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UFC 297 Predictions

brendonboseja@gmail.com (Brendon Boseja) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:49:39 GMT

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you all and welcome back to the UFC predictions. This is the first UFC PPV card for the new year and a good one at that. It has a main card filled with contenders hoping to get a shot at the title soon and two great title fights, so let's go on with this preview.

Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev:

The first fight to kick off the main card will be between two ranked featherweights looking to throw their name in the title mix. Movsar Evloev is undefeated in the UFC with seven fights under his belt and is the 9th-ranked fighter in the division. Even though he still has yet to get a finish, Evloev has a great wrestling pedigree that has been difficult to stop so far and he has proven to be more than capable of fighting a top 5 opponent. The fight will be his toughest test to date but the undefeated fighter is looking to make a statement with this fight. Arnold Allen on the other hand is the 4th ranked fighter in the division and is coming off a decision loss to the former champ and all-time great Max Holloway. However, Allen is not to be messed with as he is 10-1 in the UFC and has proven to deserve a top 5 spot in the division. Allen has proven to have a well-rounded game, but with striking being his greatest strength. Allen has already picked up great wins against the likes of former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, Sodiq Yusuff, and also a statement finish win over Dan Hooker. Allen has proven himself to be the more experienced fighter, but I don't think it will be enough to stop the wrestling of Evloev. I believe that Evloev will grind out a decision and solidify himself as a top 5 fighter in the featherweight division.

Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault:

The second fight on the card will be between two middleweights looking to maintain a ranking spot. Marc-Andre Barriault is on a two-fight winning streak and is looking to start a run at the rankings with this fight. Barriault has a very technical striking that utilizes a lot of straight punches but also mixes in his kicks very well. He is coming off a fight of the night win over the always durable Eryk Anders, and expect this fight to be slightly similar to the Anders one. In the other corner, we have Chris Curtis who is sadly coming off of a no-contest against Nassourdine Imavov due to a clash of heads. Chris Curtis is a heavy-hitting fighter who will always be looking for the knockout in his fights and look out for his powerful hooks as he will be trying to set them up the whole fight. Curtis is trying to establish himself in the rankings and build off of a win with this fight being an opportunity for him. However, I do believe that Barriault will out-strike Curtis in a three-round battle. Barriault will also have the hometown advantage in Canada, which should help him to secure a win.

Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott:

The third fight of the card will be a banger that can potentially propel a prospect into becoming an established ranked fighter or a veteran gets to keep his spot and try to build off of a win. Mike Malott is 3-0 in the UFC and even though he hasn't beaten anyone crazy, his wins have been impressive finishing all 3 of his fights. Malott has a well-rounded style that has shown him utilizing power punches while also having a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Malott is looking to lead the new breed of Canadian fighters trying to have a lot of success in the UFC and with a win he can start his takeover of the welterweight division. He will however have to get past the tough veteran in Neil Magny. Magny is coming off of a decimating decision loss to Ian Garry and is looking to recover after such a terrible loss. Another well-rounded fighter, Magny tries to mostly use his long 80-inch reach to keep a good striking pace, but most likely will use his wrestling if he feels threatened at all against Malott. I do think this fight won't go Neil Magny’s way and with the way things have gone with Magny in his last couple of fights, I'm predicting for Malott to rock him and follow him to the ground to get himself another submission win.

Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva:

The co-main event should be insane as former title challenger Raquel Pennington will fight against the surging contender Mayra Bueno Silva, in a fight that will determine who will win the vacant women's bantamweight title. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, Silva has earned herself a way into the title picture with a crazy submission win (which was overturned due to a failed drug test) over the former champ Holly Holm. Silva has cemented herself as one of the contenders for this belt with that win and she is looking to bring this belt back to Brazil and hopefully start a legacy that can surpass the retired Amanda Nunes. Silva has a great well-roundedness to her but beware of her ground game as she has proven to have one of the highest level jiu-jitsu games in the division. This could be the game-changer for the fight because if Silva gets to the ground, it could end up being a short night for Pennington. Pennington is a veteran in the division though and has already faced some of the biggest names in women's MMA competing against the likes of Jessica Andrade, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Germaine de Randamie, and the women's G.O.A.T Amanda Nunes. She has been able to compile a five-fight-winning streak to help propel herself to another title fight and is looking for not only redemption but to cement herself as one of the great in women's MMA. Pennington’s boxing is going to be the key in this fight and if the fight stays on the feet, it will be an advantage for Pennington. I think that this fight will end up being a decision since both girls have proven to be tough already and especially won't want to give up in a title fight. My pick will be Bueno Silva winning though, just because I see her as being the aggressor in this fight and will mix in some good striking combos to set up a takedown.

Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis:

This main event will surely be the most exciting fight by far and it will pit two middleweights looking to have a war that will end with one man on top. The middleweight champion, Sean Strickland is the real deal as he is on a three-fight winning streak and has gotten a huge upset win over Israel Adesanya. He is such a well-rounded fighter with a great grappling background, but I can guarantee that won't be the focus at all since Strickland loves the “man dance”. Sean’s striking is very boxing-heavy and uses the Philly shell to help confuse fighters while also being able to take minimal damage. Sean on paper should try to take this fight to the ground, but knowing his mentality, he definitely will keep it standing in hopes of a slugfest. Dricus Du Plessis is trying to reach his goal and cement himself as a middleweight great. Dricuss is undefeated in the UFC with 6 fights and only one of them going to a decision. He is coming off a huge TKO victory against the former champion Robbert Whittaker and is looking to carry this momentum to reach the belt. Dricuss has an unorthodox style that doesn't look the greatest, but has been able to show powerful striking and an underrated ground game. This is going to be a war and I'm expecting a fight of the night contender with this one, but I have Du Plessis becoming the new Middleweight champion and bringing the belt home to South Africa.

UFC 294 Predictions

brendonboseja@gmail.com (Brendon Boseja) — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 16:21:18 GMT

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi, and ready to put on a fight card that is going to be some guaranteed entertainment. The last two fights were in jeopardy about a week ago, but the UFC was able to work their magic and the two fighters who stepped up for this opportunity both look ready to compete and put on a show.

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov:

The opening fight of the main card will be between two bantamweights, looking to make a statement to potentially earn them a ranked opponent in their next fight. Do not be confused by his last name because Said Nurmagomedov isn't related to the former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he is still looking to make an impact in the division. Even though he lost his last fight to a great opponent in Jonathan Martinez, in what was a very close fight, look for Said to make an impact in this fight by using his flashy striking techniques and great grappling to have a successful night. Watch out for Nurmagomedov's guillotines, as three of his five submission wins have come by guillotine choke. Muin Gafurov on the other hand is coming off a loss in his UFC debut. Having won 56% of his bouts by knockout or TKO, I think it's safe to assume that he is going to want to keep the fight standing.

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves:

The next fight on the card is between two middleweights, it was not what was originally planned for the card but still should be a good fight. Ikram Aliskerov is a multiple-time Sambo champion whose only loss was outside the UFC and it happened to come from surging prospect Khamzat Chimaev. In Aliskerov's only UFC fight, he won by devastating first-round knockout. Look out for his power as he has shown to have great power punches that can put out any opponent. Warlley Alves is currently on a two-fight losing streak, but don't underestimate him in this fight. An ultimate fighter champion, Alves has fought a lot of high-level competition including a submission win over Colby Covington, and has also fought to a decision against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Alves is a very well-rounded fighter who will make this a competitive fight, but I do believe it won't be enough for Aliskerov and I predict that Ikram will be able to win this fight by decision.

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker:

The third fight of the card will be a banger that can potentially propel either of these two fighters to a title shot for the light-heavyweight belt. The multi-time sambo champion, Magomed Ankalaev is coming off a controversial title fight against Jan Blachowicz that was scored as a split draw. He is looking to bounce back and get another shot at the title that many could argue is deservedly his. Magomeds’ wrestling is very dangerous and is probably one of the best wrestlers in the division, but his striking is also deadly. His combos are slick and his striking game is very well-rounded, so you can expect a lot of kicks being set up by his already powerful punches. Johnny Walker on the other hand is one of the most dynamic strikers in this already packed division. He throws a lot of unorthodox shots that can put away an opponent viciously. He is currently on a three-fight win streak beating contenders like Paul Craig and Anthony Smith. Even though Walker has polished his striking a lot more over time, still watch out for moves such as a spinning back fist or even flying knees. Even though this fight has a lot at stake for both fighters and both will be well prepared, I think Ankalaev will get the win, and do not be surprised if he gets a finish against Johnny Walker.

Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev:

The co-main event should be insane as the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is making his middleweight debut on a week's notice to face off against the surging contender in Khamzat Chimaev, in a fight that Dana already confirmed that the winner will be fighting Sean Strickland for his middleweight title. A Division II wrestler, Usman has already cemented himself as one of the best welterweight fighters of all time, and now with this fight, he seems to be chasing a legacy fight as he has the potential to become a two-division champion with a win over Chimaev. The former champ is also an Ultimate Fighter winner and has built up his resume so much with wins over fighters such as the current champions in Leon Edwards and Sean Strickland, Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, and the list goes on. Even though he is currently on a two-fight losing streak, don't let that dictate what Usman could potentially do in this fight. Usman's wrestling is his biggest strength, but his striking has vastly improved over the years and it will be interesting to see what type of gameplan he will implement against Khamzat since they are both great wrestlers. Chimaev also has great wrestling accolades in Sweden and has currently taken the UFC by storm with his dominant wins. He has already beaten the likes of Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland within his 6 fight-winning streak in the UFC. His wrestling has proven to be dominant, but his striking is also very powerful as he displays great power punches. I think that this fight does have a huge chance of going to a decision as both fighters are well prepared and just complete dogs, but my pick is that Khamzat will overwhelm Usman in the first round and get himself a finish (I'd say submission to be safe, but I could also see it being a TKO).

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski:

This main event will surely be the most exciting fight by far and it will pit two pound-for-pound champions in a rematch that will determine not only bragging rights but also history will be made. The lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev is the real deal as he is ranked #3 in the pound-for-pound rankings and has gotten a huge win over Charles Oliveira and a close fight over Alexander Volkanovski. He is such a well-rounded fighter who finds success in his striking but prefers to use his wrestling to take you down and could rather dominate with strikes, or submit you. Islam's takedowns are dangerous and if he can pressure Volk against the cage, it will be a huge problem for Volk. The featherweight champion, however, has fought Islam already and has found a lot of success in their previous fight. Alexander Volkanovski is on pace to become the greatest featherweight of all time and has already beaten the likes of Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, and Yair Rodriguez. Volk is also a well-rounded fighter but his striking is his strong suit. He implements so many feints with his strikes and his footwork is currently one of the best in the fight game. If Volk can pressure Islam and stay away from the cage, he could potentially outstrike Islam and prove that he is deserving of double champ status. This is going to be another war just like the first fight, but I have to double down and pick Islam Makhachev to win by a close decision.

Ufc Fight Night 228 Predictions

brendonboseja@gmail.com (Brendon Boseja) — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 22:58:45 GMT

The UFC is back with another fight night card at the UFC Apex, and this one should be entertaining as there are a lot of good fights to look out for.

Ricardo Ramos vs. Charles Jourdain:

The opener of the main card will be between these two featherweights who are both on one-fight-winning streaks and are looking to try and make a run at the rankings with a win. Ricardo Ramos won his last fight by Knockout in the first round from a spinning elbow, even though his strength would be his ground game (he holds a black belt in BJJ) his striking is good and dynamic so watch out for that. Also, don't be surprised if he tries to set up that spinning elbow again since he has been able to land it before. Charles Jourdain is coming off a decision win over Kron Gracie in what was an “interesting” fight to say the least. Either way, Jourdain has shown in the past that his striking is technically good enough to last with great fighters in the division, and I think he will have the striking edge in this fight. Jourdain also holds a black belt in BJJ, but Ramos should still have the edge on the ground. This is a close fight but I do think Ramos will outlast Jourdain and probably mix in some good takedowns to secure a decision win.

Bryan Battle vs. AJ Fletcher:

The next fight on the card is between two welterweights who are also both on one fight-winning streaks. The Ultimate Fighter Winner, Bryan Battle is coming off a devastating first-round Knockout and he has shown how powerful his striking could be ever since he joined the UFC. Watch out for his kicks, as they have proven to be strong and he sets them up very well with his punches. AJ Fletcher has shown to be a well-rounded fighter and will most likely be looking to go on the ground against Battle.

Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez:

The third fight of the card will be a rematch between two ranked strawweights who are both on losing streaks and are trying to get an important win on Saturday. Marina Rodriguez has shown her technical Muay Thai style that has proven to be a problem in the division and has beaten the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan. She is looking to maintain her spot in the top 10 of the division with a win in this fight. Michelle Waterson-Gomez has been around the women's fighting game for a long time. The former Invicta FC champion had a great karate striking style that has confused opponents in the past, but her ground game is really good and always surprises her opponents who are expecting a striking battle. She has the advantage on the ground over Rodriguez and will be looking to avenge this loss so she can break the top 10. However, I do believe that Rodriguez will win this fight once again and it should go very similar to how the first contest went.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Dan Ige:

The co-main event should be a great one as two featherweight contenders are looking to further their careers in a stacked featherweight division. Bryce Mitchell is coming off a loss to Ilia Topuria and is looking to get a win to maintain his number ten spot in the division. Mitchell's wrestling and ground game are his main strengths that he should be looking to implement on Ige. Dan Ige is on a two-fight winning streak that includes a devastating knockout win over Damon Jackson. Dan Ige has great wrestling but recently has relied on his powerful striking to win him his fights. Specifically, watch out for Dan Ige's punches as his boxing is great, and will be looking to throw a lot of combinations with his hands. The fight is a toss up but I'm backing Mitchell hoping that his wrestling will prove to be enough to hold down Ige for the decision.

Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot:

The main event of this week is one to watch for sure, as it will potentially determine a future contender in the lightweight division. Rafael Fiziev is coming off a fight of the night loss against Justin Gaethje but proved that he belongs with the elite. Fiziev has some of the best Muay Thai in the division and will easily be his game plan against Gamrot. Fiziev does have great takedown defense as well which could pose issues for Gamrot. Mateusz Gamrot won his last fight by decision in a good wrestling showcase. Gamrots wrestling will be the x-factor in this fight, if he can get Fiziev to the ground I do think he will win the fight. If they stay striking, however, Fiziev will for sure have the advantage and win the fight.

UFC 293 Post-Fight Analysis

brendonboseja@gmail.com (Brendon Boseja) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 22:51:44 GMT

Sitting on the edge of my seat, I watched in disbelief as Strickland dominated Adesanya – a sight few had predicted.

Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj:

The fight ended up going differently than I anticipated, Tyson Pedros showed some power that just ended Turkalj's night early. Pedro's striking was looking crisp plus his 1-2 was landing. He is now back in the win column while this loss makes it Turkalj's third loss in a row. That is not a good sign and he will most likely be cut from the promotion.

Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane:

This fight went how the vast majority expected it to go. Tafa was able to land early and caught Lane with a devastating overhand left that sat him down and the follow-up ground and pound hooks are what ended the night for Lane. Tafa looked amazing and with a win like this he can potentially fight in the rankings and a good fight I can see happening would be between him and Marcos Rogerio de Lima.

Manel Kape vs Felipe Dos Santos:

Wow, what a fight! I called it being a sleeper fight, but it was so much more competitive than I'm sure anyone could imagine. Felipe Dos Santos showed that not only can he hang in there with the top 10 of the division, but by doing all of this at a young age, he will be a top contender in the future. Even with a loss, I think he should fight one of the top 15 ranked guys (David Dvorak is a good matchup in mind). Kape however, proved to be the more experienced fighter and his striking looked more powerful than ever. His wrestling defense was great as well, improvements were clearly shown in this fight. He should end up fighting his original opponent for this card in Kai Kara-France.

Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov:

First off this was a shocking outcome, Ezequiel choke???!!! The only other fighter I can think of who has hit this submission before would be Alexey Oleinik. Volkov proved his ground game is a lot better and a lot more dynamic than expected. Mainly his range is what was winning him the fight and beautifully implemented body kicks. He should be looking at a top-five opponent after a win like this, and with a three-fight winning streak, I could see him getting a rematch against Tom Aspinall because I know that's a fight he would love to get a rematch for. Tai Tuivasa on the other hand has proven that right now he isn't a top-five fighter. He needs a bounce-back fight and I think one against Marcin Tybura would be a good one (even though a rematch against Derrick Lewis would still be as amazing as advertised).

Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland:

What an upset!!! Strickland was able to prove all the doubters wrong and beat Izzy by decision to win the middleweight title. Sean was able to implement his game plan perfectly and was pressuring Adesanya for all five rounds. The knockdown in the first round set the tone for the fight and Strickland's jabs and hooks were landing all night. Izzy was not able to implement his game at all and barely landed any hard strikes on Sean at all. With a win like this, I think Sean should go on and fight du Plessis, while Adesanya should look back to the drawing board and maybe rematch a fighter like Robert Whittaker or Jared Cannonier.

UFC 293 Round By Round

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 02:54:36 GMT

Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj:

Round 1: The fight starts tentative, with both fighters exchanging leg kicks and jabs. Pedro then lands an excellent 1-2 combination that rocked Turkalj. After a few seconds, he lands two consecutive right hands that hurt Turklaj. Pedro lands another 1-2 that drops Turkalj and the follow-up ground-and-pound ends the fight early.

Official Decision: Tyson Pedro by KO ( punches) in the First Round (2:12)

Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane:

Round 1: The fight also starts slow, Lane leg kicks Tafa and then ends up accidentally eye-poking Tafa. Tafa then recovers Glady and the fight continues from there. Tafa starts to land clean hooks on Lane, while Lane decides to throw kicks. Tafa starts to find success and lands a clean right hook and follows up with an overhand left that knocks him down. Once Lane was down, Tafa followed up with some of the most devastating hooks I've seen. The ref stepped in and ended the fight as he should.

Official Decision: Justin Tafa by Tko (punches) in the First Round

Manel Kape vs Felipe Dos Santos:

Round 1: The fight starts very dynamic with Kape and Dos Santos exchanging hard shots. Dos Santos lands a good 1-2 combination before Kape follows up with a hard left hand that knocks down Dos Santos. They stay in full guard for a little bit before Dos Santos ends up back on his feet. They have a couple of gold exchanges throughout the rest of the round. Kape and Dos Santos landed spinning elbows on each other and the round ended with another hard exchange.

Round 2: This competitive fight starts with both fighters kicking and feeling each other out. Kape lands a good right hand that wobbles Dos Santos a bit but he continues to stay active. They continue exchanging hooks but Kapes's punches look more powerful. Kape corners Dos Santos and lands some good body hooks and hooks to the head before Dos Santos spins out and continues the fight. Kape was the aggressor this round.

Round 3: The fight starts very active on both ends with Dos Santos being the aggressor landing great hooks. He is starting to get hard shots on Kape now. The round continues to be a repetition of both fighters landing good hard hooks. Kape then takes down Dos Santos and ends the round landing hard ground and pound. Kape seems to have ended the round on top and wins the fight.

Official Decision: Manel Kape by Unanimous Decision

Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov:

Round 1: The fight starts and Tuisvasa lands with a hard leg kick. Volkov is starting to land hard body kicks that are getting Tuivasa every time. Tuivasa keeps landing leg kicks but the reach advantage is too overwhelming for Tai. Volkov ends the round with a huge flurry and almost finishes Tuivasa by mixing up a lot of body kicks with hard hooks.

Round 2: The round starts with crazy exchanges from both fighters. Volkov does end up knocking Tuivasa down with a straight right before he gets up. They exchange again before Tuivasa falls down from a leg kick and Volkov ends up on top. He lands ground and pound before he goes to full mount. He lands a lot of straights on top before Volkov ends the fight with a surprising ezequiel choke from the top.

Official Decision: Alexander Volkov by Submission (Ezequiel Choke) in the Second Round (4:37)

Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland:

Round 1: The main event starts with both fighters just feeling each other out. For most of the round Izzy is landing a lot of kicks to the legs and the body, but Strickland is still pressuring. Towards the end of the round, Strickland lands a left hook and right straight combination and drops Izzy. Strickland continues to ground and pound while Izzy gets up on the cage. The round ends and Izzy was rocked badly in the first.

Round 2: The second round starts the same with Strickland pressuring Adesanya on the fence a lot. Izzy does start to land more kicks to the body and attempts to the head. Adesnaya was able to land two hard right hands and end the round well. Strickland still was able to keep pressuring and keeping Adesanya's back to the cage.

Round 3: The third round continues with Strickland Pressuring Adesanya and Izzy having to circle around. Izzy was able to land good body kicks and leg kicks but Strickland had success with two hooks that looked to affect Adesanya. The third round ends this fight is getting interesting.

Round 4: The fourth round starts and Strickland still putting a constant pressure on Adesanya. Strickland is having so much success with his boxing right now. Jab after jab Strickland continues to land good right hands and right hooks. Adesanya is trying to keep him off with the leg kicks and some right hands but it's not enough to win him the round, Strickland is proving to be too dominant.

Round 5: The final round is starting and Strickland looking to solidify his win. The fight continues to be Strickland picking Izzy apart with his clean boxing. He mixes in good teep kicks as well to keep Adesanya against the cage. Izzy is not able to get any good shots off on Strickland at all. At the end of the round, Strickland starts to scream in his face while throwing hooks. The fight ends and we have a new champion.

Official Decision: Sean Strickland wins by Unanimous Decision and is the new Middleweight championship

Check Out my post-fight predictions here .

UFC 293 Main Card Predictions

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 01:10:44 GMT

Adesanya, the striking maestro, faces a durable Strickland. In a dance of fists and wills, who will reign supreme?

In the electrifying realm of mixed martial arts, every bout on the card promises a spectacle, a blend of strategies and raw power, where fighters' fates hang by a thread. Tonight is no different. As we inch closer to the much-anticipated fights, a few match-ups promise to not only satiate our thirst for high-octane action but also reveal narratives of redemption, rising contenders, and undeniable championship prowess. Drawing from the card's tapestry, let's deep dive into a night where losing isn't an option, and every punch, kick, and takedown crafts a tale of glory and ambition. Buckle up; the octagon awaits.

Predictions

Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj:

The opener of the main card will feature two light heavyweights looking for a shot at ending both their losing streaks. To be fair Tyson Pedro did only lose his last fight, but he has the hometown advantage over Anton which will have an added pressure to this fight. Anton is on a two-fight losing streak and has yet to have a win in the UFC, so this fight is basically for his job. Both fighters have a decent striking game, but Tyson’s ground game does have the advantage over Anton’s as he is a Black Belt in BJJ. If Pedro takes this fight to the floor, he would be able to increase his chances of winning, but in his last 5 fights, I’ve noticed the striking approach he has decided to go with. Pedro’s striking is technically great, but he will be running a bigger risk compared to taking it to the ground. Due to this take, I feel as though Anton will be able to win a close striking battle since he will be the fighter with more to lose and he has shown to be the more durable fighter. This fight does seem like it will be very tentative since both fighters have a lot to lose.

Justin Tafa vs Austen Lane:

These two heavyweights will get the chance to finally fight after their last attempt in Jacksonville (Lane’s hometown) in which the fight ended in a no contest due to an eye poke on Tafa. Now they are looking to make it even in Tafa’s hometown tonight. This fight should be a good one due to both these fighters being primarily strikers. Tafa is known for his stand-and-bang approach with a good mix of Muay Thai combinations as well, while Lane I would say is predominantly a boxing-type style, but has a rounded-out striking game as well. On paper, this fight could be a finish in the earlier rounds, but look for this to be a competitive striking battle between the two heavyweights. Look out for the overhands of Tafa, he knows how to mix those up in combos very well, and if one lands Lane could be in huge trouble. The pick for tonight however is Lane as he has the height and reach advantage and could outpoint Tafa.

Manel Kape vs Felipe Dos Santos:

This flyweight matchup in my opinion is the sleeper fight of this main card. The former RIZIN champion Manel Kape is starting to find his footing in the competitive flyweight division. After losing two split decision matchups (Including one to the current champ Alexandre Pantoja) he has found himself on a three-fight winning streak and is looking to continue to raise his ranking to potentially get his rematch. Look out for his flashy techniques, since he is a very dynamic fighter. Dos Santos is interesting because he’s an undefeated fighter who is making his UFC debut on the main card of a PPV and also took this fight on weeks’ notice. Making your UFC debut on weeks’ notice against the #10 ranked fighter in the division is very ballsy. He does have an impressive record with 7-0 with 5 of those wins coming by finish. He is the huge underdog especially fighting against a vet of the division, but look for Dos Santos to surprise the critics. I feel this fight will go to a decision with Dos Santos potentially getting the win, but also look for Kape to try and get a statement win to solidify himself as a contender.

Co-Main - Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov:

The featured Heavyweight bout of the night is between two top-10-ranked heavyweights looking to make a statement. Bam Bam is currently on a two-fight losing streak against two of the top contenders in the division in Gane and Pavlovich, while the former Bellator champ Volkov is on a two-fight winning streak beating the likes of Rozenstruik and Romanov. This fight should be on the feet as both fighters love to strike. Volkov does have the height and reach advantage and usually uses those to his advantage in his fights. He will be looking to throw a lot of body kicks spanning from teep kicks to even flashier ones such as spinning back kicks. Tuivasa however is a brawler that looks to close the distance in any way possible. Be on the lookout for his strong leg kicks, he is a big puncher, but he loves to mix up his hands with his leg kicks. This fight may go the distance since both fighters have proven to be durable, but I do see Tuivasa being the aggressor and the eventual winner of the fight. It should be slightly reminiscent of the game plan he had against Stefan Struve but without the finish.

Main Event - Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland:

Now it’s time for the fight a lot of fans have been waiting for, the Champ Israel Adesanya is looking to make his first title defense after winning it back from Poatan while Sean Strickland is looking to play the underdog and shake up the UFC with a win. Strickland will have the edge on the ground sporting some great wrestling and a BJJ black belt, but after seeing the fight week and hearing what Strickland has to say about this battle, I am sure that he would much rather do the “Man-Dance” and test his chances in the striking department. This could prove to be dangerous for Strickland though since Adesanya is the best striker in the division and potentially the UFC. Strickland should be looking to close the distance with a lot of straight punches and try to mix in some nice hooks as well, but based on past fights I’m confident he will be headhunting the entire fight. Adesanya will probably be moving a lot throughout the fight trying to mix in a lot of low kicks which he will use to set up for some head kicks and also look for Izzy to counter a lot of Sean’s punches with some fight-ending hooks. Izzy will win this fight if kept on the feet, but Strickland has proven in the past that he is durable enough to last the 5 rounds and that is why the pick for tonight is Izzy by decision.

Round-by-Round + Post Fight Analysis

Click here to read my live and post fight analysis!