UFC Vegas 54 predictions - MMA fighting

Jan Blachowicz is arguably the unlikeliest champion in UFC background. Is it possible for him to make a fair extra improbable run returned to the right?

The No. four easy heavyweight in MMA combating's world Rankings receives his chance to prove that he's nonetheless a contender when he fights No. 6 Aleksandar Rakic commonly experience of UFC Vegas fifty four on Saturday. This marks Blachowicz's first battle seeing that losing his championship to Glover Teixeira in October and while it could be convenient to count number him out at age 39, he's made a profession out of beating the percentages and people wins over Israel Adesanya, Dominick Reyes, and Corey Anderson aren't that far-off in the rear view.

not that Blachowicz's resume should still count number one iota to Rakic. backyard of a questionable cut up decision loss to Volkan Oezdemir, the Austrian 205er has regarded all the world like a surefire title challenger and a dominant performance towards Blachowicz will cement his case to be next in line for the winner of the upcoming UFC 275 title combat between Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka. Rakic has already knocked off previous title challengers and now he gets his probability to take out a former champion.

In other leading card action, mild heavyweights Ryan Spann and Ion Cutelaba meet within the evening's penultimate bout, bantamweight veterans Davey supply and Louis Smolka conflict, one-time UFC title challenger Katlyn Chookagian meets strawweight contender Amanda Ribas in a flyweight bout, Frank Camacho returns from a near two-yr layoff to battle lightweight newcomer Manuel Torres, and flyweight Jake Hadley makes his UFC debut in opposition t Allan Nascimento.

What: UFC Vegas 54

where: UFC APEX in Las Vegas

When: Saturday, might also 14. The five-battle preliminary card begins on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET, adopted by a six-fight main card on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.

(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA combating international Rankings)

Jan Blachowicz (four) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (6)

undoubtedly, Jan Blachowicz can't shock us all once again.

i am notoriously dangerous at assessing Blachowicz fights (of his previous six outings, I most effective accurately envisioned that he would beat Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza), however I'm once again confidently picking out towards him. In Rakic, he has an opponent nine years his junior who's peaking physically and talent-intelligent.

Rakic has worked hard to screen how well-rounded his online game is after becoming a member of the UFC with the attractiveness of a extraordinary specialist. He leverages his brilliant 6-foot-5 body to create useful grappling instances whereas nonetheless being a chance to land a knockout shot at any moment. enthusiasts may now not love the extra methodical trend he's employed as he makes his approach during the properly 10 of the division, but Rakic is winning fights and he's now not taking an awful lot hurt doing so.

I suppose Rakic's maturity is exactly what he needs to get previous Blachowicz, an equally distinctive fighter who relishes a pretty good scrap. Blachowicz knows his ultimate possibility to beat the more youthful Rakic is to tug him into his combat, take him out of his consolation zone, and check even if he truly has championship mettle.

I'm bullish on Rakic's probabilities of combating for a title sooner in preference to later, in order that capability I are expecting him to get over this certain hump and to do so impressively. Rakic by way of 2d-round knockout.

opt for: Rakic

Ryan Spann vs. Ion Cutelaba

First, let's be clear, here's now not an Alexander okay. Lee-authorised co-main adventure. Neither fighter is ranked (Katlyn Chookagian and Amanda Ribas basically should still have been given this spot, according to benefit), there's no title contender implications, and neither is a marquee identify by using any stretch of the creativeness. That referred to, enjoyable battle to steer us into the main event!

The rationale Ryan Spann and Ion Cutelaba had been booked into this plum spot is on account of the advantage for sweet, sweet chaos and that i are expecting them to bring. Spann will meet Cutelaba within the center and throw palms with him, so look for both men to devour some difficult photographs. Cutelaba will draw first blood and rock Spann, but "Superman" should have the metal to stay within the fight.

normally I don't want to get this certain with predictions, but i will't shake the photograph of Cutelaba pursuing a finish, charging headfirst into Spann's arms, and getting submitted by way of a guillotine choke. it could be a extremely Cutelaba means for him to lose this combat.

decide on: Spann

Davey grant vs. Louis Smolka

This one is both going to end in the first or be a fight of the night front runner and that i'm leaning towards the previous. There's a robust chance that Davey furnish and Louis Smolka add an extra bantamweight barnburner to a list that grows exponentially each year, however I actually like provide to get the conclude here.

it will probably't be referred to sufficient how talented Smolka is and how disappointing his results can sometimes be. He's an elite finisher whose aggression can get the better of him and we've viewed him undergo some gruesome first-circular losses in recent years. provide is an excellent matchup for him, but additionally an extra opponent who could put him away quick.

supply has been a pleasure to observe ever when you consider that he embraced a free-swinging trend, but I'm predicting that he breaks out his dormant submission capabilities for this one. As extremely good as clubbing individuals is, it's much more enjoyable to club and sub them, so seek supply to settle the battle down after a frantic opening and trap Smolka in the standup. From there, he'll snatch a neck and force a primary-round faucet.

choose: supply

Katlyn Chookagian (3) vs. Amanda Ribas (eight, SW)

It's cool that Amanda Ribas decided to take this as a reside-busy combat after lacking out on the chance to face Michelle Waterson in March, but there's nothing fun about combating Katlyn Chookagian as the perpetually cheery Brazilian is soon to find out. She's giving up lots of measurement to Chookagian, with the intention to make it intricate for her to enforce her grappling and get to her most effective direction to pulling off an upset.

Chookagian turned into tripped up in an analogous circumstance a few years returned when she welcomed Jessica Andrade to the flyweight division, however Ribas doesn't have the terrifying energy of Andrade nor the sheer physicality mandatory to bully Chookagian. I see this unfolding much more like the usual Chookagian combat as she uses her latitude awesome to frustrate Ribas and outpoint her.

If Ribas can get this fight to the ground for any extended duration of time, it's a distinct story, however Chookagian has confronted plenty of amazing grapplers and out of doors of the inimitable Valentina Shevchenko none of them have imposed their will on her in that means. This should still be another resolution win for the a hundred twenty five-pound division's premiere gatekeeper.

opt for: Chookagian

Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres

Let's get a round of applause for Frank Camacho, who returns to action after a vehicle accident pressured him out of a UFC 263 conflict with Matt Frevola closing June. It's been very nearly two years for the reason that we've viewed "The Crank" throw down and he's all the time enjoyable to monitor.

challenging call here as Camacho has a major journey abilities over the 27-12 months-ancient Manuel Torres, a recent Contender series signing out of Mexico. youngsters, Torres has looked legit all through his present three-combat win streak, displaying that he knows the way to use his rangy frame effortlessly when outstanding and to tangle up his opponents for submissions. He's also deceptively powerful, with the intention to support him if he decides to implement a greater wrestling-oriented video game plan.

Camacho will be the first to let you know that he's offensive-minded to a fault, frequently abandoning any pre-battle approach once his opponent is inside latitude of his heavy arms, He may overwhelm Torres early as he's extra battle-validated than anybody Torres has confronted to date. but I'm trusting Torres to maintain his composure, manage distance, and eventually damage Camacho with a flurry earlier than completing on the ground.

decide on: Torres

Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento

UFC President Dana White stuck his neck out to bring in Jake Hadley after the previous Cage Warriors champion missed weight and allegedly rubbed officers the incorrect manner ahead of his Contender collection look this past October. Now it's time for Hadley to reward that religion.

There's a reason the undefeated Hadley is without doubt one of the most extremely touted prospects out of the U.okay. Hadley has respectable wrestling, unorthodox marvelous protection, and a high motor, the latter of which is standard to live on in the UFC's oft-ignored flyweight division. The name of the online game for him in opposition t Allan Nascimento may be drive, drive, drive.

Nascimento brings remarkable measurement to the flyweight division and tricky submission competencies. fighting off of his lower back didn't result in a victory for him in his most recent outing towards Tagir Ulanbekov, however he made Ulanbekov work to earn a break up decision and he can without problems capture Hadley with a hold of the UFC newcomer slips up.

provided that Hadley is wise and per his method on Saturday, he can suit Ulanbekov's performance. You'd like to see him do some harm on the feet earlier than forcing the action to the ground, but Nascimento may now not supply him that option. nevertheless, i like Hadley to take a convincing choice even if this doesn't become a flat-out exhibit for his expertise.

prefer: Hadley

Preliminaries

Andrea Lee (13) def. Viviane Araujo (12)

Alan Patrick def. Michael Johnson

Angela Hill (13) def. Virna Jandiroba (14)

Tatsuro Taira def. Carlos Candelario

Nick Maximov def. Andre Petroski