Curtis Blaydes – TKO Round 2 (Sergei Pavlovich has been on a roll since he returned to the octagon in March 2022, racking up three first-round finishes and impressing casual fans. While cutting an imposing presence, it remains to be seen whether he has fixed his grappling issues after being dominated by Alistair Overeem. Curtis Blaydes doesn’t have to rely on his wrestling to win, but it sure would make his life easier to avoid Pavlovich’s swarming volume striking)
Bruno Silva – TKO Round 3 (As Middleweight’s most consistent gatekeeper, it feels foolish to overlook the Hawaiian’s well-rounded skillset. Although Tavares is favored as the more experienced fighter, especially in his ability to pick up rounds, Bruno Silva’s penchant for a surprise equaliser on the feet could flip the script)
Bobby Green – Decision (Bobby Green’s body is starting to show the miles of a long career, and as a fanboy, I wouldn’t mind if he retired after his fight on Saturday. Despite Jared Gordon’s strong control wrestling, his skillset is not best suited to exploit Green’s athletic decline. Flash will struggle with Green’s sprawl and leave him chasing the fight on the feet against a slick counter-puncher)
Iasmin Lucindo – Decision (Iasmin Lucindo may have lost her debut fight, but she put up a hell of a fight and showed some slick boxing skills. To beat Brogan Walker, she’ll need to keep her distance and avoid getting taken down. But Walker’s gritty fighting style could prove to be too much for Lucindo, especially in the often unpredictable world of Women’s Flyweight)
Matt Semelsberger – Decision (Both men adopt the same approach on the feet – putting everything behind power single-strikes. Semelsberger’s height and reach will provide a hurdle for Wells to overcome, but the latter’s wrestling chops could force Semi the Jedi into adopting an apprehensive, gun-shy output. Backing Semelsberger’s gas tank as the x-factor in a tight-knit affair)
Ricky Glenn – Decision (Ricky Glenn is back after a two-year long break. His relentless pace will be put to the test against Christos Giagos’ wrestling-focused game plan and aggressive early pressure. Spartan regularly fades down the stretch, however, while Glenn’s seemingly endless stamina should see him overcome a torrid first round)
Montel Jackson – TKO Round 2 (Rani Yahya’s faces a tough comeback in his return to the octagon after two years, pitted against resurgent prospect Montel Jackson. Yahya is a skilled BJJ expert who has continued to show his brilliance deep into his twilight against respectable opposition. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, Jackson is mature enough to avoid the early threat on the mat and utilise his clear striking edge later down the line)
Norma Dumont – Decision (Karol Rosa makes the jump to Featherweight after scraping a decision victory over Lina Lansberg. A strange move after struggling with the veteran’s physicality but the division does offer a shorter route to the title. It’s a coin-flip as to whether Norma Dumont will find her timing on the night – but when it clicks together, she is a surprise counter-striking package)
Junior Tafa – TKO Round 1 (Mohammed Usman banks his entire gameplan upon his one-shot knockout power. The Nigerian struggles with the decrepit pace of Heavyweight, has faced lukewarm competition throughout his career and appears to be riding his family name. Tafa is very green but he has already shown greater consistency in laying down his power, which is levels above what Usman has to offer)
Francis Marshall – Submission Round 3 (There’s good reason to start the hype train behind Francis Marshall. The American has all the freak athletic trimmings to emerge as a chain wrestling machine, as long as match-makers can bleed him in properly. William Gomis’ slick footwork could blunt Marshall’s early pressure but the Frenchman hasn’t shown the venom required to earn respect on the feet)
Brady Hiestand – Decision (An interesting match-up between a power-puncher and a relentless wrestler. Batgerel Danaa will be banking on his power to find a big shot at the start of each round and snap his three-fight losing streak. TUF Alumni, Brady Heistand, is defensively porous but his style is tailor made to mute Danaa’s threat)
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