What a night of high level fights we have Saturday. The event takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has one of the most anticipated Lightweight fights in years. This fight has all the makings of a fight of the year candidate, and I cannot wait until Saturday night. I’ve listed my picks below, and feel free to leave your thoughts below as well.

Featherweight: Kyle Prepolec (12-6) vs Austin Hubbard (10-3)- Hubbard Unanimous Decision

Bantamweight: Louis Smolka (15-6) vs Ryan Macdonald (10-1)- Macdonald Split Decision

Featherweight: Chas Skelly (17-4) vs Jordan Griffin (17-6)- Skelly Submission

Bantamweight: Brad Katona (8-1) vs Hunter Azure (7-0)- Katona Split Decision

Middleweight: Marvin Vettori (13-4-1) vs Andrew Sanchez (11-4)- Vettori TKO

Bantamweight: Cole Smith (7-0) vs Miles Johns (9-0)- Johns Unanimous Decision

Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (17-5) vs Augusto Sakai (13-1-1)- Tybura Unanimous Decision

Main Card
Light Heavyweight: Misha Cirkunov (14-5) vs Jimmy Crute (10-0)- Crute TKO
Cirkunov is mainly a grapple first fighter. He has solid takedowns, submissions, and is underrated off of his back. He is an average striker, but tends to simple look for one big shot on the feet. The majority of his losses have come against superior strikers. Crute is still developing, but there is a ton of hype behind the young Australian. He is only 23 years old, in great physical shape, and is a feared striker with knockout power. Crute has shown submission skills, and an ability to land takedowns if necessary. The biggest question is how Crute handles a step up in competition, and former contender in this division. I am going to go with Crute by TKO. I just feel he will keep the fight standing, and take advantage by landing powerful shots.

Middleweight: Uriah Hall (14-9) vs Antonio Carlos Junior (10-3)- Junior Submission
Hall is a former Ultimate Fighter finalist, and became one of the most feared fighters coming off that show. Uriah is an excellent striker with knockout power in all facets using his hands, knees, elbows, or kicks. However, Hall has been inconsistent throughout his career, and has always had trouble with grapplers. Part of the reason for his up and down UFC record is the level of competition. The majority of his fights have been against top contenders or champions. Junior is the opposite of Hall, as he tends to
rely on his high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game. Junior is a massive Middleweight that used to fight in the Heavyweight division. He is a below average striker, and tends to be lost when he can’t get the takedown. I have Junior winning this fight by submission. I believe he will use his takedowns, size advantage, and superior grappling to wear down Hall then finish with a submission.

Welterweight: Michel Pereira (23-9) vs Tristan Connelly (13-6)- Pereira KO
Pereira is a legit wild man who throws very unorthodox strikes. He has big time power and generally likes to start fast in his fights. He will attempt flying knees, kicks, and will mix in capoeira as well. His biggest issues have come against strong grapplers and wrestlers. Pereira is decent in terms of grappling, but is much better suited on the feet. Connelly is a last minute replacement looking to score a huge upset win. Connelly is more traditional on the feet, and doesn’t take many chances like Michel. Connelly
has won the majority of his fights using takedowns, ground and pound, and eventually submissions. He will look to take this fight to the mat quickly, and it will be interesting to see how his cardio factors in on short notice. I am going to pick Pereira, I just feel he is a much better striker and will be prepared for the takedowns. Pereira has to have a big performance after missing weight with a full camp. I see him hurting, and finishing Connelly early in the fight.

Heavyweight: Todd Duffee (9-3) vs Jeff Hughes (10-2)- Duffee TKO
Duffee is a physical specimen, and uses this power to his advantage. Duffee tends to live or die by the sword either winning or losing by knockout. He is a big time puncher, but has struggled with his chin in the past. He has also been very inactive with injuries, and this will be his first fight since 2015. Duffee can surprise some with a takedown, but he tends to stand and trade on the feet. Hughes is undersized in terms of height for the division. He is quick with his hands however, and does possess fight changing
power. He likes to mix it up working his striking and wrestling in order to keep his opponents off balance. This fight could go either way, but I’m going to go with Duffee. I feel the size difference will play a factor, and I don’t believe Hughes has faced opponent with his kind of power.

Light Heavyweight: Glover Teixeira (29-7) vs Nikita Krylov (25-6)- Teixeira Unanimous Decision
Glover is a real veteran, and has been fighting since 2002. He has long been a top contender, and could be trying to make one final run for the belt. Teixeira can do anything as he has solid boxing, wrestling, and a legit black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has serious power, but has slick submissions making him dangerous for anyone. Teixeira has simply had issues against the truly elite in the 205 division. He has challenged for the belt once, but hasn’t been able to get back to the top. Krylov is looking to establish
himself as a real threat in the division. He left the UFC after going 6-3 in his first stint, and decided to fight closer to home. However, he is now back and is 1-1 so far. Krylov is well rounded like Teixeira which makes this fight interesting. He is technical on the feet, and likes to use his kicks to work the body and legs. He has slick submissions, and tends to finish guys when the fight hits the mat. Krylov has been vulnerable to the submission however, and puts himself in bad positions in terms of defense. Krylov interestingly with 31 fights has never been to the judges’ scorecards which is quite astonishing. I believe the streak ends and Teixeira wins by decision. I believe he will use his pressure boxing to bother Krylov, and will mix in takedowns with top control if necessary. Krylov is good, but I still feel Glover is better in most areas.

Lightweight: Donald Cerrone (36-12) vs Justin Gaethje (20-2)- Cerrone TKO
This fight has the makings to be one of the best in the history of the UFC. Neither one of these dudes takes a back step, and always come out to bring fireworks for the fans. Cerrone is a legend in the sport, and lives up to the moniker of anyone, anytime, and anyplace. He is well versed as a striker with improved boxing, stand out kicks, and brutal knees in the clinch. “Cowboy” doesn’t discriminate, and typically likes to work the head, body, and legs. Cerrone is an underrated wrestler who can surprise people with his takedowns. Donald is savvy on the ground, and is a threat to submit his opponent from
the top or bottom position. At times Cerrone can be a slow starter, and has suffered defeat in the past because of this. He struggles against fighters who use pressure to their advantage, and isn’t always successful on the backfoot. Gaethje is a wild man who always searches for the knockout. He has scary power in his hands, and has become a one punch knockout artist as a Lightweight. Gaethje has heavy leg kicks as well, and has stopped fights in the past with leg kicks. He uses his collegiate wrestling background as a defensive mechanism against wrestlers. Justin almost never looks for the takedown,
and prefers stand up wars in the pocket. We truly don’t know how his grappling is because he never finds himself on the mat. The biggest weakness with Gaethje is that he gets drawn into full out brawls on the feet. He leaves himself open defensively, and his first instinct is to punch back putting him in more danger. However, his last couple of fights we have seen Gaethje be much more patient looking for that big shot instead of forcing it. Both men better be in shape because this fight is likely to be a back
and forth war. I’m siding with Cerrone, but this fight could truly go either way. Cerrone is a little more diversified as a striker, and tends to be better defensively on the feet as well. However, Cerrone better has his defense on point or Gaethje will continue his knockout streak.

Photo Credit: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/5-burning-questions-ufc-on-espn-plus-16-vancouver-donald-cerrone-justin-gaethje