-Dustin Poirier: Yes, Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated at 27-0. 11-0 in the UFC. But I don’t buy into this idea that’s he the best pound for pound fighter in the UFC. Or that he’s unstoppable. The main reason is the lack of quality competition he’s beat and the fact they were all favorable matchups. Khabib was able to take down Edson Barboza, but almost got knocked out in the 3rd round. Khabib didn’t look that great against Al Iaquinta. And Conor McGregor is a striker that lacks take down defense. Yes, Khabib has plus plus wrestling. But I still have questions about him. Like what happens if he can’t take his opponent down or keep him down all fight? That’s where I think Khabib runs into problems with Poirier who is great everywhere. Poirier is 17-4 in the UFC. Yes, that’s a lot of fights but clearly, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. And he’s gone on an unbelievable streak of beating Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez and Max Holloway all in a row. Poirier has plus plus cardio. His biggest weapon against Khabib. Plus striking. Above average wrestling. Plus submissions. Khabib’s wrestling is the best tool in this fight. But I’m predicting that Poirier’s grappling will be good enough to be able to get back up when he is taken down. And I think Poirier’s got better cardio. I think more and more of the fight as it goes on will play out on the feet and Poirier will knock Khabib out in the 4th round.
-Paul Felder: This is a really close fight. But one thing I noticed in researching this fight is that Edson Barboza has a 14-7 UFC record. That’s 21 UFC fights! Typically, most fighters, regardless of age, their bodies start wearing down after 20 fights in the octagon. Now, Barboza losing 3 of his last 4 fights doesn’t have much to do with why I’m picking Felder. Cause Khabib and Kevin Lee taking Barboza down, that’s not going to happen in this fight with Felder. But Barboza is coming off a knockout loss against Justin Gaethje. And for a lot of older fighters, once the chin starts to go, it really goes. Barboza is 33 years old. I used to have his striking as plus plus, but I’d now grade it as plus. Felder is actually older. 34 years old. 8-4 in the UFC, although Felder’s last loss came against Mike Perry at 170 lbs on 1 day’s notice. Split decision loss. Felder’s last 2 wins were the biggest of his career against James Vick and Charles Oliveira. He’s got plus striking. Striker vs striker in this fight. But I trust Felder’s chin more. And with Felder being the betting underdog, I’m going with Felder by 1st round knockout.
-Islam Makhachev: Very interesting fight. Davi Ramos is a name most casual fans have never heard of, but he’d a legit grappler. 32 years old. 4-1 in the UFC. Lost to Sergio Moraes on short notice at 170 lbs. Makhachev, meanwhile, is only 27 years old. 6-1 UFC record. Got knocked by Adriano Martins. But all the other fights, Makhachev has won dominantly. Plus wrestling. Above average striking. Above average submissions. Even if Ramos takes Makhachev down, I just can’t see Ramos being able to hold him down long enough to get close to a submission. Makhachev’s wrestling will keep the fight on the feet. And as of now, Makhachev has the better striking. I like him by decision.
-Curtis Blaydes: Blaydes has been unstoppable in the UFC except when he fights Francis Ngannou. 28 years old. Young for a heavyweight. 6-2 UFC record. Dominated Alistair Overeem and Justin Willis. Also has wins over Mark Hunt and Alexey Oleynik. Plus plus wrestling. Average striking. Shamil Abdurakhimov is 37 years old. 5-2 UFC record. Got knocked out by Derrick Lewis and Tim Johnson. Biggest win came in his last fight, a knockout over Marcin Tybura. Above average striking. Average wrestling. I see Blaydes being able to take Abdurakhimov down. And from there Blaydes will ground and pound until he gets the TKO win. 2nd round.
-Mairbek Taisumov: Diego Ferreira is 34 years old. 6-2 UFC record. Lost to Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush. The biggest win in his career came in his last fight beating Rustam Khabilov. Plus grappling. And he’s improved his striking to where it’s now above average. Taisumov finally gets a step up in competition. 31 years old. 7-1 in the UFC. Only lost to Michal Prazeres. Got outwrestled. Competition Taisumov has beat isn’t as strong. Plus striking. Above average wrestling. Average submissions. Problem Ferreira is going to have in this fight is Taisumov’s wrestling will block him from getting the fight to the ground. And Ferreira’s striking has improved a lot, but it’s not on the level of Taisumov. I see Taisumov knocking Ferreira out in the 2nd round.
-Khalid Taha: Bruno Silva hasn’t been that active with only 2 fights in the last 2 years. 29 years old. 10-3 pro record. All wins over cans. Although he does have a draw from a couple years ago against rising contender Casey Kenney. Well rounded. Average striking. Average wrestling. Average submissions. He takes on Taha who’s a much better prospect. 27 years old. 13-2 pro record. 1-1 in the UFC. Got out grappled by Nad Narimani, but bounced back to knock out Boston Salmon. Taha also has wins over a 10-2 grappler and a 5-1 grappler. But they were close decision wins. Above average striking. Taha won’t have the jitters. His striking is the best tool in the fight. And Taha has fought better grapplers than Silva. Fight stays on the feet. Taha knocks Silva out in the 2nd round.
-Don Madge: I’m still not sure what to think of Madge. He’s 28 years old. 8-3 pro record. Interesting thing with him is that all 3 losses came against the same opponent. A well rounded journeyman with a 15-11 record. And yet, Madge comes in and easily knocks out Te Edwards, who was at the type, a very hyped prospect and also the first big time prospect Madge has beat. I’d grade Madge’s striking as at least above average. But it might be better. Just need to see more of him. He might’ve taken a step forward in his last fight. Fares Ziam looks to be a pretty good prospect. 10-2 pro record. But he’s only 22 years old. He’s going to get better. He’s submitted a well rounded 5-1 fighter. All other wins were over cans. Average striking. Close to average grappling. Main thing I know is Madge’s striking is the best tool in this fight and if he could easily knock out Edwards, he’ll easily be able to knock out Ziam as well. 1st round.
-Ottman Azaitar: Teemu Packalen is 32 years old. 1-2 UFC record. Hasn’t fought in 2 years. Lost to Michael Lebout and knocked out by Marc Diakiese. Has grappling that is close to average. Azaitar is 29 years old. Comes in undefeated. Almost all wins over cans though. He did knock out a 6-1 striker. Average striking. Easy fight to pick. Azaitar is going to blitz Packalen to not give him the time to get comfortable and will knock him out in the 1st round.
-Sarah Moras: Moras finally gets an easy matchup to get back on track after losing 3 in a row to Macy Chiasson, Talita Bernardo, and Lucie Pudilova. Moras is 31 years old. 4-5 in the UFC. Above average grappling. Average striking. She takes on Liana Jojua. 24 years old. 7-2 pro record. All wins over cans except a majority decision win over a 4-0 grappler. Jojua has average grappling. Moras has better grappling. She’ll use it to keep the fight standing up and will out strike Jojua to win by decision.
-Belal Muhammad: Easiest fight to pick on the whole card. Muhammad is 31 years old. His plus wrestling has carried him to a 6-3 UFC record. Has impressive wins over Chance Rencountre and Curtis Millender. Takashi Sato is 29 years old. Knocked out Ben Saunders in his UFC debut. 15-2 pro record. Has striking that is at least average, but could be a little better. This is going to be the standard Muhammad fight where Muhammad takes Sato down. Ground and pound. Rinse and repeat. Muhammad cruises to an easy decision win.
-Muslim Salikhov: Salikhov might have some work to do in rounding out his game, but he won’t have to worry about that in his fight with Nordine Taleb. Salikhov is 35 years old. 1-1 in the UFC so far. 14-2 pro record. Got submitted by well rounded fighter Alex Garcia. I grade Salikhov as having plus striking. Taleb is now 38 years old. Has had a pretty successful UFC career at 7-4. Had plus striking, but it’s now regressed to above average. They’ll trade strikes and Salikhov will pick up a 2nd round knockout.
-Omari Akhmedov: This is a tough fight to pick between two mid tier gate keepers. Akhmedov is 31 years old. 6-3-1 UFC record. Above average wrestling, above average striking, average submissions. But the past couple years, he’s been getting better. The draw over young Marvin Vettori stands out, even though it was a draw. Vettori is really good and possible contender. Meanwhile Zak Cummings is 35 years old. 8-3 UFC record. Plus grappling. Average striking. I will say that Cummings’ grappling is the best tool in this fight. But I’m convinced that Akhmedov’s wrestling will prevent him from getting to it. I think this is a stand up fight where Akhmedov has the advantage and because of how durable Cummings is, this will be a decision win for Akhmedov.
-Joanne Calderwood: Can Andrea Lee take Calderwood down? That’s what I think this fight comes down too. Calderwood has been improving her grappling the past couple years. 32 years old. 5-4 UFC record but 2-1 in the UFC at 125 lbs. Only losing to #1 contender Katlyn Chookagian by very close split decision. Calder has grappling I’d now grade as average. Plus striking paired with above average power. Her win only a well rounded fighter in Kalindra Faria really impressed me. Faria was able to take Calderwood down but Calderwood submitted her in a triangle. Lee is 30 years old. 3-0 UFC record. 11-2 pro record. Very well rounded. Above average striking combined with average power. Above average grappling. I’m predicting Calderwood’s grappling is now good enough to keep the fight on the feet. And in the striking, that Calderwood has a slight edge there. Likely will by a close split decision win for Calderwood.
-Zubaira Tukhugov: How good is Tukhugov? Well, in his last fight, he lost to contender Renato Moicano by razor close split decision. Tukhugov is 28 years old. 3-1 UFC record. Has plus striking paired with average power. Plus wrestling. His opponent is newcomer Lerone Murphy. 28 years old. 5-0. All wins over cans. Has striking that’s close to average. The UFC doesn’t make too many lopsided fights, but this is super lopsided. Tukhugov is going to steamroll Murphy. 1st round knockout.