Anderson Silva vs Uriah Hall
- Anderson Silva
- Age: 45
- UFC Record: 17-6
- Key Wins: Beat Derek Brunson.
- Tools: Silva has above average striking (60) and above average wrestling (60).
- Uriah Hall
- Age: 36
- UFC Record: 12-7
- Key Wins: Knocked out Krzysztof Jotko. Split decision over Antonio Carlos Jr.
- Tools: Hall has near plus striking (65) and above average wrestling (60).
Hall’s striking tool is a little tricky to grade. His last fight against Antonio Carlos Jr showed where his wrestling tool is, but the last fight he had to showcase his striking was Bevon Lewis. And Lewis was winning that fight going into the 3rd round, but Hall came back and knocked Lewis out. So is Lewis just a really good prospect? Well, after the Hall fight, Lewis loses to Darren Stewart and then out wrestles Dequan Townsend to win. Did Lewis lose confidence in his striking after getting knocked out by Hall? Too early to tell. Before the Lewis fight, Hall got knocked out by Paulo Costa, another guy whose tools I’m questioning after Costa got starched by Israel Adesanya. But Hall did get some shots in on Costa during the fight. I think 65 is the right grade for Hall’s striking. But I do know Silva’s striking has regressed to a 60. And I do know this is going to be a stand up fight. Being wrong on Hall’s striking tool, that’s my only concern in picking Hall, but to me, it’s the most likely outcome.
Chris’ Pick: Hall knocks Silva out in the 2nd round.
Bryce Mitchell vs Andre Fili
- Bryce Mitchell
- Age: 26
- UFC Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Submitted Matt Sayles. Beat Charles Rosa and Bobby Moffett.
- Tools: Mitchell has striking that’s a little above average paired with fringe average power (55-45). He also has plus grappling (70).
- Andre Fili
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 9-6
- Key Losses: Submitted by Godofredo Pepey. Split decision loss to Michael Johnson.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Sheymon Moraes. Beat Myles Jury. Split decisions over Dennis Bermudez and Charles Jourdain.
- Tools: Fili has above average striking (60) and above average wrestling (60).
I couldn’t believe the grappling superiority Mitchell was displaying against fellow top grappler Charles Rosa. That’s a true 70 grade tool. And even though Fili has been showing off more of his wrestling lately, it’s not close to the level Mitchell is at. Mitchell will easily get the take downs and put Fili in spots he’s not used to being in.
Chris’ Pick: Mitchell submits Fili in the 2nd round.
Kevin Holland vs Charlie Ontiveros
- Kevin Holland
- Age: 27
- UFC Record: 5-1 at 185 lbs.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Anthony Hernandez. Beat Alessio Di Chirico. Split decision over Gerald Meerschaert.
- Tools: Holland has near plus striking paired with power that’s a little above average (65-55). He also has above average grappling (60).
- Charlie Ontiveros
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 11-6
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 2-3 striker and a well rounded 1-0 fighter.
- Key Wins: Split decision over a 5-0 striker.
- Tools: Ontiveros has below average striking (40) and fringe average wrestling (45).
Not surprising Ontiveros is the best opponent the UFC could find on a few days notice to take on Holland. Because Holland’s skills are now bordering on elite. This fight won’t last long.
Chris’ Pick: Holland knocks Ontiveros out in the 1st round.
Greg Hardy vs Maurice Greene
- Greg Hardy
- Age: 32
- UFC Record: 5-2
- Key Losses: DQ loss to Allen Crowder. Lost a close fight to Alexander Volkov.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Juan Adams. Beat Yorgan de Castro.
- Tools: Hardy has near plus striking (65) and average wrestling (50).
- Maurice Greene
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 4-2
- Key Losses: Got knocked out by Sergei Pavlovich. Lost to Jared Hughes.
- Key Wins: Submitted Gian Villante. Knocked out Junior Albini. Split decision win over Jared Hughes.
- Tools: Greene has above average striking (60) and grappling that’s a little above average (55).
This fight will test Hardy’s wrestling. It’s got to be at least a 50. As long as he can stuff the take downs, he should have no problem out striking Greene.
Chris’ Pick: Hardy knocks Greene out in the 1st round.
Bobby Green vs Thiago Moises
- Bobby Green
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 6-5-1
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Rashid Magomedov.
- Key Wins: Beat Alan Patrick, Lando Vannata and Erik Koch.
- Tools: Green has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has above average wrestling (60).
- Thiago Moises
- Age: 25
- UFC Record: 3-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out Jamall Emmers. Submitted Michael Johnson.
- Tools: Moises has striking that’s a little above average paired with fringe average power (55-45). He also has above average grappling (60).
The past few years, Green had picked up only 1 win in 7 fights. Since then, he’s won 3 in a row. And the most notable change is how much his wrestling was improved. I picked Green to beat Patrick, but I was very surprised to see Green out wrestle Patrick. Moises is coming off a big submission win over Johnson, but did he get lucky? Hard to tell, the finish happened so fast. He’s 25 years old. It’s very possible his grappling could be taking a step forward. But even if his grappling coming into this fight was a 65, I still don’t think he’d be able to keep Green down the whole fight.
Chris’ Pick: Green by decision.
Alexander Hernandez vs Chris Greutzemacher
- Alexander Hernandez
- Age: 28
- UFC Record: 3-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out Beneil Dariush. Beat Oliver Aubin-Mercier and Francisco Trinaldo.
- Tools: Hernandez has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has near plus wrestling (65).
- Chris Gruetzemacher
- Age: 34
- Pro Record: 14-3
- Key Wins: Split decision over a 5-1 wrestler.
- Tools: Greutzemacher has average striking (50) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
Hernandez has been put on the fast track ever since his 1st round knockout over Beneil Dariush. But he’s had mixed results. Here, he gets an easier matchup in Greutzemacher. Hernandez is better everywhere and should cruise here.
Chris’ Pick: Hernandez by decision.
Adrian Yanez vs Victor Rodriguez
- Adrian Yanez
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 11-3
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Losses: Split decision losses to Domingo Pilarte in 2017 and Miles John in 2018.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 11-1 fighter. Submitted a 5-2 grappler.
- Tools: Yanez has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).
- Victor Rodriguez
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 4-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out an 8-1 grappler.
- Tools: Rodriguez has average striking (50) and average wrestling (50).
Rodriguez’s 4-2 record can be deceiving. His last fight, he knocked out a legit prospect, an 8-1 grappler. He’s got a shot in this fight. But I think Yanez’s striking is a little better. And it’s possible it’s better than a 55. It looked like it was better when he knocked out Brady Huang on the Contender, but I didn’t see much of it as that fight was over in 39 seconds.
Chris’ Pick: Yanez by decision.
Sean Strickland vs Jack Marshman
- Sean Strickland
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 7-3
- Key Wins: Knocked out Nordine Taleb. Beat Court McGee. Split decision over Tom Breese.
- Tools: Strickland has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
- Jack Marshman
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 3-4
- Tools: Marshman has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has fringe average grappling (45).
This is Strickland’s first fight back in over 2 years and he’s moving up in weight to 185 lbs. Marshman is a soft landing for him as he really poses no threat to Strickland. I’m curious to see how Strickland looks at the new weight class and if he can unlock more power in his striking.
Chris’ Pick: Strickland by decision.
Cole Williams vs Jason Witt
- Cole Williams
- Age: 36
- Pro Record: 11-2
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Split decision over a 9-0 wrestler.
- Tools: Williams has average striking (50) and average grappling (50).
- Jason Witt
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 17-6
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Losses: Submitted by a 24-10 grappler. Knocked out by a 6-3 striker.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 10-3 grappler and a well rounded 7-0 fighter. Submitted a well rounded 11-1 fighter.
- Tools: Witt has average striking (50). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).
Witt has experience beating someone like Cole Williams. Striking will be close to even but Witt’s wrestling will be the difference.
Chris’ Pick: Witt by decision.
Justin Ledet vs Dustin Jacoby
- Justin Ledet
- Age: 32
- UFC Record: 3-3
- Key Losses: Lost to Aleksa Camur.
- Key Wins: Submitted Mark Godbeer. Beat Chase Sherman.
- Tools: Ledet has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has grappling that’s a little above average (55).
- Dustin Jacoby
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 12-5
- UFC Record: 1-0 in his second UFC stint at 205 lbs.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 10-3 grappler and a 7-0 grappler. Beat a 7-2 grappler.
- Tools: Jacoby has above average striking (60) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
Jacoby is coming off a spectacular return to the UFC, starching Ty Flores. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do. And I don’t think Ledet is too much better than Flores.
Chris’ Pick: Jacoby by 1st round knockout.
Cortney Casey vs Priscila Cachoeira
- Cortney Casey
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 5-6
- Key Losses: Lost to Seo Hee Ham. Lost split decisions to Felice Herrig and Michelle Waterson.
- Key Wins: Submitted Mara Romero Borella and Randa Markos. Beat Angela Hill by split decision.
- Tools: Casey has average striking (50). She also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55) and grappling that’s a little above average (55).
- Priscila Cachoeira
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 9-1
- UFC Record: 1-3
- Key Wins: Knocked out Shana Dobson.
- Tools: Cachoeira has striking that’s a little above average (55). She also has average wrestling (50).
Cachoeira has had one of the tougher stretches of 3 fights to start a UFC career. Valentina Shevchenko. That was brutal. Then she lost to 2 fighters with 60 striking in Molly McCann and Luana Carolina. Cachoeira didn’t get out classed or wiped out. She lost, but they were close fights. Which makes me confident in grading Cachoeira’s striking a 55. Casey though, got totally wiped out in her last fight with Gillian Robertson. Robertson took Casey down 3 times in the fight and that was all it took to control her on the ground pretty much the whole fight. Made me downgrade Casey’s wrestling and grappling to 55s. In this fight, Casey probably has the better wrestling. But is it good enough to keep Cachoeira down the whole fight? I doubt it. I think Cachoeira has momentum. Casey doesn’t. Cachoeira showed possible development in her striking when she knocked out Dobson last time out. I think Cachoeira gets it done on the feet.
Chris’ Pick: Cachoeira by decision.
Miles Johns vs Kevin Natividad
- Miles Johns
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 10-1
- UFC Record: 2-1
- Key Wins: Submitted a 5-0 striker. Beat a 7-1 grappler, a well rounded 11-3 fighter, and a well rounded 6-2 fighter. Split decision over Cole Smith and a 7-2 striker.
- Tools: Johns has average striking (50) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
- Kevin Natividad
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Majority decision win over Irwin Riviera.
- Tools: Natividad has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has average wrestling (50).
Really close fight and I’m still questioning myself on how good Johns’ wrestling tool is. He’s got a great resume outside the UFC. Was previously undefeated. He barely beat Cole Smith. Didn’t really out wrestle him. Won with the striking. Then fought Mario Bautista, who’s clearly better than I thought he was. But Johns got nowhere close to taking him down. Natividad has wrestling. I think it’s a 50. And that should be good enough to keep the fight on the feet most of the time. And from Natividad’s last fight, it looked like he could be unlocking more power.
Chris’ Pick: Natividad by decision.