Check out the Bloody Elbow staff’s picks and predictions for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 29 card.
The Bloody Elbow staff has made its predictions for UFC Vegas 29, and the belief by the majority is that Chan Sung Jung, aka The Korean Zombie will get back on track with a main event win over Dan Ige. In the co-main everyone believes Sergey Spivak will take care of Aleksei Oleinik.
Chan Sung Jung vs. Dan Ige
Mookie Alexander: This feels like a fight Korean Zombie should win. He’s the more technical, quicker, more potent striker and his grappling isn’t to be slept on. And yet I just can’t shake off how terrible he looked against Brian Ortega. Not to take away from Ortega’s own improvements but TKZ looked a step slow and befuddled. Ige is nothing if not tough and he’s willing to throw down even if it’s to his own detriment. I’m wondering a bit about whether TKZ’s durability and his comments this week about not wanting to be in all of these main events is worrisome. Ige has some issues with consistent round-to-round activity but it gives me the sense that if he can weather the early storm when TKZ is at his most dangerous, he might have more left in the tank to wear TKZ down and pull off a signature W. Dan Ige by unanimous decision.
Staff picking Jung: Dayne, Phil, Zane, Connor
Staff picking Ige: Stephie, Mookie
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Sergey Spivak
Mookie Alexander: I’m sure Oleinik has one last “wins by weird choke no one else uses” performance in him but probably not in the UFC. He’s getting beaten up badly and while Spivak is not a particularly great striker, he has the athleticism advantage and isn’t 146 years old. Sergey Spivak by TKO, round 1.
Staff picking Oleinik: Connor
Staff picking Spivak: Mookie, Dayne, Phil, Stephie, Zane
Julian Erosa vs. Seung Woo Choi
Mookie Alexander: Erosa looks reborn since returning to the UFC and Choi has gone from on the cusp of getting cut to a much more composed fighter who can stifle his opponent’s takedowns if necessary. I expect this to be a real banger in which both men have their moments, but Choi’s power and Erosa’s still suspect chin have me leaning towards Seung Woo Choi by TKO, round 2.
Staff picking Erosa: Phil, Stephie, Zane, Connor
Staff picking Choi: Mookie, Dayne
Marlon Vera vs. Davey Grant
Mookie Alexander: Where did KO artist Davey Grant come from? Anyway, both men have improved considerably from their first meeting (which Grant won by decision). Vera remains a slow starter but he’s a threat everywhere thanks to his brutal kicks, fast combinations, and active guard. Grant has largely been known for his ground game until recent times so his consecutive KOs in two outings has been a hell of a development. Still think that Vera’s hands and ability to punish people with ground-and-pound will play the biggest role in the rematch. Marlon Vera by TKO, round 3.
Staff picking Vera: Mookie, Dayne, Phil, Zane, Connor
Staff picking Grant: Stephie
Bruno Silva vs. Wellington Turman
Mookie Alexander: Apparently this isn’t the Bruno Silva who bored everyone to tears years ago. No, this is a different Bruno Silva who was signed two years ago but got USADA’d. I back Turman’s wrestling to get him through to victory. Wellington Turman by unanimous decision.
Staff picking Silva: Zane, Connor
Staff picking Turman: Mookie, Dayne, Stephie, Mookie
Matt Brown vs. Dhiego Lima
Mookie Alexander: There’s still always that lingering feeling that Lima’s chin hasn’t magically gotten better and that Brown can still deliver some damage. Brown has underrated grappling and wrestling but I don’t think this version of Lima will have problems with that. Add in Brown’s durability is going on him and I just feel like Lima will get the W. Dhiego Lima by unanimous decision.
Staff picking Brown:
Staff picking Lima: Mookie, Dayne, Stephie, Zane, Connor