This weekend gives us fight fans one of the most stacked cards of the year. With two title bouts on hand, and several other high stakes contests this should be a action filled night. I have listed my predictions and thoughts on the contests below, and fill free to leave your opinions in the reply section!

Prelims
Women’s Bantamweight: Julia Avila (5-1) vs Pannie Kianzad (11-4)- Kianzad Unanimous Decision

Welterweight: Ismail Naurdiev (18-2) vs Chance Rencountre (13-3)- Naurdiev TKO

Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (9-0) vs Jack Marshman (23-8)- Shahbazyan Unanimous Decision

Bantamweight: Alejandro Perez (21-7-1) vs Yadong Song (13-3)- Perez Unanimous Decision

Women’s Strawweight: Claudia Gadelha (16-4) vs Randa Markos (9-6-1)- Gadelha Submission

Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (13-5-1) vs Nohelin Hernandez (9-2)- Vera Submission

Featherweight: Gilbert Melendez (22-7) vs Arnold Allen (14-1)- Allen Unanimous Decision

Main
Welterweight: Diego Sanchez (29-11) vs Michael Chiesa (15-4)- Chiesa Split Decision
Diego Sanchez is one of the most intense individuals to enter the octagon. He is an alum of the original Ultimate Fighter season way back in 2005. Sanchez is a solid wrestler, and very dangerous with his ground and pound. He is underrated in terms of jiu-jitsu, and has power to drop his opponents on the feet. Chiesa is also a former Ultimate Fighter winner on Ultimate Fighter: Live. Chiesa is a improved striker, solid wrestler, and very skilled on the mat. This has all the makings of a fight of the night candidate. I am going to lean toward Chiesa for his ability to play it smart. At times Sanchez chases the brawling fan friendly fight, and puts himself in danger.

Light Heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz (23-8) vs Luke Rockhold (16-4)- Blachowicz TKO
Blachowicz was on a four fight winning streak before running into Thiago Santos. Blachowicz is a solid boxer, and has showcased a much improved submission game over his last several fights. Rockhold is a former Strikeforce and UFC Middleweight champion making the jump to 205. Rockhold is a technical striker, solid wrestler, and underrated in terms of his grappling skills. Rockhold’s chin has been hit or miss in his past few fights, and he has a tendency to get lackadaisical in terms of defense. I have Blachowicz winning by TKO, I believe his size and power will give him an advantage. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rockhold win because he is better all-around.

Welterweight: Jorge Masvidal (33-13) vs Ben Askren (19-0)- Masvidal KO
This is a classic striker versus wrestler matchup filled with bad blood. Masvidal is a long time fighter since his days competing in backyard brawls. He is a gifted striker with legit power, and momentum after knocking Darren Till unconscious in his last contest. Askren is a former NCAA all-american wrestler at Missouri. He obivously a skilled wrestler who typically grinds his opponents to submission or decision. He is looking to make a mark after a controversial submission win over Robbie Lawler. I am picking Masvidal to win by knockout in this contest. I feel he is going to defend Askren’s takedowns, keep the fight standing, and eventually get the finish.

Women’s Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes (17-4) vs Holly Holm (12-4)- Nunes Submission
Nunes is arguably the best female combat athlete of all time. She has beaten many of the greats including Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, and Cris Cyborg. She is a superb striker, good wrestler, and very saavy in terms of jiu-jitsu. She also has fight changing power to knock any woman on the earth out. Holly Holm is an accomplished boxer who has made a smooth transition into MMA. She shocked the world knocking out the once unbeatable Ronda Rousey with a head kick to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title. Holm has improved her takedown defense, and grappling prowess throughout her career. She is looking to pull off another upset here and get her belt back. I am picking Nunes, I just don’t see anywhere she is not better than Holm in this fight. Unless Holm lands a big shot I just don’t see her beating Nunes.

Light Heavyweight: Jon Jones (24-1) vs Thiago Santos (21-6)- Jones Submission
Jones is arguably the greatest combat athlete of all time. He is a top of the line technical striker, fantastic wrestler, and high level MMA grappler. He has physical attributes that take him over the top as well, standing at 6’4 and a reach of 84 inches. Jones has been his own worst enemy with out of the cage legal troubles, and a checkered past in terms of PED use. Santos is an unorthodox striker with serious power with every limb. He throws with reckless abandon, and tends to overwhelm people with his pressure. However, he has struggled in the past with solid wrestlers/grapplers. This will also be by far the toughest opponent he has ever faced. I am going with Jones by submission in this fight. I believe he will keep Santos at bay on the feet, and eventually take this contest to the mat. This is the area I believe he will expose and eventually finish Santos.

Photo Credit: https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/6/26/18760280/referees-judges-assigned-for-jones-vs-santos-nunes-vs-holm-at-ufc-239