-Holly Holm: UPSET SPECIAL 1: Yes, Cyborg has looked dominant. But the big thing to look at is the lack of quality competition at 145 lbs for women. There’s no one at the elite level. Yes, Cyborg knocked out Tonya Evinger, but Evinger was decently competitive. And Evinger is nowhere close to Holm’s skill level. This is easily the toughest fight of Cyborg’s career and she’s never fought someone with the boxing skills and speed of Holm. I think Holm got her mojo back knocking out Bethe Correia in her last fight. And I see Holm staying on the outside and outstriking Cyborg to pull off the upset.
-Khabib Nurmagomedov: Khabib’s biggest opponent is always the weight cut. Because he’s only fought twice in the last 4 years, a lot of people forget how dominant he is. Usual Khabib fight here. He’s going to grab Edson Barboza, pick him up. Slam him. Rinse and repeat until Barboza has had enough. Khabib by 2nd round knockout.
-Cynthia Calvillo: Calvillo could be a future champion. I said that in her debut and I say it again now. She stronger and faster than Carla Esparza and will have no problem winning by decision.
-Carlos Condit: Condit is only 33 years old. He should have 2-3 years left in his prime. Condit probably never becomes champion, but he should be a good upper tier gatekeeper and is better to do the job than Neil Magny. Condit by decision.
-Khalil Rountree: Michal Oleksiejczuk could be a pretty good prospect at 22 years old, but he’s not ready for Rountree who has looked like a monster in his last 2 fights. Easy pick. Rountree by 1st round knockout.
-Marc Diakiese: Yes, Dan Hooker looked great in his last fight, but it was against an over the hill Ross Pearson. Diakiese is a very good prospect at 24 years old and with Hooker’s confidence coming into this fight, it should be exciting for a few minutes with Diakiese having the opportunity to pick up the 1st round knockout. Hooker has a 14-7 record for a reason.
-Myles Jury: Really good under the radar fight, but I think Jury is on another level. He went 5-1 in the UFC at 155 lbs, only losing to Donald Cerrone. But had wins over Michael Johnson and a more in his prime Diego Sanchez. Rick Glenn is a solid 145 lb fighter and likely has a future as a gatekeeper, but Jury has the skills to possibly be a title contender and I’m picking Jury by 2nd round knockout.
-Matheus Pereira: Pereira’s confidence will be too high in this fight. Tough fight for Luis Smolka as he started the UFC with a 4-1 record, but has now lost 3 fights in a row and a loss to Pereira likely leads to the UFC releasing him. I just don’t see anyway Smolka wins this. Pereira is well rounded and can win anywhere he wants. Will pick up the decision win.
-Mark de la Rosa: UPSET SPECIAL 2: Really tough fight to pick. But there’s too many factors here against Tim Elliott. First thing to know is that this fight is taking place at 135 lbs. So Elliott is going to be the smaller fighter. Plus Elliott didn’t look the same in his last fight losing to Ben Nguyen as he did in a competitive loss to champion Demetrius Johnson. Plus, Elliott has a 14-8 record for a reason. He’s not consistent and it’s the reason he was originally released from the UFC a few years ago. De la Rosa is a pretty good prospect. 23 years old. Undefeated. He has 2 wins over very good prospects already. And he’s going to be the bigger guy in this fight. I like de la Rosa to take a close decision win.
-Marvin Vettori: I like Vettori in this fight for a couple reasons. First, he’s 24 years old and looked pretty good in the UFC so far. 2-1 in the UFC, only losing to rising contender Antonio Carlos Jr. The other reason is becasue his opponent Omari Akhmedov is fighting at 185 lbs for the first time after a 5-3 UFC record at 170 lbs. And Akhmedov’s style is grinding, wrestling. Something he’ll have problems doing at a bigger weight class. Vettori is going to be the bigger fighter and will be able to neutralize Akhmedov’s grappling, cruising to a decision win.