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Check out the Bloody Elbow staff’s picks and predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar card in Las Vegas.
The Bloody Elbow team has made its picks for UFC Vegas 7, and only Zane Simon is going with Frankie Edgar to beat Pedro Munhoz in the main event. As for the co-main, we all think Ovince Saint Preux will get the better of Alonzo Menifield in his return to light heavyweight.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Frankie Edgar
Mookie Alexander: It’s been more than three years since Frankie Edgar outwrestled someone and bullied them on the ground to win a fight. Yair Rodriguez got worked over that night and it’s really the last great Edgar performance. If this fight was still at 135 but a few years ago, I’d probably pick Edgar but it’s just too hard to do it now. His granite chin is considerably eroded and the speed advantage he’s enjoyed for eons at 155 and 145 is not going to be there at 135. Now with Munhoz he is still super hittable and could get picked apart by Edgar’s quick combinations in the pocket, but Munhoz has the power advantage and it really only takes one heavy shot for Frankie to go on ice skates. Getting back to the wrestling discussion, Edgar has become a less formidable takedown threat over the years and Munhoz is an excellent scrambler who has been hard to takedown. I just can’t see Edgar in 2020 having enough in the tank to beat someone of Munhoz’s caliber. Pedro Munhoz by TKO, round 3.
Zane Simon: I have extreme concerns about Frankie Edgar heading into this fight. But, I do think the book on Pedro Munhoz may have gotten a little absurdly re-written after his big win over Cody Garbrandt. Munhoz is a very tough, productive, clubbing puncher, but he’s never been known for the sharpness of his form, or, on the aggregate, as a great KO artist. I’m just not sure he’s accurate enough to get that many clean KO wins at the elite levels. Most often, he’s hurt people and then choked them out. Frankie Edgar has still never been submitted. And while his busy boxing may be a bit slower and less surprising at 135, it also could be the first time ever that he’ll enter a fight with a real physical edge to his wrestling game. This is a man who, at one point, absolutely outclassed Charles Oliveira on the mats. If Munhoz doesn’t KO Edgar, does he keep the fight standing long enough to get the win? Does he become the first guy to choke Edgar out? I’ll take a flier on Frankie Edgar getting an old school victory in his bantamweight debut. Frankie Edgar by decision.
Staff picking Munhoz: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie
Staff picking Edgar: Zane
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Alonzo Menifield
Mookie Alexander: OSP could get blitzed and knocked out in rapid time against the aggressive Menifield. He could get blitzed, weather that storm, and then take over after Menifield gasses. Oh man… I think I know what time it is. OSP by Von Preux choke, round 2.
Zane Simon: I have a lot more faith in OSP keeping his offense together into the 3rd round than Menifield at this point. That Devin Clark fight felt like a real reckoning for the young prospect. He came out the gate, dominated, then got tired and just… seemed to run out of ideas. There’s nothing about OSP’s game that’s less well developed than Clark’s and he’s a more dangerous finisher. OSP by submission, round 2.
Staff picking OSP: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie, Zane
Staff picking Menifield:
Marcin Prachnio vs. Mike Rodríguez
Mookie Alexander: Someone is probably going to get knocked out. Rodriguez is staggeringly slow but it ain’t like Prachnio is some speed demon either. Coin flip fight and the coin says Prachnio wins it. Marcin Prachnio by KO, round 1.
Zane Simon: Rodriguez has the quicker hands and the smoother less wooden style. That said, both men can be put out by big shots. Both men struggle to control the fight when it’s not standing. And neither man pushes the best pace. So this may just come down to who lands clean first. Mike Rodriguez via TKO, round 1.
Staff picking Prachnio: Stephie, Mookie
Staff picking Rodriguez: Dayne, Zane
Mariya Agapova vs. Shana Dobson
Mookie Alexander: Squash match. Mariya Agapova by submission, round 1.
Zane Simon: Kinda get the feeling that the UFC told Dobson she either had to take this fight or get cut. Not a lot of sense to it otherwise, beyond the fact that Agapova wanted it for reasons that still feel unclear. Mariya Agapova via TKO, round 1.
Staff picking Agapova: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie, Zane
Staff picking Dobson:
Daniel Rodriguez vs. Dwight Grant
Mookie Alexander: They threw this fight together on virtually no notice. Hard to provide analysis that way so uh… Daniel Rodriguez by unanimous decision.
Zane Simon: Some wild last minute matchmaking. Grant has a bit more variety and natural dynamism to his game. But he’s woefully low output. Rodriguez is tough as hell and throws a some mean counters and isn’t afraid to brawl. Grant might just hold him down all fight, but if that doesn’t happen? Daniel Rodriguez via decision.
Staff picking Rodriguez: Mookie, Zane, Stephie, Dayne
Staff picking Grant:
Rest of the card
Amanda Lemos vs. Mizuki Inoue
Staff picking Lemos: Zane
Staff picking Inoue: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie
Austin Hubbard vs. Joe Solecki
Staff picking Hubbard: Dayne, Mookie
Staff picking Solecki: Stephie, Zane
Carlton Minus vs. Matthew Semelsberger
Staff picking Minus: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie
Staff picking Semelsberger: Zane
Ike Villanueva vs. Jordan Wright
Staff picking Villanuueva: Dayne, Stephie
Staff picking Wright: Mookie, Zane
Timur Valiev vs. Trevin Jones
Staff picking Valiev: Dayne, Stephie, Mookie, Zane
Staff picking Jones: