UFC Battle Night time 239: Fast Picks and Prognostications

Kicking off the primary card is a middleweight matchup between Gerald Meerschaert and Bryan Barberena.

Though Barberena received titles on the regional scene at 185 kilos, I’m undecided why “Bam Bam” has chosen to marketing campaign on this weight class on the UFC stage.

Meerschaert might not be probably the most huge middleweight on the planet, however “GM3” is a particularly skilled fighter who has seen nearly all the pieces on this recreation.

That stated, Meerschaert does have a spotty document within the Apex at 3-3 and formally stands at 0-5 towards fellow UFC-level southpaws (although I’d argue that he beat Eryk Anders).

Nonetheless, I nonetheless lean towards Meerschaert to get the job carried out through submission in spherical 2.

Persevering with the UFC matchmakers’ development of rematches that no one requested for, Pannie Kianzad will get a shot to even the rating with Macy Chiasson.

These two met over a half-decade in the past within the remaining of the twenty eighth season of “The Final Fighter,” which noticed Chiasson strain grapple her approach to a rear-naked choke win in spherical 2. Each girls have made enhancements since, so I count on a better battle this time round.

I’ll be curious to see what wrestling upgrades Kianzad was in a position to make after finishing her camp at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, however I think she’ll nonetheless have numerous floor to cowl, provided that robust grapplers appear to be the Iranian-born fighter’s stylistic kryptonite.

I’m a giant fan of Kianzad, however I’ll semi-reluctantly aspect with Chiasson since her clinch-heavy model will probably thrive within the smaller cage. The decide is Chiasson by unanimous choice.

Serving as an attention-grabbing providing at featherweight is a bout between Christian Rodriguez and Isaac Dulgaraian.

Regardless of the oddsmakers opening Rodriguez as a slight favourite, public cash has flipped the betting line in favor of Dulgarian.

Though that makes a Rodriguez decide much more tempting to soak up this spot, I nonetheless discover myself barely leaning towards the undefeated expertise in Dulgarian.

Rodriguez is an extremely well-rounded prospect, however being tasked with a heavy-hipped wrestler up a weight class is a tricky stylistic ask for the Roufusport product.

For that motive, I’ll formally decide Dulgarian to win by unanimous choice.

Filling out the primary card is a light-heavyweight attraction between Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ovince Saint Preux.

Though this betting line is forcing this battle into ‘canine or cross’ territory from a playing perspective, I can’t disagree with the Nzechukwu being the designated favourite.

Other than boasting a powerful 4-1 document within the UFC Apex (compared to Saint Preux’s 1-3 document), Nzechukwu seems to be the extra energetic and constant fighter from an offensive standpoint.

It additionally seems that Saint Preux tends to wrestle towards fellow UFC-level lefties, the place he presently stands at 2-2.

However with each males preferring to face orthodox when pitted towards different southpaws, we could possibly be in for some awkward staring stanzas on the toes.

I’ll reluctantly decide Nzechukwu to get the nod from the judges on account of his extra dependable offense.

The co-main occasion for UFC Battle Night time 239 encompasses a welterweight showdown between Bryan Battle and Ange Loosa.

Though Loosa appears like he’s on the verge of a breakout efficiency, I think that Battle’s measurement and magnificence may make for a tricky ask for the African fighter.

Other than displaying a propensity to wrestle with straight photographs down the centerline, Loosa additionally seems to have a behavior of resetting laterally to his left — which places him proper on the finish of vary for the facility kicks of an orthodox opponent.

Contemplating that Battle already knocked out Loosa’s Kill Cliff FC teammate Takashi Sato with a head kick from that aspect, historical past may repeat itself this weekend if the native of the Congo isn’t cautious.

Regardless of having the sensation that Battle is inevitably cruising for a bruising on account of his heavy reliance on opportunism, I’ll decide him right here to win through club-and-sub in spherical 2.

The primary attraction in Las Vegas encompasses a heavyweight matchup between Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura.

As said in my in-depth breakdown, I think that the smaller octagon will barely favor Tybura from a stylistic perspective since he’s the superior on-paper grappler.

If Tuivasa — who’s much more gifted than given credit score for — can’t discover a end early, he could possibly be in some critical hassle if this battle will get into the second body.

Tybura isn’t probably the most energetic wrestler on the planet, however the Polish fighter has a knack for countering kicks and is fast to capitalize on errors once they materialize. “Tybur” can be one of many few fighters on this division who can competently take backs in scrambles, which makes the prospects of wrestling additional harmful given Tuivasa’s grappling historical past.

I wouldn’t thoughts being incorrect on this spot, however I’ll take Tybura to outlive the early storm in an effort to lock up a submission in spherical 2.