Welterweights

Nicolas Dalby (14-0-1) vs. Zak Cummings (18-4): Dalby’s two fights in the UFC have not been easy, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Dalby’s road has gotten considerably tougher, but he has demonstrated the kind of grit that was rarely called for during his tour of the Euro circuit. His core approach of high-volume kickboxing and strategic wrestling -- like that of a late-career Michael Bisping minus the years of wear and tear -- remains successful, though Dalby’s lack of one-shot power is a disadvantage. Cummings enjoys almost none of the hype that Dalby was given upon entering the UFC, and yet he is arguably one of the most underrated fighters on the roster. Cummings is not only physically imposing -- his strength, power and chin are all unquestionable -- but also sneaky technical in every phase. Cummings’ clinch wrestling and jiu-jitsu are well-respected, but he has some craft as a striker, using his lead hand to find the range and disguise the timing of his cracking left. Dalby had difficulty with the southpaw striking and powerful clinch of Darren Till, but Cummings struggled with the kicking and movement of Gunnar Nelson. In the end, Dalby’s pace will likely prove too much for Cummings, though his tendency to walk himself into the clinch could make things difficult. The pick is Dalby by unanimous decision.

Lightweights

Mairbek Taisumov (24-5) vs. Damir Hadzovic (10-2): Hadzovic has good instincts in the clinch, maintaining inside control and keeping heavy head pressure while chipping away with well-placed knees and punches. A former boxer, he is a sharp puncher, but he uses his hands to set up kicks and knees. Hadzovic is most dangerous when he can get his opponent to duck, at which point he likes to step in with a fight-ending knee. Hadzovic couples this striking acumen with stellar takedown defense. Of course, Taisumov is a difficult opponent for any lightweight, not to mention one making his promotional debut. Taisumov is a skillful wrestler, but kickboxing is his forte. The Chechen knockout artist excels at fighting in transitions, effortlessly adapting to changes in range, elevation or phase. Taisumov relies heavily on counterpunching to begin his attacks, but whatever combination of strikes follows the initial counter depends heavily on how the opponent decides to react; Taisumov is frighteningly accurate given this organic approach. His movement, accuracy and variety should be enough, but expect Hadzovic to be a game opponent. The pick is Taisumov by unanimous decision.

Bantamweights

Ian Entwistle (9-2) vs. Alejandro Perez (16-6): Entwhistle fits into an archetype that rarely finds consistent success at the elite level. A submission artist with a penchant for leg locks, Entwhistle frequently finds himself on the bottom against seasoned, aggressive opponents and is not particularly comfortable in the spaces between grappling exchanges. Perez is inexperienced enough to fall prey to Entwhistle’s mad scrambles, but he has turned into a solid MMA fighter at the American Kickboxing Academy, and few camps do a better job of preparing fighters for wrestlers and submission grapplers. As long as Perez can keep this fight on the feet and mitigate the grappling exchanges, he should be able to find the openings in Entwhistle’s standup. Perez wins by unanimous decision.

Bantamweights

Filip Pejic (10-1-1) vs. Damian Stasiak (8-3): Pejic has holes in his game, but he remains a stiff test for 26 year-old Stasiak. Pejic names Jose Aldo as his hero, and his style is reminiscent of that of the Brazilian, minus the vast technical depth that kept Aldo atop the featherweight division for a decade. Pejic has a good sprawl, and the transition from Final Fight Championship ring to UFC cage should bolster it. That defensive wrestling allows Pejic to fight on the feet, where he is a dangerous but very low volume counter striker, his punches punctuated by a few speedy kicks. With five submissions to his name, Stasiak is dangerous on the ground even when hurt, as he proved with the numerous leg lock attempts in his bout with Magomed Magomedov at M-1 Challenge 37. Stasiak offers a greater threat on the ground than any opponent Pejic has ever faced, but he lacks the wrestling to consistently dictate the location of the fight. Instead, he tends to accept bottom position and work from there. Stasiak’s striking is as patchy as his wrestling. He possesses a dazzling array of kicks but little else to back them up. The reliance on kicks might help Stasiak at range, but Pejic will enjoy three-inch advantages in both height and reach. As a fighter who relies on “data collection,” Pejic will likely drop the first round, but he tends to finish strong. As long as he avoids the early submission, Pejic wins by third-round TKO.

Featherweights

Robert Whiteford (12-3) vs. Lucas Martins (15-3): Whiteford’s introduction to the UFC was not a promising one, but since that submission loss to Jimy Hettes, the Scottish fighter has developed his skills and put on a number of impressive performances. Whiteford is capable of some well-timed trips and throws, but mostly he utilizes his judo background to deny the takedown attempts of his opponents. By keeping the fight standing, he allows himself to uncork quick, powerful combinations from his mobile southpaw stance, a far cry from the reckless brawling that used to be his hallmark. Martins fights out of the new Chute Boxe camp, training alongside UFC notables like Thomas Almeida and Leandro Silva. Faced with the wrestling threats of Darren Elkins and Mirsad Bektic, Martins has sometimes opted to play the counterpuncher, but in a striking-oriented matchup, he prefers a more aggressive, kick-heavy approach. Whiteford moves well and throws accurately, and Martins is more than a little hittable when he starts exchanging. Though the volume of Martins could pose a problem, this should be Whiteford’s fight to lose. The pick is Whiteford by unanimous decision.

Heavyweights

Jared Cannonier (7-1) vs. Cyril Asker (7-1): Who knows what the UFC was thinking when it booked heavyweight prospect Cannonier, fresh off an impressive victory over super-veteran Tony Lopez, against Shawn Jordan in his UFC debut. Provided that first-round KO loss did not destroy Cannonier’s confidence altogether, his second UFC bout should be much more forgiving. Asker is fairly light on his feet for a heavyweight, with solid if unimaginative boxing and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is a solid addition to the UFC roster. Cannonier’s level of competition has been far superior, however, and he seems to have every physical advantage. Cannonier is lighter and quicker on his feet and no less powerful a puncher. Asker’s one major edge is durability. Cannonier was knocked out violently in his last fight, while Asker has demonstrated an iron chin in the past. Still, the pick has to be Cannonier by unanimous decision.

Welterweights

Bojan Velickovic (13-3) vs. Alessio Di Chirico (9-0): Fighters from Serbia and Italy begin the UFC’s first Croatian event. Di Chirico makes the drop to 170 pounds only to find himself faced with a massive welterweight. Velickovic is 6-foot-2 and has a sinewy strength that makes him difficult to control in the clinch or on the ground. Di Chirico’s rangy, kick-heavy striking will be effective at range, where Velickovic is not particularly smooth, but as soon as “Serbian Steel” closes the distance, the complexion of this fight will change. Though Di Chirico has used his grappling to control opponents in the past, he has never faced a submission artist as suffocating and unpredictable as Velickovic. He will look to close the distance early and often, smother Di Chirico in the clinch against the fence and wrap up the Italian’s neck while he looks for a way out. The pick is Velickovic by second-round submission.

Finish Reading » Specialty Selections