Alistair Overeem vs Augusto Sakai
- Alistair Overeem
- Age: 40
- UFC Record: 11-7
- Key Wins: Knocked out Walt Harris, Junior dos Santos, Mark Hunt, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexei Oleinik. Majority decision win over Fabricio Werdum.
- Tools: Overeem has plus striking (70). He also has near plus wrestling (65) and average grappling (50).
- Augusto Sakai
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 5-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Marcin Tybura, Chase Sherman, and a well rounded 5-0 fighter. Split decision wins over Blagoi Ivanov and Andrei Arlovski.
- Tools: Sakai has near plus striking (65). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
Overeem has had a really difficult strength in schedule. But with all due respect to Sakai, this is the least dangerous opponent he’s faced in awhile. I think Overeem will knock Sakai out, but even if he somehow loses the striking, he could likely take Sakai down as well. Overeem is better everywhere.
Chris’ Pick: Overeem by 2nd round knockout.
Ovince St. Preux vs Alonzo Menifield
- Ovince St. Preux
- Age: 37
- UFC Record: 13-9
- Key Wins: Knocked out Shogun Rua back in 2014. Also knocked out Corey Anderson in 2017. Submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk.
- Tools: St. Preux has above average striking paired with plus power (60-70). He also has above average wrestling (60) and above average grappling (60).
- Alonzo Menifield
- Age: 32
- UFC Record: 4-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Paul Craig, a 9-1 grappler, and a well rounded 8-1 fighter.
- Tools: Menifield has plus striking (70) and above average wrestling (60).
Menifield should’ve won his last fight against Devin Clark. But Menifield made a mistake of emptying the gas tank trying to get a finish. He gassed out early in the 2nd round and Clark took over from there. The tools are still there for Menfieild. His wrestling initially held up against Clark. And I think Menifield will be able to stuff OSP’s takedowns too. On the feet, OSP is still dangerous, still has knockout power, but Menfieild has better technique. Is more accurate.
Chris’ Pick: Menifield knocks out St. Preux in the 2nd round.
Michel Pereira vs Zelim Imadaev
- Michel Pereira
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 23-11
- UFC Record: 1-2
- Key Losses: DQ loss to Diego Sanchez. Lost to Tristan Connelly.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Danny Roberts.
- Tools: Pereira has striking that’s a little above average paired with near plus power (55-65). He also has above average wrestling (60) and average grappling (50).
- Zelim Imadaev
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 8-2
- Key Losses: Majority decision loss to Max Griffin.
- Tools: Imadaev has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has average wrestling (50).
Striking could be close, but Pereira has more power and Imadaev got knocked out by Danny Roberts in his last fight.
Chris’ Pick: Pereira gets a flashy 1st round knockout.
Bartosz Fabinski vs Andre Muniz
- Bartosz Fabinski
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 15-3
- UFC Record: 3-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 6-2 grappler and a well rounded 9-3 fighter. Beat Darren Stewart, a 12-2 grappler and a 9-3 striker. Split decision win over a 7-2 grappler.
- Tools: Fabinski has above average striking (60) and near plus wrestling (65).
- Andre Muniz
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 19-4 pro record
- UFC Record: 3-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a 5-0 striker and a 6-0 striker. Beat an 8-2 grappler.
- Tools: Muniz has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has above average grappling (60).
Muniz has looked impressive so far. But Fabinski is coming off a big win over Darren Stewart in Cage Warriors. Fabinski has under rated wrestling. He’ll be able to stuff Muniz’s take downs and will cruise here.
Chris’ Pick: Fabinski by decision.
Brian Kelleher vs Ray Rodriguez
- Brian Kelleher
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 4-4
- Key Losses: Knocked out Damian Stasiak.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Hunter Azure. Submitted Iuri Alcantara. Beat Julio Arce twice. Once by submission, the other decision.
- Tools: Kelleher has above average striking (60) and above average grappling (60).
- Ray Rodriguez
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 16-6
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Jimmy Flick.
- Tools: Rodriguez has average striking (50) and grappling that’s a little above average (55).
Rodriguez steps in on less than 24 hours notice. Weighed in as a back up. He’s going to have a hard time winning here. There’s the short notice, and also the fact Kelleher is better everywhere. Ground game could be close to equal. Rodriguez is a little interesting in that he did knock out Jimmy Flick last year. But unlike Flick, Kelleher has striking.
Chris’ Pick. Kelleher by 1st round knockout.
Viviane Araujo vs Montana de la Rosa
- Viviane Araujo
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 8-2
- UFC Record: 2-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Talita Bernardo. Beat Alexis Davis.
- Tools: Araujo has near plus striking (65) and above average grappling (60).
- Montana de la Rosa
- Age: 25
- UFC Record: 5-2
- Key Wins: Submitted Nadia Kassem. Beat Mara Romero Borella.
- Tools: De la Rosa has striking that’s a little above average (55). She also has plus grappling (70).
You could label this fight striker vs grappler, except Araujo does have some grappling too. And de la Rosa has made some strides in her striking, shown in her last fight where she dropped Borella. Araujo looks like a potential title contender. She might still have some ceiling to get to. But de la Rosa is much younger. Has a much higher ceiling. And her grappling has been improving too as she was able to eventually out class Borella on the ground. On the feet, Araujo wins this fight. But de la Rosa’s grappling is in another tier. She’ll be able to take Araujo down and do enough on the ground.
Chris’ Pick: de la Rosa by decision.
Hunter Azure vs Cole Smith
- Hunter Azure
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 8-1
- UFC Record: 2-1
- Key Wins: Beat Brad Katona.
- Tools: Azure has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
- Cole Smith
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 7-1
- UFC Record: 1-1
- Key Wins: Beat Mitch Gagnon. Submitted a 4-1 grappler.
- Tools: Smith has fringe average striking (45) and above average wrestling (60).
Both of these guys have wrestling. It’ll be a stand up fight. Azure got knocked out in his last fight with Brian Kelleher, but Azure had his moments where he looked good. Azure’s striking is better, he’ll win.
Chris’ Pick: Azure by decision.