Finally, the UFC returns. It has been weeks without a card, and I regret being upset over having a card every week for 3 months. We need to find a happy medium. UFC is starting 2020 off with the return of Conor McGregor. This isn’t the strongest card, but Conor v. Cowboy is a great matchup for the first card of the year.
MAIN CARD
DONALD COWBOY CERRONE V. CONOR MCGREGOR
Everyone knew whoever Conor got matched up with next, it was going to be a fun matchup and the fight would deliver. Cowboy definitely fits that description. This matchup is must see and is almost guaranteed to be a fun fight. When deciding on picking this fight, there are so many variables you have to consider.
Conor has only had 1 MMA fight in the last 3+ years, and it was a loss to Khabib. Conor has had a ton of legal issues in the time off, and you have to wonder where his mind is at. He looks to be in excellent shape, but being in good shape doesn’t help you when a killer is standing in front of you trying to put you to sleep.
Cowboy is coming in on a 2 fight losing streak, TKO losses to Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Those two fights were 3 months apart, and the Gaethje fight was 4 months ago. You have to wonder how his chin can hold up in another 5 round fight. Everyone loves Cowboy because of his reckless fighting career, fighting anyone, anywhere, anytime. But as he’s getting to his late 30s, it seems to be catching up to him. I love Cowboy, but I wish he’d take a little more time off between fights. It would only benefit him, but we know that isn’t Cowboy and never will be Cowboy. He definitely wouldn’t turn down a fight against the biggest draw/star in UFC history.
I think Conor picked this matchup over, say Justin Gaethje, because stylistically, this is a great fight for Conor. Cowboy is a slow starter, and has issues with lefties that move forward. Conor is a notoriously (pun intended) fast starter, and likes to get the fight going right away, and he happens to be a lefty. Cowboy has a grappling advantage, but Conor’s defensive grappling has been pretty good, aside from his fight against Khabib, but Khabib is a fucking bear and no one can outgrapple him. If Cowboy can effectively use kicks to keep Conor at distance, whether it’s threat of head kick, or leg kicking Conor’s extended front leg in his stance, Cowboy can pick Conor apart. Or Cowboy can try to get Conor on the mat and use his BJJ to get the win.
But as we know, Cowboy likes to stand and trade and will probably do the same in this fight. He is going to want to deliver a big show in a huge showcase fight against Conor, and this benefits Conor greatly.
Conor McGregor by 1st round TKO
HOLLY HOLM V. RAQUEL PENNINGTON
Holly has been 2-5 in her fights since beating Ronda Rousey. Granted, those losses were to Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie, Cyborg, and Amanda Nunes. All current/former UFC champions, so not the worst losses to have on your resume. But Holly is 38 and coming off her first TKO loss in her long and storied career. That fight was 6 months ago so maybe Holly has had enough time off to recover. Holly won the first matchup against Pennington, but that was in 2015, and Holly seems to have lost a step, and Pennington seems to be finding herself.
Pennington is 5-2 since the split decision loss to Holly. She is coming off a split decision win over Irene Aldana, that broke a 2 fight losing streak to Amanda Nunes and Germaine de Randamie. Pennington can get a step closer to another title shot with a win here. Pennington is a grinder and will try to keep pressure on Holly. She can’t stay at a distance and let Holly outpoint her for a second time.
Raquel Pennington by decision
ALEKSEI OLEINIK V. MAURICE GREENE
This is not a heavyweight matchup that is going to be exciting. Both of these guys prefer to grapple and when both guys are grapplers, it tends to lead to boring kickboxing fight between two guys that are far from anything resembling a kickboxer. But there is a possibility this goes to the mat and it is a grappling match to behold. Oleinik has more losses than Greene has total fight. Oleinik has an obscene record of 57-13-1, and at 42 years old, is very experienced in the octagon. Only 8 of Oleinik’s 70 fights have gone to decision, 4 wins and 4 losses. Oleinik is a grappling specialist, 45 of his wins come by submission, with the Ezekiel being his specialty.
Greene is 3-1 since joining the UFC, and has shown some potential. Greene is huge and has shown an unorthodox style of fighting. He is a grappler like Oleinki is, and prefers to let his opponent get in close before clinching and going to the ground. Unfortunately, that plays into Oleinik’s strengths, especially with guys that are huge with long limbs, there’s just more of him to grab and choke.
Aleksei Oleinik by 1st round submission
BRIAN KELLEHER V. ODE OSBOURNE
This is an under the radar fight, that was put on the main card because of the matchup. They are both young and hungry fighters trying to move up the bantamweight rankings, and their styles are violence. They both have an active style that leads to entertaining brawls. Their cardio is good, and they like to scrap. Kelleher has a solid grappling game, and if the fight goes south for him, he can get a takedown and should be able to grind a win with that. This should be a good one, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it gets a fight of the night bonus.
Brian Kelleher by decision
ANTHONY PETTIS V. CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA
When I saw this matchup, I assumed this was the co-main event. This is a great matchup, and shows proper booking. Pettis is back at lightweight and wants to make a run at the title he lost in 2015. Carlos Diego Ferreira is trying to prove himself and add a name to his resume.
Pettis is 4-6 since he lost his title to Rafael dos Anjos. He went down to featherweight, then up to welterweight. He has been switching wins and losses each fight. He hasn’t been close to the Showtime of old, although he has shown flashes. Pettis is a good all around fighter, explosive striker and strong grappler.
Carlos Diego Ferreira happens to be older than Pettis, but that is surprising considering Pettis has been in the UFC forever. I feel like I never heard of Ferreira until last year, even though he has been in the UFC since 2014. I liked what I saw in Ferreira in September in his decision win against Mairbek Taisumov. He is a pressure fighter that has cardio for days and throws a huge amount of strikes and pressures them up to the cage. Then he’ll clinch and drag you down to the ground, or just pound you against the cage. A win over Pettis could be huge for his career and could get him into the rankings.
Carlos Diego Ferreira by 2nd round TKO
PRELIMS
MAYCEE BARBER V. ROXANNE MODAFFERI
Maycee Barber is being booked properly by the UFC. She has superstar written all over her, but she is 21 and is being brought up nicely and this is a matchup that is great for her. Maycee is 8-0 with 5 KO/TKO, 2 submission, and 1 decision. She is 3-0 with 3 KO/TKOs.
Roxanne Modafferi is 23-16, 2-4 in the UFC. She is a gatekeeper in the flyweight division at this point in her career. She has swapped wins and losses since coming back to the UFC in 2017. Her style does not work well with someone like Maycee. Roxanne is a pressure fighter, but doesn’t throw strikes. She moves forward and tries to grapple. The fact that she just moves forward without striking, leads her into eating strikes. You don’t want to do that against Maycee, it usually ends in a nap.
Maycee Barber by 2nd round TKO
ANDRE FILI V. SODIQ YUSUFF
Andre Fili has found his stride in the last couple of fights. He is more confident and has seemed to put it all together. His grappling and striking and confidence make him a very dangerous fighter. Sodiq Yusuff is the new hot prospect in the featherweight division. He’s 3-0 in the UFC and has an explosive style. He has insane power and can put guys away. Fili is a solid all around fighter and is putting it all together, and Yusuff only has striking on his side. This will be the toughest test of Yusuff’s young career.
Andre Fili by decision
TIM ELLIOTT V. ASKAR ASKAROV
Tim Elliott by decision
DREW DOBER V. NASRAT HAQPARAST
Nasrat Haqparast by 3rd round TKO
EARLY PRELIMS
ALEKSA CAMUR V. JUSTIN LEDET
Aleksa Camur by decision
SABINA MAZO V. JJ ALDRICH
JJ Aldrich by decision