Lightweight - Abel Trujillo vs. Tony Sims
The highly aggressive, often wild, but always entertaining Abel Trujillo will need to show a little more discipline when he meets heavy-handed relative newcomer Tony Sims in the main card’s curtain-jerker. Packing power in his combinations and a decent grappling game, Trujillo’s key to securing a vital, potentially pink slip-saving victory will be to stay patent and execute takedowns to nullify his opponent’s threat on the feet, but the temptation to just ‘stand and bang’ might be a little too hard for the 7-fight UFC veteran to resist. Should the bout break into a brawl look for Sims to use his calmer approach and powerful counters to secure the stoppage victory.
Prediction: Tony Sims via KO in round 2
Featherweight - Diego Brandao vs. Brian Ortega
Earning considerable contender points with an awesome match of the year candidate victory over Thiago Tavares last June, Brian Ortega could very well be the next force at featherweight. His latest foe, Jiu-Jitsu black belt Diego Brandao represents another stiff test, especially given the Brazilian’s sudden career revival following a tough two-fight skid. Brandao is undeniably skilled, but too often allows emotion to dictate his actions during combat, a habit that usually sees him fade quickly. Ortega has youth and confidence on his side, and armed with one of the division’s best submission games and an-ever evolving unique style of striking, has all the tools to weather an early storm and overcome his latest challenge with relative ease.
Prediction: Brian Ortega via TKO in round 2
Welterweight - Lorenz Larkin vs. Albert Tumenov
Fighting to re-establish himself as a legitimate prospect Lorenz Larkin faces a tough out in the form of exceptional Russian combat expert Albert Tumenov. Bouncing back from a run of form that had him on the verge of dropping off the MMA map, Larkin has gone 2-0 since dropping down to 170 pounds and hasn’t looked this good since he wiped the floor with the now-UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in a fight that now feels like it took place in an alternate universe. Larkin’s striking has the potential to cause almost anyone problems, but Tumenov’s might be on another level entirely. The Russian possesses excellent footwork, a fast and effective jab, and head kicks that not even the most stubborn defenses can withstand. Larkin will be Tumenov’s toughest opponent to date, but the latest in a long line of Eastern destroyers has the cleaner technique and should be able to deny the American any real success over the course of 15 minutes.
Prediction: Albert Tumenov via decision
Heavyweight - Stipe Miocic vs. Andrei Arlovski
Few athletes will ever experience the same kind of career turnaround Andrei Arlovski has enjoyed. Many thought they’d seen the last of ‘The Pitbull’ following a brutal four-fight losing run, but the former UFC champion refused to quit and eventually made his way back to the big time after rediscovering his form on the regional circuit. Incredibly the Belarusian now finds himself on the cusp of a first UFC title shot in a decade, but to get there he’ll have to overcome one of the division’s brightest contenders. Last seen reducing Mark Hunt to pulp, Stipe Miocic knows that victory here will probably secure the title fight he’s been working towards for seemingly forever. Well-versed in grappling and boxing, Miocic has also shown to be rather proficient at game planning so expect the Croatian-American to use his NCAA-level wrestling to negate the striking threat of his veteran opponent.
Arlovski’s revival has been amazing to behold, but his ‘Cinderella’ story will likely come to an end if he can’t connect with anything substantial.
Prediction: Stipe Miocic via decision
Welterweight Championship
Prediction: Stipe Miocic via decision
Welterweight Championship
Robbie Lawler © vs. Carlos Condit
The dream match for violence worshippers, Robbie Lawler and Condit have come to epitomise the term ‘Warrior’ in the UFC. Seemingly recovered following a harrowing, instant classic war of a first title defence against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189, Lawler will once again be thoroughly tested here, but the improvements he has made since joining American Top Team and returning to the promotion in 2013 have made it incredibly hard to bet against the champion. Once considered the Mike Tyson of MMA due to his aggressive style, Lawler has since matured into a wiser, better-rounded competitor all the while still retaining his penchant for pugilistic mayhem.
No stranger to gold as the final WEC 170-pound champion and a former interim UFC titleholder back in 2012, Carlos Condit has the credentials and the skills required to finally capture the belt properly. A Muay Thai expert with excellent conditioning and sorely underrated ground skills, Condit is a vicious and relentless assault machine who, like the champion, doesn’t really know how to fight any differently.
This is an incredibly close fight to call, a battle that has the potential to be an early lock for best fight of the year. I really hate picking against Lawler, but Condit is just better in more areas, especially on the ground. Condit might want to keep things standing, but if he can defeat the vastly improved takedown defence of the champion he could cause a lot damage with his ground and pound and submissions. Robbie Lawler has been an impeccable champion and I'll be rooting for him as he aims to keep his reign alive, but Condit should be able to wear him down and secure the finish to take the belt to Albuquerque.
Prediction: Carlos Condit via TKO in round 4
UFC Fight Picks 2015 Final Record: 77-43
What do you think will happen at UFC 195? Leave your predictions below!
No comments:
Post a Comment