-Leon Edwards: Rafael dos Anjos picked up a triumphant win over Kevin Lee last time out but I think that had more to do with Lee gassing out. That’s not going to happen to Edwards. Edwards is 27 years old. Plus striking, above average power, above average wrestling. 9-2 in the UFC. Edwards will fight smart. Will fight at range. Will put lots of pressure on dos Anjos. And his cardio will hold up to out strike and win by decision.
-Alexey Oleinik: UPSET SPECIAL 1: Walt Harris technically has 2 knockouts in a row, but I remember the Andrei Arlovski fight that’s been no turned into a no contest. And Harris looked pretty bad. Harris is 36 years old and a decent lower tier gate keeper that has plus power. But Oleynik is still in his prime despite being 42 years old. Harris looked like a fish out of water against Fabricio Werdum and I think Oleynik’s grappling is close to the same level. Oleynik will take Harris down and submit him in the 1st round.
-Greg Hardy: This is going to be Hardy’s toughest test, but it’s a favorable matchup against fellow striker Juan Adams who is a legit 27 year old prospect. Adams is 2-1 in the UFC so far. And based on how Adams did against Chris de la Rocha, I’d say his striking is only above average to go with his plus power. And to me, I’ve been more impressed with Hardy’s striking and grade it plus with plus plus power. Yes, Hardy is going to have to round out his game. But against Adams, he won’t have a problem knocking him out. 1st round.
-Dan Hooker: James Vick is more well rounded than people realize. He’s actually got more submissions than knockouts. Vick is now 32 years old in the UFC. 9-3 in the UFC. Has above wrestling and submissions. Plus striking, but only average power. Despite the loss to Edson Barboza last time out, Hooker has been breaking out since moving up to 155 lbs. He’s got legit plus striking and plus wrestling. He showed off the wrestling in stuffing take downs from Jim Miller and Gilbert Burns. I expect this fight to play out on the feet and even though Hooker and Vick’s striking is close to equal, Hooker has more power and he’ll eventually knock Vick out. I’ll pick 2nd round.
-Alexander Hernandez: I wasn’t that impressed by Hernandez’s resume coming into the UFC and he picked up a lot of hype after he knocked Beniel Dariush out in the 1st round in his UFC debut. But the thing I’ve been most impressed with has been Hernandez’s wrestling and take down defense. It gives him a pretty high floor. His striking right now is above average and I expect it will develop into a plus tool. Francisco Trinaldo has been one of the more under rated fighters in the UFC but he’s now 40 years old and struggles when he can’t get his take downs. Trinaldo’s wrestling is still plus but due to how Hernandez stuffed the take downs of Oliver Aubin-Mercier, I think Hernandez keeps the fight on the feet and knocks Trinaldo out in the 1st round.
-Ben Rothwell: 37 year old Rothwell goes against 40 year old Andrei Arlovski. Arlovski has lost 8 out of his last 10 fights. The 2 guys he did beat were Stefan Struve and Junior Albini. Despite Rothwell losing 2 in a row, the losses were against Junior dos Santos and Blagoy Ivanov. Rothwell can still be an effective mid tier gate keeper with his striking, wrestling, clinch work and durability. Rothwell is going to use the clinch to mix things up and will do enough on the feet to win by decision.
-Alex Caceres: Steven Peterson is 1-2 in the UFC. 29 years old. Has average grappling. Caceres has been around forever but he’s only 31 years old. And even though he’s lost 4 of his last 6 fights, he can still be an effective lower tier gate keeper using his well rounded average skills. Peterson’s stand up isn’t that great. Caceres’ take down defense will make this a kick boxing battle and Caceres will out point Peterson for the decision win.
-Irene Aldana: This is going to be a really close fight. Aldana is 31 years old and a 3-2 UFC record but has been on a roll winning 3 fights in a row. Is known for her plus striking. Raquel Pennington picked up the biggest win of her career beating Miesha Tate, then lost 2 in a row against Amanda Nunes and Germaine de Randamie. Pennington is 30 years old. Also has plus striking, but only average power. She’s more of a volume puncher. Aldana is going to have more power, but probably won’t knock Pennington out because of her chin. So the question is going to be who lands more. I’ll give a slight edge to Aldana. Split decision win.
-Klidson Abreu: Sam Alvey had been a solid mid tier gate keeper for a long time but I think is starting to slow down. He’s now 33 years old. He’s lost 4 of his last 7 fights. And 2 of those 3 wins were split decisions over Rashad Evans and Gian Villante. Alvey’s striking used to be plus, I’d say the tool has regressed to above average. And his take down defense isn’t what it used to be. Meanwhile, Abreu is an elite prospect at 205 lbs. 26 years old. Already has plus grappling to pair with competent, average striking. 14-3 pro record. Lost his UFC debut to Magomed Ankalaev. No shame there. I think Abreu will get his take downs and because Alvey hasn’t been submitted in 9 years, this will be a decision win for Abreu.
-Roxanne Modafferi: Despite Modafferi being 36 years old, she’s still in her prime and actually enjoying the best run of her career. Ever since she started focusing on her wrestling and ground and pound, the results have catapulted her into an upper tier gate keeper at 125 lbs. She’s 4-3 in the UFC at 125 lbs but has only lost to Sijara Eubanks and Nicco Montano. Jennifer Maia is faring a bit better than I thought she would in the UFC. 16-5 pro record. 1-1 in the UFC so far. Lost to Liz Carmouche. Upset Alexa Davis. Is well rounded with above average striking and grappling. Ultimately, I think Modafferi will be able to get her take downs and ground and pound but because Maia is so durable, it’ll be a decision win for Modafferi.
-Ray Borg: Gabriel Silva seems like a decent prospect. 24 years old. 8-0. Average striking with the potential for more. But he takes on a former title contender in Borg who is going to be too much for Silva. Borg debuted in the UFC when he was 20 years old. He’s now 25. 5-4 in the UFC, although I thought the judges got it wrong when he lost to Casey Kenney. Borg has plus grappling, but his striking is only average. He gets in trouble when he can’t take his opponent down. I think Silva is a good bounce back opponent for Borg because Silva will have no answer for the take downs. 2nd round submission win for Borg.
-Mario Bautista: UPSET SPECIAL 2: I’m not that impressed with Jin Soo Son. 26 years old. 9-3 pro record. Lost his UFC debut to Petr Yan. Has average striking at best. Bautista is also 26 years old. 6-1. Lost his UFC debut to Cory Sandhagen. But I think Bautista has average wrestling and submissions. Bautista will be able to take Son down and do enough on the ground to win by decision.
-Domingo Pilarte: I think Pilarte is better everywhere in this fight. 29 years old. 1-0 in the UFC. Has above average grappling. Average striking. He takes on Felipe Corales who is in the UFC based more on projection than production. 8-1. 25 years old. As of now only has average grappling, but it’s possible the tool develops. But for now I think Pilarte will want to fight where Corales is weakest and that’s on the feet. Pilarte will easily out strike Corales to cruise to a decision win.