UFC on ESPN 9: Predictions & Breakdown
- MMA News Now
- May 30, 2020
- 4 min read
By: Joseph Unger
An underrated card that has a lot of potential to entertain!
I am going to briefly breakdown each of these bouts and give you the most likely winner based their history. Each MMA News Now team member will also be offering their predictions.
Main Event: Tyron Woodley v Gilbert Burns
Gilbert has been on a hot streak as of late, knocking out Damian Maia in his last outing. However, I don’t see how Woodley loses this. Burns doesn’t have the speed or pressure striking to back Woodley against the fence consistently, nor the wrestling to get him to the ground. Woodley takes a safe route to victory here, staying outside and not messing around in Burns guard in his first fight back since losing the 170 strap.
Co-Main: Blagoy Ivanov v Augusto Sakai
Hey, two youngish heavyweights! Sakai is a spry 29 (basically an infant by heavyweight standards) with only one loss to his name. Ivanov, best known for beating Fedor Emelianenko in Sambo and almost having to retire from MMA due to getting stabbed in a bar fight, comes with some serious combat arts experience. I seriously cannot believe this is the co-main event. Sakai is a good prospect, with serious power in his hands, but this is an Ivanov fight. He will weather the storm and wear down Sakai with takedowns and clinch fighting, en route to a decision or late sub victory.
Spike Carlyle v Billy Quarantillo
Man, this card is…not good. Carlyle has made some waves on twitter, and Quarantillo is a product of Dana White’s contender series. Both guys are evenly matched, with finishes in their last fights, but I will go with Quarantillo on the basis that he finished his last fight with a triangle. When in the UFC do you get to see a good old fashioned triangle these days?
Roosevelt Roberts v Brok Weaver
I don’t know much about Roosevelt Roberts, but Brok Weaver was recently accused of dog-fighting in his backyard. Roberts with the finish.
Mackenzie Dern v Hannah Cifers
Cifers is a decent fighter, but she falters against more athletic prospects (see Angela Hill and Maycee Barber), and that’s what she’s being set up for here. Dern batters her, and hopefully shows off some her world class BJJ in the process.
Prelim Headliner: Kaitlyn Chakoogian v Antonia Schevchenko
Solid fight! I like this match up a lot. Kaitlyn Chakoogian, owner of one of the worst nicknames in MMA (Blonde Fighter), who just got battered in her title shot against Valentina Schevchenko, now gets a chance at revenge with her little sister, Antonia! I love the narrative of this fight, and I believe this is the first time in UFC history (or any major promotion) that a fighter competed against siblings back to back. You’re making history, ladies! Now with that being said, Antonia is NOT the same fighter as her sister, less defensively sound and not nearly the precision or power. Antonia is young, and tends to let herself get sloppy. Despite this, she’s a better fighter than Kaitlyn. Plus, her sister just gave a great game plan to beat Chakoogian. As long as Antonia can stick to this, this is her fight. She has the tools to win, and I think she will on Saturday.
Daniel Rodriguez v Gabriel Green
Gabriel Green is coming in as a last minute replacement for the injured Kevin Holland, who I would have picked to win this. However, I tend to shy away from picking replacement fighters, so I will go with Rodriguez here.
Jamaal Hill v Klidson Abreu
I’ll admit it, I know nothing about either guy. Klidson Abreu sounds like a create a fighter name on UFC 3. Hill via KO!
Tim Elliot v Brandon Royval
Man, I love me some Tim Elliot. How could you not? The dude always comes to fight, no matter what. However, he’s 1-4 in his last five, and his submission defense leaves a lot to be desired. Royval, coming over from LFA, is very good at submissions, finishing his last two fights via armbar. I like Elliot a lot and I’m pulling for him, but Royval wins this via submission. He’s crafty on the ground and Elliot will find himself caught at some point.
Louis Smolka v Casey Kenney
This one is a toss up. Smolka is 2-1 since his UFC return, and man, does he LOVE to finish fights. Smolka is that classic “go out on his shield” type of fighter, and I have to appreciate that about him. Kenney, a solid prospect, is very hard to finish, and knows how to go the distance. I’ll say Kenney can avoid getting finished and gets back to his winning ways, and pulls out the decision.
Chris Gutierrez v Vince Morales
This one is a toss up. I don’t know enough about either guy to make a truly educated decision. Gutierrez has experience and more UFC success, so I guess I’ll take him to win a split decision.
Team Predictions:
Eagle's (@AndersenEagle) Picks | 11-4-0:
M. Dern
R. Roberts
S. Carlyle
B. Ivanov
T. Woodley
Mason's Picks | 9-6-0:
M. Dern
R. Roberts
B. Quarantillo
B. Ivanov
T. Woodley
Buck's (@Nerd_MMA) Picks | 9-6-0:
M. Dern
R. Roberts
B. Quarantillo
B. Ivanov
T. Woodley
Aiden's (@DownToTheWire6) Picks | 9-6-0:
H. Cifers
B. Weaver
B. Quarantillo
B. Ivanov
T. Woodley
Joe's (@UngerJos) Picks | 7-3-0:
M. Dern
R. Roberts
B. Quarantillo
B. Ivanov
T. Woodley
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