Kamaru Usman – Decision (Edward’s lacks the ferocious pace of Covington which unsettled Usman on the feet, but the Brit is far cuter on the outside. This isn’t due to Edward’s exceptional leadership of a fight. Edwards, instead, coasts regarding dictating pace or position over a fight. The Brit oozes class in short combinations on the outside, with the speed and range to punish Usman’s powerful straight shots. In the clinch, Edwards can physically match the Nigerian while also offering fight-altering damage. Much of the threat stems from Edward’s elbows on the exit, a danger neutralised if Usman pins Edwards to the cage. Worryingly, Edwards has to remain alert to Usman creeping into the pocket. Not only does Edwards fall out of shape over extended combinations, but if Usman closes the distance then he opens up wrestling avenues. In the early rounds, Edwards is technically sharp enough to hold his own. Unfortunately, the Brit physically drops off by the championship rounds – in addition to suffering mental lapses that can be ill-afforded against one of the most consistent UFC champions to date)
Paulo Costa – TKO Round 3 (For all the flaws in Rockhold’s game, he still owns a vicious kicking game and phenomenal submission arsenal, in addition to being an athletic specimen. As surprising as it may seem, Rockhold has the tools to systematically break down Costa in a similar-ish fashion as Adesanya. Most likely, however, is the fight will descend into war after the first round and Rockhold’s long injury (and paper chin) list will catch up to him)
Jose Aldo – TKO Round 2 (Living up to his name, The Machine is a ferocious chain-wrestler with an endless gas tank. Even if Dvalishvili cannot keep Aldo down, it will burn through Aldo’s ageing gas tank and lead to mistakes later down the line. Still, Aldo has long been a phenomenal anti-wrestler. Although the Georgian’s striking has refined, especially in combinations, Dvalishvili still lacks any threat on the outside. Against a clubbing counter-puncher, Aldo will be able to tear apart Dvalishvili’s body)
Lucie Pudilova – Decision (With all-out aggression, Wu digs into her durability in the hopes that she can unravel opponents through blistering pressure. Old Pudilova would be able to meet Wu in the middle and trade 50/50. With the Czech fighter now leading with the jab on the outside, Wu is too open to be hit. There isn’t a massive technical gulf – Mulan could certainly overwhelm Pudilova’s newfound technical approach, but I’m favouring the form fighter)
Tyson Pedro – TKO Round 1 (Pedro’s defensive worries shouldn’t be an issue considering his firepower keeping Hunsucker gun-shy. Add in Hunsucker’s mental snap, afraid of incoming shots in recent fights, and it seems an easy back. Still, it has to be noted that Pedro was outgunned and outlasted by Shogun Rua’s corpse in 2018)
Alexandr Romanov – Decision (After a razor-thin win over Juan Espino, Romanov appears to have taken his fitness seriously which has led to greater success on the mat. The Moldovan is an aggressive, exciting wrestler who will run head-first into his preferred game. Tybura is tighter on the feet, especially defensively, and has a chance to pip a decision if Romanov cannot find his way to the mat. As Romanov is an absolute boar of a human, I’m expecting Romanov to muscle this to the mat and prove impossible to shrug off)
Jared Gordon – Decision (Just how washed is Leonardo Santos these days? The Brazilian is still a potent offensive kickboxer with a terrifying submission game, but his gas tank and durability are sliding. A few years ago, Santos would have been considered heavy favourites. Nowadays, Gordon is defensively savvier and can apply pressure that a forty-two-year-old Santos cannot keep up with)
Sean Woodson – Decision (Woodson has shown increasingly aggressive starts since the Erosa loss, while Saldana will be comfortable entertaining early firepower. If Woodson can’t close the fight, Saldana will ask the same questions that Erosa posed – has Woodson developed enough? Backing Woodson’s variety on the feet and extended bursts of volume)
Ange Loosa – Decision (Loosa is a surprisingly adept scrambler, tapping into his athleticism. Fletcher is a relentless wrestler with a strong enough gas tank to consistently ask questions of Loosa. The Swiss’ consistent prying with the jab or teep will provide regular barriers to Fletcher’s desperate attempts to shoot)
Amir Albazi – Decision (BTEC Figgy silenced some of the haters with his exceptionally slick kneebar over Daniel da Silva. On the feet, Figueiredo is largely one-pace with occasional glimpses of explosive artistry. Albazi’s liquid jab will likely prove a step too far for Figueiredo to overcome. Add in the Swede’s glittering submission offence and natural physical gifts – and there could be a late stoppage on the cards)
Aoriqileng – TKO Round 3 (A swanger n banger, Jay Perrin is an entertaining brawler but it’s never a good sign to be dominated by Mario Bautista. Perrin is unlikely to takedown Aoriqileng seeing as the vastly superior wrestler, Cody Durden, struggled to take it to the mat. Stranded on the feet, Aoriqileng is the more durable, harder-hitting, aggressor)
Victor Altamirano – Submission Round 3 (Da Silva burns his gas tank early through a delectable array of spinning strikes and jumping attacks. Perhaps Da Silva will opt for a slightly more conservative approach after an 0-2 start, yet it’s most likely that the Brazilian will bank on chin checking Altamirano early. It’s very questionable whether Altamirano can survive a frenetic first round, but the DWCS victor has the easiest path to victory)
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