-Justin Gaethje: It’s tempting to pick Michael Johnson in this fight. Especially with how Johnson looked when he knocked out Dustin Poirier. But Gaethje is the #1 lightweight prospect in the world and his debut fight in the UFC is the main event for a reason. Gaethje is going to be too strong and too explosive for Johnson. This guy Gaethje has a chance to be a star in the UFC and could find himself with a marquee fight against Connor McGregor in a couple years.
-Jesse Taylor: This fight is going to go the exact same way all his other fights went in the TUF house. Taylor will take Dhiego Lima down and lay on him the whole fight.
-Marc Diakiese: First half of Diakiese’s career outside the UFC was OK, not great. But he was young and turned pro at 20 years old. He really turned the corner his eighth fight against Rick Selvarajah in BAMMA. Since then, he’s looked like a blue chip prospect. He’s 3-0 in the UFC, but hasn’t fought anybody that great. Drakkar Klose is an average prospect and the type of fighter that Diakiese has been beating.
-Jared Cannonier: Nick Roehrick is coming into this fight on close to a week’s notice. And Roehrick isn’t that good of a prospect. Cannonier is only a -300 favorite. He should be favored more. He’s going run all over Roehrick.
-Elias Theodorou: Probably will be a boring fight with Theodorou grinding his way past Brad Tavares. Theodorou might seem like a top prospect, and he is to some degree. But he’s too one dimensional as evidenced by his loss over Thiago Santos. When he fights someone he can’t grind over, he’s in trouble. But Tavares isn’t someone who is going to give him problems.
-Jordan Johnson: Johnson is one of the top young prospects at light heavyweight. He went 6-0 outside the UFC and finished a few very good prospects. Marcel Fortuna’s knockout over Anthony Hamilton was impressive, but Johnson is a monster and he’s already beat fighters as good as Fortuna. Johnson could be fighting for the light heavyweight title in a couple years.
-Angela Hill: Hill has really improved the past couple years in Invicta. Not the same fighter she was when she had her first stint in the UFC. Ashley Yoder is a below average prospect and won’t be able to keep up with Hill’s speed.
-James Krause: Krause big here. He’s a very well rounded fight who’s last pro fight was a win in the UFC so I’m not sure why he did the Ultimate Fighter show. Tom Gallicchio is just nowhere near Krause’s level of skill.
-Ed Herman: SLIGHT UPSET SPECIAL: I say slight because Dollaway is favored by only a little, but in one sportsbook I found he’s a -200 favorite. Herman is sneaky good though. Since 2011, Herman has only lost to elite fighters. I haven’t been that impressed by Dollaway for years. Maybe he looks better at 205 lbs, making his debut there, but I don’t think he has it in him to best Herman.
-Teruto Ishihara: The fight game can be cruel and has been to Gray Maynard. He’s never been the same since getting knocked out by Frankie Edgar in their trilogy fight. Ishihara is no future title contender, but he has a good shot of sticking around the UFC as a gatekeeper. Maynard’s chin is gone and Ishihara should finish.
-Tecia Torres: Total route for Torres. She’s fast. Technical striking. She’ll out point Juliana Lima in a lopsided fight.