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UFC on Fox 28 Preview: 3 Can’t-Miss Fights

Sometimes you need to separate the wheat from the chaff. UFC on Fox 28, going down Saturday from Orlando, Florida, might need a particularly conscientious eye if we’re ever going to have enough raw materials for a decent loaf of bread.
Josh Emmett and …

Josh Emmett and Jeremy Stephens are two reputable action fighters, but it will take more than that main event for this card to break free of the downward pull of last month’s UFC on Fox 27. That event broke a series record for television ratings—in a bad way.

But enough about that. Let’s be positive now. Let’s get stoked for the greatest sport on Earth. Are you with me? Here are three fights you definitely, absolutely can’t miss this Saturday.

Strawweight

Jessica Andrade (17-6) vs. Tecia Torres (10-1)

Odds (per OddsShark): Andrade -320, Torres +260

Airs on: Fox

This could be a wild affair, with both women notorious for blistering, volume-based attacks backed by gavel-to-gavel endurance.

Lest you doubt is, Andrade is fifth among active fighters with 6.45 strikes landed per minute, according to UFC stat keeper FightMetric. Torres isn’t terribly far behind with 4.77.

Torres uses her punches to set up takedown entries. Ditto Andrade to an extent. Andrade showed strength in last fall’s win over Claudia Gadelha, during which she landed multiple slam takedowns, but she loves to be aggressive on the feet. Torres likes to use volume striking to outpoint opponents, but this is one of the few opponents where, on paper, that doesn’t seem like a sound strategy.

Keep in mind also that the 5’2″ Andrade used to compete at 135 pounds. She’s only one inch taller than Torres but should have a substantial size advantage when they step in the cage.

Bottom line: This will be an exciting fight between two fighters with similar games. Andrade would seem to have an advantage in each of their strong suits. She’ll get a win in another violent contest, even if she can’t get the finish.

Andrade, unanimous decision

Welterweight

Mike Perry (11-2) vs. Max Griffin (13-4)

Odds: Perry -340, Griffin +280

Airs on: Fox

Mike Perry is a firebrand. He engenders feelings, the positive kind and the other kind, whether he’s wildly seeking skulls inside the cage or kicking up his feet during interviews.

Perry is a headhunter, but he’s got more skill than he gets credit for. He has great athletic talent to complement his pure power, using good movement and instincts both in and out of the pocket.

Griffin is the clear underdog in this one, but Max Pain has been around the block. He held gold in both Tachi Palace Fights and West Coast Fighting Championships before getting The Call in 2016. He has razor-sharp kickboxing, and the ground skill he lacks will not be a factor here. If Perry intentionally drags this fight to the mat at any point, I’ll eat a sock.

With a 1-2 UFC record, Griffin is probably fighting for his UFC roster spot. He’ll need to keep Perry at bay with kicks and long-range boxing. Perry is a bulldog at getting inside, though, and after losing his last contest has some recovering of his own to do. Platinum Mike prevails but not before Griffin makes it interesting.

Perry, TKO, Rd. 3

Welterweight

Alan Jouban (15-6) vs. Ben Saunders (21-8-2)

Odds: Jouban -240, Saunders +200

Airs on: Fox

Nothing not to love in this matchup. Why it’s buried in the middle of this undercard I’ll never know.

(Especially since Jouban beat Perry in December 2016, but hey, it’s none of my business.)

Both of these men use muay thai to rough up opponents. Saunders’ knee strikes are legendary, and he knows how to use every bit of that rangy 6’2″ frame and 77″ reach (Jouban, by comparison, is 6’0″ with a 73″ reach). Jouban, however, is a more complete striker who can control range and score without relying on brawls or scrambles.

This will probably play out on the feet, but each man has some jiu-jitsu in his pocket as well. In fact, they train together at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Los Angeles, leading Saunders to admit that neither man really wanted this matchup.

“It’s just an unfortunate situation, but it is what it is,” Saunders told MMAjunkie Radio (h/t John Morgan of MMAjunkie). “We’re both fighters. We’re both professional, so we’re going to accept that.”

Saunders also acknowledged the tantalizing matchup. With 26 finishes between them (including nine knockouts for each man), this one’s pretty much a lock to be entertaining.

“As far as stylistic matchup, man, it’s fireworks,” Saunders said. “I don’t think you can get much better.”

The killer instinct may not be out in full force given the friendship involved, but there’s no question they’ll put on a show.

Jouban, unanimous decision

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UFC Fight Night Cerrone vs. Medeiros: Betting Preview, Austin Card Odds Analysis

Donald Cerrone had never lost two fights in a row before falling to Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision at UFC 214 last July. But Cowboy will be trying to break a three-bout losing streak Sunday in Austin, Texas, where he takes on Yancy Medeiros as a -145 favorite (bet $145 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark in the main event at UFC Fight Night 126.

A 15-pound move by Cerrone (32-10, one no-contest) up to welterweight from lightweight started off successfully, with four straight victories and three consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses.

However, as the competition has gotten tougher at 170 pounds, the former 155-pound title contender has struggled. Ranked No. 11 at welterweight, Cerrone is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Darren Till at UFC Fight Night 118 last October, which was after a second-round TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC on Fox 23 in January 2017.

Meanwhile, Medeiros (15-4, 1 NC) has headed in the opposite direction, as he will bring a three-fight winning streak into the Octagon and the division’s No. 15 ranking.

The 30-year-old Hawaiian is four years younger than Cerrone and has a longer reach than his opponent at 75 inches despite being three inches shorter at 5’10”. Medeiros is listed as a +125 underdog (bet $100 to win $125) and has finished each of his last three foes (two knockouts and one submission) since suffering a unanimous-decision loss to Francisco Trinaldo in the Fight of the Night at UFC 198 in May 2016.

The co-main event preceding Cerrone vs. Medeiros is an evenly matched heavyweight battle, according to oddsmakers, between Marcin Tybura (16-3) and Derrick Lewis (18-5, 1 NC). Both suffered losses in their last fights yet each remain ranked in the Top 10.

Lewis had a six-fight winning streak snapped by a fourth-round TKO loss to Mark Hunt at UFC Fight Night 110 last June. After initially saying he would retire following that performance, Lewis took a bout against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 216 before bowing out due to a back injury. The No. 7 heavyweight is a +120 underdog versus Tybura.

Werdum fought Tybura instead at UFC Fight Night 121 a month afterward and scored a dominant unanimous-decision victory, ending the No. 9 fighter’s three-fight winning streak. Tybura is a -140 favorite against Lewis and had knocked out two of his three opponents before that November loss.

For more odds info, picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes, or check it out at OddsShark.libsyn.com.

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UFC Fight Night 126 Preview: 3 Can’t-Miss Fights

The UFC makes a rare Sunday appearance when UFC Fight Night 126 goes down from Austin, Texas.
At the top of the slate, perennial fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone takes on fellow knockout artist Yancy Medeiros, but the action doesn’t end there.
Here…

The UFC makes a rare Sunday appearance when UFC Fight Night 126 goes down from Austin, Texas.

At the top of the slate, perennial fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone takes on fellow knockout artist Yancy Medeiros, but the action doesn’t end there.

Here are three fights you can’t miss from the capital city of the Lone Star State.

Welterweight

Donald Cerrone (32-10-1) vs. Yancy Medeiros (15-4-1)

Odds (per OddsShark): Cerrone -153, Medeiros +133

Airs on: Fox Sports 1

These two fighters are trending in opposite directions. Medeiros has won three straight, all by stoppage. In his most recent contest, he knocked out “the other” Cowboy, Alex Oliveira, in a Fight of the Night performance.

Cerrone has lost three straight. If he were a lower-profile competitor, he might have received his UFC walking papers. But he is popular enough that that will probably never happen. Still, the guy could use a win.

Cerrone will bring his rangy muay thai against Medeiros‘ boxing. The Hawaiian will want to close the distance and neutralize Cowboy’s perimeter game.

The real X-factor, however, may be Medeiros‘ underrated grappling. That’s a solid plan B against Cerrone, who, while not exactly deficient on the ground, may find himself more vulnerable than he is on the feet. Sound the upset alarms.

Medeiros, TKO, Rd. 3

Heavyweight

Derrick Lewis (18-5-1) vs. Marcin Tybura (16-3)

Odds: Tybura -141, Lewis +121

Airs on: Fox Sports 1

Derrick Lewis might be the hardest hitter in the entire UFC. He hasn’t competed since June, thanks to a back injury that forced him out of a bout with Fabricio Werdum at the 11th hour.

Tybura faced Werdum in November, but it didn’t go well; he dropped a dominant decision to the former champ. The Pole is not the most charismatic fighter on the UFC roster, but he is tough and well-rounded.

This is a classic heavyweight matchup. It could be a snoozer, with both men gassing early and reeling around the cage like characters in an Irish novel, or it could be a thunderous slugfest. Here’s predicting the latter.

Lewis, KO, Rd. 1

Welterweight

Brian Camozzi (7-4) vs. Geoff Neal (8-2)

Odds: Neal -200, Camozzi +170

Airs on: Fox Sports 1

Despite their relatively abbreviated records, these two have managed to rack up eight knockouts and five submissions between them. This one’s probably not going to the judges.

You may know Geoff Neal from the Tuesday Night Contender Series that airs on UFC Fight Pass. “Handz of Steel” doesn’t do anything particularly flashy, but he knows how to get inside and punish opponents with combinations.

Brian Camozzi is a little more well-rounded, but he has a penchant for reckless brawling. That will ultimately be his undoing, but it will also make for one heck of an entertaining scrap.

Neal, TKO, Rd. 2

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UFC 222 Early Preview: What Are the Biggest and Best Fights Set for Las Vegas?

UFC 222 looked really, really bad for a little while. The event was set to be a one-fight card, offering little intrigue past the headlining bout between Max Holloway and Frankie Edgar. When that one fight fell through, it seemed like the event would b…

In a strange turn of events, however, the injury to Holloway alongside a few unfortunate turns for recent fight-night events have transformed UFC 222 into the best event of 2018 thus far. The full card stands as follows:

Main Card (Pay-Per-View)

Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya
Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega
Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath
Stefan Struve vs. Andrei Arlovski
Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

Ashley Yoder vs. Mackenzie Dern
Beneil Dariush vs. Bobby Green
John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz
CB Dollaway vs. Hector Lombard

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Mike Pyle vs. Zak Ottow
Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann
Jordan Johnson vs. Adam Milstead

From the quick, card-saving turnaround from women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, to the mouth-watering co-main event matchup to the numerous top-10 names on the preliminary card, UFC 222 has a lot to offer to fans.

But what are the biggest fights on the card? And what are the best? Read on and find out!

The Main Event: Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya

Filling in for the injured men’s featherweight champion is the women’s featherweight champion, Cris “Cyborg” Justino.

Any longtime MMA fan is more than familiar with what Cyborg offers at this point: pure violence. True, the Brazilian is much more than a simple brawler—as she proved when she outpointed former UFC champion Holly Holm in December—but when fans turn on the TV to see her fight, they’re not looking for a contest, they’re looking to see her maul some poor woman.

The “poor woman” at UFC 222 is Yana Kunitskaya.

Kunitskaya is far from the worst fighter that Cyborg has ever faced. The Russian striker has been in the MMA game since 2009 and built up an 8-1 record on the European circuit before taking a hiatus in 2012. She returned to the cage in 2016 and made the jump stateside not long after, making a big splash and ultimately capturing gold in her brief career with Invicta FC.

But while Kunitskaya has proved herself to be a generally solid fighter, she doesn’t necessarily have anything new to offer Cyborg, who is unquestionably and indisputably the single best female fighter on the planet. The question isn’t if Cyborg will win, it’s about whether she will bust Kunitskaya up en route to a decision or run her over before things get that far.

The Co-Main Event: Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega

Fans planning to attend UFC 222 owe Frankie Edgar a big thank-you. The former lightweight champion was supposed to receive a crack at Holloway in the main event of this card, but when Holloway withdrew due to a leg injury, Edgar stuck around instead of continuing his chase for the elusive featherweight title.

Was that a wise move, though? Well, probably not. Now in the co-main event of UFC 222, Edgar is poised to face Brian Ortega.

Since debuting in the UFC in 2014, Ortega has been on many “hot prospects” lists and, to this point, has lived up to any and all hype pinned on him. His UFC record stands at 5-0 (1) (with that 1 being a no-contest stemming from a failed drug test) with each win coming inside the distance. While there was a brief time where it was justified to wonder if those talents would translate to the division’s elite, he passed a big test in December when he submitted top-10 staple Cub Swanson in just two rounds.

At this point, it’s easy to wonder if anyone is capable of stopping Ortega, but facing those sorts of indomitable monsters is an all-too-familiar position for Edgar. The Answer has been doubted in many of his recent fights but, far more often than not, manages to come out on top.

Ortega may be the man to finally knock Edgar down his long-held seat as the world’s No. 2 featherweight. Then again, he may just end up being the latest up-and-comer to get put in his place.

Fight to Keep an Eye On: Ashley Yoder vs. Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern is one of the hottest prospects in MMA today. And how could she not be?

Dern entered the MMA world in 2016 to much fanfare, carrying a slew of medals and awards from her years in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Those grappling skills served her well as she transitioned from the mats to the cage, too, and saw her encounter little resistance as she built up her highlight reel on the regional scene.

From there, she jumped over to Invicta FC and had little trouble finishing former title contender Kaline Medeiros.

Despite being green, the UFC decided to bring her up to the main roster. She debuts at UFC 222 against Ashley Yoder.

Yoder, quite frankly, is supposed to be a showcase opponent for Dern. 0-2 in the Octagon and without any particularly noteworthy in-cage skills, Yoder has few tools to impede Dern’s offense and even fewer tools to threaten her.

This is a fight tailor-made for Dern to win. While she can’t be viewed as a slam dunk to win because her actual in-cage experience is so limited, there is little reason to doubt her here.

The Best of the Rest

Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira: Cat Zingano is back! The longtime bantamweight contender has fought just three times since her dramatic comeback win over Miesha Tate in 2013, but she remains one of the division’s most interesting talents based on her solid wrestling and knockout power. She has the chance to reestablish herself as a title contender at the expense of a surging Ketlen Vieira, who jumped into the top-five by beating Sara McMann.

Stefan Struve vs. Andre Arlovski: These two heavyweight veterans have fallen on hard times of late and it’s easy to wonder if the loser of this fight might get booted. The good thing is that this is an unpredictable matchup and should be exciting.

John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz: UFC Belem’s loss was UFC 222’s gain as the Fight Night co-main event was moved here. In theory, Dodson is the favorite as he is better established against higher-end competition. But make no mistake, Munhoz is legit and has everything he needs to pick up a win here.

Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann: After an extended layoff, Bryan Caraway is back in the cage. The veteran hasn’t been seen since posting an at-the-time upset victory over Aljamain Sterling and has a lot of work to do in terms of reasserting himself as an elite bantamweight. He has a good opportunity to do so as he faces an untested, unseasoned Cody Stamann.

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UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More

Despite a champion withdrawing from injury and a potential champion missing on the scales, UFC 221 will go on with a killer main event in the middleweight division.
Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was forced off the card due to illness. Yo…

Despite a champion withdrawing from injury and a potential champion missing on the scales, UFC 221 will go on with a killer main event in the middleweight division.

Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was forced off the card due to illness. Yoel Romero, his replacement, missed weight and won’t be competing for the interim title, but the fans in Perth, Australia, are still going to be treated to a fight between two of the elite fighters at 185 pounds (er, well 187.7 pounds for Romero).

Paving the way before that bout will be a pair of heavyweight bouts. “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt will look to keep beating Father Time when he takes on Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event. Australian native Tai Tuivasa will get an opportunity to showcase his skills in front of a home crowd against Cyril Asker.

It’s a card that isn’t marked by the biggest of names, but it should be a fun night of competitive fights.

Here’s a look at the complete card along with the biggest storylines to watch for in the evening:

Odds via OddsShark.

Main Card (PPV at 10 p.m. ET)

Yoel Romero (+120) vs. Luke Rockhold (-150)—interim middleweight title fight
Mark Hunt (+135) vs. Curtis Blaydes (-165)—heavyweight
Tai Tuivasa (-300) vs. Cyril Asker (+230)—heavyweight
Jake Matthews (+155) vs. Li Jingliang (-190)—welterweight
Tyson Pedro (-280) vs. Saparbek Safarov (+220)—light heavyweight

Prelims (Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET)

Damien Brown (+130) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (-160)—lightweight
Rob Wilkinson (+235) vs. Israel Adesanya (-305)—middleweight
Alexander Volkanovski (-185) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (+150)—featherweight
Jussier Formiga (-125) vs. Ben Nguyen (-105)—flyweight

Prelims (Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Ross Pearson (-150) vs. Mizuto Hirota (+120)—lightweight
Teruto Ishihara (+175) vs. Jose Quinonez (-225)—bantamweight
Luke Jumeau (+115) vs. Daichi Abe (-145)—welterweight

Storylines to Watch

Is Luke Rockhold Still Among the Best Middleweights?

Not too long ago, it appeared that Luke Rockhold was ready to rule the middleweight division with a smoldering fist.

An emphatic fourth-round TKO victory over then-champion Chris Weidman had him holding the belt. The win capped a five-fight win streak in which he finished every opponent and looked nearly invincible.

Then Michael Bisping happened.

What appeared to be one of the more lopsided championship fights in recent memory quickly turned into a sobering moment for Rockhold. Bisping shocked the world with a first-round knockout to become the champion in the twilight of his career.

Rockhold has fought just once then beating David Branch in the second round of a fight in September 2017. Branch was competitive in the first round, even outlanding him in the first round, according to FightMetric.

Now Rockhold will be looking across the cage at Yoel Romero. Romero isn’t David Branch.

Romero’s only loss in the last five years was to Whittaker in a fight that was extremely close. Romero’s athleticism, wrestling and power will give Rockhold a true test to see if he’s shaken off the loss to Bisping and recaptured the confidence and swagger that made him difficult to beat.

Prediction: Romero via third-round TKO

Can Mark Hunt Continue to Stifle Up-and-Comers?

Derrick Lewis was the next up-and-comer to break into the top echelon of the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Then he wasn’t.

That’s what happens when fighters run into the crafty, explosive punches of Mark Hunt. At 43 years old, the New Zealand-native is still knocking out fighters much younger than himself and plans to keep on doing so.

“After the three fights with the UFC, I’d like to fight globally three more times and then retire. Hang it up,” Hunt said regarding retirement, per Mike Bohn and John Morgan of MMAjunkie. “I want to go out there in my best shape ever and compete. I feel like I can compete still with these young guys, even though they’re half my age.”

At 26 years old, Blaydes isn’t quite half Hunt’s age, but it’s close enough. The former NJCAA national champion wrestler is looking to break into that upper echelon of a division that is still marked by a lot of legacy names such as Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Hunt.

Blaydes will have a decided wrestling advantage, which has proved to be a kryptonite for the Super Samoan. However, utilizing his wrestling means covering the distance that it takes to dive into the clinch or shoot for a takedown, and that’s where Hunt can hurt anyone.

Watching Blaydes manage the danger of closing distance and Hunt try to put down one more prospect will be an intriguing battle to keep an eye on.

Prediction: Blaydes via unanimous decision

Will Tai Tuivasa Make a Name for Himself?

The heavyweight division is unusually hot right now. With the Stipe Miocic-Francis Ngannou fight receiving more attention than any heavyweight championship fight in recent memory, the UFC’s biggest division has some momentum.

Tai Tuivasa has the ability to take advantage of that by putting his skills on display in front of a pay-per-view audience Saturday night.

Tuivasa made an impression in his UFC debut. He doesn’t have the build of an Ngannou, but he displayed some serious athleticism with a flying-knee TKO of Rashad Coulter. The fast track to a pay-per-view offering shows the UFC was impressed, too.

All of Tuivasa’s six wins in his pro career have come in the first round. His fastest knockout took just nine seconds and it sounds like that’s the kind of effort he’d like to repeat.

“I’m going to try to keep it bare-minimum,” Tuivasa said, per Bohn and Morgan of MMAjunkie. “Get in there, get out of there. As soon as I get it done, then I’m off to the bar.”

It doesn’t take much to get to the top of the pecking order in the heavyweight division. With Tuivasa’s personality, power and penchant for excitement in the cage, it might not be long before he’s in the title picture and a win against Asker might be the launching point for that run.

Prediction: Tuivasa via first-round TKO

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UFC 221 Yoel Romero vs. Luke Rockhold Odds, Betting Trends, Card Analysis

Yoel Romero (12-2) got an opportunity to win the UFC’s interim middleweight title seven months ago when he lost to Australian Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 213.
Now this Saturday in Perth, Romero will take advantage of Whittaker’s with…

Yoel Romero (12-2) got an opportunity to win the UFC’s interim middleweight title seven months ago when he lost to Australian Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC 213.

Now this Saturday in Perth, Romero will take advantage of Whittaker’s withdrawal from the main event due to injury, this time battling Luke Rockhold (16-3) as a solid +130 underdog (bet $100 to win $130) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.

Romero is still the No. 1-ranked middleweight contender behind the champion Whittaker, with Rockhold sitting at No. 2, according to the UFC. While Romero has not fought since his eight-fight winning streak was broken by Whittaker, Rockhold is listed as a -150 favorite following a submission win over David Branch at UFC Fight Night 116 last September in Pittsburgh. He has won six of his last seven bouts.

The lone setback for Rockhold over the past five years came versus Michael Bisping, who upset him for the middleweight championship belt with a shocking first-round knockout at UFC 199. Rockhold had won the title with a fourth-round TKO of Chris Weidman at UFC 194 to cap a five-fight winning streak before falling to Bisping.

In the co-main event, two dangerous heavyweights will square off, with Curtis Blaydes (8-1, 1 No-Contest) and Mark Hunt (13-11-1, 1 NC) combining for 17 knockouts among 21 wins between them. Blaydes has fought more recently than Hunt, scoring a second-round TKO of Oleksiy Oliynyk at UFC 217 last November 4 in New York City.

The 26-year-old from Chicago is a -170 favorite on the UFC 221 odds against his 43-year-old opponent. The only loss of Blaydes‘ career came versus Francis Ngannou at UFC Fight Night 86.

Hunt is a local favorite out of New Zealand and got a fourth-round TKO of Derrick Lewis in his hometown of Auckland at UFC Fight Night 110 last June 11. He is a +140 underdog here and had lost his previous bout to Alistair Overeem by third-round KO at UFC 209 a little less than a year ago.

Before that loss to Overeem, Hunt went 2-0 with two first-round knockouts of Antonio Silva and Frank Mir followed by a NC that was originally a UD loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 before being overturned because his opponent tested positive for a banned substance. Seven of Hunt’s losses took place in his first 12 fights, including three in the PRIDE promotion and two in DREAM.

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