The UFC enters our homes once again Saturday night, with an event that is sure to make headlines, regardless of the outcome.
It'll be champion against champion for the first time in a long time, and that fight will be contested between literally the two biggest champions in the company.
The last few cards have been plagued by injuries, and this one is no different, as Max Holloway had to pull out of his featherweight title defense due to injuries suffered in training. Despite that, this is still one of the hottest tickets in town, and Las Vegas is just as good a place as any to cash it in.
Let's take a look at the card...
Gokhan "The Rebel" Saki (1-1-0) vs. Khalil "The War Horse" Rountree (6-2-0)
These guys have got to be considered two of the luckiest men in Nevada. Max Holloway's injury secured them both a slot on the main card, where they know more eyes are going to be watching. Rountree certainly has a more impressive record, but Saki has the advantage of being a relative unknown, so he's harder to scout. He won his last fight in impressive fashion, but it was also the first time he's fought in over 13 years, and I don't think Rountree will be giving him a warm welcome. I don't expect this one to go to the ground, as both of these fighters seem more comfortable on their feet. After losing his first fight following his Ultimate Fighter season, Rountree was able to bounce back with two straight knockouts. His last fight was overturned, but he'll be looking for a third knockout here, and I think he just might get it. I'll take Rountree to win by TKO.
Michael "Maverick" Chiesa (14-3-0) vs. Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (20-7-0)
I believe this is Chiesa's first pay per view fight since his big Ultimate Fighter win in 2012. He's been flying under the radar since then, as he's faced and defeated some of the division's best. He submitted both Jim Miller and TUF season 16 winner Colton Smith, so needless to say, he is more than capable of holding his own against someone the caliber of Anthony Pettis. I've always loved Pettis' capoeira style, but it's been proven to work against him on a few occasions. Sure, it's fascinating to watch, but when he misses the target, it usually ends in disaster. Hopefully Pettis has learned from past mistakes, but I've seen so many fighters fall from grace after huge losses, and thus far, he hasn't proven to be any different. I'm going with Chiesa to get the Unanimous Decision.
Mike "Platinum" Perry (11-3-0) vs. Paul "The Irish Dragon" Felder (15-3-0)
After losing back-to-back decisions in his last two fights, Perry will be looking to get back to his winning ways in this one. But it won't be easy against an opponent who is coming off three impressive knockouts. Both guys have defeated some stiff competition, but I ultimately think that Felder may be the more well-rounded of the two, as he's had proven success on the ground as well, which may play a huge factor in this fight. I'll take Felder to win by rear naked choke.
Francis "The Predator" Ngannou (11-2-0) vs. Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis (19-5-0)
These guys both certainly have impressive records, and have put away some of the division's toughest competitors. Ngannou will probably have more to prove here, as he wants to put himself back in the conversation for a heavyweight title shot. It'll be interesting to see how much of an effect that Miocic fight had on him. Lewis, on the other hand, has never seen a championship fight from inside The Octagon, and undoubtedly wants to experience it himself, so he may be the hungrier of the two. I don't expect this one to go the distance, as these are two heavy hitters. I think Ngannou will take this one though, and pick him to get the TKO.
Stipe Miocic (18-2-0) vs. Daniel "DC" Cormier (20-1-0) for The UFC Heavyweight Championship
So it's come down to this, has it? Cormier has a chance to be a part of history here as only the second man to hold two UFC titles at the same time, as well as the second man to hold both the heavyweight and light heavyweight championship. Miocic, on the other hand, has an opportunity to be the second man to defeat Daniel Cormier, and I'm sure Jon Jones has been haunting Cormier's dreams. I don't know if that will play any kind of factor, but it still must eat away at DC, knowing that he may never be able to avenge that loss. Cormier does have the advantage here, as he's competed in the heavyweight division, while Miocic has never gone down to light heavyweight. And the fact remains that Cormier is still undefeated as a heavyweight. Having said that, I think we're getting a new champion here. I'll pick Cormier to get the Unanimous Decision, and move on to Brock Lesnar in December.
So there you have it.
Who are you picking?
It'll be champion against champion for the first time in a long time, and that fight will be contested between literally the two biggest champions in the company.
The last few cards have been plagued by injuries, and this one is no different, as Max Holloway had to pull out of his featherweight title defense due to injuries suffered in training. Despite that, this is still one of the hottest tickets in town, and Las Vegas is just as good a place as any to cash it in.
Let's take a look at the card...
Gokhan "The Rebel" Saki (1-1-0) vs. Khalil "The War Horse" Rountree (6-2-0)
These guys have got to be considered two of the luckiest men in Nevada. Max Holloway's injury secured them both a slot on the main card, where they know more eyes are going to be watching. Rountree certainly has a more impressive record, but Saki has the advantage of being a relative unknown, so he's harder to scout. He won his last fight in impressive fashion, but it was also the first time he's fought in over 13 years, and I don't think Rountree will be giving him a warm welcome. I don't expect this one to go to the ground, as both of these fighters seem more comfortable on their feet. After losing his first fight following his Ultimate Fighter season, Rountree was able to bounce back with two straight knockouts. His last fight was overturned, but he'll be looking for a third knockout here, and I think he just might get it. I'll take Rountree to win by TKO.
Michael "Maverick" Chiesa (14-3-0) vs. Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (20-7-0)
I believe this is Chiesa's first pay per view fight since his big Ultimate Fighter win in 2012. He's been flying under the radar since then, as he's faced and defeated some of the division's best. He submitted both Jim Miller and TUF season 16 winner Colton Smith, so needless to say, he is more than capable of holding his own against someone the caliber of Anthony Pettis. I've always loved Pettis' capoeira style, but it's been proven to work against him on a few occasions. Sure, it's fascinating to watch, but when he misses the target, it usually ends in disaster. Hopefully Pettis has learned from past mistakes, but I've seen so many fighters fall from grace after huge losses, and thus far, he hasn't proven to be any different. I'm going with Chiesa to get the Unanimous Decision.
Mike "Platinum" Perry (11-3-0) vs. Paul "The Irish Dragon" Felder (15-3-0)
After losing back-to-back decisions in his last two fights, Perry will be looking to get back to his winning ways in this one. But it won't be easy against an opponent who is coming off three impressive knockouts. Both guys have defeated some stiff competition, but I ultimately think that Felder may be the more well-rounded of the two, as he's had proven success on the ground as well, which may play a huge factor in this fight. I'll take Felder to win by rear naked choke.
Francis "The Predator" Ngannou (11-2-0) vs. Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis (19-5-0)
These guys both certainly have impressive records, and have put away some of the division's toughest competitors. Ngannou will probably have more to prove here, as he wants to put himself back in the conversation for a heavyweight title shot. It'll be interesting to see how much of an effect that Miocic fight had on him. Lewis, on the other hand, has never seen a championship fight from inside The Octagon, and undoubtedly wants to experience it himself, so he may be the hungrier of the two. I don't expect this one to go the distance, as these are two heavy hitters. I think Ngannou will take this one though, and pick him to get the TKO.
Stipe Miocic (18-2-0) vs. Daniel "DC" Cormier (20-1-0) for The UFC Heavyweight Championship
So it's come down to this, has it? Cormier has a chance to be a part of history here as only the second man to hold two UFC titles at the same time, as well as the second man to hold both the heavyweight and light heavyweight championship. Miocic, on the other hand, has an opportunity to be the second man to defeat Daniel Cormier, and I'm sure Jon Jones has been haunting Cormier's dreams. I don't know if that will play any kind of factor, but it still must eat away at DC, knowing that he may never be able to avenge that loss. Cormier does have the advantage here, as he's competed in the heavyweight division, while Miocic has never gone down to light heavyweight. And the fact remains that Cormier is still undefeated as a heavyweight. Having said that, I think we're getting a new champion here. I'll pick Cormier to get the Unanimous Decision, and move on to Brock Lesnar in December.
So there you have it.
Who are you picking?
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