UFC 304 Predictions

It is Prediction time for UFC 304, and here they are.

PRELIMS:

Shauna Bannon(5-1) V Alice Ardelean(9-5)

Opening the card we have Shauna Bannon who has not won yet in the UFC against a newcomer in Alice Ardelean. This feels like it’s Bannon’s fight to lose. Ardelean is coming in on short notice and mainly here for her internet presence but she is an over 10-year MMA fighter and has fought Weili Zhang which is a high level of competition compared to Bannon. I’ve got Bannon winning by using her range as she has the height and reach advantage.

Prediction: Bannon by Dec

Mick Parkin(9-0) V Łukasz Brzeski(9-4-1)

This is another fight where it feels like there is a clear winner. Parkin is a solid all round fighter for the heavyweight division. Doesn’t excel at anything but is well rounded. Brzeski is coming off his first win in the UFC but before that lost his 3 UFC fights. The safe prediction is Parkin by decision but I could also see Parkin with a ground and pound finish late depending on how well he’s fighting.

Prediction: Parkin by KO R3

Sam Patterson(11-2-1) V Kiefer Crosbie(10-4)

This is a fight I’m a fan of. Patterson is someone I like and think is very well rounded and has a crazy reach for the division and is tall. I also like Crosbie but I also know that he isn’t a brilliant fighter but I’m glad that he’s in the UFC. I see Patterson controlling the fight until he finds either the knockout or submission which he likes. Patterson does seem chinny which could be Crosbie’s best chance of getting on the inside and land big.

Prediction: Patterson by Sub R2

Muhammad Mokaev(11-0) V Manel Kape(19-6)

This fight has had a funny fight week. It was originally on the main card but moved to the early prelims. It should hopefully be a fun fight with two guys who don’t seem to like each other. Mokaev is a good fighter who knows what he needs to do to win, which is to make it boring. Kape is explosive and has the ability to finish a fight even if he’s been losing. Hopefully, we will see Mokaev's aggressive side, and Kape will bring what he normally brings, and we will get a fun fight early in the night.

Prediction: Mokaev by Dec

Oban Elliott(10-2) V Preston Parsons(11-4)

Glad to see Oban Elliott on the card. I’m a fan of him and like his style. He does tend to go to decision but always makes sure to pack a lot in so you see a great fight. Parsons is alright and has had a mixed career so far in the UFC. Before the UFC he won every fight by submission which maybe his way of winning here. Elliott feels the smart and safe choice.

Prediction: Elliott by Dec

Modestas Bukauskas(15-6)V Marcin Prachnio(17-7)

This is the most straightforward fight for me to predict. I think Prachnio is the worst fighter on the roster and I have no idea how he’s still in the UFC. Bukauskas isn’t the best but should still be good enough to finish Prachnio.

Prediction: Bukauskas by KO R2

Caolán Loughran(9-1) V Jake Hadley(10-3)

This should be a fun one. Loughran is a solid all rounder but mainly uses his boxing and wrestling to win. Hadley is a good fighter who was a previous Cage Warriors flyweight champion. He is coming in on short notice up a division which is always a challenge. He is slick on the ground which should be his way to victory.

Prediction: Loughran By Dec

Molly McCann(14-6) V Bruna Brasil(9-4-1)

This one feels easy to predict as it's a card in the UK. It’s a favourable matchup for McCann. Brasil is taller and has the reach advantage, which may be her best way to win. McCann has finishing ability, which she has done a few times, but I feel this one is one where she’ll have to deal with a reach and height disadvantage, which will make the finish hard.

Prediction: McCann by Dec

Nathaniel Wood(19-6) V Daniel Pineda(28-15)

I’m happy to see Wood on the UK card. He is one of my favourites and this should be a simple one for Wood and a way of saying sorry for his last fight against Naimov who cheated his way to a win. Pineda is a vet and likes to finish which still he can do even at 38 years old but I feel it’s Wood’s fight to lose.

Prediction: Wood by Dec

MAIN CARD:

Arnold Allen(19-3) V Giga Chikadze(15-3)

Fun fight to kick off the main card. Allen has been a lot more active the last few years which has been fun as he is really talented and has had great fights. Chikadze is a good kickboxer whos known for his giga kick which is a roundhouse to the body which has hurt previous opponents. Allen is a southpaw and has good grinding wrestling which is stuff Chikadze won’t like. Allen should be the smart pick.

Prediction: Allen by Dec

Christian Leroy Duncan(10-1) V Gregory Rodrigues(15-5)

This is a really fun fight on the main card. I think Duncan has a lot of potential when he fights smart. He lost his debut to Armen Petrosyan, who has beat Rodrigues. I felt that in that fight, Duncan was not fighting smartly and was showboating too much instead of focusing on and showing his skills. His last two I feel have shown what he can look like when he is fighting at his best. Rodrigues is a low-key favourite of mine. He is always game and is a fantastic finisher. He has every bit of chance of catching Duncan, depending on how showboaty Duncan is and winning this. I still feel as though if Duncan is smart he can win this convincingly and take a big step up in competition.

Prediction: Duncan by KO R3

Bobby Green(32-15-1) V Paddy Pimblett(21-3)

With it being an English card, you know Pimblett is on it. This is a good test for Pimblett as he's fighting a ranked opponent that he has a good chance of beating and a credible name. It is a close fight as if Pimblett isn’t ready for this level of competition then Green will deal with him and play with him. If you are the UFC, you want Pimblett to win as he is someone they can promote with, and he loves the UFC, which is what they want. It should be a fun one if Pimblett tries to strike with Green, as they could just stand and bang.

Prediction: Pimblett by Dec

Tom Aspinall(14-3) V Curtis Blaydes(18-4)

This is the best and biggest fight at Heavyweight at the moment. This should be for the undisputed heavyweight championship, but Jon Jones and Stipe shenanigans mean it’s an interim. Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the world, in my opinion, and someone I see being able to beat every heavyweight on pure ability and fight IQ. Blaydes is the ultimate high-level contender for heavyweights as he beats everyone other than the big one, usually for the chance for a title shot. This time, he is fighting for the title, and maybe this is where he will show up. He won their first fight, but that was an injury to Aspinall 15 seconds in, so there was nothing to read from that fight that revealed anything for this. I have Aspinall as the favourite, but Blaydes has what it takes to be a champion and probably would have been before if he hadn’t been caught a few times.

Prediction: Aspinall By KO R2

Leon Edwards(22-3) V Belal Muhammad(23-3)

Belal Muhammad finally gets his title shot, and it’s a rematch that he has wanted for three years now. The last fight was a no contest due to an eye poke, which the fight hadn’t gotten going yet. Edwards is an excellent fighter who has everything you want in a champion and could easily show the difference in level between him and the rest of the division in this fight. Muhammad has been given the reputation of being a boring fighter, and even though his fights usually aren’t entertaining, he does win them convincingly and has proven he is able to compete at a high level over five rounds. He has probably been deserving of a title fight for a while now, but now he finally gets it against someone he has unfinished business within their home nation.

Prediction: Edwards by Dec