The time has come. We are at the best even of the whole goddamn year. 3 title fights, Jose Aldo at bantamweight, Urijah back in a real fight, Platinum Perry, and the return of Immortal Matt Brown. I honestly am not sure if there has been an event in recent memory that has gotten me this excited. There probably has but the UFC did an incredible job going on hiatus then giving us a lackluster card in preparation for this masterpiece. Only one fighter missed weight and its Jessica Eye who went from title shot to early prelims so who cares. 

I am coming off of a very nice 7-3-2 night (I believe both those draws should’ve gone my way) I am riding this wave of success into Vegas baby. There are some juicy lines this evening and I am following my heart on these picks. In the past I have picked against some of my favorites and all it has done is make me upset when those bets don’t hit. I have a feeling we are going to see some very memorable performances on this beautiful fight night. 

Well I don’t want to waste everyone’s time so let’s get down to business:

Main Card

Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington Welterweight Title Bout

I was having nightmares this would become the next Khabib vs Tony folklore that never happens because of unforeseen circumstances. Now we are here and get the matchup that UFC fans have been clamoring for, for what feels like 27 years. Kamaru had one of the most dominant performances over one of the best Welterweight champs of all time (2 after GSP IMO). Since then he has done absolutely nothing. In all fairness Colby has only one win since March when that fight took place. These guys suck. Great fighters but both don’t fight often and love just smothering you (I don’t care about Colby’s striking in the Lawler fight, he only was able to do that because Lawler was so scared to get to the ground since he is a horrible wrestler). So in this matchup of identical fighters, I am siding with the one who isn’t using a fake heel persona to gain notoriety. Colby is so fucking fake it hurts to watch him, he saw what conor was able to do, but has done it in a far more forced, unnatural way. Kamaru destroyed Woodley and I think he is able to do that against any wrestler in this division. 

Kamarui Usman by Decision -188 2 units

Max Holloway vs  Alexander Volkanovski Featherweight Title Bout

Just want to start this by saying I love both of these guys. There are only a handful of fights that I genuinely do not care who wins because I will be happy about the outcome. So this is purely emotionless when I say that Max Holloway should win this fight with ease. Max comes in with a 5 inch height advantage (2 inch reach disadvantage which is nuts), more dominant wins over similar competition, and just really hasn’t looked beatable at 145 since he took the belt. I do not think there is currently anyone equipt at this weight to beat him. The cut doesn’t kill him and he is just so much taller than most with insane cardio. Zabit could come in taller but that guy isn’t lasting 5 rounds. Volkanovski will be a force in this division for years to come, but I truly do not think he is the man to dethrone the Blessed Era.

Max Holloway by Decision -184 2 units

Amanda Nunes vs Germaine de Randamie Bantamweight Title Bout

I am going to keep this one brief. Amanda Nunes wins this and it is barely a competition. There is no one close to her current skill level at this weight. That is all.

Amanda Nunes by 3rd Round TKO -330 3 units

Marlon Moraes vs José Aldo Bantamweight Bout

This is a fun one. I really thought Aldo would not be able to handle this cut. He always had a hard time making 145, even blaming the cut for his loss to McNuggets. Then yesterday he steps on the scales and makes it seem easy. Marlon is a goddamn animal though. He destroyed Aljo, he destroyed Jimmie Rivera, he destroyed Assuncao. But the Champ^3 made the blueprint on how to beat him. Just take him late into the fight and the power leaves his hands. I think Aldo fights at a distance working some leg kicks until Moraes is out of gas then will come in for the kill.

José Aldo by 3rd Round TKO +160 1 unit

Petr Yan vs Urijah Faber Bantamweight Bout

This is a gut pick. Urijah got worked by Jimmie Rivera who Yan dropped twice and beat with ease. But is Yan ready for this stage yet? Urijah has been here before, he showed flashes of that explosiveness he used to have in his WEC days. Look at Faber’s losses and it’s a murderers row of top 135ers, his retirement may have been premature. Yan is the real deal and probably has the best boxing in the division. He has pieced up just about everyone he has faced. That being said I think Faber beats him with experience and fights smart to get a decision victory.

Urijah Faber by Decision +360 1 unit

Prelims

Geoff Neal vs Mike Perry Welterweight Bout

Man did I want to take Mike Perry here. I wanted to take him so freaking bad. I had him typed in with way of victory and everything. But at the end of the day Geoff Neal is a way better fighter. He has lead in his hands and been rolling through the Welterweight division. I would love if Platinum can do it, it just will not happen. Geoff takes this one.

Geoff Neal by 2nd Round TKO -250 2 units

Ketlen Vieira vs Irene Aldana Bantamweight Bout

Ketlen is the real deal here. She is undefeated and got Cat Zingano kicked off the roster (even though it was a super close fight). Both these ladies bring in a freshness to the division that it has desperately needed. In terms of what would be best for the weight class, Vieira needs to win. We have seen far too many of the same people get crushed by the Lioness and Vieira is that new blood we need to hopefully challenge for the belt. I am giving her the nod here.

Ketlen Vieira by Decision -184 1 unit

Ian Heinisch vs Omari Akhmedov Middleweight Bout

I love Ian Heinisch. The story on this guy is unbelievable. Learning how to fight in prison on the Canary Islands and in Spain. He is a great fighter and gritty as they come. He comes up against one of the Dagestan Clan. Omari has been in the UFC for quite some time now, but he has never really climbed into the rankings. He seems to flounder against top competition, and unfortunately for him, I think this is another case of the same.

Ian Heinisch by Decision -138 1 unit

Matt Brown vs Ben Saunders Welterweight Bout

I will just say this. No one on this planet wants to see Ben Saunders win this fight. The Immortal is back and wants to land some bows baby.

Matt Brown by 2nd Round TKO -380 3 units

Early Prelims

Chase Hooper vs Daniel Teymur Featherweight Bout

Chase Hooper by 2nd Round Submission -118 1 unit

Brandon Moreno vs Kai Kara-France Flyweight Bout

Brandon Moreno by 3rd Round Submission +132 1 unit

Jessica Eye vs Viviane Araújo Catchweight (131) Bout

Viviane Araújo by Decision -188 1 unit

Punahele Soriano vs Oskar Piechota Middleweight Bout

Punahele Soriano by 2nd Round TKO -104 1 unit

That wraps it up for this evening of what should be wonderful violence. I am so happy we are finally here, it feels like it has taken ages. We will finally have our answer for whether or not we will have to keep putting up with Colby’s shit or not. If Colby loses this fight, it is all over for him, what can he say? We all know a rematch wouldn’t happen for ages, he would be talking to millions of people who just aren’t listening. Outside of that we have such a large amount of awesome matchups elsewhere. If this was last week, Matt Brown vs Ben Saunders would have been on the main card, think about that. Well I will let you go and place your bets before the lines move too much. May luck be your lady tonight.