This weekend the UFC moves to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a clash of the heavyweights. The action should be heated, and this card could have several implications on future contenders.

Prelims
Heavyweight: Maurice Greene (7-2) vs Junior Albini (14-5)- Albini Split Decision

Women’s Strawweight: Emily Whitmire (4-2) vs Amanda Ribas (6-1)- Whitmire Unanimous Decision

Light Heavyweight: Dequan Townsend (18-7) vs Dalcha Lungiambula (9-1)- Lungiambula TKO

Lightweight: Jared Gordon (14-3) vs Dan Moret (13-5)- Gordon TKO

Featherweight: Jordan Griffin (17-6) vs Vince Murdock (12-3)- Griffin Submission

Light Heavyweight: Eryk Anders (11-4) vs Vinicius Moreira (9-2)- Anders Unanimous Decision

Bantamweight: Ricardo Ramos (12-2) vs Journey Newson (7-1)- Ramos Unanimous Decision

Main
Light Heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield (8-0) vs Paul Craig (11-3)- Menifield TKO
Menifield is a former football player, turned successful martial artist. He brings high level striking, and solid takedown defense to this matchup. He is taking on a superb grappler in Paul Craig who has a very tricky guard. I see Menifield winning because he possesses a better all around skillset.

Lightweight: Drew Dober (20-9) vs Marco Reyes (8-5)- Dober TKO
Dober is a massive lightweight, and packs heavy punches with both hands. He is a former collegiate wrestler, but has struggled against high level grapplers. Reyers like Dober, is known for his striking, and has crisp boxing along with knockout power. I have Dober winning based on his experience and ability to mix things up.

Lightweight: Roosevelt Roberts (8-0) vs Vinc Pichel (11-2)- Pichel Unanimous Decision
Roberts is an alum of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender series. He is a tall and rangy athlete who uses his size to his advantage. He is well versed on the feet and working on the mat. Pichel is a solid wrestler, and holds the rank of brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The biggest issue hurting Pichel is inactivity due to several injuries. I believe Pichel will use his takedowns and top control to succeed in this contest.

Welterweight: Demian Maia (26-9) vs Anthony Martin (16-4)- Maia Submission
Maia is one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practioners to ever compete in mixed martial arts. He is a throwback to the early days of MMA displaying excellence and dominance in one aspect of the sport. Anthony Martin has been a roll in the welterweight division, and has a solid all-around game. He is comfortable in the standup as well as on the mat. I believe Maia will use his stand out jiu-jitsu arsenal to control, and eventually submit Martin.

Flyweight: Jussier Formiga (23-5) vs Joseph Benavidez (27-5)- Benavidez Split Decision
This is a rematch between two of the top flyweights in the division. Formiga is a black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has solid takedowns, and has a history of breaking his opponents with his relentless top pressure and submissions. A former Team Alpha Male standout, Benavidez has been a standout contender throughout his career. He is a well balanced martial artist with technical striking, elite wrestling, and a respectable jiu-jitsu game. I am going to lean with Benavidez for his ability to succeed in all areas. This will be a closely contested fight, and the winner could possibly earn a title shot against Henry Cejudo. A man that Benavidez actually holds a victory over in the past.

Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou (13-3) vs Junior dos Santos (21-5)- dos Santos TKO
Ngannou is a physical specimen with a physique that is uncommon for heavyweights. He is a dangerous striker with unreal knockout power that can shut anyone’s lights out. His knockout victories over Cain Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes, and Alistair Overeem speak for themselves. dos Santos is a former UFC Heavyweight champion on a quest to get his belt back. He has some of the best techincal boxing the heavyweight division has ever seen, and also possesses legit one punch knockout power. dos Santos holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but prefers to keep the fight standing in most bouts. The winner of this fight will be overdue for a title shot against Daniel Cormier or Stipe Miocic. I am going with the underdog Junior dos Santos, I believe he will use his techincal boxing, and patience to eventually stop Ngannou in the later rounds. dos Santos has suffered several knockout losses however, and I would not be surprised for Ngannou to pick up an early stoppage if he land square.