UFC Vegas 97 Predictions

Back after a week off here are some predictions for UFC Vegas 97 this weekend.

PRELIMS:

Zygimantas Ramaska(9-2) v Nathan Fletcher(8-1)

This fight was meant to happen two weeks ago but got rescheduled as Fletcher had a medical issue. I wrote about the fight when it was originally meant to happen, so I’ll keep it light here, but I feel Fletcher is a solid prospect who had a tough first fight, but I see being able to survive in the UFC. Ramaska is fun and has the chance to cause issues, but my safe choice is Fletcher.

Prediction: Fletcher by Sub R2

Andre Petroski(11-3) v Dylan Budka(7-3)

Next fight on the card isn’t great and feels like a tee up for Petroski. Budka isn’t very good and I don’t see having a great career in the UFC. Petroski is very one dimensional but he is very effective with his wrestling. He had a wobbly spell a few fights ago but won his last one and I see being able to control Budka fairly easily.

Prediction: Petroski by DEC

Jaqueline Amorim(8-1) v Vanessa Demopoulos(11-5)

Potentially fun fight here with Amorim and Demopoulos. Amorim has won her last two by finish and has only been to decision once. Demopoulos has also won her last two and is very scrappy. I think Amorim has finishing ability and after a wobbly debut in the UFC shes found her form and should be able to continue here but if it goes all three rounds then Demopoulos is good enough to win rounds without doing much.

Prediction: Amorim by Sub R2

Gabriel Santos(10-2) v Yizha(25-4)

This one should be fun. Santos is pretty good and has had two incredibly tough fights so far that he has looked good in. He will look for his first win in the UFC here, and I feel he will be able to win. Yizha will have his 30th MMA fight in this one at the age of only 27. He has a few fights on Road to UFC and has been good, but Santos is someone I see as having good potential. Still expect a solid fight.

Prediction: Santos by DEC

André Lima(9-0) v Felipe Dos Santos(8-1)

This week, I did a fighter study on Lima that you can read on my substack and I will put a link to it at the bottom. Lima is someone I really like and see a real future in the UFC for. Dos Santos is a solid fighter and has fought good opponents but I feel Lima is a level above. I see Lima wanting to have a career best performance here.

Prediction: Lima by KO R3

Issac Dulgarian(6-1) v Brendon Marotte(8-2)

A fairly simple one to predict here. Dulgarian is fun and really skilled and lost his last one against a good opponent in Christian Rodriguez. Marotte has had one fight in the UFC losing in 20 seconds. Dulgarian tends to finish fights in the first so I imagine he will bounce back here with a quick win.

Prediction: Dulgarian by KO R1

Rongzhu(25-5) v Chris Padilla(14-6)

Rongzhu makes his return to the UFC after winning road to UFC. Rongzhu is someone I liked during his original run, but I felt he needed to train with a good team and tighten up his game. It seems that the time out of the UFC has helped him. He is still only 24, which is crazy for how many fights he has had and how skilled he is. Padilla surprised a ton of people by coming in on short notice and winning in the first. I think he’s good, but I feel Rongzhu has a real future and could one day be in the rankings.

Prediction: Rongzhu by DEC

MAIN CARD:

Trevor Peek(9-2) v Yanal Ashmouz(7-1)

Trevor Peek is back, and he’s fighting another heavy hitter in Ashmouz. I expect this to be a fun scrap with big punches and might go all three rounds purely as both have good chins, even with their respective power. I think Peek will win purely on how hard he hits and his constant pressure. Ashmouz is capable, but I haven’t seen enough to say he wins.

Prediction: Peek by DEC

Matt Schnell(16-8) v Cody Durden(16-6-1)

Fun flyweight action here. Schnell is all action and a vet of the flyweight divison. He has a kill or be killed fight style which has had success but also its down moments. Durden is an effective fighter but isn’t the most entertaining. He has lost his last two by finish which does muddy the waters but I feel Durden will be able to grind a three round decision over Schnell.

Prediction: Durden by DEC

Kyle Nelson(16-5-1) v Steve Garcia(16-5)

Solid fight here with Nelson and Garcia here. Nelson has been on a run recently with a finish of Bill Algeo last time out. Garcia has found his grove recently as well, with four finishes in a row. I think Garcia will continue his finishing run and maybe get a respectable step up with a good win here.

Prediction: Garcia by KO R2

Jéssica Andrade(26-12) v Natália Silva(17-5-1)

Big test for Silva here. Andrade is the litmus test for a contender to determine where they are at. Silva has been a fun addition to the UFC and if she can beat Andrade then she can contend for the title. Andrade’s career speaks for itself. She can beat pretty much everybody on any given day and if Silva isn’t ready she will prove it. I like Silva and think she can win this one.

Prediction: Silva by DEC

Gilbert Burns(22-7) v Sean Brady(16-1)

Big time fight in the welterweight division in the main event here. Burns is a constant contender in the division and always a few wins away from a title shot. Burns is brilliant all-round and will test you wherever the fight goes. Brady is getting a big test here with Burns. His last big test was Belal Muhammad, which he lost, which has aged well with Belal, now champ, but he did get finished, and not many have been finished by Belal. Brady likes to bring the fight to the ground and be on top of you, which I feel Burns won’t mind being on the ground. It all depends on if he doesn’t get comfortable off his back. I don’t really know why but I’m feeling Brady will have a really good performance here. It’s a 50-50 fight, but I’m leaning Brady.

Prediction: Brady by DEC

André Lima Fighter Study: