
-Korean Zombie: The Zombie is heading towards another title shot at 145 lbs. One of the biggest reasons I like his potential is that when he first signed with WEC, he was mainly a submission specialist. But since moving over to the UFC, 2 of his 4 wins have come by knockout. So he’s made leaps and bounds in improving his striking to become dangerous everywhere. And I think the book is out now on Yair Rodriguez, that he can be taken down and have real trouble on the ground. I think the Zombie is able to take him down and eventually submits Rodriguez in the 3rd round.
-Mike Perry: Cowboy Cerrone is starting to head towards the tail end of his career. Lost his last 4 of of 5 fights. 35 years old. Granted the 4 losses came against the elite in the division. Perry is 5-3 in the UFC. 27 years old. Now training in Albuquerque. And seemed to finally turn the corner in his development in his last fight. The book on Perry was that he’s super aggressive and if you can survive the 1st round, he’ll get tired in the last 2 round and you can beat him. But he showed much better pacing and technique in beat Paul Felder, who’s very good and was on a roll. Perry is going to have to be extra patient here with this fight being in high altitude, but I think Leon Edwards created a great blue print to follow on how to beat Cerrone. I see Perry having the patience and knockout power to knock Cerrone out in the 2nd.
-Germaine de Randamie: Raquel Pennington definitely has gotten better the past few years. She’s more technical with her striking. She’s rounded out her game. Wrestling has gotten better. But the problem Pennington is going to have in this fight is she still doesn’t have elite tools. That’s why she doesn’t finish that many fights. And Pennington will have problems in this fight because de Randamie’s striking is better and has more power. Plus I don’t think Pennington can take her down. De Randamie isn’t that active, but she should be healthy and fresh and will out strike Pennington to pick up the decision win.
-Ray Borg: Joseph Benavidez lost to Sergio Pettis. Pettis lost to Jussier Formiga. Formiga lost to Ray Borg. So MMA math says Borg wins haha. Really interesting fight though. Benavidez hasn’t looked that great the past couple years, probably because he was in limbo, knowing he wasn’t going to get another title shot as long as Demetrius Johnson was champion. Now that flyweight has a new champion, Benavidez might be more motivated than he has in awhile. But the problem for him is that he’s now 34 years old. I don’t think Benavidez’s wrestling is what it used to be. He lost to Pettis because he couldn’t take him down and got out struck. Borg is 25 years old. And out grappled Jussier Formiga, which is incredible. And did decent against Johnson, last 4 and a half rounds. It’s likely Borg is going to be improved in this fight and think his grappling is the best tool in this fight. I see Borg being able to get Benavidez down and submitting him in the 2nd round.
-Maycee Barber: On paper, Hannah Cifers looks like a top prospect. 12-3 record. 26 years old. But the reality is that 11 of her 12 wins have come against tomato cans. Any time she’s taken a step up in competition, she’s lost. Barber is going to win this fight because of how advanced and well rounded she is. Cifers is a striker. And I don’t think her take down defense is that great. Barber will take her down and do enough on the ground to cruise to a decision win.
-Luis Pena: Pena and Michael Trizano are both pretty good prospects, but Pena is way more advanced at this current point. I think their wrestling cancels each other out. Fight plays out on the feet where Pena has much more explosive striking. And I think he knocks Trizano out in the 2nd round.
-Amanda Cooper: UPSET SPECIAL: The main thing Ashley Yoder has going for her is her wrestling. She has gotten a little better at becoming more well rounded, but she’s 31 years old and likely doesn’t have too much more growth. Cooper is much more well rounded and I think will have the take down defense to keep the fight on the feet, where she’s going to be able to out point Yoder in the stand up. So I’m going with Cooper by decision.
-Chas Skelly: Pretty big mismatch here. Bobby Moffett is a slightly below average prospect. 28 years old. Grappler. One dimensional. And even though Skelly has likely hit his ceiling developmentally at 33 years old, he’s still a solid mid tier gate keeper. Skelly probably will be able to out strike Moffett, but even if he doesn’t, Skelly has much better wrestling to put Moffett on his back too. Skelly by decision.
-Beniel Dariush: Pretty brutal matchup for Thiago Moises to make his UFC debut. Really good prospect. 23 years old. 11-2 pro record. Pretty well rounded. I just feel that Dariush will be too much, too soon for Moises. Dariush hasn’t picked up a win in his last 3 fights. I think he really goes back to his bread and butter here. Clinching. Pushing against the fence. Mixing in some take downs. He’s going to be too experienced for Moises and will win by decision.
-Devonte Smith: Smith looks like a pretty good prospect. 25 years old. 8-1. Striker. Only loss was against UFC fighter Jon Gunther. Lost from lack of takedown defense. But since that loss, he’s knocked out a decent wrestler in Nick Gehrts and a decent grappler in UFC vet Justin Edwards. Julian Erosa is getting another crack at the UFC at 155 lbs, where he doesn’t have to cut as much weight. And yes, it’s possible he looks better. That’s been a trend lately. Fighters moving up in weight and doing better. But stylistically, I think Smith has the advantage. Because I think his takedown defense is now good enough to keep the fight standing up. And if that’s what happens, he’s going to knock Erosa out. Probably in the 2nd round.
-Davi Ramos: Jon Gunther is a one dimensional wrestler with only 5 pro fights. Ramos is way, way too much, too soon for Gunther. Ramos could have top 5 grappling in the division. And this is going to be a quick fight because I doubt Gunther can keep the fight on the feet. 1st round submission for Ramos.
-Mark de la Rosa: Jordan Espinosa is just too inconsistent for me to pick him. He’s got a 13-5 pro record, which isn’t great. 28 years old. He’s similar to de la Rosa. The best tool for both is their grappling. And yes, Espinosa’s hands have been getting better to make him a more well rounded fighter, but I do think de la Rosa’s grappling is on another level. I think he takes Espinosa down and submits him in the 2nd round.
-Joseph Morales: Eric Shelton is a quality flyweight. 27 years old. Has gotten a lot better in the past couple years. But the UFC keeps giving him the best of the best of young up and coming flyweights. Morales is also in that bunch. Had an ultra impressive 1st round submission win over Roberto Sanchez in his UFC debut, which shows what level Morales’ grappling is on. But Morales’ hands have been getting better too. I think Shelton’s take down defense keeps fight on the feet, but Morales will out point Shelton in the stand up. Morales by decision.