No more sleeps, only a few more hours.
The latest edition of Last Minute Predictions, and some of the toughest fights we've had to call in a long time!
Very quickly, here are my picks for the prelims:
Ian Garry over Jordan Williams by KO/TKO
Nassourdine Imavov over Edmen Shahbazyan by Decision
Phil Hawes over Chris Curtis by KO/TKO
Bobby Green over Al Iaquinta by Decision
Alex Pereira over Andreas Michailidis by KO/TKO
Now for the main card.
Justin Gaethje (-210) v. Michael Chandler (+175)
In case you've been sheltered from all MMA content this week, I'll let you know once again that this is going to be a banger. I think we see both men showing how skilled they are in the early minutes of the fight, and it will become a war the longer the fight goes on.
I think we could see shades of Chandler v. Alvarez 1 tonight, and I actually see it finishing in a similar way.
Official Prediction: Chandler by Submission
Shane Burgos (-200) v. Billy Quarantillo (+170)
Whenever Shane Burgos fights, you don't leave the couch. Despite being on a two-fight skid, those losses were to two of the Featherweight Division's top 10 and Burgos was very much in those fights.
Billy Q is as talented and impressive as any Featherweight prospect we've seen in recent years, and he was able to rebound from his first UFC loss. He now has a big jump in skill of his opponent, and it seems destined that this is going to be an amazing fight.
Official Prediction: Burgos by Decision
Frankie Edgar (+140) v. Marlon Vera (-160)
This fight has huge implications in the UFC's bantamweight division, and it will answer several questions about both of these fighter's futures.
There have been questions about whether or not this is Frankie Edgar's final fight. A loss would essentially eliminate him from any sort of title picture, but Edgar has been in this situation before and he tends to win in these fights. Edgar's wrestling and top tier fight IQ is an equalizer in any fight.
And Vera is as game as any contender. A win over Edgar puts him in the top 10 and within striking distance of the belt.
Official Prediction: Vera by Decision
Rose Namajunas (+105) v. Zhang Weili (-125)
The betting line in this fight is one of the more disrespectful things I've seen in quite some time. Obviously it's still basically even money but the fact that the line has shifted towards Zhang over the course of the week is interesting to me.
I think we're going to see both these women at their best on Saturday, and I have to be honest I'm an enormous Thug Rose fan and I think she is the best Strawweight fighter of all time.
Zhang Weili can absolutely win this fight, she is an incredible athlete and one of the most impressive fighters we've ever seen. I also think she definitely made some adjustments physically, but I wonder how she will be mentally.
I'm ceding that I am certainly biased, but I think Rose gets it done again.
Official Prediction: Thug Rose by Decision
Kamaru Usman (-320) v. Colby Covington (+250)
There isn't much more to say about this fight.
Both men are supremely confident and well prepared. Neither underestimate each other.
I will be interested to see if Colby tries to wrestle, and I will be interested to see if Usman makes a push to get him out of there early.
Official Prediction: Usman by Decision
Let's have some fun.
Discussion (3)
No more sleeps you say? I am definitely not sleeping today from the UK!
I only disagree with one, Justin will win by KO 😬
Great set of posts btw, like how you have combined them, how do you do that?
At the bottom of the page, near where you would click to publish a post, there should be a little hexagon looking thing. You can click that and on the little pop-up you can make a series! This was my first time trying it out but for a big PPV it's been great!
It worries me how calm Usman is coming in to this, show Covington the respect etc, I hope he is just as fired up as last time 😬