The UFC returns to Canada this saturday for a battle for the UFC Featherweight Championship. The night includes a huge showdown in the Women’s Featherweight division, and includes several battles of prospects. Canada always delivers stellar cards, and this one should be no different.

Prelims

Welterweight: Erik Koch (15-6) vs Kyle Stewart (11-2)- Stewart Unanimous Decision

Women’s Flyweight: Gillian Robertson (6-3) vs Sarah Frota (9-1)- Frota TKO

Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja (21-3) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (15-1)- Figueiredo TKO

Featherweight: Gavin Tucker (10-1) vs Sung Woo Choi (7-2)- Tucker Unanimous Decision

Featherweight: Hakeem Dawodu (9-1-1) vs Yoshinori Horie (8-1)- Dawodu TKO

Women’s Flyweight: Alexis Davis (19-9) vs Viviane Araujo (7-1)- Davis Split Decision

Main
Middleweight: Marc-Andre Barriault (11-2) vs Krzysztof Jotko (20-4)- Jotko Unanimous Decision
Barriault is a seasoned striker with fight ending knockout power. He typically likes to keep the fight standing, and has had issues in the past with solid grapplers. Jotko is coming off a victory after losing three straight. The Polish fighter looked much improved in every area in his last contest. Jotko is a rangy striker, who can mix it up with takedowns and grappling. I am picking Jotko because I feel he can dictate where the fight goes.

Lightweight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier (11-4) vs Armen Tsarukyan (13-2)- Tsarukyan Unanimous Decision
A former finalist on the Ultimate Fighter: Nations, Aubin-Mercier is a long time prospect out of Tristar Gym in Montreal. Olivier has improved his striking since his first UFC contest, and has always been known for his solid wrestling and jiu-jitsu. His opponent Tsarukyan impressed in his debut giving the highly touted Islam Makhachev all he could handle. Armen showed strong takedown and overall balanced wrestling skills. He also showed solid boxing, and packs quite a punch in his smaller frame. I am going to side with Tsarukyan in this fight. I feel his overall skill set will give Aubin-Mercier issues, and lead to a decision victory.

Welterweight: Geoff Neal (11-2) vs Niko Price (13-2)- Neal TKO
Geoff Neal has burst onto the scene as one of the most dangerous striker in the Welterweight division. Neal is a very technical on the feet, and has a propensity to hurt his opponents with every limb. He has a rare combination of speed and power that makes him a force to be reckoned with. Niko Price like Neal, is young, hungry, and dangerous. Price has improved on the feet, and has added a few knockout finishes to his resumė. He also is crafty on the ground and has the option to mix it up if necessary. This is a tough fight to call between two different styles. Neal is very methodical, technical, and takes time reading his opponents. Price is a more in your face kind of fighter who is unorthodox, and is willing to take major risks. I am going to pick Neal in this fight I believe he will use his kicking game to slow down and stop Price in his tracks.

Women’s Featherweight: Cris Cyborg (20-2) vs Felicia Spencer (7-0)- Cyborg TKO
Cris Cyborg was seen by many as a unbeatable force until Amanda Nunes stopped her at UFC 232. Cyborg is one of the most vicious, fast, and powerful women that has ever graced the octagon. She is a seasoned striker with ability to box and succeed in a muay thai style of fight. She also is very physically strong, and uses her size in the wrestling department. Cris also holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the great Andre Galvao. The biggest question is how does she bounceback after suffering her first loss since 2005. Felicia Spencer is a well rounded prospect looking to shock the world. The former Invicta Women’s Featherweight champion is one of the few people willing to fight Cyborg. She has shown an ability to succeed wherever the fight goes. She is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and has implored kickboxing into her game as well. She also is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has stopped the majority of her opponents with submissions specifically the rear naked choke. The question for her is how does she handle the gigantic step up in competition against Cyborg. I am picking Cyborg in this fight, I just don’t think Spencer is ready for this kind of challenge. I see Cyborg hurting her early and finishing the job with ground strikes.

Featherweight: Max Holloway (20-4) vs Frankie Edgar (23-6-1)- Holloway Unanimous Decision
Max Holloway or the “Pride of Hawaii” is looking to bounce back after a failed attempt to win the Interim Lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier. Max has been dominant in the Featherweight division, including wins over Jose Aldo (twice), Anthony Pettis, Brian Ortega, and so on. Holloway is one of the best strikers in the UFC, and sets a pace that many opponents cannot handle. He has a non-stop gas tank, and just keeps striking till the end. Holloway has also improved his take down defense, and has become an above average grappler. Max showed great toughness as well in his last fight after taking some serious punishment against a bigger man. Frankie Edgar has long been a fight fan favorite, and always seems to flourish as the underdog. Edgar is the former UFC Lightweight champion, and has endeared himself to fans for his refusal to give up. Edgar is a solid boxer who has very tricky footwork along with super fast hands. Edgar is a former collegiate wrestler, and has some of the best MMA based wrestling in the UFC. Edgar is well above average on the ground, and typically wears his opponents out with his ground and pound. Edgar like Holloway, generally sets a pace that is very tough for his opponents to deal with. Frankie is also tough as nails, and has only been stopped once in his illustrious career. This is a fight that has been in the making for a long time, and just so happens to be for all the marbles. I have Holloway winning this contest by decision. I feel he will struggle early on with Edgar’s speed and chain wrestling, but eventually I feel his size will come into play. I see Max using his reach and bigger frame to wear on Frankie then open up his striking game as well. If Max is able to stop Edgar’s takedowns the path to victory should be clear for the Hawaiian. However, Edgar shouldn’t be doubted because he thrives in the underdog role.

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