The UFC will make it’s return to Boston, Massachusetts for a pivotal matchup at Light Heavyweight. Former UFC Middleweight champion Chris Weidman looks to put himself into to title contention in a new division, and Reyes looks to move himself up the ladder as well. The co-main event is a rebooking of a previous fight ending in a eye poke no contest between Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens. This feud has become personal with both men looking to get the knockout. My predictions are listed below in what should be a fun night of fights.

Prelims
Middleweight: Brendan Allen (12-3) vs Kevin Holland (15-4)- Holland Split Decision

Heavyweight: Daniel Spitz (6-2) vs Tanner Bosar (16-5-1)- Bosar Unanimous Decision

Welterweight: Court McGee (19-8) vs Sean Brady (10-0)- Brady TKO

Bantamweight: Randy Costa (4-1) vs Boston Salmon (6-2)- Salmon Split Decision

Featherweight: Kyle Bochniak (8-4) vs Sean Woodson (6-0)- Woodson Unanimous Decision

Women’s Flyweight: Molly McCann (9-2) vs Diana Belbita (13-4)- McCann TKO

Featherweight: Charles Rosa (11-3) vs Manny Bermudez (14-1)- Rosa Split Decision

Main
Middleweight: Deron Winn (6-0) vs Darren Stewart (10-4)- Winn Unanimous Decision
Winn is a training partner and close friend of the great Daniel Cormier. Winn is a very small Middleweight standing at 5’7, but packs some power despite his short stature. He presses forward on the feet, and never gives his opponents a chance to breath. Winn’s boxing is solid, but he is still a work in progress on the feet. Deron is a fantastic wrestler with two junior college national championships and three time all-american at Lidenwood Univeristy. Winn can get takedowns from anywhere, and has solid ground and pound as well. Stewart is a dangerous striker with a black belt in Taekwondo. Stewart has knockout power, and loves to use kicks to the legs and body. Stewart packs some heavy hands and dangerous elbows. Stewart does some of his best work fighting in the clinch. He does have serious problems in terms of grappling and wrestling. This is where most of his losses have come from. I am going with Winn based on his ability to control the fight with takedowns. I feel he can secure top position on the ground, and slow down the striking heavy offense of Stewart.

Women’s Flyweight: Maycee Barber (7-0) vs Gillian Robertson (7-3)- Barber TKO
Many believe Barber is the next great female star in waiting for the UFC. Barber is a great athlete who can explode into her offense. Barber is a technical striker with heavy hands and above average kicks. She has good defense, and is very physically strong especially in the clinch. Barber will use takedowns as well, and has shown an ability to submit her adversaries. Robertson comes into this fight on a two fight winning streak. The Canadian is decent on the feet, and tends to lean on a boxing heavy approach. Her best skillset is on the ground with her high level submission skills. Robertson can land takedowns from the outside and also within the clinch. She has really good elbows from top position, and has shown an ability to finish most of her fights with chokes. This fight is very close, but I like Barber in this matchup. I just feel she is the more well rounded fighter, and has a big advantage on the feet.

Lightweight: Joe Lauzon (27-15) vs Jonathan Pearce (9-3)- Pearce TKO
Lauzon is a UFC Hall of Famer who could be entering his final fight in the UFC. Lauzon is an average striker who does have some pop on his punches. Lauzon has always been known for his precise takedowns, and his high level submission skills once it hits the mat. Joe is very tough, and has an innate ability to keep pressing forward after taking damaging shots. He does come into this fight on a three fight losing streak, and has suffered multiple knockout losses. Pearce earned his spot in the UFC through Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Pearce is dangerous on the feet, and is a very aggressive striker with knockout power. Pearce uses his boxing to land a big shot, and put his opponents away. Pearce isn’t a great wrestler, and has struggled in the past against superior grapplers. The big question will be how does he deal with a step up in competition. I am going with the younger Pearce in this fight against the veteran. I just don’t see Lauzon’s chin being able to hold up against the power of Pearce. I have Pearce keeping this fight on the feet and landing that knockout blow.

Heavyweight: Greg Hardy (5-1) vs Ben Sosoli (7-2)- Hardy KO
Hardy has a controversial past, but is an impressive developing Heavyweight fighter. He is a former pro bowler in the NFL who made the transition to MMA. Hardy is physical specimen standing at 6’5 with a 80 inch reach. Hardy has one punch knockout power, and has a fight changing right hand. He is obviously a great athlete who is improving his takedown defense. Hardy is relatively untested on the ground, and has won most of his fights in quick fashion. Sosoli is a former competitor on the Ultimate Fighter season 28. Sosoli is an undersized Heavyweight standing at 6’0 in a 74 inch reach. Sosoli like Hardy, tends to lean on a boxing approach, and has shown knockout power in the past. Sosoli isn’t a great wrestler or grappler, and has struggled with takedown defense early in his career. I have Hardy winning this fight by knockout in round one. I just don’t think Sosoli will be able to handle the onslaught and power that Hardy possesses.

Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez (11-2) vs Jeremy Stephens (28-16)- Rodriguez Unanimous Decision
This is a rematch from a fight that ended in a eye poke no contest a few weeks ago. This feud has turned personal as Rodriguez has accused Stephens of faking the injury which is untrue. Rodriguez is a very unpredictable striker known for his flashy Taekwondo style. Rodriguez is technical on the feet, and is very good from landing on the outside. He has underrated hands, and does his best work with his lightning fast kicks. Yair throws unconvential attacks, and isn’t afraid to take a chance to land the big shot. His wrestling and overall grappling has been a problem for in the past. He will leave himself open on the feet at times as well keeping his hands low. Stephens is a very aggressive striker who likes to press the action right away. He has big time power in his hands, and has some brutal knockout wins in his past. Stephens is all power on the feet, and will use brutal leg kicks and jumping knees as well. Stephens does have a background in wrestling, but doesn’t look for takedowns often. At times, he has struggled to defend takedowns and superior grapplers. Stephens can be too aggressive, and will leave himself open especially against technical strikers. I like Rodriguez in this fight, I just feel he has the ability to land from the outside unlike Stephens. He is more technical on the feet, and doesn’t hunt for the knockout as much as Jeremy. I see him outpointing Jeremy on the feet on the way to a decision victory.

Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes (11-0) vs Chris Weidman (14-4)- Reyes TKO
Reyes has been on a roll, and brings an undefeated record into this main event slot. Reyes is a big Light Heavyweight standing at 6’4 and boasting a 77 inch reach. Reyes is a dangerous southpaw with big time power especially in his left hand. Reyes has a knack for landing the left high kick as well, and can punish opponents with knees in the clinch. He is technical on the feet, and is patient looking for the big shot instead of rushing into attacks. Dominick is a very good athlete playing college football at Stoney Brook University. His wrestling is solid, and he can be sneaky with chokes with his long limbs. He has yet to face a top level wrestler of Weidman’s caliber which should be interesting to watch. Weidman makes the move up to a new weight class after calling 185 home for a long time. He is the former Middleweight champion, and is best known for being the man to dethrone Anderson Silva. Weidman has crisp boxing, and likes to use his hands to set up the takedown. Chris does have good kicks, knees, and elbows especially inside the clinch. Weidman is a decorated wrestler with all-american honors at Nassau Community College, and at the University of Hofstra. Weidman has some of the best MMA wrestling with an ability to land single or double leg takedowns at will. He is very dangerous on top with vicious ground and pound with solid top control. His grappling is high level as well holding a black belt rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At times, Weidman has had issues with his cardio and will slow down late into fights. His chin has been shaky as well suffering several tough knockout losses. I am going to pick Reyes in this matchup over Weidman. I just feel he is the more balanced striker, and has good enough wrestling to fend off the shots. He will have the size advantage, and seems to be faster on the feet when you look at the tape. The only way I see Weidman winning this fight is if he can constantly takedown and wear down the rising prospect. If can’t land the takedown, Reyes should be able to finish him on the feet with a big left hand or left high kick.

Photo Credit: https://www.mmamania.com/2019/9/24/20881726/pic-ufc-boston-poster-drops-reyes-vs-weidman-espn