via submissions, lock it in!

Upset of the Day: Francisco Rivera

Note: While Perez is the type of fighter that presents problems for Rivera, I don’t think this is a bad upset pick at all. Like I said in my prediction, if the technical and not brawler Rivera comes out, then he’s got this fight. If the same slugfest Rivera comes out, he opens himself up to be taken down and controlled. I’m banking on him being smart given that he’s on a two fight skid and a pink slip isn’t out of the realm.

Lock of the Day Picks (So Far): Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Demian Maia, Kyoji Horiguchi, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Mairbek Taisumov, Antonio Carlos Jr., Conor McGregor, (Tom Breese, Rustam Khabilov), Joseph Benavidez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, John Makdessi, Will Brooks, T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson, Francis Ngannou

Upset of the Day Pick (So Far): Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Silva, Edson Barboza, Court McGee, Timothy Johnson, Johnny Case, Deigo Sanchez, Martin Svensson, K.J. Noons, Patrick Cote, Derrick Lewis, Josh Stansbury, Brock Lesnar, Keita Nakamura, Gilbert Melendez
UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley Predictions

July 30, 2016

After over two years, the UFC returns to Atlanta – and this time, a UFC Welterweight Title fight between Champion Robbie Lawler and challenger Tyron Woodley are top billing. It’s an intriguing matchup, as it features two of the more explosive athletes in the UFC. For Lawler, this fight will mark his third title defense, which is borderline baffling given where Lawler stood in career four years ago. His combatant Woodley, a former Strikeforce standout, has won four of his last five five fights – beating the likes of Josh Koscheck, Carlos Condit, Dong Hyun Kim and Kelvin Gastelum. Woodley was expected to face former UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 192, but Hendricks dropped out on the eve of the fight. After the cancellation of the fight, Dana White promised Woodley a title shot. One in which he waited for, finally getting it now at UFC 201.

Co-Headlining the card, is an all important fight in the Women’s Strawweight division, as contenders Rose Namajunas and Karolina Kowalkiewicz vye for a title shot. Namajunas comes into this bout on the heels of a three fight win streak, most recently avenging an early career defeat over Tecia Torres. The undefeated Kowalkiewicz is 2-0 in the UFC, edging out TUF 20 alumni Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark via decision.

Also on the card, a barnburner on paper at 170 lbs., as Jake Ellenberger looks avoid a potential pink slip and opponent Matt Brown looks to erase his last defeat to Demian Maia. Some names like Wilson Reis, Nikita Krylov, Jorge Masvidal, Ed Herman, Ross Pearson and Francisco Rivera populate the card. Enough build up, let’s get to the Predictions!

UFC 201 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley – O Baby! We got ourselves an awesome title fight and I think people are really sleeping on this one. Woodley is a legit threat and he’s most certainly worthy of a title shot. He’s a great athlete, with explosiveness out the Wazoo! He’s got superior wrestling abilities and he can hold himself on the feet, just ask Jay Hieron, Josh Koscheck and Dong Hyun Kim. The Champ, Robbie Lawler is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet. And to think four years ago, Lawler was with Strikeforce, holding a 3-5 record with them. Fast Forward to today and not only is he the UFC Welterweight Champion, but he’s already defended his belt twice. It’s absolutely ludicrous and when his career is over, don’t be surprised to see a movie about his journey (Dan Henderson’s too). Anyways, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler is well, a ruthless striker. When he gets hit, he seemingly gets enraged and comes on stronger. The same could be said when the fight gets into the later rounds, it’s like he takes Red Bull or 5-Hour energy – or maybe it’s just that his cardio is on another level. And to keep on the topic of cardio, that’s the only real knock on Tyron Woodley. After the first two rounds, he starts to fade as it takes a lot of energy to feed his muscle. I mean, it’s a true hole in his game and the only one I see that could spell trouble for him. Lawler is king cardio and if Woodley doesn’t implement some type of heavy wrestling attack or just blitz him early, I can’t foresee him winning. Lawler is just too technical and powerful on the feet and his takedown defense has vastly improved. And if this fight goes into the later rounds, it immediately favors Lawler – so there is no reason for me to side with Woodley unless I think he’s going to knock out the Champ. So with that, I have Robbie Lawler retaining and winning via late TKO!

115 lbs.: Rose Namajunas vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – I’m not sure why the UFC hasn’t come out and said it, but this is clearly a number one contenders fight in the Women’s Strawweight division. Since losing the TUF 20 finale against Carla Esparza for the inagural Women’s Strawweight Championship, Namajunas has laid waste to all her opponents. She handily defeated Angela Hill via submission, then headlined a Fight Night against Paige Van Zant and dominated her and most recently avenged an early defeat in her career against Tecia Torres. Her combatant Kowalkiewicz enters this contest undefeated and has already two UFC victories to her name. She’s well rounded with pretty decent striking, but not as unorthodox as Namajunas. She can hold herself on the ground, which I think is going to be a factor in making this a close fight. In the past, Namajunas has overwhelmed her opponents not only on the feet, but with her top control. Expect Kowalkiewicz to get up from underneath and have her moments on the feet. However, I need to make a prediction here and I’m going to side with “Thug” Rose to extend her win streak to four via a close decision victory.

170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Jake Ellenberger – How the mighty have fallen, as on one hand, Brown at one point had won seven fights in a row and was on the brink of a title shot. He has since lost three of his last four fights, but in all due respect, he lost to the current UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler, Former UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks and Top Welterweight contender Demian Maia. So maybe he didn’t quite fall as far as his combatant Jake Ellenberger did, who at one point was one of the more feared Welterweights in the division. Once 8-2 in the UFC, Ellenberger was a top contender. However, he’s since won only one fight in his last six and is a potential candidate to receive the pink slip. And a fight against Matt Brown isn’t remotely an easy fight, especially with your back against the wall. But, in interviews I’ve heard the old Ellenberger is back and if it’s true, Matt Brown is in some trouble. He’s always struggled with grapplers, which could be a problem here if Ellenberger goes back to his wrestling roots. I guess what I’m trying to say is, that I’m siding with Ellenberger here in an upset victory. He might looked washed up, but he’s only 31 and in his last fight against Saffiedine he didn’t fare that bad. All I can say is, the old Ellenberger is coming back here – so expect a reckless slugfest with some timely takedowns by Ellenberger. And hell, I got him via TKO!

135 lbs.: Erik Perez vs. Francisco Rivera – I never got the hype around Erik Perez, as everyone was touting him as a future contender in the Bantamweight division. Was it because he started 3-0 in the UFC and finished all three opponents? Sure, but he faced three guys who were probably cut immediately after. Anyways, this is not to hate on warrior like Perez, so let’s just get to the fight. Perez, will hold the grappling advantage here and has shown flashes of being a formidable striker. Against a brawler like Rivera, he’ll need to avoid slugging it out and go with his bread and butter, that’s taking you down and suffocating you while on top. Rivera has had issues with fighters with that style, so I could very well see Perez grabbing a big win here. However, I’m banking on the calculated and technical Rivera to fight here, like the one we saw against Urijah Faber before the eyepoke. The only reason I’m thinking he might come out technical is that he’s on a two fight skid, so a pink slip could be on his mind. I like fighters with their backs against the wall, so with that I got Rivera via TKO.

125 lbs.: Ryan Benoit vs. Fredy Serrano – Despite being relatively unknown, Benoit is actually a very exciting Flyweight. He’s a strong wrestler, who happens to have legit power in his hands (Think Jamie Varner). His combatant Serrano is also a wrestler, but he’s often too reliant on it. He’s also faced the bottom tier of the division, meanwhile Benoit hasn’t. And when Serrano get’s denied of the grappling exchanges, he’s going to be a sitting duck on the feet for Benoit. So with that, Benoit via TKO!

UFC 201 Prelims On FOX Sports 2 (8 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Ed Herman vs. Nikita Krylov – I’m actually surprised Ed Herman is still around, I mean he’s been in the UFC for a decade. He’s never been a contender, but he’s supplied the UFC with tons of fun back-and-forth battles, such as his last one against Tim Boetsch. However and unfortunately for him, he’s facing Nikita “Al Capone” Krylov, who has won four straight fights. It’s remarkable that Krylov, a former Heavyweight, is actually a legit potential contender at 205 lbs. And if you saw his debut against Soa Palelei, you’d of thought that he was a joke – but I guess the jokes on us. Anyways, Krylov is a stud and he’s finished every opponent he’s faced thus far. I expect no different here, as he’s going to use his reach and length to pick apart Herman, eventually dropping him and finishing him via submission.

170 lbs.: Jorge Masvidal vs. Ross Pearson – Awesome scrap, as Ross Pearson makes a quick turnaround (22 days) from his close defeat to Will Brooks. Fortunately and most likely the reason for the quick turnaround, but this will be contested at 170 lbs., so no drastic weight cut for Pearson. His combatant is in the form of the most unlucky fighter in the world, as Masvidal has lost three of his last four fights, all by split decision. Arguably, Masvidal could be on a seven fight win streak, but he’s not, he’s on a two fight skid. As for the fight, I have Masvidal here, as despite the losses, he’s one of the more well rounded fighters in the UFC. Pearson on the other hand is primarily a striker who looks to avoid any grappling, which I guarantee Masvidal will oblige. However, I expect with his back against the wall, he’s going to throw in some timely takedowns and thoroughly beat down Ross Pearson. So with that, I have Masvidal via UNANIMOUS decision.

265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski vs. Anthony Hamilton – Grabowski got an unfair UFC debut, as faced off against rising contender Derrick Lewis, who also happened to be making his seventh walk to the Octagon. Anyways, Grabowski gets second life against Anthony Hamilton, who also needs a victory here to avoid a two fight skid. Hamilton is probably best known as the opponent who was scheduled to face the legendary Mirko Cro Crop at UFC Fight Night 79. Unfortunately Cro Cop pulled out of the fight, admitted to taking a banned substance and retired (He’s since come out of retirement). As for the fight, I have Grabowski here, as I’ve always thought he was a perennial top twenty five heavyweight. He may not have the striking to compete with the top ten, but his grappling abilities are very good and his top game has led to many submissions. Hamilton is a decent striker, but that’s about it. So with that, I have Grabowski via submission.

125 lbs.: Wilson Reis vs. Hector Sandoval – Originally Wilson Reis was scheduled to face Demetrious Johnson in the co-headliner – instead, he’s now buried in the prelims against a foe that does nothing to help prove that he’s a worthy challenger for the title. Expect Reis to win dominantly, extending his winning streak to a mere two. Reis via submission.

UFC 201 Prelims On Fight Pass (7 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Michael Graves vs. Bojan Velickovic – Not sure who Velickovic is, but I know Graves is a TUF 21 alum. I also know that he’s a grinder and a relentless grappler, which will aid him here in his third UFC victory. Graves via decision.

155 lbs.: Cesar Arzamendia vs. Damien Brown – The problem with the UFC is that they have so many fighters on the roster, that I have no idea who these guys are. Brown’s record is not that impressive, as he had a four fight losing streak and then a five winning streak, which aided him in debuting with the UFC in March. At this point I’m just spit balling, but Arzamendia’s nickname is “Goku” and Brown’s is “Beatdown” – Arzamendia wins the nickname exchange here and the fight via decision.
UFC on Fox 20: Survivor Game

July 23, 2016

Unbelievable, as I just can’t stop, well, winning. Keita Nakamura was an easy call as an upset in my opinion, as the guy is underrated. My lock Tony Ferguson was an easy pick as well on paper, except not when it came to the fight. He was rocked and close to being finished and somehow managed to survive and take over the fight, eventually finishing Vannata. Anyways, if you don’t know what this post is all about, I’ll briefly fill you in. I can only select one fighter to be my lock of the week and that said fighter, can only be selected once this year (2016). I earn 1 point for a correct pick, however a wrong pick will reset me back to 0. I can add an additional 1 point to my total by picking an upset right, which does not reset my total if it’s wrong (That’s to make me look better). I will tweak this as we go!

Streak: 11 (Lock of the Day) + 8 (Upset of the Day) = 19

Lock of the Day: Francis Ngannou

Note: How can I not pick the French Zeus? Especially when he is fighting a sacrificial lamb, one in which could very well KO him. It is heavyweights, so this is somewhat of a gamble, but I believe in Ngannou.

Upset of the Day: Gilbert Melendez

Note: Despite popping for PED’s and year off because of it – He is still one of the very best lightweights in the world. With that said, his well rounded – grind it out style could stifle Barboza’s dynamic striking. Melendez via decision.

Lock of the Day Picks (So Far): Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Demian Maia, Kyoji Horiguchi, Robert Whittaker, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Mairbek Taisumov, Antonio Carlos Jr., Conor McGregor, (Tom Breese, Rustam Khabilov), Joseph Benavidez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, John Makdessi, Will Brooks, T.J. Dillashaw, Tony Ferguson

Upset of the Day Pick (So Far): Dan Henderson, Jessica Eye, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Silva, Edson Barboza, Court McGee, Timothy Johnson, Johnny Case, Deigo Sanchez, Martin Svensson, K.J. Noons, Patrick Cote, Derrick Lewis, Josh Stansbury, Brock Lesnar, Keita Nakamura
UFC on Fox 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko

July 23, 2016

After John Lineker’s stunning knockout victory over Michael McDonald at UFC Fight Night 91, the UFC is back in action, in the Windy City, Chicago. Headlining the card on big Fox is former Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm and rising talent Valentina Shevchenko. Holm returns for the first time since losing the Women’s Bantanweight Championship to Miesha Tate (Who has since lost the title) and will look to get right back into the title contention with a victory. Her opponent Shevchenko suffered her first defeat in the UFC to now Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes, a fight in which if was a five round fight, Shevchecko probably would of won. However it wasn’t and now both these title contenders will do battle in what should be a great fight.

Co-Headlining is an all important lightweight contest between the dynamic Edson Barboza against the former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Barboza looks to build off an impressive victory over former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, a fight in which he absolutely dominated. His combatant Melendez returns from a year long suspension, which was a shocker, given Melendez’s physique doesn’t indicate PED usage.

Originally, this card was supposed to pit Glover Teixeira against Anthony Johnson , so forgive me for not breaking down who else is on this less than appetizing card. So with that, let’s just get to the Predictions!

UFC on FOX 20 Main Card (8 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Holly Holm vs. Valentina Shevchenko – With all due respect to Valentina Shevchenko, but this is too soon for her. Holm is among the elite in the division and this will mark the third fight Shevchenko has had in the UFC. Now, she is an elite kickboxer and I think the more time inside the octagon will eventually mold her into a title challenger. However, Holm is already that and I’m not going to break this down any further. Holm will use her graceful technical striking, throwing in some surprising takedowns in a masterful decision victory.

155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Gilbert Melendez – Normally it’s easy to just pick the active fighter, one in which decisively defeated the former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis. However, I’m going to throw a curveball and side with the fighter that’s been suspended for PED’s and out for over a year. And my reasons are that Gilbert Melendez is still one of the very best lightweights on the planet and his well rounded skill set, mostly his grappling prowess is going to stifle the dynamic striking Barboza brings. If Barboza can keep his distance, this one might get ugly. But, I’m confident that Melendez can get inside and turn this into a grappling affair. One in which I favor him in, so I got Melendez in an upset via decision.

265 lbs.: Francis Ngannou vs. Bojan Mihajlovic – I have no idea who this Mihajlovic is, minus the fact that he is a sacrificial lamb to French Zeus Francis Ngannou. So with that, Ngannou via KO!

115 lbs.: Felice Herrig vs. Kailin Curran – This is a toss up. On one end you have Herrig, who is a solid wrestler and grappler. On the other end, you have a feisty striker in Curran, who is a much better fighter then her record indicates. The problem is, Curran seems to fold in the third round due to silly mistakes. It’s cost her in her fight against PVZ and more importantly against Alex Chambers (A fight she dominated). Anyways, Herrig has never really impressed me and Curran even with the mistakes, I favor to win this fight via decision.

UFC on FOX 20 “Prelims” (6 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Eddie Wineland vs. Frankie Saenz – I wish I knew what Wineland was going to show up for this fight because if it’s the guy who beat Brad Pickett back in 2012, then I’d pick him. However, I don’t think it’s going to be that guy and Saenz despite not being a world beater, is a good enough grappler to give Wineland troubles in this fight. So, Saenz via decision.

145 lbs.: Darren Elkins vs Godofredo Pepey – Elkins Elkins Elkins…. He’s going to do what he does best and grind – and win via deicision.

170 lbs.: Kamaru Usman vs. Alexander Yakovlev – This is going to be a great fight! I really like Kamaru Usman here and probably in about every fight after this. And I’ll say it now, Usman has all the tools to be a title challenger in the next year and a future champion at 170 lbs. Now I think Yakovlev is going to make this fairly competitive, but I have Usman via decision here.

155 lbs.: Mitchell Prazeres vs. J.C. Cottrell – I only know of Prazeres, as well as the fact that he’s a strong grappler. And that’s good enough here to make me pick him via decision.

UFC on FOX 20 “Prelims” on UFC Fight Pass (4:30 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Alex Oliveira vs. James Moontasri – Underrated fight, as I expect these two bangers to go toe to toe until someone’s lights shut off. Oliveira looks to get back into the win column, as Donald Cerrone ended what was a three fight win streak. On the other end, Moontasri will look to build off his thrilling spinning fist KO on Anton Zafir. As for a prediction, I’m going to side with Moontasri here, although both men are absolute wildcards. At one moment they look like world beaters and another they flake out. Anyways, I like Moontasri’s takedown defense and ability to get up if taken down, plus his striking abilities are getting more dynamic by the moment. So, Moontasri via TKO in a slugfest!

155 lbs.: Jim Alers vs. Jason Knight – I had higher hopes for Alers when he arrived in the UFC, but maybe here he reignites the flame. Expect a grappling match and Alers winning most of those exchanges. So, Alers via decision

155 lbs.: Luis Henrique vs. Dmitry Smolyakov – So we got two relatively fresh Heavyweights and the deciding factor here for me is that one of them is undefeated and he’s Russian. Smolyakov via KO!