UFC 208 predictions: ‘Holm vs De Randamie’ Fight Pass ‘Prelims’ undercard preview, Pt. 1

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is brining a bevy of preliminary fights to both UFC Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., Feb. 11, 2017) when UFC 208: “Holm vs. De Randamie” storms Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. MMAmania.com’s Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 208 “Prelims” party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series below.

History will be made this weekend in “The Empire State.”

Two legitimately world-class strikers duke it out this Saturday evening (Feb. 11, 2017) as former boxing champion Holly Holm faces Muay Thai legend Germaine de Randamie for the inaugural UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship. The pair headline the UFC 208 pay-per-view (PPV) inside Brooklyn’s travel-unfriendly Barclays Center.

See the full fight card and line up here.

The five-bout main card will also see former middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva take on top 185-pound contender Derek Brunson, while 205-pound striker Glover Teixeira throws hands with Jared Cannonier in a clash of heavy-handed light heavyweights.

The six “Prelims” are typically split 4-2 between FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. Let’s see what’s in store for the digital subscribers among you.

145 lbs.: Phillipe Nover (11-7-1) vs. Rick Glenn (18-4-1)

After going 0-3 in his first UFC run, Nover put together a 5-2 run on the regional circuit to return to the promotion five years later. In his first fight back, he defeated Yui Chul Nam, then lost decisions to Zubaira Tukhugov and Renan Barao. He is three inches shorter than the 6’0″ Glenn.

“The Gladiator” entered the UFC as the former WSOF Featherweight Champion and with a 16-1-1 record in his previous eighteen fights. None of that could save him from Evan Dunham, who overpowered the late-notice replacement for a decision win. Ten of his eighteen victories have come by knockout.

I don’t have super high expectations for Glenn’s ceiling, but Nover has just been such a disappointment that I can’t in good conscience pick him. There’s a valid argument to be made that he should be 0-6 in the UFC.

Though Glenn’s takedown defense has failed him in the past, Nover is a far cry from the likes of Lance Palmer and Evan Dunham in the wrestling department. On the feet, I favor Glenn’s meat-and-potatoes boxing over Nover’s generally ineffective kickboxing. “The Gladiator” boxes his way to a decision win.

Prediction: Glenn by unanimous decision

170 lbs.: Randy Brown (9-1) vs. Belal Muhammad (10-2)

The first graduate of Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight,” Brown took a decision over Canadian brawler Matt Dwyer in his UFC debut before submitting to a rear-naked choke from Mike Graves. Undaunted, he finished up his four-fight 2016 campaign with stoppage victories over Erick Montaño and Brian Camozzi. He will have four inches of height and six of reach on Muhammad.

“Remember the Name” earned Fight of the Night honors in his UFC debut against Alan Jouban, then earned his first promotional victory by stopping Augusto Montaño two months later. Another quick turnaround saw him face Vicente Luque, who knocked Muhammad cold in just 79 seconds. He steps in for George Sullivan, who’s once again found himself in hot water with the USADA, on a week’s notice.

I’m going to be straight with you: this is a pure gut pick. I don’t know if I’m overvaluing Muhammad’s win over Steve Carl or what, but I just can’t shake the feeling that he wins this. Brown has yet to fully maximize his ridiculous physical gifts and Muhammad is exactly the sort of tough bastard to mercilessly exploit what deficiencies remain.

Brown could certainly pick Muhammad apart from long range, but I have faith in the latter’s grit and boxing technique. He pieces Brown up on his way to a decision win.

Prediction: Muhammad by unanimous decision

Four more fights tomorrow, including two top prospects at lightweight and flyweight on FOX Sports 1. Same time as always, Maniacs.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is brining a bevy of preliminary fights to both UFC Fight Pass and FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., Feb. 11, 2017) when UFC 208: “Holm vs. De Randamie” storms Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. MMAmania.com’s Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 208 “Prelims” party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series below.

History will be made this weekend in “The Empire State.”

Two legitimately world-class strikers duke it out this Saturday evening (Feb. 11, 2017) as former boxing champion Holly Holm faces Muay Thai legend Germaine de Randamie for the inaugural UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship. The pair headline the UFC 208 pay-per-view (PPV) inside Brooklyn’s travel-unfriendly Barclays Center.

See the full fight card and line up here.

The five-bout main card will also see former middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva take on top 185-pound contender Derek Brunson, while 205-pound striker Glover Teixeira throws hands with Jared Cannonier in a clash of heavy-handed light heavyweights.

The six “Prelims” are typically split 4-2 between FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. Let’s see what’s in store for the digital subscribers among you.

145 lbs.: Phillipe Nover (11-7-1) vs. Rick Glenn (18-4-1)

After going 0-3 in his first UFC run, Nover put together a 5-2 run on the regional circuit to return to the promotion five years later. In his first fight back, he defeated Yui Chul Nam, then lost decisions to Zubaira Tukhugov and Renan Barao. He is three inches shorter than the 6’0″ Glenn.

“The Gladiator” entered the UFC as the former WSOF Featherweight Champion and with a 16-1-1 record in his previous eighteen fights. None of that could save him from Evan Dunham, who overpowered the late-notice replacement for a decision win. Ten of his eighteen victories have come by knockout.

I don’t have super high expectations for Glenn’s ceiling, but Nover has just been such a disappointment that I can’t in good conscience pick him. There’s a valid argument to be made that he should be 0-6 in the UFC.

Though Glenn’s takedown defense has failed him in the past, Nover is a far cry from the likes of Lance Palmer and Evan Dunham in the wrestling department. On the feet, I favor Glenn’s meat-and-potatoes boxing over Nover’s generally ineffective kickboxing. “The Gladiator” boxes his way to a decision win.

Prediction: Glenn by unanimous decision

170 lbs.: Randy Brown (9-1) vs. Belal Muhammad (10-2)

The first graduate of Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight,” Brown took a decision over Canadian brawler Matt Dwyer in his UFC debut before submitting to a rear-naked choke from Mike Graves. Undaunted, he finished up his four-fight 2016 campaign with stoppage victories over Erick Montaño and Brian Camozzi. He will have four inches of height and six of reach on Muhammad.

“Remember the Name” earned Fight of the Night honors in his UFC debut against Alan Jouban, then earned his first promotional victory by stopping Augusto Montaño two months later. Another quick turnaround saw him face Vicente Luque, who knocked Muhammad cold in just 79 seconds. He steps in for George Sullivan, who’s once again found himself in hot water with the USADA, on a week’s notice.

I’m going to be straight with you: this is a pure gut pick. I don’t know if I’m overvaluing Muhammad’s win over Steve Carl or what, but I just can’t shake the feeling that he wins this. Brown has yet to fully maximize his ridiculous physical gifts and Muhammad is exactly the sort of tough bastard to mercilessly exploit what deficiencies remain.

Brown could certainly pick Muhammad apart from long range, but I have faith in the latter’s grit and boxing technique. He pieces Brown up on his way to a decision win.

Prediction: Muhammad by unanimous decision

Four more fights tomorrow, including two top prospects at lightweight and flyweight on FOX Sports 1. Same time as always, Maniacs.