Islam Makhachev – Decision (It’s easy to write off the fight on the back of Makhachev’s natural size advantage. There is value behind backing the fighter with the more natural Lightweight frame (and a 4″ height advantage), yet Volkanovski has time and again proved his worth as a consummate game planner. Considering Makhachev’s stiff footwork, Volkanovski’s sniping bursts could see the challenger rack up volume while limiting the threat of takedowns. While the Aussie exhibited exceptional submission defence against Ortega, Makhachev is a different beast – physically and technically – on the mat)
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Yair Rodriguez – Decision (Emmett better uses his heavy hands to time opponents onto counters, often using the threat of his takedowns as traps. Unfortunately, the increased confidence on his feet has also seen a drop in his wrestling numbers. CC0 is a brutal G’n’P artist but his last successful takedown came against Shane Burgos in June 2020. If Emmett is forced into a pure striking contest with Rodriguez, the latter’s ability to stamp his mark on rounds has to be favoured. Especially after El Pantera’s chin/heart showing in his five-round war with Max Holloway)
Jack Della Maddalena – TKO Round 3 (Brown’s 6’3″ frame is outrageous for a Welterweight. Using his jab as a building block, Brown has been able to build combinations at a safe distance against experienced operators in Alex Oliveira, Jared Gooden and Francisco Trinaldo. A lack of defensive footwork is likely to see him lock horns with Maddalena in the pocket, however. Maddalena’s ferocious bodywork and dynamic combinations have to be heavily favoured, but Brown’s clinch work could also cause real issues)
Parker Porter – Decision (Tafa is an explosive-ish Heavyweight, but his telegraphed bursts are few and far between. Porter represents one of the worst athletes on the roster yet his wrestling will keep Tafa quiet in an ugly affair)
Jimmy Crute – Submission Round 1 (Menifeld entered the UFC as a swarming power-punching menace with a five-minute gas tank. Since then, the 35-year-old has flip-flopped between various approaches on the feet and the mat. Both men carry phenomenal power and Crute is likely to be buoyed by the crowd into a firefight. If not, the Aussie can always utilise his grappling edge to prevent a third stoppage loss in a row)
Tyson Pedro – TKO Round 1 (Bukauskas may have hobbled to a 1-3 record in his past UFC stint but the Lithuanian is an aesthetic offensive striker with a total disregard for defence. Tyson Pedro’s career revival came over some of the worst names on the LHW roster, but he cemented his reputation as a lethal striker who finds his timing early. The match-up screams dumb fast fun)
Joshua Culibao – Decision (Culibao isn’t the prettiest fighter but his efficient foundation of jabs and low kicks has seen him stick around the UFC Featherweight division. Melsik Baghdasaryan missed the entirety of 2022 with a series of injuries and is likely to have hampered his sharp kickboxing that was reliant upon his athletic edge)
Kleydson Rodrigues – Decision (Kleydson Rodrigues is a freak athlete with powerful hands yet showed his lack of experience as he naively operated off his back and dropped rounds in his UFC debut. Meanwhile, Shannon Ross is an experienced operator but he has earnt his debut off a second-round stoppage loss to Vinicius Salvador. The Australian has shown the ability to control opponents from the top before, but there should be too large a physical gap to matter)
Jamie Mullarkey – TKO Round 2 (Francisco Prado, a last-minute replacement for Nasrat Haqparast, is just 20 years old and has incrementally built a strong record on the regional scene. Unfortunately, Mullarkey represents a giant step up in regard to experience and quality. The Australian is well-rounded and durable enough to adapt over the course of a fight, dragging Prado into waters that he has yet to traverse)
Jack Jenkins – TKO Round 2 (Jenkins is a powerful fridge of a man with a powerful wrestling base that should see him ease through entry-level competition in the UFC. Don Shainis often ignores his wrestling in favour of cracking with his heavy hands. Jenkins isn’t a defensive savant yet the American tends to run headfirst into trouble – leaving openings for Jenkins to shoot)
Loma Lookboonmee – Decision (Lookboonmee’s Muay Thai expertise bridges over her slight size. Elise Reed is a solid striker but has shown tendencies to back herself onto the cage, closing the distance for Lookboonmee to exploit)
Blake Bilder – Decision (Bilder is a solid wrestler who could target Young’s 56% TDD, but he also has a nasty habit of eating big shots. For all his athletic shortcomings, Smokin Shane is a powerful kickboxer who has the ability to overwhelm opponents. A toss-up with the American being backed as the fresher fighter)
Zubaira Tukhugov – TKO Round 1 (Tukhugov is a liquid striker and a menace on the mat yet is plagued with mental lapses. Elves Brenner has been drafted in a fall guy yet his submission threat on the mat could catch a lackadaisical Tukhugov. The Russian is taking a notable step down in competition, however, and it should show rather early in the contest)
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