UFC Vegas 88 predictions: Late ‘Prelims’ undercard preview | Tuivasa vs. Tybura

Final Preventing Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend (Sat., March 16, 2024) for its newest “Battle Evening”-themed occasion, which sees struggling Heavyweight, Tai Tuivasa, look to snap a three-fight shedding streak in opposition to Marcin Tybura within the ESPN+-streamed predominant occasion. UFC Vegas 88’s co-feature pits Bryan Battle vs. Ange Loosa, whereas Christian Rodriguez strikes to 145 kilos after a pair of blown weight cuts to face undefeated prospect, Isaac Dulgarian.

Three UFC Vegas 88 “Prelims” undercard bouts stay (checkout the primary batch right here). We could take a look?

155 lbs.: Natan Levy vs. Mike Davis

Natan Levy (8-1) capped off an ideal (6-0) skilled begin by dominating Shaheen Santana on Contender Sequence to earn a UFC contract. Although “Deadly” fell to Rafa Garcia in his Octagon debut, he’s since bounced again with wins over fellow Contender Sequence veterans Mike Breeden and Genaro Valdez.

This marks his first bout in 15 months.

Lower than one 12 months after falling to Sodiq Yusuff on Contender Sequence, Mike Davis (10-2) stepped up on quick discover to battle Gilbert Burns within the Octagon, solely to undergo a second spherical submission loss to “Durinho” (watch highlights). He has since amassed three wins previously 5 years, the newest of them a call over Viacheslav Borshchev in Oct. 2022.

Seven of his eight skilled finishes have come by way of knockout.

Davis’ inactivity and occasional tendency to take his foot off the fuel are worrying, however I can’t see him shedding to “Deadly.” Levy is lower than the sum of his components — somebody together with his wrestling chops and versatile kicking recreation shouldn’t be dropping rounds to bottom-feeders like Breeden and Valdez. In opposition to a vicious striker like Davis — who additionally boasts the takedown abilities to recreate Levy’s loss to Garcia — he’s quick on choices.

As long as Davis is firing on all cylinders and didn’t decide up some horrific unreported harm throughout his stint on the sidelines, he’s higher than Levy wherever the battle goes. In the long run, count on one-way site visitors en path to a sweep on the scorecards.

Prediction: Davis def. Levy by way of unanimous determination

135 lbs.: Josiane Nunes vs. Chelsea Chandler

Undeterred by a loss to Taila Santos in her second skilled bout, Josiane Nunes (10-1) rode a six-fight win streak into her UFC debut and promptly made it seven with a primary spherical knockout of Bea Malecki (see it). Her two fights since have seen her take house determination wins over Ramona Pascual and Zarah Fairn.

“Josi” fights for the primary time in 14 months.

Chelsea Chandler (5-2) adopted her 4-1 stint in Legacy Preventing Alliance (LFA) by mauling Julija Stoliarenko in her 2022 UFC debut. Then got here Norma Dumont, who out-classed Chandler en path to a unanimous determination win.

She stands six inches taller than Nunes at 5’8.”

The largest query for me is whether or not Chandler can truly juice herself right down to 135 kilos. She didn’t appear to be carrying a lot additional weight 10 kilos north — and as restricted as Nunes is — Chandler doesn’t wish to cope with that overhand left whereas compromised.

If she pulls off the reduce, although, it ought to be easy crusing. Nunes is a particularly one-dimensional slugger who benefitted from going through a number of the worst UFC fighters of the fashionable period. Chandler’s measurement, energy and cruel physique assault give her a noteworthy edge on the toes and her ground-and-pound will wreck Nunes’ day if and when she will get on prime. Count on her to out-bully the bully, in the end muscling Nunes to the mat and raining down punches for her second UFC end.

Prediction: Chandler by way of second spherical technical knockout

125 lbs.: Jafel Filho vs. Ode Osbourne

Jafel Filho (15-3) knocked out unbeaten Roybert Echeverria on Contender Sequence to earn a UFC debut in opposition to Muhammed Mokaev, which noticed Filho severely injury Mokaev’s knee, however in the end succumb to a comeback submission (watch it). “Pastor” then survived an opening-minute catastrophe to choke out Daniel Barez 4 months later and up his current file to 6-1.

His skilled finishes are break up 9:5 between submissions and knockouts.

Ode Osbourne (12-6) punched his UFC ticket with a first-round armbar of Armando Villareal on Contender Sequence, solely to drop two of his first three within the cage. He received again on monitor with a 3-1 run, however succumbed to Asu Almabayev’s grappling assault his final day trip.

He’ll get pleasure from a 4.5-inch attain benefit.

I attempt to not get reductive in my evaluation, however Osbourne’s full lack of ability to cope with Almabayev’s floor recreation has me questioning his probabilities in opposition to a top-notch Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist like Filho. Although Osbourne has the sting on the toes, Filho confirmed exceptional resilience in opposition to Daniel Barez’s early blitz, that means “The Jamaican Sensation” is unlikely to place him down earlier than “Pastor” wraps him up and places him by the wringer.

Osbourne has by no means fairly managed to arrange his spectacular bodily attributes and grab-bag of abilities into constant success. Filho’s extra targeted strategy figures to pay dividends as he takes down Osbourne within the opening minutes and works him over till Osbourne provides up his neck.

Prediction: Filho by way of first spherical submission

I imply, the carriage needed to flip again right into a pumpkin after UFC 299 final weekend, however the pumpkin didn’t must be rotten. See you Saturday, Maniacs.

Present Prediction Document for 2024: 38-17

Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your entire UFC Vegas 88 battle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining predominant card steadiness (additionally on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To take a look at the newest and best UFC Vegas 88: “Tuivasa vs. Tybura” information and notes be sure you hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.