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UFC 197 predictions: Fight Pass ‘Prelims’ undercard preview, Pt. 1
More fights are coming to Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., April 23, 2016) when UFC 197: “Jones vs. Saint Preux” kicks off from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAmania.com’s Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 197 “Prelims” party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series.
He’s back!
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to action after more than one year away this Saturday evening (April 23, 2016), headlining UFC 197 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’ll be going for the interim title this time, though, as Ovince St. Preux has stepped up to replace Daniel Cormier in their five-round showdown.
In the pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, Demetrius Johnson looks for his eighth-straight title defense against Henry Cejudo, while Anthony Pettis takes on Edson Barboza in what’s sure to be an incredible Lightweight showdown.
The seven “Prelims” undercard matches are spread 4:3 between FOX Sports 1 and Fight Pass. Here’s what your $9.99 a month will get you on the online subscription service.
265 lbs.: Cody East vs. Walt Harris
Cody East (12-1), the latest product of Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight,” enters UFC having won both the King of the Cage and Legacy FC Heavyweight titles in the past. “The Freight Train” has won nine straight since a 2012 loss to Tony Lopez.
He’s stopped 11 opponents, eight via knockout.
The first run for Walt Harris (7-4) in UFC ended after two losses in two fights, including a knockout defeat to Nikita Krylov in Jan. 2014. He returned after a knockout of D.J. Linderman as a late replacement against Soa Palelei, who pounded out “The Big Ticket” in the second round.
All seven of his wins have come by first-round knockout.
This one’s a toss up — both men are big, powerful athletes with one-punch finishing ability. That said, Harris has struggled to put it all together in UFC and East has demonstrated some decently slick striking, which has me leaning toward the promotional newcomer.
East’s body attack and patience may be the key here. He has very nice snap kick to the midsection and a very measured approach to putting away hurt opponents. Harris is likely the bigger and stronger man, but East’s consistency cleaner offense should carry the day. Expect the stoppage late in the first round or early in the second.
Prediction: East by second-round technical knockout
205 lbs.: Clint Hester vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
The loss for Clint Hester (11-5) on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 gave way to four straight UFC victories, including a decision over oft-injured, but blue-chip prospect, Antonio Braga Neto. “Headbussa” has since lost two straight, suffering knockout losses to Robert Whittaker and Vitor Miranda.
This will be his first fight at Light Heavyweight in around four years.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (13-3-1) guillotined former Bellator competitor Thiago Santos to earn a spot in TUF: “Brazil 3” and managed to reach the semifinals before falling to eventual winner Antonio Carlos Jr. He opened his UFC career with a pair of quick knockouts, then tapped to a rear-naked choke from Nikita Krylov in Aug. 2015.
“Pezao” has stopped 12 opponents, 10 of them via knockout.
“Pezao’s” got some bonkers power and good offense, but seems to struggle with his fight IQ. Luckily, Hester is in the same boat. Despite the latter’s boxing experience, he’s more a brawler than anything else, an approach I expect diminishing returns from against the bigger bruisers at Light Heavyweight.
If Hester comes out purely looking to wrestle, he might have a chance of grinding the Brazilian out. Unfortunately, he leaves his chin out far too much against a hitter of Rogerio’s caliber. “Pezao” sparks him out partway through the first.
Prediction: Rogerio de Lima by first-round technical knockout
155 lbs.: Efrain Escudero vs. Kevin Lee
TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero’s (24-10) on-and-off relationship with UFC continued in 2014, when he rejoined the organization once again and lost a decision to Leonardo Santos. He proceeded to defeat Rodrigo “Monstro” and Drew Dober before running afoul of Leandro Silva in Nov. 2015.
He has submitted 13 opponents as a professional and been stopped just twice.
Kevin Lee (11-2) began his UFC career with a decision loss to Al Iaquinta despite spending the entire second round on “Ragin’ Al’s” back. Almost two years later, “The Motown Phenom” squared off with Leonardo Santos having won four straight, but suffered a shocking knockout loss midway through the first round.
Five of his 11 wins have come by submission.
It’s an uphill batter for Escudero, who’s facing a superior striker and wrestler. The same was said of Leonardo Santos, of course, but I wouldn’t put faith in “Motown Phenom” getting caught again. The 23-year-old is improving rapidly fight-to-fight, while Escudero seems to have plateaued.
Unless Escudero can find some means to get on top of Lee for an extended period of time, he has a long night ahead of him. Lee controls every area of the fight for a dominant decision win.
Prediction: Lee by unanimous decision
Four more UFC 197 “Prelims” fights remain to preview and predict, including the return of Carla Esparza and Sergio Pettis’ latest bout.
Stop by tomorrow, Maniacs!
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 197 fight card, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.
More fights are coming to Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., April 23, 2016) when UFC 197: “Jones vs. Saint Preux” kicks off from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAmania.com’s Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 197 “Prelims” party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series.
He’s back!
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to action after more than one year away this Saturday evening (April 23, 2016), headlining UFC 197 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’ll be going for the interim title this time, though, as Ovince St. Preux has stepped up to replace Daniel Cormier in their five-round showdown.
In the pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event, Demetrius Johnson looks for his eighth-straight title defense against Henry Cejudo, while Anthony Pettis takes on Edson Barboza in what’s sure to be an incredible Lightweight showdown.
The seven “Prelims” undercard matches are spread 4:3 between FOX Sports 1 and Fight Pass. Here’s what your $9.99 a month will get you on the online subscription service.
265 lbs.: Cody East vs. Walt Harris
Cody East (12-1), the latest product of Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight,” enters UFC having won both the King of the Cage and Legacy FC Heavyweight titles in the past. “The Freight Train” has won nine straight since a 2012 loss to Tony Lopez.
He’s stopped 11 opponents, eight via knockout.
The first run for Walt Harris (7-4) in UFC ended after two losses in two fights, including a knockout defeat to Nikita Krylov in Jan. 2014. He returned after a knockout of D.J. Linderman as a late replacement against Soa Palelei, who pounded out “The Big Ticket” in the second round.
All seven of his wins have come by first-round knockout.
This one’s a toss up — both men are big, powerful athletes with one-punch finishing ability. That said, Harris has struggled to put it all together in UFC and East has demonstrated some decently slick striking, which has me leaning toward the promotional newcomer.
East’s body attack and patience may be the key here. He has very nice snap kick to the midsection and a very measured approach to putting away hurt opponents. Harris is likely the bigger and stronger man, but East’s consistency cleaner offense should carry the day. Expect the stoppage late in the first round or early in the second.
Prediction: East by second-round technical knockout
205 lbs.: Clint Hester vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
The loss for Clint Hester (11-5) on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 gave way to four straight UFC victories, including a decision over oft-injured, but blue-chip prospect, Antonio Braga Neto. “Headbussa” has since lost two straight, suffering knockout losses to Robert Whittaker and Vitor Miranda.
This will be his first fight at Light Heavyweight in around four years.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (13-3-1) guillotined former Bellator competitor Thiago Santos to earn a spot in TUF: “Brazil 3” and managed to reach the semifinals before falling to eventual winner Antonio Carlos Jr. He opened his UFC career with a pair of quick knockouts, then tapped to a rear-naked choke from Nikita Krylov in Aug. 2015.
“Pezao” has stopped 12 opponents, 10 of them via knockout.
“Pezao’s” got some bonkers power and good offense, but seems to struggle with his fight IQ. Luckily, Hester is in the same boat. Despite the latter’s boxing experience, he’s more a brawler than anything else, an approach I expect diminishing returns from against the bigger bruisers at Light Heavyweight.
If Hester comes out purely looking to wrestle, he might have a chance of grinding the Brazilian out. Unfortunately, he leaves his chin out far too much against a hitter of Rogerio’s caliber. “Pezao” sparks him out partway through the first.
Prediction: Rogerio de Lima by first-round technical knockout
155 lbs.: Efrain Escudero vs. Kevin Lee
TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero’s (24-10) on-and-off relationship with UFC continued in 2014, when he rejoined the organization once again and lost a decision to Leonardo Santos. He proceeded to defeat Rodrigo “Monstro” and Drew Dober before running afoul of Leandro Silva in Nov. 2015.
He has submitted 13 opponents as a professional and been stopped just twice.
Kevin Lee (11-2) began his UFC career with a decision loss to Al Iaquinta despite spending the entire second round on “Ragin’ Al’s” back. Almost two years later, “The Motown Phenom” squared off with Leonardo Santos having won four straight, but suffered a shocking knockout loss midway through the first round.
Five of his 11 wins have come by submission.
It’s an uphill batter for Escudero, who’s facing a superior striker and wrestler. The same was said of Leonardo Santos, of course, but I wouldn’t put faith in “Motown Phenom” getting caught again. The 23-year-old is improving rapidly fight-to-fight, while Escudero seems to have plateaued.
Unless Escudero can find some means to get on top of Lee for an extended period of time, he has a long night ahead of him. Lee controls every area of the fight for a dominant decision win.
Prediction: Lee by unanimous decision
Four more UFC 197 “Prelims” fights remain to preview and predict, including the return of Carla Esparza and Sergio Pettis’ latest bout.
Stop by tomorrow, Maniacs!
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 197 fight card, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.
