I’m going to start doing these Fight Night predictions more often, just because they have a lot of big fights that I want to talk about. The main event of UFC ON ESPN 3 will more than likely determine who gets the next shot at the heavyweight championship. The veteran boxer, Junior Dos Santos, will be taking on his toughest test to date, as he steps in the octagon with Francis “The Predator” Ngannou. Joseph Benavidez is also slated to appear in the co-main event as he takes on Jussier Formiga, in what is going to determine who the #1 flyweight contender in the world is. I just saw Ngannou in person, so I’ve been very excited for this event to say the least. Here are my predictions.
Alonzo Menifield (8-0) vs. Paul Craig (11-3)
I don’t expect this fight to last that long. Paul Craig is a very solid fighter. He had a phenomenal amateur career and has been fighting in the UFC since 2016. He has excellent ground skills, so I expect him to try to find a way to get this fight to the ground off the rip. He does NOT want to stand with Menifield. Menifield’s size and power is just way too much for Craig to handle on the feet. I just feel like Menifield is too big for Craig to take down and hold down. I’m going to take Menifield by knockout in the first round. He’ll tag him hard.
Prediction: Alonzo Menifield via 1st Rd. KO
Drew Dober (20-9, 1NC) vs. Marco Polo Reyes (8-6)
If I were to ever call any fight a journeyman fight… it would probably wouldn’t be this one. There are a lot of other ones that come to mind. But nonetheless, this fight is a journeyman fight too. I like Dober more here. He had a nice little 3 fight win streak going before he lost his last fight. He trains with Team Elevation and apparently he really likes it there. He says he’s way better of a fighter now then before he got there. I don’t know if I necessarily believe him, but I still think its enough to beat Polo Reyes. Polo Reyes is a dog. He’s not afraid to scrap. I feel like his moves are very predictable however. Dober is a two time amateur world champion in Muay Thai. I like Dober piecing up Reyes on the feet, but not being able to finish it. Give me Dober by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Drew Dober via unanimous decision
Roosevelt Roberts (7-0) vs. Vinc Pichel (11-2)
Roosevelt Roberts is another interesting prospect in the lightweight division from the Contender series. He has an 8-0 record and has a pretty loaded arsenal. He can submit people, as we’ve seen throughout his short lived UFC career. He has a pretty nice stand up game, as he has three finishes by knockout on his resume as well. I like his height for that division and how he uses it. On the flip side, I like Vinc Pichel a lot. Especially in these types of circumstances. I know Roosevelt is undefeated, but his frame is kind of slim. He’s not the thickets built fighter. Vine Pichel is an aggressive fighter who always looks to land the big punch if we’re analyzing the other side. I just think that’s a bat matchup for Roosevelt. I do think he’ll learn from this fight and figure out how to beat these types of brawlers. Give me Pichel via unanimous decision
Prediction: Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision
#12 Demian Maia (26-9) vs. Anthony Rocco Martin (16-4)
This fight is a little intriguing to be honest. Demian Maia is not getting any younger. Martin is in his athletic prime. Both of them are also world class black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The thing is, there’s a difference between a world class black belt and Demian Maia. What I’m trying to say is that Maia would smoke your average world class black belt on the ground. When it comes to jiu-jitsu, there’s good then there’s Demian Maia good. I’m going to take Maia by unanimous decision in this fight, only because I believe Maia is a lot better than Martin at what Martin’s best at, if that makes sense.
Prediction: Demian Maia via unanimous decision
#1 Jussier Formiga (23-5) vs. #2 Joseph Benavidez (27-5)
I’m sorry, but I just feel like this fight will be so dope. These two are probably the third and fourth best flyweights on the planet, behind Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo. Jussier Formiga looks better than he ever has in his career and seems to be a win away from a title shot. Joseph Benavidez has finally crawled his way back into title contention after losing to Demetrious Johnson for the second time years ago. I like Benavidez in this fight. I have always thought this dude has been a top 3 lightweight in the world and that he could’ve gotten a third crack at Mighty Mouse years ago. I like Formiga’s game, he’s very solid everywhere. I don’t see him having the ability to hurt Benavidez, as I see it vice versa. I think this will be an action packed fight, but I just feel like Benavidez has more opportunity to do damage with what he has in his aresenal, as opposed to Formiga. I see Formiga getting tagged very frequently in this fight when the two fighters clash.
Prediction: Joseph Benavidez via unanimous decision
#2 Francis Ngannou (13-3) vs. #3 Junior Dos Santos (21-5)
Francis Ngannou might just be the most terrifying man in the UFC. This dude is MASSIVE. Junior Dos Santos is one of the cleanest boxers in that division and is also a black belt on the ground. Not to mention, he has been on a roll recently, getting his name back into title contention. I just feel like Junior is too old to fight a guy like Francis. Maybe a younger version of “Cigano” could’ve taken Francis. I just think Francis is going to steamroll through Junior, like he did with Cain. Francis has taken a step forward since his last loss and looks to be reinvigorated. Junior’s jaw has too many miles on it to take this kind of power on. Francis Ngannou is going to be your next heavyweight contender.
Prediction: Francis Ngannou via 2nd Rd. KO
