-Aleksa Camur: Usually if all things are equal in striker vs grappler fights, I pick the grappler because they can control where the fight takes place. I’ll make an exception here though. The reason is because half of Fabio Cherant’s submission wins have been via guillotine chokes. And back in the day, the guillotine was really effective but with how much MMA has evolved, they’re not that effective in finishing high level MMA fights. Cherant is 24 years old. 4-0. Has at least average grappling, but hard to grade because all his wins were over cans. Camur is 23 years old. Also has 4-0 pro record. All 4 wins by knockout. Camur is easily the toughest opponent Cherant has gone against and I just see Camur blitzing Cherant and knocking him out quick in the 1st round.
-Steven Nguyen: Anytime the UFC has a fighter with a 3-0 pro record on the Contender Series, you can trust the prospect is legit. Nguyen is 26 years. And I think he has above average grappling, but it’s hard to say at this point as his grappling has only been tested by tomato cans. Aalon Cruz is a decent test. 5-2. 29 years old. Average grappling. His career wasn’t doing much until he upset a 7-2 striker. I’m predicting that Nguyen has the better grappling and submits Cruz in the 1st round.
-Mariya Agapova: It’s very possible that Tracy Cortez wins this fight. She’s got average wrestling and that’s carried her to a 5-1 record. 25 years old. But she hasn’t beat a single decent prospect. And she struggled in her last fight beating a 3-0 fighter by split decision. Agapova is 21 years old, but is 5-0. And I was really impressed with her in her last fight knocking out a well rounded 8-2 fighter. I’d grade Agapova as having above average striking and it’s likely the tool will become plus down the road. And she has average grappling. Grappling that I think is good enough to stuff Cortez’s take downs and will have a big advantage on the feet. 1st round Agapova knockout.
-Daniel Rodriguez: Rodriguez is 32 years old. 8-1 pro record. Has average striking and average grappling. His one loss was against a 9-3 striker. He takes on Rico Farrington. 30 years old. 7-2. Has average wrestling. Based on the fact that Rodriguez has knocked out a couple pretty good grapplers, I think Rodriguez keeps the fight on the feet and knocks Rodriguez out in the 1st round.
-Rodrigo Nascimento: When it’s a striker vs grappler matchup and all things are equal, the fighter that can control where the fight takes place will win. And in this case Nascimento and Michal Martinek are close to equal. Both are 26 years old. Nascimento is 6-0. Martinek is 7-0. Nascimento has average grappling. Beat up on tomato cans. Martinek has average striking, beating up cans as well. I don’t have confidence in Martinek’s take down defense. Nascimento takes him down. Submits him in the 2nd round.