-Roosevelt Roberts: It’s a little perplexing that the best the UFC could do for an opponent for Roberts is Garrett Gross. He of the 11-6 pro record. And it’s not like we’re talking about the thin heavyweight division here. These are lightweights. Tells me that dudes don’t want to fight Roberts. Which makes me even higher on his skills. Roberts has already starched tougher opponents than Gross. He’s going to win this easy in the 1st round. Knockout.
-Mitchell Sipe: Hard fight to pick being that neither Sipe nor Don’tale Mayes have any wins overly quality opponents. One thing we know is Mayes took a step up in competition against Allen Crowder and got knocked out. But also, 2 of Mayes’ 4 wins have been by decision, which is a red flag in the heavyweight division. Fighting a tomato can, with all that power, and you can’t finish them. Sipe also seems to have the loudest tool, which is his knockout power. I think he’s the most likely pick and I think he knocks Mayes out in the 1st round.
-Justin Sumter: Super evenly matched fight. Although you could rightly say Ian Heinisch has an experience advantage with a 10-1 pro record to Sumter’s 4-1 pro record, on a whole, I feel like Heinisch could’ve been more impressive. 5 out of Heinisch’s 10 wins, he relied on his wrestling to win by decision. And 9 out of Heinisch’s 10 opponents have been tomato cans. Yes, Heinisch was impressive in his last fight knocking out the best opponent he’s ever gone up against. But Sumter’s 4 wins have been more impressive to me. Finishing 3 out of the 4 wins. And most impressive was when Sumter was 1-1 and took on a fighter with a 6-2 record and Sumter knocked him out. I’m going with the underdog. Sumter knocks out Heinisch in the 1st round.
-Maurice Mitchell: Jordan Griffin has a 16-5 pro record and hasn’t really shown much development. Main problem is that only 2 of his 16 wins were over decent opponents. And 1 of the 2, he won by majority decision. He hasn’t really developed. Mitchell might be 3 years older at 31 years old, but he has an 11-1 pro record. And even though he’s only beat up on tomato cans, I like Mitchell’s developmental arc better. Both fighters are well rounded but I think Mitchell’s skills are on a higher level and think Mitchell knocks Griffin out in the 2nd.
-Juan Adams: Yes, Juan Adams is the greenest of the green. 2-0 pro record. 2 knockouts. It’s tempting to pick Shawn Teed who’s 5-1. But Teed is a keylock specialist. 4 of his 5 wins have come by a specific submission, the keylock. He’s got pretty good grappling, but his wrestling is suspect. Fight starts on the feet which gives Adams the advantage. And I think Adams is super aggressive and knocks Teed out before he has a chance to go for the keylock. 1st round.