LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje
- Charles Oliveira may have finally earned the respect he deserves as the UFC Lightweight champion with his Submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 269. Even after that impressive win there are still quite a few doubters out there.
- Justin Gaethje is the most exciting Striker in the Lightweight division. It's his dynamic striking, and knockout ability that have some people believing he'll knockout Charles Oliveira. In order to believe that you have to be convinced that Gaethje hits harder than both Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier. Both of those fighters caught Oliveira with their best shots, and he gutted it out and defeated both of them.
- I expect this fight to be very similar to the Poirier fight. I expect both fighters to win some of the exchanges on the feet. When the fight gets up against the cage or down to the mat Oliveira is the far superior fighter. At some point he will take Justin Gaethje's back and get Submission.
PREDICTION
Charles Oliveira to Win
BETS
Bet Level 1
- Charles Oliveira to Win
Bet Level 2
- Charles Oliveira to win by KO, TKO, DQ, SUB
Bet Level 3
- Fight to go OVER 3.5 Rounds
STRAWWEIGHT TITLE
Rose Namajunas vs Carla Esparza
- Rose Namajunas looks to defend her title and get some revenge against Carla Esparza who she has lost to in the past. Thug Rose has made massive improvements in her game since the last time they fought. Specifically her Striking and Movement have become the best in the Division.
- Carla Esparza has refined her skills since she last faced Rose Namajunas. She is on a 5 fight win streak. Her opponents haven't been anywhere near the level of competition Rose Namajunas has faced. Still with a win over Rose Namajunas she comes into this fight with a lot of confidence.
- I wouldn't be surprised if Carla Esparza comes out fast, and takes the fight to Rose Namajunas. That's easier said than done though. Rose will use her Movement and fantastic Jab to keep Esparza at distance. It may take her a couple Rounds but I expect Namajunas to find her range and begin picking Carla Esparza apart. It's possible she will knock her out, but this fight could go the distance. Either way Rose Namajunas should be too much for Carla Esparza this time around.
PREDICTION
Rose Namajunas to Win
BETS
Bet Level 1
- Rose Namajunas to Win
Bet Level 2
- Rose Namajunas to Win by Decision
Bet Level 3
- Rose to Win by KO, TKO, DQ, SUB
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LIGHTWEIGHT
Michael Chandler vs Tony Ferguson
- Michael Chandler hasn't had the best start in the UFC. After an awesome knockout of Dan Hooker. Michael Chandler is on a 2 fight win streak. Now granted those losses are to Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje so don't judge him too harshly. In fact he came close to winning both of those fights. Unless he is interested in a quick trip to irrelevancy he needs a win.
- Tony Ferguson is definitely on the downswing. From the Lightweight Contender nobody wanted to fight to a 3 fight losing streak. 3 losses that began with a brutal beat down by Justin Gaethje that should have been stopped much earlier. Then ended with a totally technically dominant defeat at the hands of Beneil Dariush.
- So what should we expect when these two desperate fighters enter the cage. Well given the must win situation they're in. I am siding with the far fresher, more technically proficient fighter. Michael Chandler has been gifted a blueprint by Beneil Dariush on how to defeat Tony Ferguson. In fact the way he did it suits Chandler's style perfectly. I don't expect Michael Chandler having much trouble getting the upper hand in this one.
PREDICTION
- Michael Chandler to Win
BETS
Bet Level 1
- Michael Chandler to Win
Bet Level 2
- Fight to go OVER 1.5 Rounds
Bet Level 3
- Fight to go the Distance YES
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Mauricio Rua vs Ovince Saint Preux
- Mauricio Shogun Rua is a legend in the sport. At 40 his best days are already behind him. He still possesses that bruising style, and it's never a dull fight when he is involved. Coming off a loss to Submission specialist Paul Craig shouldn't worry you in this match up.
- Ovince Saint Preux is the perfect example of a gatekeeper. He has the skills to test anybody in the Octagon. Against the Top Fighters he tends to come up short. At 39 his best years are also behind him, and since 2018 he only has 3 wins in 9 fights.
- So the real question here is whether or not Maurice Rua is still a Top Fighter. Now these two have fought before. Way back in 2014 Ovince Saint Preux caught Rua with a perfectly placed punch in the first Round, and that's all she wrote. Don't expect things to end so quickly this time. I don't believe either of these fighters possess 1 punch knockout power anymore. This fight is more likely to come down to who has the better stamina. If that's the case I like Mauricio Shogun Rua to have his hand raised in the end.
PREDICTION
- Mauricio Rua to Win
BETS
Bet Level 1
- Fight to go OVER 1.5 Rounds
Bet Level 2
- Fight to go the Distance NO
Bet Level 3
- Mauricio Rua to Win
LIGHTWEIGHT
Donald Cerrone vs Joe Lauzon
- Donald Cerrone is on a fight fight losing streak but doesn't seem to care. Why should he? He has been in the game long enough, and has made a name for himself so every trip to the cage includes a fat paycheck. There is some speculation that this may be his last fight.
- Joe Lauzon has been fighting for just as long as Donald Cerrone. This could very well be his last fight also. Lauzon hasn't had nearly as many big money fights as Cerrone so he might be a little more motivated to win.
- This is a truly difficult fight to predict. If both fighters were in their prime I would probably lean towards Donald Cerrone. The problem here is that I just don't know how much he cares about winning at this point. He might just want to make this a gritty brutal fight. And if that's the case Joe Lauzon will oblige. They are both warriors who can occasionally forego Defense and just throw down. The difference between them is that Lauzon is the slightly better Submission specialist. If this fight goes to the Ground I give him the advantage.
PREDICTION
- Joe Lauzon to Win
BETS
Bet Level 1
- Fight to go OVER 1.5 Rounds YES
Bet Level 2
- Joe Lauzon to Win
Bet Level 3
- Joe Lauzon to Win by KO, TKO, DQ, SUB
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