The UFC’s long-awaited return to England comes to you this weekend from Manchester, boasting a card that has the potential to be an all-time classic. Headlined by Lyoto Machida and Mark Munoz, the card could turn into a potential slugfest due to the amount of heavy hitters participating this weekend.
Fans continually bash cards that lack “star power,” but those fans don’t realize that those are the cards that always deliver in terms of excitement. Cards in England are always exciting, so make sure you catch this card that starts late morning/early afternoon, depending on where you are in the U.S.
Here are the predictions for the fight night bonuses.
Submission of the Night: Jimy Hettes
There is not much potential for submissions on this card, considering all the talent featured that are knockout artists. Jimy Hettes is not one of those guys.
Hettes, a judo fighter, is all about getting in the clinch, putting down his opponents and working them over from the top. Of his 10 wins, nine have come via submission, including his UFC debut against Alex Caceres.
Hettes takes on Scottish prospect Robert Whiteford, who takes this fight on extremely short notice. Though he has great potential, he did not have enough time to train for this specific fight and it could lead to a tapout.
Hettes will likely be the man applying the submission and taking home the check.
Also in the running: Cole Miller
Knockout of the Night: Lyoto Machida
With all of the potential knockouts that will take place on this card, it’s going to be really tough to pick a winner of the post-fight bonus. However, seeing the spectacular nature in which Lyoto Machida has put people down before, he is the favorite here.
Mark Munoz, his opponent, will not have his chin confused with Roy Nelson anytime soon and he is taking on a karate stylist that has the ability to stuff his takedowns. When he is unable to put the Brazilian down, it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.
Machida will touch Munoz’s chin and hurt him bad. However, it won’t hurt Munoz until he wakes up from his punch-induced slumber.
Also in the running: Melvin Guillard, Jimi Manuwa, Alessio Sakara
Fight of the Night: Melvin Guillard-Ross Pearson
Fight of the Night is another category that will be tough to pick, as there are a number of fights that could steal the show. The co-main event may not last long, but it will be electrifying.
Melvin Guillard is all about throwing heavy leather. So is Ross Pearson. That is the type of recipe that produces fights that become classics.
Don’t expect this fight to go to the judges. However, expect this fight to be one of the best of the night that earns both men a little extra cash in their pocket.
Also in the running: Phil Harris-John Lineker, Luke Barnatt-Andrew Craig, Alessio Sakara-Nicholas Musoke
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