UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin was ravaged with injuries. First, heavyweight title contender Stipe Miocic bowed out due to injury to scrap the co-main event showdown against Ben Rothwell. Then, just a week into the fight, main even fighter Joe Duffy suffered a concussion, forcing the cancellation of his bout against Dustin Poirier.
Injuries aside, UFC Dublin is still pretty solid with a pair of young flyweight contenders in Ireland’s own Paddy Holohan and Louis Smolka. A handful of pretty nice scraps also lead into the main event with some Irish fighters attempting to defend their homeland.
Get some more of sports action this weekend. Check out a couple of thrilling football action on Sunday in the Jets vs. Patriots and Eagles vs. Panthers.
Paddy “The Hooligan” Holohan (12-1-1) may not be an Irish superstar like countryman Conor McGregor or the budding Joe Duffy. But he’s one scrappy and entertaining fighter. Fighting out SBG Ireland with the aforementioned McGregor, Holohan has a tricky karate-based striking style. He utilizes heavy movement to time his strikes.
[sc:UFC240banner ]Holohan isn’t much of a striker though. He lands just 2.2 significant strikes per minute. Instead, he relies on his grappling to win him fights. Holohan lands about two takedowns per fight, while averaging 1.56 submission attempts. But his opponent in Louis “Da Last Samurai” Smolka (9-1) isn’t necessarily a scrub on the mat.
Smolka has a solid wrestling base that lets him dictate where he wants the fight to take place. He has solid takedowns of his own, where he can control opponents on the mat to land his devastating ground-and-pound. Smolka also has a tricky submission game, using his long limbs as leverage.
Da Last Samurai is well-rounded and all, but look for him to try to keep the fight standing. He holds a significant advantage on the feet against Holohan. Smolka lands almost double the amount of strikes the Hooligan does per minute. Three of Smolka’s nine victories have come by knockout. Putting the pressure on Holohan will be very advantageous; the Hooligan tends to fade from the second round onward.
Writer’s prediction: Smolka (-120) wins a battle of attrition, taking a clear-cut unanimous decision.
“Stormin’”Norman Parke (21-4-1) is in quite a bind, losing back-to-back fights to Gleison Tibau and Francisco Trinaldo. But he can rebound nicely in his homeland of Ireland this coming weekend. Park is an excellent counter-striker, but tends to be inactive landing just three significant strikes per minute. Where he excels is on the ground, where he can unload on some vicious ground-and-pound.
Parke can dictate where the fight goes, using his strong Judo base. But going to the ground against a “Mad Dog” like Reza Madadi (13-3) may be dangerous. Madadi is a solid submission artist with eight of his 13 wins coming by submission. Mad Dog has been able to repeatedly ground his opponents to the tune of 4.54 takedowns per fight and has attempted 1.36 submission attempts per contest.
Writer’s prediction: Madadi (+210) goes for the upset, stealing a contested decision against Parke.
Say anything you want about the lanky Englishman Darren Till (13-0). The kid can fight with nine knockouts in 13 professional victories. He was spectacular in his debut, knocking out Wendell de Oliveira Marques in May. Till takes on unbeaten Dane Nicolas “Shooter” Dalby (14-0), who has excelled in grinding-types of contests.
Dalby also possesses competent stand-up, but his strikes come tight and slow. A speed advantage may just give Till another victory, considering he can keep the fight standing.
Writer’s prediction: Till (+115) wins by technical knockout in the third round.
Opening the main card is a thrilling flyweight contest between up-and-comer Jon “The Heat”Delos Reyes (8-4) and journeyman Irishman Neil “2Tap” Seery (15-11). Delos Reyes has power in his fists with two knockdowns in his last three fights. But getting the better of Seery in the pocket may be difficult. 2Tap is a solid boxer, landing three significant strikes per minute. He also has a pretty solid defense, absorbing just about two significant strikes per minute.
Writer;s prediction: Seery (-165) takes a dominant unanimous decision.
Early Prelims
Stevie Ray (-550) knocks out Frenchman Mickael Lebout.
Aisling Daily (-140) livens up the Irish crowd with a decision victory over Ericka Almeida.
Scott Ashkam (-145) weathers the early storm, and cruises to take a unanimous decision over Krzysztof Jotko.
Cathal Pendred (+220) is too quirky for Tom Breese. Pendred steals a decision victory.
Rob Whiteford (+120) has the knockout power that could put grinder Darren Elkins to sleep.
Garreth McLellan (+200) starts the night with an upset, submitting Bubba Bush in the second round.
