Jon Jones is back to defend his light heavyweight title when he goes up against challenger Dominick Reyes in a showdown that would serve as the main event for UFC 247 down in Houston. Also in the main card is a title fight in the women’s flyweight division. Read on for more about the five fights in the main card of this huge event this coming weekend.
Jones can be considered unbeaten in his MMA career. His only loss came when he was disqualified in a matchup against Matt Hammill 11 years ago. Since then, Jones has racked up wins against the best in the business and via various forms of devastation. Jones and Reyes both stand 6-4, but the former has a huge 7.5-inch advantage. Jones (25-1-0) has 10 knockout wins and six by way submissions. Reyes, on the other hand, is a legitimate undefeated fighter with a record of 12-0-0. He can be a problem standing up, as he lands more significant strikes per minute (5.03) than Jones (4.31). In his last fight, Reyes knocked out former champion Chris Weidman in the first round of their match back in October.
Writer’s prediction:
Jones wins via knockout.
Valentina Shevchenko (-1400) vs Katlyn Chookagian (+750)
Women’s Flyweight
Shevchenko (18-3-0) will attempt to successfully defend her women’s flyweight title for the third time since winning the belt in 2018. In her last fight, Shevchenko scored a unanimous decision win over Liz Carmouche in April of 2019. Shevchenko has five knockout wins and five by way of submissions. Chookagian is a heavy underdog, but has a four-inch and 1.5-inch height and reach advantage over Shevchenko. Chookagian (13-2-0) seems to have great cardio, as she’s lasted the distance in each of his last two fights, both resulting in unanimous decision wins. Chookagian has never been knocked out nor submitted in his MMA career thus far.
Writer’s prediction:
Chookagian upsets Shevchenko via split decision.
Juan Adams (-240) vs Justin Tafa (+180)
Heavyweight
Adams (5-2-0) will have a significant height advantage in this fight, as he is five inches taller than Tafa (3-1-0). That’s not to mention that Adams also has a six-inch reach advantage in the matchup. Adams, however, is on the heels of back-to-back losses, so confidence could be a bit of an issue for him. Tafa, meanwhile, is also coming off a knockout loss last October at the hands of Yorgan De Castro — his first in his MMA career.
Writer’s prediction:
Adams win via knockout.
Mirsad Bektić (-150) vs Dan Ige (+120)
Featherweight
Bektic got wrecked in his last fight, tasting a knockout in the first round at the hands of Josh Emmett in July of 201 9, but he can certainly deal the same kind of devastation to other fighters. The Bosnia and Herzegovina native (13-2-0) has six wins by knockouts and is also a formidable fighter when on the ground, as he has three submissions wins so far in his career. He also had a 53.1 takedown percentage. Ige, on the other hand, seems to mirror Bektic’s style. He is 12-2-0 with three knockout wins and five via submissions. He’s never been knocked out nor submitted before, too.
Writer’s prediction:
Ige wins via KO.
Derrick Lewis (-290) vs Ilir Latifi (+215)
Heavyweight
The road back to a title fight did not start well for Lewis, who, after losing to Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight belt lost to Junior Dos Santos via knockout in March of last year, bounced back by earning a split decision win over Blagoy Ivanov last November. Lewis (22-7-0) is a dangerous striker, with 18 wins by way of knockouts. Latifi has lost both of his last two fights, but he’ll pose a threat to Lewis, especially if he can bring the fight to the mat. Latifi (15-7-0) has six submission wins and five knockout victories.
