I am supposed to be taking pictures of shit that is wrong with my new rental house in Arizona, then cleaning, but my wife is out running errands. So I do not have a lot of time to break down the fights for this card tonight. Not going to lie, I don’t know many of the fighters tonight and a lot of this is a gut feeling. But hey, that’s what betting usually is. This is a nice Wednesday night card to follow up a decent UFC 251. I am still feeling pretty bitter about that shitty Holloway decision, and all 3 title fights going the distance. I know Yan v. Aldo didn’t technically go the distance, but close enough. All of that doesn’t matter though, tonight marks the long awaited (at least for me) return of Meatball Molly McCann. She earned a main card spot, and her fights are always entertaining. From the fighters on this card that I do know, this card should be pretty entertaining. Enjoy the picks, good luck tonight, and let’s go Meatball Molly McCann.
MAIN CARD
CALVIN KATTAR V. DAN IGE
Calvin Kattar is making the quick turn around since that sick KO of Jeremy Stephens two months ago. He was standing and trading in the middle of the octagon with Stephens, a dangerous proposition, and landed a nasty elbow that dropped Stephens. Not many have Kod Stephens before. Kattar is a brawler with very technical boxing skills. Kattar won’t be flashy, but he is very tough and will stay in the pocket and trade.
Dan Ige is a pressure fighter with solid wrestling. Also making a quick turn around off of his biggest win, but his was a split decision win over Edson Barboza. It was a very close win, I vaguely remember thinking Barboza won the fight. Ige likes to move forward and fight at close distance and grapple. Eventually use his wrestling.
This is going to come down to who can implement their strengths. Ige probably does not have the distance striking to fight a boxing/kickboxing fight with Kattar. He will probably have to get in close to implement his pressure fighting/grappling/wrestling gameplans, and that will put him in range of Kattar’s boxing. Kattar’s takedown defense is not too shabby either. This will be an entertaining fight.
Calvin Kattar by 3rd round TKO
TIM ELLIOTT V. RYAN BENOIT
Grappler v. Striker. Veteran with multiple UFC stints, weird ass grappler that has crazy scrambles, man with the awesome mullet Tim Elliott v. the long time UFC veteran with one stint, a striker, with no awesome mullet Ryan Benoit. Striker v. Grappler matchups always come down to where the fight takes place. I really like Tim Elliott, aside from Cejudo beating Mighty Mouse (that was a shitty decision), Elliott came the closest to beating him. But Elliott has been on the losing end of so many decisions he probably won. Part of that is how many strikes he eats. He just eats so many shots to get close to grapple. Ryan Benoit on the other hand likes to strike hand 8 out of his 10 wins come by KO/TKO. Benoit has not faced nearly the level of talent that Elliott has faced though. If Benoit wins, this will be his biggest win yet. We know what they both want to do, Elliott will try to grapple, Benoit will try to knock his ass out.
Tim Elliott by 1st round submission
JIMMIE RIVERA V. CODY STAMANN
I really like both of these guys. It’s hard to pick a side when you like both fighters. It has been a rough couple of years for Jimmie Rivera. The guy was 21-1 heading into 2018, and has gone 1-3 since then. He is a kickboxer and while he can grapple, it is not a strength. His last couple of fights he seems a step slower than his opponents. He has taken over a year off since his last fight, a decision loss to Petr Yan. He is facing Cody Stamann. Stamann is making the quick turn around from his win over Brian Kelleher in June. I guess he felt up for it after the decision win, it didn’t look like he took too much punishment in that fight. Rivera has to be happy to be facing a guy that isn’t the biggest grappler. This should be a fight that takes place on the feet. Stamann is 5-1-1 in the UFC and Rivera would be the biggest win in his career. I don’t think either of these guys will be stomping on any toes this fight. This should be a fun one.
Cody Stamann by decision
MOLLY MCCANN V. TAILA SANTOS
It isn’t hard to figure out that I am a huge fan of Meatball Molly McCann. From the first fight I watched, against the Violence Queen Ariane Lipski, she became one of my favorite fighters. She just went out there and brawled like a maniac. It was a prelim fight, and the entire arena was chanting “Meatball” and I’ve never seen an arena chant during a prelim fight, except maybe in Brazil. She won that decision and followed that up a couple of months later with a win over Diana Belbita. Meatball is a brawler that has been working on rounding out her game. She is working on moving up the rankings. Next up is probably the best athlete she has faced. Taila Santos got a contract from Dana White Contender Series’ Brazil edition. She lost her debut to Mara Romero Borella, and is looking to rebound here. Her striking game is rudimentary, but she is a grappler primarily. She is looking for her first win in the UFC.
Meatball Molly McCann by decision
ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN V. MOUNIR LAZZEZ
This is a matchup of power strikers. Both of these guys stand and trade. Both of these guys have immense power. Both of these guys go for the knockout. Alhassan hasn’t fought in a couple of years due to legal trouble. Mounir is making his UFC debut. I don’t know if this will last long, but there should be fireworks.
Abdul Razak Alhassan by 1st round TKO
PRELIMS
JOHN PHILLIPS V. KHAMZAT CHIMAEV
John Phillips by 2nd round TKO
RICARDO RAMOS V. LERONE MURPHY
Ricardo Ramos by 3rd round submission
MODESTAS BUKAUSKAS V. ANDREAS MICHAILADIS
Andreas Michailidis by decision
JARED GORDON V. CHRIS FISHGOLD
Jared Gordon by decision
DIANA BELBITA V. LIANA JOJUA
Diana Belbita by decision
JACK SHORE V. AARON PHILLIPS
Jack Shore by 1st round submission
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
JIMMIE RIVERA V. CODY STAMANN
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