The UFC makes it’s way to Tampa, Florida for a big clash in the Women’s Strawweight division. The winner of this fight could set themselves up for a title shot and should be a fun fight between electric performers. The co-main event is a battle between the veteran and the up and comer at Featherweight. This card is full of thrilling fights, and should be a fight fans dream.

Prelims
Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (14-5-1) vs Andre Ewell (15-5)- Vera Submission

Women’s Flyweight: JJ Aldrich (7-3) vs Lauren Mueller (5-2)- Aldrich Unanimous Decision

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

Welterweight: Miguel Baeza (7-0) vs Hector Aldana (4-2)- Baeza TKO

Welterweight: Max Griffin (15-6) vs Alex Morono (16-5)- Griffin Split Decision

Flyweight: Deiveson Figueiredo (16-1) vs Tim Elliott (15-8-1)- Figueiredo Unanimous Decision

Lightweight: Thomas Gifford (17-8) vs Mike Davis (7-2)- Gifford Split Decision

Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann (16-5) vs Devin Clark (10-3)- Spann TKO

Main
Middleweight: Eryk Anders (12-4) vs Gerald Meerschaert (29-11)- Anders Unanimous Decision
Anders makes his return to 185 after a short stint at 205. Anders is a solid boxer with knockout power on the feet. His best shot is the left hook, and he tends to use his hands more than kicks. Anders is a former college football player at the University of Alabama which speaks to his gifts as an athlete. He is a solid wrestler, but isn’t much of a threat in terms of submissions. Meerschaert has been in the fight game for a long time fighting since 2007. Gerald likes to use his kicks to set up takedowns on the feet. He is improving as a striker, but should be at a disadvantage there in this matchup. Meerschaert can land takedowns in space or in the clinch. His best attribute is his high level grappling and overall knowledge of the ground game. Gerald has 21 submissions on his resume giving him a distinct advantage in this fight. I like Anders in this fight, I feel he can stop the takedowns of Meerschaert, and make this into a boxing matchup. Anders should have the size and strength advantage as well.

Lightweight: Matt Frevola (7-1) vs Luis Pena (7-1)- Frevola Split Decision
Pena was a competitor on the Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated but was forced out due to injury. Pena is a big Lightweight standing at 6’3 and boasting a 76 inch reach. He is a technical striker with an ability to land kicks from the outside. His hands are still a work in progress, but he looked much better in his last outing in a win over Matt Wiman. Pena does have decent wrestling, but has issues at times with takedown defense. On the ground, he loves to use his long limbs to set up chokes and is a danger from any position on the mat. Frevola is a aggressive on the feet, and tends to push the pace when standing up. He isn’t a  great striker and is still below the curb in terms of defense. He does have solid takedowns, and understands how to maintain top position once he gets there. Frevola is a good grappler and tends to win most of his fights by securing a takedown while controlling his opponent. This is a tough fight to call between two rising Lightweights but I like Frevola. I believe he can dictate where the fight goes, and has fought tougher competition than Pena.

Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (7-0) vs Amanda Ribas (7-1)- Dern Unanimous Decision
Dern makes her return to the octagon after a leave of absence due to pregnancy. Dern is a world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and has a unbelievable list of grappling titles. She is somewhat lost on the feet, but has made some strides to improve in this area. Mackenzie has good takedowns, and obviously tends to dominant or submit her opponents once the fight hits the mat. She is a big Strawweight, and seems to have a strength advantage in most of her fights. Ribas is a better striker than Dern, and has shown an ability to use her boxing well. She likes to press forward and let the hands go in the pocket. Ribas can land takedowns, and has shown high level grappling as well. She has been more active than Dern which could be an advantage. I like Dern in this matchup because she is the more accomplished grappler. I feel she will use her takedowns to control Ribas, and be one step ahead in the tranistions.

Welterweight: Niko Price (13-3) vs James Vick (13-4)- Price KO
Price is a very exciting fighter who is always in interesting scraps. He is very intense, and tends to come out firing right away. Price throws wild shots, and has shown an ability to land the knockout blow. At times, he leaves himself open by throwing with reckless abandon on the feet. Price will mix in takedowns, and has shown great submission skills on the mat. He is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and never stops attacking on top or from the bottom position. Vick makes the move up to 170 pounds after three straight losses at Lightweight. Vick has good size standing at 6’3 and also has a 76 inch reach. Vick is more technical on the feet, and likes to strike from distance. He has decent hands, but does his best work with kicks and knees. He is dangerous in the clinch using his height to land knees easily. Vick has shown good takedown defense, but doesn’t resort to an offensive shot often. He does have submission skills, and likes to use his long arms to finish guillotines or D’Arce chokes. The question will be how does he navigate the move up in weight, and how will his chin hold up after some brutal knockout losses. I have Price winning by knockout. I believe his wild style will give Vick problems settling into the fight, and I just don’t see Vick’s chin being able to hold up. Price’s aggressive approach should give problems to Vick as this is a tough fight to take in his Welterweight debut.

Featherweight: Cub Swanson (25-11) vs Kron Gracie (5-0)- Gracie Submission
Swanson is a fan favorite because he always seems to be in classic scraps. Swanson is very talented on the feet, and has long been known for his high level striking. Swanson’s hands are very fast, and he throws from different angles to confuse his opponents. Cub has good kicks as well, and can light up the body or legs. His cardio is great, and he has a high volume output that can break his adversaries. Swanson does have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and can be tricky to stop at times in scrambles. Kron is the son of the legendary Rickson Gracie. Gracie is a decorated grappler who has chosen to transition into MMA. He is a work in progress on the feet, and hasn’t shown great striking yet but he does have good kicks. Gracie will shoot for takedowns, but tends to take the fight to the mat in the clinch. Kron is a elite level grappler who has an ability to finish the fight from anywhere on the mat. The big question will be how does he handle the major leap in competion. I am going with the rising prospect Kron in this fight based on his grappling. Swanson has major problems against opponents who take him down, and don’t allow him to settle in on the feet. I believe Gracie will drag this fight to the mat, and find the opening for a submission victory.

Women’s Strawweight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-3) vs Michelle Waterson (17-6)- Jedrzejczyk TKO
Jedrzejczyk is the former UFC Women’s Strawweight champion looking to get her crown back. Joanna had a brief run at the UFC Women’s Flyweight division coming up short in a title fight against Valentina Shevchenko. Jedrzejczyk is a very gifted striker who breaks her opponents on the feet. She comes from a muay thai background, and was very decorated in this martial art before making the move to MMA. She has a high output, and constantly pressures forward forcing her opponents to be on the back foot. Her hands are fast and powerful, and her kicks can do damage as well. The pressure is the biggest factor that gives her opponents problems, and she has shown a non stop gas tank as well. Joanna has solid takedown defense, and is relatively untested in terms of her grappling. Waterson is looking to earn a title shot with a victory over the former champ. Waterson comes from a karate background, and holds a black belt in American Freestyle Karate. Waterson is very technical and light on the feet not rushing into any of her attacks. She can fight from distance, but can land inside the pocket as well. Her hands are decent, but she really shines with her flashy kicks. She does have knockout power in her legs, and doesn’t put herself in danger often. Waterson likes to use hip tosses in the clinch for her takedowns, but doesn’t have the best takedown defense. Waterson is a underrated grappler who hunts for submissions on the mat. She has the ability to finish the fight off her back as well. Waterson like Joanna, has great cardio and is tough as nails never going down without a fight. I am going to side with Jedrzejczyk in this clash at 115 pounds. I feel she is the more effective striker, and her pressure will be the difference in this fight. I don’t think she will allow Waterson to get into a rhythm on the feet, and Michelle has had issues against pressure fighters in the past. I believe Joanna will be motivated to get another title shot, and should be fine in this fight if he stays on the feet. However, if the fight turns into a grappling contest Joanna could be in for a long night.  It will be interesting to see if the tough weight cut will have any effect on her performance.

Photo Credit: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/10/ufc-on-espn-plus-19-tampa-joanna-jedrzejczyk-michelle-waterson-reader-predictions-picks