-Daniel Cormier: UPSET SPECIAL 1: Yes, Stipe Miocic has been the most successful heavyweight champion in UFC history. But he’s never fought anyone that has the wrestling and grinding ability the way Cormier brings to the table. I do think Cormier’s wrestling is on another level and despite being the smaller fighter will grind Miocic. Maybe take him down. And will mix the take downs, grinding, and striking to out point Miocic to win by a close decision.
-Francis Ngannou: Derrick Lewis was really close to getting knocked out by Marcin Tybura in his last night but made a rousing comeback. Yes, Ngannou is going to really have to work on his wrestling and ground game, but let’s not forget this is a guy that knocked Alistair Overeem out in the 1st round. Ngannou will remind everybody who he is with a 1st round KO.
-Michael Chiesa: Really easy fight to pick because Anthony Pettis is a shell of his former self who hasn’t been the same since Rafael dos Anjos steamrolled him to take his belt. Pettis hasn’t improved his take down defense or his ground game off his back. Chiesa is going to get him to the ground and Pettis will be lost. 1st round submission win for Chiesa.
-Gokhan Saki: Total trainwreck of a fight. But it’ll be entertaining haha. Khalil Rountree and Saki will keep the fight on the feet. It won’t last long. Saki has superior striking and will knock Rountree out in the 1st round.
-Paulo Costa: This fight does have upset potential. I’ll admit it. Fact is, Costa has not beat the best competition in the UFC. He’s 3-0 in the UFC but the wins were over 2 fighters the UFC released and the other just retired. Uriah Hall is going to be a really good test for Costa because Hall really could knock him out. But while Hall has great power, he’s not as skilled technically. Hall can be out struck and knocked out and I think Costa does exactly that in the 2nd round.
-Paul Felder: Biggest issue for Mike Perry is that he hasn’t evolved at all. He’s one dimensional. And fellow strikers have learned that if they’re patient with Perry, he’ll gas himself out and fade in the 2nd half of the fight. I used to think maybe Perry had an off night getting out struck by Alan Jouban, but Perry was pretty exposed in the Santiago Ponzinibbio fight. And Perry’s last fight against Max Griffin was pretty bad. Felder started his UFC career with a 2-2 record and looked like he was heading to lower tier gate keeper status. But since then, he’s gone 5-1, only losing to elite wrestler Franciscio Trinaldo. And Felder’s most impressive win was in his last fight knocking out the very under rated Charles Oliveira. I predict Felder will use his improved and decent wrestling to take Perry down and ground and pound him the same way he did to Oliveira. 2nd round ground and pound knockout for Felder.
-Rafael Assuncao: Yes, Rob Font has looked impressive. With his striking. Not so much a complete game. I think he’s going to have problems with Assuncao’s ability to grapple and possibility take Font down. But even if he can’t, the threat of take downs and having to defend them is going to mess with Font’s striking and will help Assuncao to win by decision either way.
-Curtis Millender: I don’t buy into the idea of Max Griffin as a rising contender just because he’s coming off a win over Mike Perry. Yes, Griffin is a pretty good striker. But that’s the only tool he really has. Millender’s best skill is wrestling. And has been really improving his stand up lately. I think Millender will mix up take downs and striking to keep him off balance and will finish Griffin in the 3rd round.
-Dan Hooker: Super good fight. Hooker vs Gilbert Burns could easily be a co main event on a lot of Fight Night cards. Close fight but I’m picking Hooker for a few reasons. First, Burns has really, really struggled to make weight lately. I think he eventually moves up to 170 lbs. Burns has showed tons of improvement in his hands which bodes really well for him long term. Problem for him in this fight though is Hooker is a giant at 155 lbs and I don’t think Burns has the wrestling to take him down. Burns might be fine seeing how the fight plays out on the feet, riding the confidence of 2 knockouts in a row. But Hooker is going to have a reach advantage and will have better technical striking. Hooker by 1st round knockout.
-Drakkar Klose: UPSET SPECIAL 2: I really like Lando Vannata and his creative striking. He’s 26 years old and has potential. But he’s not a complete fighter. Klose can stay on the feet and hang with Vannata for a little bit, but it’s likely only a matter of time before Klose takes Vannata down. And works to get a submission in the 2nd round.
-Jamie Moyle: Not sure why the UFC is giving Emily Whitmire another fight. Between amateur, TUF and pro fights, Whitmire has a 4-7 record. She’s got a little bit of grappling skill but that’s about it. I expect Moyle, with her wrestling, to take Whitmire down and ground and pound for a 1st round knockout.