The UFC has some explosive matches prepared for all MMA fans this coming weekend, with the staging of UFC 252. Headlining the event will be the third fight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, each looking to break their tie towards their favor. But that’s just the cherry on top of what should be another thrilling main card. Read more about the fights below.
Miocic and Cormier should be very familiar of each other by now. They have faced twice before, with Cormier scoring a first-round knockout in the initial encounter and Miocic reclaiming his heavyweight belt in the rematch via his own version of a KO win. Miocic hasn’t fought since that fight in August of last year and the same is true for Cormier. Miocic should once again look to capitalize on his height and reach advantages over Cormier. However, Cormier had shown in his win over Miocic that he can weave his way inside Miocic’s range and deal damage from there.
O’Malley’s (12-0-0) stock continues to soar, as he remains undefeated following his June KO win over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250. Of O’Malley’s 12 victories, eight were via knockouts. Expect ‘Sugar’ to use his slight reach advantage 0f 1.5 inches against Vera, who’s never been knocked out nor submitted before. Vera (15-6-1) has five KO wins and eight submission victories. He had a five-fight unbeaten skid snapped last May in a unanimous decision loss to Song Yadong.
Writer’s prediction:
O’Malley wins via KO.
Junior dos Santos (+115) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-145)
Heavyweight
Dos Santos’s best days are behind him, as evidenced by his last two fights, during which he got knocked out by Francis Nganoou and Curtis Blaydes. However, the former heavyweight king can’t just be ruled out in any fight because of his power. Dos Santos (21-7-0) has 15 wins via KO. Rozenstruik (10-1-0)is also coming off a KO loss at the hands of Ngannou last May. Prior to that, though, he’s won 10 fights in a row, with only one not resulting in a KO.
Writer’s prediction:
Rozenstruik wins via KO.
John Dodson (-150) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (-180)
Bantamweight
Dodson, the former The Ultimate Fighter champion, prevented a three-fight losing skid last February with a KO win over Nathaniel Wood. Dodson (22-11-0) has never lost a fight outside of a decision, and he’s got 11 wins via KO and two submission victories. Dvalishvili (11-4-0) is on a roll, having won each of his last four fights, all via unanimous decisions.
Writer’s prediction:
Dodson wins via split decision.
Magomed Ankalaev (-300) vs. Ion Cuțelaba (+220)
Light Heavyweight
There was much controversy when Ankalaev and Cutelaba met for the first time a few months back, with the former earning a first-round win via stoppage. This time around, the two will engage again in a fight that everybody hopes would have a more decisive outcome. Ankaev (13-1-0) has won all his past four fights. Cutelaba (15-5-0), on the other hand, is
3-2 in his last five fights. Both fighters have a combined total of 20 KO wins.
