I became a die-hard UFC fan on December 7, 2013. Mark Hunt v. Antonio “Bigfoot” SIlva. The greatest heavyweight fight of all time. Just an absolute bloodbath brawl. It was glorious. The fight ended in a fucking draw and it was still amazing. That fight made the UFC must watch for me.

Ever since I was on the Anik & Florian podcast 3.5 months ago, and I nearly beat Kenny Florian, in picking fights I knew I was born to pick fights. If I can spread my knowledge to help people win some money, even better. So here is my first attempt at picking fights, starting with the Renato Moicano v. Korean Zombie card taking place Saturday, June 22 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Main Card

Renato Moicano v. Chan Sung Jung the Korean Zombie

This is a match made in heaven. Two highly skilled strikers coming off TKO losses, that know they are top featherweights and hope to get into striking distance of a title shot. Renato Moicano, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt American Top Team fighter, has had one of the toughest five fight stretches for a featherweight. He went 3-2 against Jeremy Stephens, Brian Ortega, Calvin Kattar, Cub Swanson, and Jose Aldo. The losses were to Ortega and Aldo. Not a bad stretch for facing some of the best featherweights on the planet. Moicano’s last fight was the loss to Jose Aldo, TKO by punches. He is looking to stand in the middle of the octagon and go to battle. Moicano can smell the title but before he sets his eyes on the Max Holloway v. Frankie Edgar fight, he has a tough test in front of him in the Korean Zombie.

It’s hard to know what you’re going to get from the Korean Zombie. This is his third fight since taking time off for his mandatory enlistment for South Korean Army (don’t worry, it was for the good Korea). He came back with a quick knockout win over Dennis Bermudez. Then put on a fight of the year performance against Yair Rodriguez, only to lose by a vicious standing elbow in the closing seconds of the fifth round. Korean Zombie getting a win over Moicano here would be a good start to his title aspirations.

Even though Moicano is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt, he is looking forward to standing in the octagon trading kill shots and going for the knockout. That is exactly what the Korean Zombie wants to do as well. This fight has potential to be one of the best of the year. It’s going to be two explosive strikers looking to finish the other. I like the Korean Zombie, but he has a tendency to drop his hands when the action picks up and that opens him up for eating a knockout shot. Moicano has stayed more active and is close to a title shot. I think he shows up with a big performance and gets the W over the Korean Zombie.

Moicano by 3rd round TKO -134

Bryan Barberena v. Randy Brown

This is the classic matchup of a brawler v. an “evolving” grappler that has potential to land a knockout shot. Bryan Barberena is a brawler that is not afraid of anyone and has a chin that is impressive. But, he is coming off his first TKO loss, to an absolute killer in Vicente Luque. Barberena hasn’t been able to string together consecutive wins in the UFC, but he also hasn’t been able to string together consecutive losses. Barberena beats the guys he should beat, and loses to the guys he should lose to. He beat Jake Ellenberger and Sage Northcutt. But he lost to Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, and Vicente Luque.

Randy Brown is a BJJ purple belt, and trains with Gregor Gillepsie, one of the best wrestlers in the UFC, but he likes to trade shots and go for the knockout. Five of his ten wins are by TKO/KO. Randy Brown handed Mickey Gall his first loss, and has looked impressive. But he has lost his biggest matchups to date. A decision loss to Belal Muhammad. Then a brutal KO loss to Niko Price. Price won with hammer fists from the bottom position. It was fucking crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

It’s going to be an interesting fight with both guys coming off their first TKO/KO loss. Will they be more hesitant? WIll they be too confident to try to get the W back quickly. If Randy Brown gets into trouble, look for him to go for a takedown. Barberena won’t go down easily, be it by knockout or takedown. Barberena is one of the toughest guys in the UFC. I’m going to pick Barberena here.

Barberena by decision -205

Andrea Lee v. Montana De La Rosa

This is a matchup of two crazy fighters. I say that because both of them want a title shot if they win. Shevchenko, the reigning 125 pound champion, has taken the 135/145 pound champion Amanda Nunes (who destroyed Cris Cyborg) the distance twice. Shevchenko lost both by decision. So anyone who wants a fight with Shevchenko is crazy. Andrea Lee is a more well rounded fighter. She prefers to stand and trade, but is a decent wrestler and can handle herself well on the ground.

Montana De La Rosa is a dangerous grappler. Eight of her ten wins are submission victories. She will definitely look for a takedown and hope to add to her submission total. With a win she could potentially be looking at a fight against a top 5 fighter and closer to a title shot.

De La Rosa’s strength is grappling and ground game. Andrea Lee has the same wrestling coach, and has trained with De La Rosa before. That could be a game changer. Lee will know what to expect. De La Rosa has to show she has more tools than grappling, and this is a good test for both of these women. I think De La Rosa takes the next step in her career and pulls off the win, and possibly an arm.

Montana De La Rosa by 2nd round submission +135

Kevin Holland v Alessio Di Chirico

This should be an entertaining fight. Kevin Holland is a very talented, and entertaining young fighter. He talks so much trash Dana White dubbed him, “Big Mouth.” Kevin Holland talks a big game, but he isn’t afraid to back it up. His lone UFC loss so far is to Thiago Santos, not a bad loss for a guy coming off a Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series win. Holland has an insane reach advantage and has a better grappling skill set than people realize. He wants to make a statement and show the rest of the middleweights, there is a new challenger the need to fear.

Di Chirico will probably try to take this to the ground. The 8 inch reach advantage for Holland makes a grappling heavy game plan more likely. Di Chirico is looking for a big win, and while Holland isn’t a big name, he talks enough that a win over him could seem bigger than it really is. Di Chirico isn’t afraid to stand in the pocket, and he will have to work to take Holland to the ground, but he can’t be completely counted out if the fight doesn’t go to the ground. He is dangerous as well.

This is going to be an explosive fight that should be entertaining for all of us. I think Kevin Holland will get the job done. His striking will keep Di Chirico out of grappling range and he will pick Di Chirico apart.

Kevin Holland by decision -185

Prelims

*disclaimer* I do not know the prelim fighters as well as the main card roster, so my picks will be closer to guesses than educated guesses.*

Dan Ige v. Kevin Aguilar

Both of these guys have had successful professional careers to get them to the UFC. They have won the fights they were supposed to win. Big challenge for both of these guys. This fight will most likely be decided in the pocket trading shots. They’re both strikers that like to throw and eat punches. Ige is a BJJ blackbelt, so he has the potential to take the fight to the ground if he wants, but it is not his inclination to do so before throwing in the pocket. He wants to put on an entertaining fight for us. Aguilar is more of a volume striker. He doesn’t get tired. He fights in a similar style to Max Holloway. Not much knockout power, but the accumulation of strikes is enough to win.

Kevin Aguilar by decision -169

Ashley Yoder v. Syuri Kondo

Both of these fighters haven’t had much success since joining the UFC. They’re looking to get a win and get some momentum for a run up the rankings. Kondo likes to stand and trade shots. She tends to get plodding and avoids danger. Yoder hasn’t been able to really find her spot in the UFC and is hoping to break through with another win to get a win streak going.

Yoder by decision +100

Luis Pena v. Matt Wiman

Matt Wiman hasn’t fought since 2014, and who knows what that layoff will do to a guy that wasn’t the best fighter in his prime. He is facing a young, hungry fighter in Luis Pena. Pena has a reach advantage and will try to keep Wiman from taking him down. Wiman had a strong ground and pound game. Pena is going to want to avoid that. Pena is a kickboxer, so keeping guys at a distance is something he is used to doing, and doing well. Pena will be aggressive and try to break through into top 15 rankings.

Luis Pena by decision -253

Allen Crowder v. Jairzinho Rozenstaruik

A very exciting heavyweight battle. Allen Crowder is coming off that disappointing win by an illegal head kick from Greg Hardy. Crowder looked decent, but as a former football player he did not look like a polished fighter. He got knocked out by Justin WIllis in his other UFC fight. Rozenstruik on the other hand is 7-0 with 6 TKO/KO in his professional career. His last fight, his UFC debut, he knocked out Junior Albini with a vicious head kick. He is a polished striker, with a kickboxing background. This fight should be a heavyweight brawl that probably won’t get out of the first round.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik by 1st round TKO -169

Ariane Lipski v. Molly McCann

Fight with two up and coming fighters in flyweight division. They’re both brawlers that like to throwdown and get their hands dirty. I don’t know much else about these fighters, so I am going to pick based on their nicknames. Violence Queen v. Meatball

Ariane Lipski by decision -139

Deron Winn v. Eric Spicely

Deron Winn has been hyped as the next Daniel Cormier. They train together, they’re short and stocky for their division, and they’re both outstanding wrestlers. This is his UFC debut, and he is matched up with a sometimes dangerous fighter in Eric Spicely. Spicely has wins over Thiago Santos and Alessio Di Chirico but losses to Sam Alvey and several other fighters not widely known. Spicely hasn’t had the best success, and has been finished several times in his career. I don’t want to say this is a cupcake fight for Winn, but Spicely is taking this fight on a couple days notice.

Deron Winn by 2nd round submission -305

Andre Ewell v. Anderson dos Santos

A young up and coming prospect in Andre Ewell takes on an older up and coming prospect in Anderson dos Santos. Both of these guys are new to the UFC and want to send a signal to the other bantamweights. Ewell has the reach and size advantage. He beat former champion Renan Barao in his debut. But lost his second fight to Nathaniel Wood. Anderson dos Santos lost his debut to Nad Narimani, but he took the fight on 11 days notice. Ewell is an explosive striker looking for a quick finish. Dos Santos is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stud and 11 of his 20 wins have come by submission. It’s going to come down to who can control the pace and location of the fight. Can Ewell keep him at a distance, or will dos Santos get a takedown and submit him?

Andre Ewell by 2nd round TKO -293

Fight of the Night Prediction

When I decided to predict fight of the night, it was with the John Lineker v. Rob Font in mind. Since that fight isn’t happening, I will predict the heavyweight clash between Allen Crowder and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. It might not last long, but it’ll be an exciting fight.

That’s all for this card. It should be an entertaining one. Lot’s of good matchups. Good luck if you’re taking my advice.