Max Holloway – Decision (We are yet to see how Allen adapts over the course of five rounds. The 29-year-old finds himself on a 10-fight win streak in the UFC but he is yet to face his first top dog. We have seen Holloway weather an early storm to come on strong later down the line. Unfortunately, we have no such track record of Allen coping with the natural ebb and flow of the championship rounds. Holloway’s chin continues to look as unbreakable as ever, combined with his reactive counter-punching in the pocket and the recent addition of elbows. It’s difficult to see Allen imposing his grappling chops on Holloway if the going gets tough)
Edson Barboza – Decision (Despite a long career of wars wearing on his 37-year-old body, Barboza remains one of the most lethal fast-twitch strikers in the organisation. Quarantillo is a durable cookie that breaks opponents down, but even Billy Q will struggle to eat many of the Brazilian’s kicks to the legs or chops. Of course, the American’s pressure on the feet could always exploit Barboza’s career weakness of backing himself onto the cage. Considering Barboza still owns effective TDD, a pure striking affair favours the old dog)
Dustin Jacoby – TKO Round 2 (Dustin Jacoby’s long frame and conservative approach on the feet make him a nuisance banana skin for most Light Heavyweights. Meanwhile, Azamat Murzakanov has so far subscribed to ducking overhands and hail marys during his UFC tenure. Murzakanov’s background in sambo could tip the fight – though his struggles finding takedowns against Devin Clark and Tafon Nchukwi are a red flag)
Tanner Boser – TKO Round 3 (Tanner Boser returns after a year out – shifting his belly flab to make the LHW limit. The Canadian was a feather-fisted yet technical boxer with impressive hand speed at Heavyweight. If Boser can avoid an early submission loss, he could box the bleedin’ ears off of Cutelaba)
Pedro Munhoz – Decision (Despite failing to record a victory over two years, Munhoz remains a granite-chinned, leg-kicking supremo that is impossible to out-wrestle. Not that it will bother Chris Gutierrez who will look to keep this standing. The Texan has shown greater shot variety over recent fights, but his hard straight shots remain his bread and butter)
Clay Guida – Decision (Clay Guida’s relentless gas tank has shown a bit of wear and tear but still stands up to the test of time. The high-pressure grappler is the strongest mat threat that Garcia has faced. The Mexican showed solid TDD chops against Natan Levy but there are levels to this game)
Bill Algeo – Decision (Algeo is far wilier on the feet and will be able to dictate the pace of the affair. Brown’s full-blooded striking is somewhat of a threat, yet his single-shots and telegraphing often see him missing the mark. The 32-year-old highlighted his submission threat last time out against Erik Silva, but he will struggle to impose himself on Algeo’s awkward frame)
Matheus Nicolau – Submission Round 3 (A FOTN contender sees Royval’s chaotic high-risk style pitted against Matheus Nicolau’s conservative approach. The Brazilian’s careful counter-striking should be favoured, but as seen against Kai Kara-France, it only takes one of Royval’s wild spinning strikes to flip a fight on its head)
Zak Cummings – Decision (It’s a veteran affair between two of the longest-serving UFC oldies – Ed Herman and Zak Cummings. Cummings, four years Herman’s junior, is making the jump up to Middleweight. The Missourian has enjoyed more recent success and should be able to out-work Herman’s pedestrian output and occasional power strike)
Gillian Robertson – Submission Round 3 (Will Piera Rodriguez, who thrives from top control, look to tussle with Gillian Robertson’s fearsome submission chops? Or, will Rodriguez opt to keep the fight standing and deny Robertson her best chance of victory? Whatever the case, I will always back my Canadian submission artist, especially in her first match at Strawweight)
Lando Vannata – Decision (Vannata was physically bullied by Charles Jourdain last time out, so the return to Lightweight is a smart career move. The 31-year-old may only ever be an exceptional highlight reel fighter, but his experience could be decisive in out-foxing his green foe. Golden Boy is a high-volume body puncher but he has never faced an unorthodox fighter in the pocket ala Vanatta)
Bruna Brasil – Decision (Debutant, Bruna Brasil, enters with a decent bit of hype after earning a second-round head kick KO on the DWCS. There is no denying the 29-year-old’s power but her gas tank was spluttering after the first round. Fortunately for Brasil, Denise Gomes was out-wrestled by Loma Lookboonmee – so it’s fair to say she may lack the tools to stick around in the UFC)
Gaston Bolanos – TKO Round 3 (Debutant, Gaston Bolanos, steps up for his UFC debut against Aaron Phillips, a fighter who hasn’t featured for the organisation in almost three years. Expect regular spinning elbows from the Peruvian while Phillips eats more damage than he is able to output)
Lucie Pudilova – Decision (The Czech Bantamweight enjoyed a successful return to the UFC as she spent nearly ten minutes pounding Yanan Wu into the ground. Edwards cuts a far more imposing figure in the octagon, but she has struggled to stay standing against stronger takedown artists)
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