Randy Brown by KO ...This is a crossroads fight for both men, more so for the Brazilian veteran, Alex Oliveira. Brown is a mammoth 6’3″ at WW, who despite owning a 78″ reach, fails to utilize his jab fully. While a few long kicks and straights are used, the volume is frustratingly poor and instead Brown often feints into short hooks that sting opponents, but also close the distance for opponents and allow them to counter. Oliveira has started to decline after his natural athleticism has taken a hit due to age, but the Brazilian has ironed out his raw striking into a somewhat composed, methodical technique. The best action will appear in the clinch and the mat, but it will be whoever suffers the least damage on the feet that decides the result on the ground.
Dwight Grant ...After 3 years on the sidelines after popping for PEDs (drostanolone), who knows what version of Stefan Sekulic will enter the octagon on Saturday night? During his UFC debut against Ramazan Emeev, Sekulic showed solid grappling chops but lacking the wrestling needed to stop opponents from walking him down. Grant is a difficult man to takedown, and with a reach advantage, his powerful counters should find a home all night. Grant is still an unfinished product, but there is a lot to get excited about)
Brendan Allen in 1st round ...If Karl Roberson can scramble effectively in the first round, he will be able to pull away in the remaining two rounds based on his slick kickboxing and Allen’s horrendous gas tank. Unfortunately, Roberson has regularly fallen to opponents based on his lack of grappling chops, despite a decent TDD. Allen is durable and physically strong enough to walk down Roberson and pressure him against the cage. Allen’s leaky striking defence can’t be exposed if he has control of his opponents back.
Pat Sabatini ...Despite the fairy-tale debut in the UFC, there are rarely long-term fairy-tale stories in the combat world. Tristan Connelly shocked the odds when he simply out-lasted Michel Pereira back in 2019, despite fighting several weight classes out of his comfort range. Although Connelly’s grinding grappling will find more success at 145, Sabitini will still be the larger man and has him beat on the mat. Connelly’s compact striking could leave Sabitini overextending and being caught, but the most obvious route to victory will be Sabatini chasing a takedown and riding out the rounds on top)
Danaa Batgerel ...Neither is destined to claim Bantamweight gold, but Batgerel is a sharp kickboxer with excellent footwork that ensures the fight keeps to the range and pace he desires. Natividad is the superior grappler, but Batgerel has decent enough TDD, and Natividad lacks the tenacity to follow through with a wrestling-heavy game plan and instead will duke it out on the feet and most likely lose.
Zhu Rong ...Rong is a 21-year-old prospect who carries a deep professional record littered with finishes on the feet. There is a lot to get excited about, but Rong’s competition in the WLF hasn’t exactly been stellar and for what footage I could find online – Rong is laughably bad fighting off of his back-foot. Vargas may be 0-2 in the UFC, his athleticism declining at thirty-five years of age, but he is still a powerful striker who could make Rong pay if he presses the action...tough call.
Jeff Molina likely descision...DWCS prospect, Jeff Molina, is a volume striker who will be able to make the most of Aori’s complete lack of striking defense. While Aori presses opponents in his flat-footed plods, he can generate huge power that may catch Molina, but most likely Molina will continue to land flush on Aori and capture the scorecards. Both men are decent wrestlers, but their scrambles are equally strong.
Ariane Carnelossi ...Carnelossi favored here simply by virtue of having fought competently against solid competition. While Liang is still improving at 24, will carry a 6" reach advantage into the fight, and can always threaten with a submission off her back – but she has regularly wilted in the face of tough opposition.