UFC Fight Night 48
Prelims
135lbs - Elizabeth Phillips (4-2-0) vs Milana Dudieva (10-3-0)
Dudieva is making her UFC debut but comes in with a lot of hype. Dudieva loves to counter & has a big right hand but she can be too inactive at times & she's often too comfortable dropping guard in order to get the fight to the mat. Phillips looked great in the first round of her UFC debut but then gassed because she took the fight on such short notice & proceeded to lose the final 2 rounds. Phillips is very raw but I believe that she's aggressive enough & pushes such a high pace that she will be able to outpoint Dudieva through 3 rounds. This should be an entertaining & close bout but I like the dog here. My prediction is Elizabeth Phillips to defeat Milana Dudieva by decision.
135lbs - Zhuikui Yao (1-2-0) vs Royston Wee (3-0-0)
Zhikui is very small for the weight class & I believe only got the call because he will be fighting at home. I'm also not impressed by Wee but he has shown more promise & should be able to exploit Zhikui's issues against wrestlers. I don't look for anything special in this bout but as long as Zhikui doesn't clip Wee, then Wee will grind out a decision victory. My prediction is Royston Wee to defeat Zhuikui Yao by decision.
170lbs - Wang Anying (2-1-0) vs Colby Covington (5-0-0)
This fight is all about Covington. Covington is a decorated wrestler that now trains with American Top Team. Anying has very big power but is a fish out of water on the mat. I look for Covington to get this fight to the mat early & often before finishing Anying off with some big GNP. My prediction is Colby Covington to defeat Wang Anying by KO/TKO.
170lbs - Alberto Mina (10-0-0) vs Shinsho Anzai (8-1-0)
If Anzai wasn't taking this fight on basically a weeks notice then I would be more inclined to take the dog here. I expect Anzai to start well but once he gasses, Mina will get this fight to the mat & work his submission game until he forces Anzai to tap. My prediction Alberto Mina to defeat Shinsho Anzai by submission.
Main Card
155lbs - Zhang Lipeng (8-7-1) vs Brendan O'Reilly (5-0-1)
Both of these men competed at welterweight for their respective seasons of TUF. Lipeng won TUF China in a very shallow competition pool. O'Reilly lost right away but showed a lot of promise. Neither man has a bright future working outside of their region or taking fights on short notice but I believe the UFC wants Lipeng to succeed because he's fighting in his home country & they also try to give TUF winners a few cupcakes once finally in the UFC. Lipeng's Southpaw stance should make it hard for O'Reilly to work his takedowns. Lipeng is also big & strong for this weight class. As long Lipeng doesn't gas before O'Reilly, he will do just enough to outpoint & earn a decision victory. My prediction is Zhang Lipeng to defeat Brendan O'Reilly by decision.
170lbs - #4 Tyron Woodley (13-3-0) vs #10 Dong Hyun Kim (19-2-1, 1NC)
Stun Gun Kim has been fighting like a maniac of late. He went from being more of a grinder to getting into fire fights & knocking people out in vicious fashion. Kim has all the tools to defeat Woodley but he can't get into crazy exchanges early on because Woodley has too much power in his hands. Kim also leaves himself open to takedowns when in wild exchanges. Woodley isn't Captain Reliable either. Woodley is also from Ferguson, MO & lives in the area where all the drama is happening so you have to question how focused he is. Woodley is 0-2 fighting outside of the U.S. & has only been in China since Wednesday but he has been in Asia for about 10 days to try & get acclimated. This is a bout that I've gone back & forth on. I would love to see Stun Gun knock Woodley out but he is just too wild of late & Woodley has a secret weapon by the name of Din Thomas. Woodley hired Thomas to do a complete scouting report on Kim for this fight & Thomas will also be in his corner. As long as Woodley remains smart then he should find his spot to either knockout Stun Gun or take him to the ground enough times to win the first 2 rounds. I'm not very confident in this pick so I will stay away from betting it. My prediction is Tyron Woodley to defeat Dong Hyun Kim by KO/TKO.
185lbs - #8 Michael Bisping (25-6-0) vs Cung Le (9-2-0)
The latest pic of Cung Le is just crazy!! That 42 year old man looks roided up like Cheator Belfort in the last few years. There's no way Le passes the blood test! This fight comes down to Bisping being able to survive the flurry in the first round. Le will come out guns blazing throwing kicks & punches with force to try to end the fight quick. I do think that Bisping is past his prime & will start getting finished but I just don't think it'll be by a slow & old Le that's coming off of a 22 month layoff. Bisping must survive that first round but after that he will be able to pick Le apart & knock him out with a volume of punches. I would love to see Le Knockout Bisping but I just don't think it'll happen. My prediction is Michael Bisping to defeat Cung Le by KO/TKO.
Fight Night 49
Fight Pass Prelim
125lbs - Wilson Reis (17-5-0) vs Joby Sanchez (6-0-0)
Sanchez is taking this fight on super short notice & just fought 2 weeks ago. Sanchez has a lot of hype coming into his UFC debut & does train at Jackson MMA but I believe Reis on short notice will be just too much for him. Sanchez is going to want to keep the fight standing & hurt Reis on the feet but I see Reis being able to get this fight to the mat early & often. Reis should also have more power since he's dropping down from bantamweight to flyweight. Reis will wear Sachez down on the mat & sooner or later lock in a submission that'll end the fight. Sanchez might have a bright future but hopefully he will get a full camp for his next fight. My prediction is Wilson Reis to defeat Joby Sanchez by submission.
Prelims on Fox Sports 2
170lbs - Ben Saunders (16-6-2) vs Chris Heatherly (8-1-0 1NC)
Saunders is making his return to the octagon against UFC newcomer Chris Heatherly. This is a dangerous fight for Saunders if he is overlooking Heatherly because Heatherly loves to get the TD & grind out victories. Now after saying that, I do expect Saunders to be focused & keep this fight standing. Saunders is deadly on the feet & I expect him to put a beating on the UFC newcomer. Heatherly will give it his all but it won't be enough as Saunders overwhelms & pick him apart. My prediction is Ben Saunders to defeat Chris Heatherly by KO/TKO.
135lbs - Aaron Phillips (8-1-0) vs Matt Hobar (8-2-0)
Neither man looked all that great in their UFC debuts. This fight is all about who can implement their gameplan. If Hobar can get the fight to the mat & keep it there then he should grind out a decision or get a submission. If Phillips can keep the fight standing then he should easily knockout Hobar. Phillips wants to make this a brawl & I see him consistently landing nasty kicks & punches to the body and head of Hobar until he breaks Hobar. Phillips appears to have the brighter future & I think he walks away with an impressive victory. My prediction is Aaron Phillips to defeat Matt Hobar by KO/TKO.
155lbs - Beneil Dariush (7-1-0) vs Tony Martin (8-1-0)
Dariush had a nice UFC debut by submitting Charlie Brenneman early in the 1st round after cracking his glass chin but he followed it up by getting knocked out by Ramsey Nijem. Martin may have lost his UFC debut but he was facing a good opponent in Magomedov & was definitely in the fight. I just don't think too much of Dariush. I look for Martin to get this fight to mat & work his submission game until he gets one locked in tight and forces Dariush to tap. Lots of value on Martin here. My prediction is Tony Martin to defeat Beneil Dariush by submission.
170lbs - Neil Magny (11-4-0) vs Alex Garcia (12-1-0)
Magny is having a great year. He is really learning how to use his massive size & reach advantage. Garcia is going to come out like a bat out of hell in the 1st round to try & finish the fight but he has a horrible gas tank & once Magny survives the early flurry then he will absolutely pick Garcia apart. Magny Should try to get this fight to the mat early in the first since Garcia will be swinging with bad intent. The good thing for Magny is that even if he gets tagged, he's proven to be durable & should be able to hold on long enough for Garcia to wear himself out. I look for Magny to dominate an exhausted Garcia & finish him with a flurry of strikes in the 2nd or 3rd round. My prediction is Neil Magny to defeat Alex Garcia by KO/TKO.
Main Card on Fox Sports 1
145lbs - Chas Skelly (11-1-0) vs Tom Ninimaki (21-6-1)
This is a matchup between similar fighters & I can see this going either way. Neither man is all that polished on the feet but Skelly has the slight edge & even though both are good grapplers, Ninimaki definitely has the edge in that department. I look for this to be fairly close but in the end, the grappling of Ninimaki will prove too much for Skelly. It probably won't be a fun watch but I see Ninimaki doing just enough with TD's & top control to edge out Skelly on the judges cards. My prediction is Tom Ninimaki to defeat Chas Skelly by decision.
155lbs - James Vick (5-0-0) vs Valmir Lazaro (12-2-0)
Vick has shown a lot of promise but he is just too inactive & injury prone to really make a good run in the UFC. Vick is definitely overrated in this spot & the only way I see him earning the W is by getting an early submission. Lazaro comes out of the Nova Uniao camp & is a deadly striker with huge power. I look for Lazaro to remain patient while picking his spots to land heavy leg kicks & punches. Lazaro will hurt & break Vick inside of 2 rounds before the ref has to step in stopping the fight. Lazaro should be very dangerous in the lightweight division. My prediction is Valmir Lazaro to defeat James Vick by KO/TKO.
149lbs Catchweight - Max Holloway (9-3-0) vs Clay Collard (13-4-0 1NC)
This should be a squash match. Holloway seems to be getting better with every bout & is finally hitting his stride. Collard seems to be an ok prospect but he's taking this fight on less than a weeks notice since Mirsad Bektic had to pull out due to injury. Collard does have issues in his submission game & Holloway is improving his grappling. I look for Holloway to hurt Collard on the feet & finish him off by locking in RNC. My prediction is Max Hollaway to defeat Clay Collard by submission.
185lbs - #12 Francis Carmont (22-9-0) vs #15 Thales Leites (23-4-0)
Carmont seems to be in a tail spin after losing back to back fights & really not looking good in his last 4. Leites career has been revived after coming back to the UFC & he is currently riding a 6 winning streak. Despite being 33, Leites is getting better & appears to be in prime form. Carmont is a grinder but has simply been outworked of late. As long as Leites can keep Carmont from constantly pushing him against the cage then he should be able to hurt Carmont on the feet before controlling him on the mat. I think once the fight hits the mat with Leites on top then it's only a matter of time before he's tapping Carmont out. I wouldn't be surprised to see Leites grind out a decision here but I think he will just outclass Carmont & finish him after Carmont tires from being controlled on the mat. My prediction is Thales Leites to defeat Francis Carmont by submission.
170lbs - #13 Mike Pyle (26-9-1) vs Jordan Mein (28-9-0)
This Co-Main Event has been shuffled a few times due to injury & even though I liked the previous matchups better, this is still a good fight. The biggest thing that stands out to me in this fight is the age discrepancy with Mein being 14 years younger. Pyle is going to try to hurt Mein on the feet before taking him down & lock in a submission. That scenario definitely wouldn't shock me because Mein always seems to get hurt in his fights. But... Mein is the much better striker with huge power, a better chin, & will definitely have the speed advantage. This could be a back & forth battle but I see Mein doing just enough to outpoint Pyle & earn a decision victory. Possible F.O.T.N. candidate. My prediction is Jordan Mein to defeat Mike Pyle by decision.
155lbs - #1 Benson Henderson (21-3-0) vs #5 Rafael Dos Anjos (21-7-0)
This division is absolutely loaded! It's just a shame that the champion is Anthony Pettis because he is too injury prone & just doesn't fight enough. Since Dana doesn't want to create an interim champion, we are stuck with the top contenders knocking each other off & Bendo is the guy representing the top of the division. Despite not being champion, this is Smooth's 8th straight 5 round fight. Dos Anjos has never gone 5 rounds & will simply be outmatched with the pace and style of Henderson. Dos Anjos's only chance is by getting this fight to the mat in first 2 rounds & somehow submitting Henderson. I just don't see that happening. After the 2nd round & Dos Anjos starts to slow down, it'll be all Henderson. I look for Dos Anjos to completely gas in the 3rd or 4th round & Smooth will take advantage by getting his 2nd straight submission victory. Henderson is just too much of a cardio machine for Dos Anjos to keep up. My prediction is Benson Henderson to defeat Rafael Dos Anjos by submission.