UFC Denver Predictions
PRELIMS:
Even Elder(8-2) v Darrius Flowers (12-7-1)
This fight seems to have been added quite late into fight week. It feels like a simple one to predict for Elder. I think Even Elder is an alright fighter. Nothing spectacular, but it is solid enough to compete. Flowers is going up a weight class after losing his two fights at lightweight. Flowers isn’t the best but has a puncher's chance, but up a weight class, I don’t know if that power follows him. I’ve got Elder winning this, but with how late this fight seems to have been made, I wonder how much he’s been able to prepare for Flowers and not get caught.
Prediction: Elder by Dec
Josh Fremd(11-5) v Andre Petroski(10-3)
Both of these guys are coming off losses. Fremd is an alright fighter who could beat some fighters in the UFC but is more suited to be a top fighter in LFA or other organisations like that. Petroski was on the ultimate fighter and then went 5-0 in the UFC. He’s lost his last two once he stepped up a level in competition. I would favour Petroski as I feel he is a better fighter than Fremd, but maybe this is a closer fight than I’m giving it credit for.
Prediction: Petroski by Dec
Luana Santos(7-1) v Mariya Agapova(10-4)
This feels like a predictable fight. Santos hasn’t lost so far in the UFC and has a finish in the UFC, which will be helpful in this one. Agapova has had a mixed journey so far in the UFC. All her fights have ended by a finish. She’s mainly struggled once the fight gets to the ground which may be what Santos will try to take advantage of in this fight. She can finish a fight, which is a good ability to have, so it’s always possible she can get something as she is quite long for the division.
Prediction: Santos by Dec
Montel Jackson(13-2) v Da’Mon Blackshear(14-6-1)
This should be a fun fight between two solid fighters. Jackson is on a four-fight win streak and has crazy reach for a bantamweight. Blackshear is a solid fighter who’s been around and has had a mixed run of results so far in the UFC. He lost last time to a good fighter in Mario Bautista, but before that, he won by a twister, which is a very impressive submission to get in a fight. I feel Jackson is a fighter who can fight in the top 15 if he is more active, so I lean more on his side in this fight.
Prediction: Jackson by Dec
Jasmine Jasudavicius(10-3) v Fatima Kline(6-0)
This is a fight I am weirdly looking forward to. Fatima Kline is someone I see potential in. Whether she is ready now is the question. Jasudavicius has been solid so far in the UFC, only losing to Tracy Cortez and Natalia Silva, who are both ranked fighters. If I were betting on this fight, the safer bet would be Jasudavicius, but I really like Kline and feel she has a solid career ahead of her if she meets her potential.
Prediction: Kline by Dec
Joshua Van(10-1) v Charles Johnson(15-6)
This is my unofficial main event. Joshua Van might be my favourite prospect in MMA at the moment and Charles Johnson is a really good fighter who I think is better than his record may lead on. Van has gotten better every fight and learns more after every round. He gets better the later the fight goes as he gets his reads and turns it on in the second and third to lead to his wins. He also has power with him finishing most of his fights in his career, and is improving his grappling every fight. Charles Johnson is a great fight for Van at this stage in his career. I think Johnson can have a competitive fight with most fighters in the division. I feel his record doesn’t do him justice for how good he is. This can either be a star-making performance for Van or Johnson, showing he is a level better than people think.
Prediction: Van by Dec
MAIN CARD:
Cody Brundage(10-6) v Abdul Razak Alhassan(12-6)
This fight is either an early finish for either or a boring three-rounder. I feel it should be Alhassan getting a finish, as he does have crazy power, and Brundage tends to suffer against pressure, which Alhassan brings. Brundage is coming off a loss against Bo Nickal but has won a few in the UFC. He tends to win when I write him off, so it's very possible he gets a win here, but the smart pick feels like Alhassan to me.
Prediction: Alhassan by KO R2
Christian Rodriguez(11-1) v Julian Erosa(29-11)
This is a banger of a fight. Rodriguez has surprised me with how good he is after losing his first fight to Jonathan Pearce. Julian Erosa is a vet in the UFC. He is a great test for Rodriguez as if you can beat Erosa, you can do well in the division. Erosa is a gate keeper in a sense as he will beat people not ready for the next step into the top 15 but won’t really go any higher than just outside the rankings. I feel Rodriguez is ready for the top 15, so I see him winning this and getting a good opponent in the rankings after this.
Prediction: Rodriguez by Dec
Gabriel Bonfim(15-1) v Ange Loosa(10-3)
This should be an okay fight between these two. Bonfim is really dangerous on the ground, so if he can get the takedown, then it feels like it’s over. Loosa is very strong and may be hard to keep down as he is explosive. He has knockout wins in his career, so he always has the possibility of landing big. I feel the safe bet is Bonfim.
Prediction: Bonfim by Sub R2
Drew Dober(27-13) v Jean Silva(13-2)
This should be a great fight. Props to Silva for coming in on short notice to keep Dober fighting. Silva impressed me in his last fight as I wrote him off due to the weight miss, but he showed me that he has skills, and the weight miss wasn’t on purpose. Dober is a division vet who is very competitive with most fighters. Silva coming in on short notice would worry me, but Silva was so impressive last time and took no damage, so he might be fresh. The safe bet is Dober, but I’m leaning towards Silva and his team, the Fighting Nerds, who have some killers.
Prediction: Silva by KO R2
Santiago Ponzinibbio(29-7) v Muslim Salikhov(19-5)
This should be a solid fight between two vets of the division. Salikhov has lost his last two but is always dangerous. Ponzinibbio has power and is still competing to a good level and being competitive. I would lean on Ponzinibbio as he seems less near the end of his career than Salikhov to me.
Prediction: Ponzinibbio by KO R2
Rose Namajunas(12-6) v Tracy Cortez(11-1)
This could be a solid fight for the division with a former champion at strawweight in Rose, who, on her day, is a very high-level fighter against a prospect in Cortez, who seems to be ready for a big test in her career. I feel the safe bet would be Namajunas winning as she probably is the better fighter overall, but I’m worried that if Cortez has a good round or two, she will get lost in the fight, and Cortez will take advantage and win enough of the fight to get a decision. I think Cortez is good and a win v Namajunas will show a real step up for her and could set her up for a big fight next.
Prediction: Cortez by Dec