A rematch between Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier is finally going to happen this Saturday in Canada. It’s been over a year since the two mixed martial arts warriors last met each other inside the octagon, but nothing was decided in that match due to a technicality. Alvarez and Poirier will be the headline of a fantastic card that also has the likes of Jose Aldo and Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
The first meeting between Alvarez (29-5-0, 1 NC) and Poirier (23-5-0, 1 NC) in May of last year ended in controversy, as it was deemed a no-contest following Alvarez’s knee to Poirier’s head. Hopefully, that won’t happen again this time around. Alvarez followed that fight with a knockout win over Justin Gaethje back in December. In the original showdown with Poirier, Alvarez landed 30 more strikes and also managed to take his opponent down. Poirier had two fights and won both of them following his first date with Alvarez. He defeated Anthony Pettis in November and beat Gaethje in April. Alvarez has 18 wins by way of knockouts, while Poirier has 12 finishes inside the first round.
Writer’s prediction:
Alvarez wins the rematch via decision.
José Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
Featherweight
Aldo’s (26-4-0) stock has taken a sharp plummet after three losses in his last four fights. All those fights, however, were championship bouts, so the 31-year-old Brazilian should not be blinded by the lights of his next fight, a non-title one, against Stephens (28-14-0). Aldo, who has lost his last two outings against Max Holloway, has 15 knockout wins and one by submission. As for Stephens, he’s on a three-fight win streak and a win over Aldo will not only prolong his success inside the octagon but also add glitter to his candidacy for a title fight in the near future. Stephens has been impressive in his last three outings, all of which have either won Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night honors.
Writer’s prediction:
Aldo resuscitates his career with a knockout win against Stephens.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk vs. Tecia Torres
Women’s Strawweight
Ranked first in her division Jędrzejczyk will look to add to her stronghold of that spot as she goes up against “The Tiny Tornado” in the form of Tecia Torres this coming Saturday night. Jędrzejczyk (14-2-0) lost her last two fights, both a title match and against the same opponent in Rose Namajunas. Namajunas seems to be the kryptonite to Jędrzejczyk’s super(wo)man, but outside of the current champion, Jędrzejczyk does not have any much of a trouble against other past opponents. She has four wins by knockout and another via submission. Torres (10-2-0), on the other hand, is coming off a loss to Jessica Andrade back in February but had put together three-straight wins prior to that.
Writer’s prediction:
Jędrzejczyk takes care of business and defeats Torres via decision.
Alexander Hernandez vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Lightweight
Hernandez, who is 9-1-0 in his pro career, is far from becoming a household name, as he has only fought once in the UFC prior to this fight. The good thing is that he won that fight, knocking out Beneil Dariush in the first round of his UFC debut back in March. It even earned him a Performance of the Night honors. He will look to follow that win up this Saturday in Canada against the more experienced Aubin-Mercier, who is one nice unbeaten streak himself. Aubin-Mercier has won each of his last four fights in the octagon. Like Hernandez, Aubin-Mercier (12-2-0) knocked out his opponent in his last fight, one that ended in just one round against Evan Dunham back in April.
Writer’s prediction:
Aubin Mercier wins via knockout in the second round.
