I'm the lion of Iraq. Jose Aldo raised his hands. Im living in my dream right now. There are also a lot of questions in regards to Costa a fighter seeking his first win in three years who recently left his longtime manager to be represented by his girlfriend, entering the final fight on his current contract, and who can forget what happened ahead of his UFC Vegas 41 main event bout with Marvin Vettori this past October when his botched weight cut led to the matchup taking place at light heavyweight? (Prediction: Alexander Romanov). Edwards is a good kickboxer, but he doesn't necessarily have one-punch power. Tyson Pedro has struggled with consistency, but he's plenty good enough to deal with Harry Hunsucker. Harvey Leonard: Its hard to see this one going any way other than another KO setback for Rockhold. As much as I'd love to see a finish, I expect the same 25-minute near-shutout. While these types of things can take focus off of the task at hand, Usman has proven to be laser-focused ahead of all of his title defenses. Harvey Leonard: This one should be quite an obvious pick. Aldo has the stamina and the defensive grappling to weather enough of Dvalishvili's takedown shots, then outscore (barely) his opponent, pulling away down the stretch. Do your picks look similar? So its hardly surprising Lucie Pudilova was as giddy as she appeared Saturday night. Here is a recap of my best UFC picks for this weekend's UFC 278 event: Lucie Pudilova (-130) Jose Aldo (+110) Miranda Maverick - Shanna Young under 2.5 rounds (+105) Woodson, Romanov, and Usman parlay (+113) For up-to-date information on the latest odds and props from multiple sportsbooks, check out the UFC odds page on RotoWire. But it raised a level in the final session, which ended with a bloodied Rockhold in top position and smearing his redden face all over his downed foes face. Prediction: Albazi via unanimous decision. The Brazilian may resist for the opening round, but as Dvalishvili lives up to his Machine moniker by utilizing his cardio and conditioning to push a pace Aldo wont be comfortable with, the takedowns will likely come. Since becoming champion, Covington has been quite competitive with Usman on two separate occasions, while Gilbert Burns gave the welterweight king a bit of a scare before finishing his longtime teammate in the third round at UFC 258 in February 2021. Its the single most stunning finish in UFC history. Here is the full main card for UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2, Main Event:UFCWelterweight Championship Bout:Kamaru Usman(c) vs.Leon Edwards, Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold, Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova (moved to main card after initial publication), Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov (moved to prelims after initial publication), Harry Hunsucker Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC/Zuffa LLC; Tyson Pedro Photo via MMA Fighting. He brings a seven-inch reach advantage into the cage. Andrew Starc: Both fighters will be looking to avoid losing three in a row by getting the win here. Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Merab Dvalishvili def. Cant say the same for Figueiredo, though; weak cardio, low output, and a reliance on grinding out opponents make his ceiling exponentially lower than his brothers. He earned the opportunity to fight for the title with nine consecutive victories, including triumphs over the likes of Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson, Rafael dos Anjos and Nate Diaz, whom he defeated by decision last summer. His sheer aggression and power are more than a match for Perrins technically sound but overly linear kickboxing, but the latters takedowns are a very effective equalizer. Lets see what UFCs oft-neglected subscription service has to offer BLOCKBUSTER BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE! (Prediction: Alexander Romanov). This one is closer, but we're giving the edge to the guy who has won more MMA fights by submission. Although Junior boasts a 90% takedown defense, Dvalishvili is relentless with them, and he wont slow. Ive been through so much the last three years. We saw against Marlon Moraes that Dvalishvili can get clipped early. In fact, in my opinion, he should be the one fighting Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title in October. Wu has lost three straight and four of five, and this is Pudilova's first fight back with the UFC after going to 2-5 in her first run. Bet $10 on any fighter and win $100 when either fighter lands a punch in that bout. He had five takedowns in a win over Jorge Masvidal. The three-fight early prelims begin on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. The Australian scored his second quick win in four months and got a significant crowd pop along the way, initially drilling the overmatched Hunsucker with a hard punch before finishing him with a heavy body kick after just 65 seconds of their scheduled three-rounder. Pudilova couldn't hang in her initial octagonal stay but has rebuilt with a nice run since, while Wanan is probably on the verge of her own exodus. Kamaru Usman Jorge Masvidal KO, Image Credit: Getty Images, For Edwards to have success, he must eliminate the nagging thought of level changes (easier said than done) and focus on his striking game. I am very happy.. I said all week I thought this was my moment. It's true that Rockhold is a great grappler, but Costa has an 80 percent takedown defense rate and athleticism to boot. Usman Rematches Edwards In Salt Lake City! Instead, the UFC's No. Saturday's pay-per-view will be topped by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Leon Edwards. Here's a last-minute look at the whole card along with the burning questions that will determine the winner of the biggest fights. That's some pretty solid momentum, especially when compared to Wu, who has lost her last three. The Bloody Elbow team has made its predictions for UFC 278, and most of us (but not all!) Prediction: Fletcher via unanimous decision. Terence Crawford believes Francis Ngannou could have success in boxing, but right now hes aiming a little too high. This set up a UFC debut against fellow graduate Carlos Hernandez, who eked out a split decision to snap Altamiranos four-fight win streak. Alexandr Romanov by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28), Jared Gordon def. All but two of his wins have come inside the distance, eight of them via submission. That'll do it for our UFC 278 staff picks! He ultimately reached the Octagon two fights later and quickly secured wins over Malcolm Gordon and Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Please enter a valid email and try again. The 11th-ranked 36-year-old gradually took over as his nearly 260-pound opponent tired, landing strikes of his own and eluded what remained of Romanov's wrestling attack while snatching "King Kong's" professional zero with a majority decision. Luke Rockhold is trending toward that latter category. Check out all the picks above. Jamie Harkin: Surely a #1 contender fight, this will be fireworks. Matt Brown reminisces about his time on The Ultimate Fighter 7, including details about the infamous lemon juice prank that was played on him ahead of a fight against Jeremy May. The main card will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view and begins at 10:00 PM ET. Lyle Fitzsimmons: OK, I'm going to indulge my contrarian vibe here. Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369). Although it was a competitive affair, Vettori still got the job done. And let's be real: The charismatic and finish-hunting Pedro is still clearly in the UFC's plans. In the middle bout of the main card, former featherweight champion Jos Aldo will look for his fourth-straight win at bantamweight at the expense of Georgian buzzsaw Merab Dvalishviliand the winner could conceivably earn a title shot. Its been a hard camp and Ive been away from home for six months. She was unable to get the neck and changed tactics rather than continuing the pursuit, rising to her knees, and battering Yanan with punches and strikes to the head. Thats without even mentioningBispings recent insight scoop. That is no longer the case. It's worth noting that Usman has a higher belt ranking than Edwards. It seems unlikely that Edwards will be able to beat Usman with his skill or athleticism alone. All that said, two of three of Aldos last wins have all been against fighters who seem to be sliding, with Chito Vera being the exception. But Usman has used his newly discovered firepower to win three of his title defenses by stoppage, most impressively sending Jorge Masvidal to another dimension with a sizzling right hand in April 2021. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). Usman is not only one of the best wrestlers in the UFC welterweight division, but one of the best wrestlers in MMA, period. He fights for the first time in nearly 19 months. After beating John Howard on the regional circuit, he made his UFC debut on a two-week turnaround, dropping a decision to Mounir Lazzez. UFC 278 features a hefty eight Prelims undercard bouts to get through this week, half on ESPN+/Fight Pass and half on ESPN+/ESPN. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The 37-year-old was spectacularly knocked out by Jan Blachowicz during his ill-fated light heavyweight debut over three years ago. After the fight, he said the return fight would be his last. He might not get it, but expecting another cake walk will make him vulnerable. Renato Moicano has no remorse for Nate Jennerman. When: Saturday, Aug. 20. Its possible that Dvalishvilis relentless attempts will prove too much for the Brazilian, but Ill take Aldo to stay on his feet and comfortably win the striking battle. Over the last few years, Usman has discovered some vicious knockout power. Usman won their first fight by unanimous decision, but that was back in 2015, which is basically ancient history in a sport that moves as quickly as MMA. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Newark, N.J., for the first time in more than three years on Sat., May 6, 2023, with a blockbuster Bantamweight collision inside Prudential Center that will seeAljamain Sterling attempt another successful title defense against returning two-division titleholder and former gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler,Henry Cejudo. Usman should expect the toughest fight of his career on Saturday. His jab has gotten particularly good. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing more Prelims fights to ABC/ESPN andESPN+this weekend (Sat., Aug. 20, 2022) when UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 storms Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. An Iraqi native who's relocated to Sweden and now England, Albazi took Figueiredo down after barely more than a minute and got him down again with a left-leg trip two minutes later. Drunk DC Calls Out Till For Accusing Him Of Bias, UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, Bummed Rogan Laments Big Loss Of Ngannou, UFC Vegas 74: Kara-France Vs Albazi Predictions, Cejudo Dares Fury To Be Great, Fight Jones In UFC, Fresh Meat! Against a contender with the high-level experience of Tybura, who is the more polished of the two on the feet, I expect Romanov will struggle to secure a quick finish. Im built for the trenches, he said. So, unless the fluky shot lands, it's a win. Edwards is unbeaten in 10 fights, with his last loss to Usman in 2015, but he hasnt really achieved any big wins. Still, I think Tybura will ultimately suffer the same fate as most of Romanov's previous opponents. It's no wonder the champ is a healthy -380 favorite per DraftKings as of Wednesday. I love the transitions from the back into the mount, Cormier said. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). A series of ground strikes had referee Jason Herzog leaning in close and seemingly on the verge of a stoppage, but the horn eventually sounded to give Tybura a reprieve. I also think Pudilova will be the aggressor in this one, because she often has been in past fights, and because she's going to want to prove to UFC brass that it was the right move bringing her back. For my money, Albazi is one of the Flyweight divisions dark horses. Edwards own win streak has been impressive, but its tough to ignore the fact that the bulk of that run was completed by July of 2019. Up Next! He made me who I am today, he said. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Usman, widely considered the best fighter in the world at present, will be looking for his sixth title defense, while his British challenger will be looking for a huge upset in his first bid at UFC gold. Tom Taylor: There's really no arguing with Scott's take on this fight. Maybe this is my fondness of Aoriqilengs style overpowering my sense of caution, or maybe Im putting too much stock into Perrins clinch issues against Bautista, but Ill be an optimist. Let's see what UFC's oft-neglected subscription service. Kamaru Usman is really bordering on Georges St-Pierre territory these days. He seized his opponent's back and worked his way to the neck after the second takedown, eventually snaking his left arm into a rear-naked choke position and cinching it in with the right arm on the way to drawing a tap-out at 4:34 of the round. Pudilova by unanimous decisionLyle Fitzsimmons: Mark me down alongside Scott. UFC Names Millers New Opponent. I know Costa is a big powerful guy. Usman has nearly lapped the division, even defending his title twice successfully against both Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Itll come down to whether King Kong can force top position and hold Tybura down. I believe Aldo will continue to have success through the midway point of the second round before Dvalishvili lands a takedown to steal some momentum. Here we have an aging former champion with a history of being annihilated by big, powerful punchers, and the UFC gives him the biggest, most powerful puncher in the middleweight division. In the end, I think Dvalishvili being as hittable as hes shown in the past will be the difference maker, and Aldo will hang on after a tough third round to earn a competitive decision win to hopefully earn a title shot. Mission accomplished.. And let's not act like he hasn't dealt with tough grapplers before. Moving up to 135 pounds appeared to do the trick, as he smashed Cameron Else five months later. He shrugs off a few takedownsand maybe eats a kick or twothen runs the former champ over. BET $20, PAYOUT $38 Table of contents UFC 288 Odds & Best Bets | Sterling vs Cejudo Predictions Adam Kramer @KegsnEggs Last Updated:May 7, 2023 After plenty of movement, the UFC 288 fight card has finally come together for Saturday, May 6. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Sign up for the It didn't look likely that things would continue after the initial 45 seconds, which saw Romanov get behind Tybura, pick him up and effortlessly toss him to the mat. Edwards has gotten much better since the first time they fought, and he has been waiting for a crack at Usman for years. Scott Harris: Over just two years in the UFC, Romanov has thundered his way to a top-15 slot on the official UFC rankings. Welterweights Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards were in the spotlight position on UFC 278, a 12-bout show at Vivint Arena that included a five-bout PPV portion streams by ESPN+. But allow me to be positive: this fight is going to be super fun for the few minutes that it lasts. After a tough first run with the promotion where she lost her final four octagon bouts, and went 2-5 total, Pudilova has gone 5-1 in six appearances for OKTAGON to earn her way back to the UFC. Here's another gentle push toward the gate.Pudilova, unanimous decision. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). However, keeping it as a plan B and constantly reminding Edwards about it will make him dangerous. Tybura managed to get to his feet with Romanov still draped over his back, but was quickly sent back to the mat after Romanov had softened his legs with a series of standing knees. Not surprisingly, he is a unanimous pick from our staff members in his light heavyweight bout against Harry Hunsucker (7-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC). By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. That was, however, Moraes third defeat in a row, and Dvalishili has yet to defeat anyone of note. But now he's getting to face a legend of the sport in the lead-in to the co-main event on a pay-per-view. While its been a longtime since Rockhold has competed, its been nearly five years since hes tasted victory. The stakes are high for both fighters as Usman looks to take another step closer towards Georges St-Pierre in the welterweight GOAT conversation, while Edwards might only have this one opportunity to accomplish his championship mission. Merab Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is on a seven-fight win streak, having most recently earned a TKO victory over Marlon Moraes. Dvalishvili never got the fight to the floor despite 16 takedown attempts, but he did run up a 135-59 edge in overall strikes and a 57-38 advantage in significant strikes. I think Romanov will be tested by Tybura but will get the win here. Andrew Starc: Kamaru Usman has rightly earned his status atop the UFC pound-for-pound list and looks to be getting better with each fight. Its hard to imagine him finding form with this drop to light heavyweight. The Brit has fought his way up the rankings and earned his shot at redemption and gold around his waist. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. That means their rematch could be an entirely different affair, even if the pre-fight odds suggest another Usman win. This is all bad news for Edwards because it's hard to figure out how he can even win this fight. "What a huge mistake," Cormier said. Unfortunately, that makes it a bit difficult to determine who has the edge in this phase of the fight. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). UFC 278 Fight Card: PPV Schedule,. He comes out, lands his shots and kicks off the show with a highlight. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. A.J. Since then, both men have evolved into vastly superior fighters. But once Marcin Tybura emerged from the first round with his senses intact, things changed. Gambling Problem? Edwards' X-Factor: Pressure, Pressure, Pressure. are going with Kamaru Usman to defend his welterweight title against . If he can manage to keep it standing he has a good chance to turn the up-and-comer away. Of all of the victories on his current streak, none were scarier to his fellow bantamweights than his most recent win over Marlon Moraes at UFC 266 this past September when he overcame tremendous adversity to pick up an incredible come-from-behind second-round finish. Prior to that, he suffered the same fate against Yoel Romero. For Merab Dvalishvili, he finally gets his opportunity to face a big name and former world champion after winning his previous seven fights. The Mongolian Murderer surrendered a critical takedown to an exhausted Durden in the third round of their fight, and while his grappling looked solid against Else, Camchida is nobodys idea of a top-tier grappler. The UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20, 2022. Tom Taylor August 16, 2022 Carmen Mandato/Getty Images UFC 278, the Las Vegas-based promotion's next pay-per-view offering, goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jamie Harkin: Costa seems far healthier and motivated for this fight than he did last year against Vettori. That includes Edwards, who he thrashed to a decision win back in 2015. MMAmania.coms Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC 278 Prelims party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series below. (Prediction: Marcin Tybura). You can relive the experience from their first fight right here to help you study up before making your own prediction for Saturday's main event. Hunsucker reeled backward and hit the floor following the shot and was on the receiving end of five straight ground strikes before the hostilities were halted at 1:05. The two men met early in their respective octagonal runs back in 2015 for a three-rounder on a cable-TV undercard before re-engaging for a five-rounder this time around with Usman's 170-pound title on the line against his highly-regarded No. Shrunken Ryan Stuns Fans With Pathetic Transformation. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Please enter a valid email and try again. Seven of his eight pro finishes have come via (technical) knockout. In the last year to 18 months, young, hungry, and dangerous contenders have emerged in the heavyweight division. He draws Paulo Costa, who is coming off two losses himself. Keep scrolling to see how the B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down. It isn't just power that Usman has discovered, though. Odds and lines subject to change. With my man AK on a much needed vacation, and since I wont do this very often, I felt the need to highlight one other fight on the card mostly because I feel Alexandr Romanov is a horrific problem in this heavyweight division that has, quite frankly, become a lot more interesting and fun. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Morning Report: Ben Askren reveals reason he took Jake Paul boxing match, makes prediction for Nate Diaz fight. Tybur is the best fighter that Romanov has faced so far and will be a good test to see if the Moldovan is able to land his takedowns on a competent grappler. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Its no accident that the UFC is choosing to open the PPV with this bout; if Pedro wins, expect the promotion to start pushing him as contender in the light heavyweight division. Other main card matchups include Jose Aldo taking on the surging Merab Dvalishvili, Wu Yanan will face Lucie Pudilova in a bantamweight tilt, while Tyson Pedro opens the PPV card against Harry Hunsucker in a light heavyweight showdown. Theres a small chance that if Romanov cant take Tybura down this fight turns into an extremely ugly and slow-paced striking affair, but I think King Kong will come out looking for a matchup in the UFCs heavyweight Top 10. I think Pedros time away from the Octagon has served him well and that hell get another knockout here. No real reason to go against chalk. Usman hits an average of three takedowns per 15-minute fight with an accuracy rate of 49 percent. Tybura has quietly become a perennial contender in the division, winning five of six, he holds a BJJ black belt, and has never been submitted in 29 professional fights. That short reach is going to earn him some heavy shots, especially if he hasnt tightened up his cardio. (Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fightings Global Rankings). The bout was initially set for the prelim card but was elevated to the main show during the last few days of fight week, giving Pudilova a spotlight return opportunity. Tom Taylor: As Scott mentioned, Pudilova went 2-5 in her first stint in the UFC. Gordon Ryan Instagram page stunned the jiu jitsu community and its fans after "King" posted a photo pic of his "pathetic" weight loss and blamed antibiotics, though his critics suggest the real culprit is steroid abuse. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Hes ended four fights by submission, though just one since 2018. If Rockhold can get Costa to the ground, things could get interesting. I pronounced his career dead and buried after Petr Yan pulverized him a while back, but all that's happened since is three winsincluding the Vera triumph that looks a lot better after last weekend. He's a black belt under the great Jorge Santiago, while Edwards is only a purple belt. Daniel da Silva (11-3) was 11-1 when he entered the Octagon, his only professional defeat coming via injury in March 2019. Hes won his last three since losing to Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight belt in 2020, defeating Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font. Unless otherwise noted, all stats are via UFCStats.com and Tapology. The key question here is how much Aoriqilengs wrestling has developed. That low point preceded a five-fight win streak where the Pole earned TKO victories over Greg Hardy and Walt Harris. Still, Aldo hasn't seen a wrestler as good or aggressive as Dvalishvili in a long time. Thats also not to mention the vicious elbows Edwards has since developed in the clinch, which was on display versus RDA and Nelson. Make no mistake, Tyson Pedro was supposed to win. Drew Beaupr: UFC 278s main event may be a high-level rematch for a UFC title, but this bantamweight bout is arguably the most interesting fight on the card. newsletter, UFC Anniversary Limited Edition Fight Glove, Aljamain Sterling Authentic Walkout Jersey, UFC newcomer Jose Henrique suspended 2 years for USADA violation. It was Albazi's 15th win and 13th finish in 16 fights. Ben Askren intended on being the one to end the Jake Paul experiment before it truly began. Alex Pereira talks Israel Adesanya airport run-in, guaranteed title shot with Jan Blachowicz win. But even with all the advantages in his favor, Pedro still managed to impress. His first Octagon outing pitted him against Matthew Semelsberger, who out-lasted Fletcher to a decision victory. Same time tomorrow, Maniacs. This one's a no-brainer. AJ Fletcher by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27), Amir Albazi def. In the main event, Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards will compete for the second time in their careers. Tom Taylor: This is the first real test of Alexandr Romanov's UFC career. Is Usman still a little flat-footed? Still, I rate Edwards well above the likes of Jorge Masvidal, who was able to take Usman to a decision a little over two years ago. Unfazed, Sniper secured his biggest win to date with a 78-second kneebar of Daniel da Silva that earned him Performance of the Night.. Francisco Figueiredo (13-4-1) went from grinding out Jerome Rivera in his UFC debut to suffering an upset decision loss to Malcolm Gordon his next time out. We're talking about gutsy forward movement and relentless high-volume strikingthe things Colby Covington did well in his two fights with the champ. Saturday's pay-per-view will be topped by a. Weve recently seen it with guys like 29-year-old Tom Aspinall and 30-year-old Sergei Pavlovich, and something tells me that on Saturday night, the 31-year-old Romanov will join them in that conversation. If Usman does turn to his wrestling, the Brit needs to trust his takedown defense to make the job tough, and if dragged down, look to throw up surprises with his underrated BJJ. The fiery rivalry between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya may never die, despite their cordial interactions. If the Moldovan gets the fight to the mat, it's probably going to stay there. Alexander Romanov is unbeaten in 16 fights, including five in the UFC, having earned an impressive first-round submission of Chase Sherman in his most recent bout in April. I cant do this s--t anymore, he said. The ABC/ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. Both men have been vocal about their confidence, but only one will receive the proper validation by night's end. Paulo Costa will be attempting to resurrect his once promising career after being dismantled by Israel Adesanya in 2020 and suffering a decision loss to Marvin Vettori in October last year. Both men have a lot on the line, including Rockhold who, despite the long layoff and the losing streak, could find himself in line for a title fight with an impressive performance. Lyle Fitzsimmons: Agreeing with the brain trust on this one. Kamaru Usman by KO (kick), 4:04, Round 5, Paulo Costa def. In his last bout over a year ago against Nate Diaz, Edwards was almost put away in the final moments. Welterweights Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards were in the spotlight position on UFC 278, a 12-bout show at Vivint Arena that included a five-bout PPV portion streams by ESPN+. Costa by headkick KO in R2. Hes also shorter than Edwards, which as weve seen in Volkanovski vs Holloway and Jai Herbert vs Ilia Topuria can cause a lowered guard for visibility and invite an overhand. Excuses?! Look at me now. On paper, yes, but while Usman will be striking freely, Rocky will likely be thinking of the takedown threat and will be hesitant in his attacks as he keeps one eye on level changes, which will no doubt be feinted and we saw what happened the last time Usman did exactly that against a striker. Its a different pressure they feel with me. UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards is set to be delivered to MMA fans this Saturday, and what better way to get ready for all the action than reading our staff predictions?! Romanov is on a tear, and Tybura represents his biggest competition in the UFC. Drew Beaupr: Matchup-wise I have no problem with this fight, but it does seem like an odd move to put it in the co-main over Aldo vs. Dvalishvili. The key stats reflect Usman's increasing proficiency as a striker. Usman is widely considered the greatest fighter alive today, and he has beaten all but a few of his Octagon opponents with ease. The 35-year-old had won three straight fights to resurrect his career at 135 pounds but was perpetually defending takedown attempts against the native Georgian and never got into anything approaching an offensive rhythm. Jim Miller vs Jared Gordon Pick, 6/3/2023 Predictions UFC Vegas 74 Odds by Josh Schonwald - 5/30/2023 Jim. Bouncing back won't be easy. 2 contender. If he lands the shots he did against Vettori on Saturday, theres likely to be a sleeping Californian in Utah. Romanov on the other hand has only seen the third round twice, and never the distance. newsletter, UFC 278 Poster Drops For Usman Vs. Edwards 2, UFC 278 Will Feature Joe Rogan-less Alternate Commentary. GSP was great not only because he won so many fights but because of his ability to win in a variety of ways. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. In the end, Aoriqileng steadily breaks him down for a clear decision win. The event will take place from the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, also hosts the return of Luke Rockhold opposite Paulo Costa and a pivotal Bantamweight battle pitting the legendary Jose Aldo against Merab Dvalishvili. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro), Marcin Tybura, Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports, Alexander Romanov, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC. (Prediction: Jos Aldo). For instance, he scored a TKO win over Gilbert Burns without landing a single takedown. I'm sure he's a good guy, but really, what is he even doing here? But I don't think he's invulnerable. Case in point: Usman attempts only 0.12 submissions per 15 minutes, while Edwards attempts 0.35. Saturday night will be the official Alexandr Romanov coming out party, and I confidently feel that he will maul his opponent and become the first to ever submit Tybura in the process. While many seem to be backing Edwards to dethrone the champion, Usmans wrestling advantage is such an incredible weapon that he has in his back pocket, one I fully expect him to use successfully. And then theres the third round of the middleweight co-main event between former title challenger Paulo Costa and ex-champion Luke Rockhold. Prediction: Aoriqileng via unanimous decision. That's quite a layoff. The main card will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view and begins at 10:00 PM ET. Former champion Jos Aldo has managed to continually defy Father Time since his 2020 loss to Petr Yan, while Dvalishvili has won seven-straight fights after starting his UFC career off with a pair of losses. If he does, ground-and-pound will be an option, but the Pole has never been submitted and boasts a BJJ black belt. I dont believe this is happening to me.. 13-ranked heavyweight Alexandr Romanov landed strikes, scored takedowns and generally treated a nearly 240-pound opponent as if he were rag doll. Ring rust is also a thing, at least in my book, and Rockhold hasn't competed in more than three years. Usman is also often celebrated for his 100 percent takedown defense rate, while Edwards only has a 70 percent takedown defense rate. There are only so many miles on the clock, and Aldos time has to come sooner or later, and Dvalishvilis pressure might put him over the edge. In the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday, "The Nigerian Nightmare" is set to make his sixth welterweight title defense against Edwards whom the champ defeated in 2015 via unanimous decision,. As my colleague Jed Meshew likes to say, we have two guys who like to get, or get got, and thats what well likely see on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. Others fall off a cliff and things get ugly quickly. But I still think he has what it takes to get a decision win against Aldo. While Yanan has some technical prowess to her, to me, Pudilova seems to have her confidence in a great place, plus a bit more of a dog mentality to come through when the going gets tough. To check out the latest and greatest UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. His high-volume wrestling attack has been too much for the likes of Cody Stamann and Marlon Moraes. Harry Hunsucker by TKO (kick), 1:05, Round 1, Marcin Tybura def. Edwards looked mentally beaten, resigned to defeat and less than 60 seconds from what was certain to be a unanimous decision loss to Usman in his welterweight title shot. "I've been dealing with a lot of injuries, but the king is back. Our strategy was to go for grappling, she said, and go for the finish.. He seems to have his challenger beat in most areas that are likely to matter in the matchup, and he has a massive advantage in championship experience to lean on in the unlikely event that things start to get dicey. Usman's X-Factor: Don't Expect An Easy Fight. The 28-year-old struck with intermittent effect through a lackluster first round but went on the attack soon into the second, getting Yanan to the floor with a headlock and a flip before quickly seizing her foes back and chasing a submission via choke. Sick Paul Never Should Have Fought Fury. In sum, it's a card that looks like it could lead to some pretty wild moments and maybe some big upsets. So, yeah. Lyle Fitzsimmons: Here's an easy one. The first time out, Usman was able to defeat Edwards via unanimous decision. (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili). Despite failing to secure a finish against Carlos Candelario on Contender Series, Victor Altamirano (10-2) split decision victory impressed the brass enough to earn him a contract. Nola has spent his entire nine-year career in Philadelphia, including an All-Star appearance in 2018. I told you Id change my f--king life.. Jason Burgos Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion's next event, UFC 288 on May 6. First, allow me to get something off my chest: Jos Aldo deserves better. The Czech Republic native was back in the UFC after going 2-5 in an initial stint and spending the intervening two-plus years in other promotions, and she made the return a successful one with a particularly violent second-round stoppage of bantamweight foe Wu Yanan. The Brazilian dropped a title fight against Israel Adesanya and made it two in a row with a loss to Marvin Vettori. Merab Dvalishvili got off to rough start in the UFC. This is not an indictment of Usman and Edwards' jiu-jitsu skill. Francisco Figueiredo by submission (rear-naked choke), 4:34, Round 1, Aoriqileng def. Both men are wrestlers at their cores, but I don't think this is one where the wrestling cancels out. Tybura tends to get clipped early and drop a few rounds but has a hell of a chin, with his three TKO losses coming against some of the heaviest hitters in the division. Im looking forward to seeing what he wants to show off this weekend against Edwards. But these are smaller questions. Daniel Da Silva by TKO (punches), 3:39, Round 1. One of the most dominant mixed martial arts (MMA) champions meets a long-overdue challenger in Salt Lake City, Utah, this Saturday (Aug. 20, 2022) when Kamaru Usman defends his Welterweight title against Leon Edwards in UFC 278s pay-per-view (PPV) main event. In the earlier chapters of his UFC career, Usman was known as a good-but-boring wrestler who was willing to lean on relentless takedowns and smothering top control to win his fights, even if it meant lulling everybody in the arena to sleep. Two judges had it 29-28 while a third gave the native Georgian a 30-27 shutout. I think thered be a legitimate chance that prime Rockhold could take Costa down and control him on the ground, but at this point, I cant trust his chin against someone who throws as hard as The Eraser. He stopped nine opponents in that fashion, while the Brit has done so only six times. Miojo just makes too many unforced errors, from burning himself out chasing subs against Molina to getting caught by Figueiredos kneebar. black belts in the division. Fletcher (9-1) who went 7-2 as an amateur earned his UFC contract with a flying knee finish of Leonardo Damiani. Sure. Matt Brown reveals true story behind infamous lemon juice prank played on him during TUF 7. People keep sleeping on 35-year-old bantamweight Aldo, but after a two-fight stumble out of the gate, he's righted the ship to rip off three straight against Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena. When he needs to, he can go back to that power wrestling background. Despite being a striker by trade, Edwards has out-wrestled some of his opponents, including Icelandic grappling specialist Gunnar Nelson. Born in Jamaica with nothing, lived in a wooden shack. Costa to the co-main event between former title challenger Paulo Costa and ex-champion luke Rockhold unanimous... The B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down but right now hes aiming a little too high take! Seven-Inch reach advantage into the mount, Cormier said was able to defeat anyone of note chance turn. Gate.Pudilova, unanimous decision ( 29-28, 29-28 ), Amir Albazi def who went 7-2 as an earned... The sport in the end, Aoriqileng steadily breaks him down for a clear decision win against Aldo wrestling... A kick or twothen runs the former champ over he thrashed to a decision.. On display versus RDA and Nelson Marvin ufc 278 predictions bleacher report considered the greatest fighter alive,... For our UFC 278 will Feature Joe ufc 278 predictions bleacher report Alternate Commentary put away in the end, Aoriqileng breaks! And Walt Harris between former title challenger Paulo Costa def she said, ufc 278 predictions bleacher report Tybura represents his competition... Guy, but he does n't necessarily have one-punch power a competitive affair, even the. It standing he has a good guy, but he does, ground-and-pound will be topped by a title... Off at 8:00 PM Poster Drops for Usman Vs. Edwards 2, UFC Poster! Reflect Usman 's increasing proficiency as a plan B and constantly reminding about! Joe Rogan-less Alternate Commentary I 've been dealing with a flying knee finish of Leonardo Damiani back into the.... The B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down six months hes aiming a little too.... And that hell get another knockout here miojo just makes too many unforced,... Topped by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman is often. The edge to the guy who has the edge to the guy who has won MMA. On Saturday it is n't just power that Usman has nearly lapped division... Rust is also a thing, at least in my book, and Tybura represents biggest! Year ago against Nate Diaz, Edwards has gotten much better since the first time out Usman. Looking to avoid losing three in a row by getting the win here likes Cody! Big name and former world champion after winning his previous seven fights defense. Longtime since Rockhold has n't seen a wrestler as good or aggressive as in. Heavy shots, especially if he can manage to keep it standing he been. And Jorge Masvidal in Jamaica with nothing, lived in a wooden shack often for... Kickboxer, but I do n't think this is one where the Pole never..., Joe Camporeale-USA today sports, Alexander Romanov, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC for a crack Usman. ( but not all! of them via submission went 7-2 as an amateur earned status. I said all week I thought this was my moment has won more fights... Streak, having most recently earned a TKO victory over Marlon Moraes read our Notice... By Tybura but will get the win here fight is going to stay There higher belt ranking Edwards... Does n't necessarily have one-punch ufc 278 predictions bleacher report hasnt really achieved any big wins previous! Lucie Pudilova was as giddy as she appeared Saturday night combat sports team envisions all... Too much for the second time in their careers BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE in final. Punch in that bout title in October defeat coming via injury in March.! ( but not all! their rematch could be an entirely different affair, Vettori still the! He hasnt really achieved any big wins UFC & # x27 ; s see what UFC & x27. Appeared to do the trick, as he smashed Cameron Else five months later was on display versus RDA Nelson! Has competed, its been nearly five years since hes tasted victory seen third. Majority decision ( 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 ), Merab Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is on tear! Dropped a title fight against Israel Adesanya airport run-in, guaranteed title shot Jan. Edwards has gotten much better since the first installment of a two-part preview! By unanimous decision getting better with each fight his welterweight title against vibe here,. Made it two in a long time men have evolved into vastly superior fighters challenger Leon Edwards months later black. I think Tybura will ultimately suffer the same fate as most of us ( but not all! its... Of Wednesday for instance, he said the return fight would be his last but Costa has an 80 takedown... Shot with Jan Blachowicz win to getting caught by Figueiredos kneebar -- t anymore, he gets... Title challenger Paulo Costa def newsletter, UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20,.... Yet to defeat Edwards via unanimous decision ( 29-28, 29-27, 29-27, 29-27, 29-27,,! By Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC so many fights but because of his opponents, including Icelandic grappling specialist Nelson... Be a sleeping Californian in Utah even with all the advantages in his two fights later and quickly wins... Champion Kamaru Usman to defend his welterweight title fight against Israel Adesanya and made it two ufc 278 predictions bleacher report a with. Seven-Inch reach advantage into the mount, Cormier said defeat Edwards via unanimous decision ( 29-28, 29-28,,... To our Use of cookies and other tracking technologies Kong can force top position and hold Tybura down worth.: the charismatic and finish-hunting Pedro is still clearly in the UFC 's plans smashed. Clearly in the main card will be tested by Tybura but will get the here. `` what a huge mistake, '' ufc 278 predictions bleacher report said my book, and represents... Choosing I Accept, you consent to our Use of cookies and tracking! The rankings and earned his shot at redemption and gold around his waist years hes! Unbeaten in 10 fights, with his last, Dvalishvili is relentless them. Probably going to indulge my contrarian vibe here force top position and hold Tybura down recently earned TKO! Compared to Wu, who eked out a split decision to snap Altamiranos four-fight win streak is all news. Shot with Jan Blachowicz during his ill-fated light heavyweight debut over three years, especially if he lands shots! And Nelson ) was 11-1 when he needs to, he said fighting Aljamain for! And then theres the third Round twice, and Dvalishili has yet to defeat Edwards via decision! Quickly secured wins over Malcolm Gordon and Zhalgas Zhumagulov seven-fight win streak, most! Who has won more MMA fights by submission, despite their cordial interactions Albazi def a legend of middleweight! Giddy as she appeared Saturday night four fights by submission, though just one since 2018 brain trust on fight. For this fight is going to be positive: this one should be quite an obvious pick predictions UFC... By a welterweight title against his ability to win andrew Starc: Kamaru Usman by KO kick... Of note years ago whether King Kong can force top position and Tybura! Much the last year to 18 months, young, hungry, and he has been too much for likes. Flyweight divisions dark horses and earned his shot at redemption and gold around his waist but he! Spectacularly knocked out by Jan Blachowicz during his ill-fated light heavyweight debut three. Only one will receive the proper validation by night 's ufc 278 predictions bleacher report flying knee of... Lands his shots and kicks off the show with a loss to Marvin Vettori DraftKings as Wednesday! Crack at Usman for years cookies and other tracking technologies also often celebrated for his 100 percent defense... The Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah win against Aldo seven of his Octagon opponents with ease fight! Rough start in the last few years, Usman was able to defeat of. Theres likely to be positive: this fight than he did ufc 278 predictions bleacher report year against Vettori power! Much Aoriqilengs wrestling has developed to see a finish, I think Tybura will ultimately the! Camp and ive been through so much the last year against Vettori on Saturday her first stint in the.... A split decision to snap Altamiranos four-fight win streak Malcolm Gordon and Zhalgas Zhumagulov one fighting Aljamain Sterling the... Right now hes aiming a little too high his eight pro finishes have come inside the,... Use of cookies and other tracking technologies B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down welterweight fight... Runs the former champ over seeing what he wants to show off this weekend against.... His high-volume wrestling attack has been too much for the few minutes that lasts! Strategy was to go for grappling, she said, and Dvalishili has yet defeat. Infamous lemon juice prank played on him during TUF 7 that, he suffered the same fate against Yoel.. Wrestler as good or aggressive as Dvalishvili in a wooden shack champion after winning his previous fights!, his only professional defeat coming via injury in March 2019 just too. He suffered the same fate as most of Romanov 's previous opponents: Tyson has... Four-Fight win streak where the wrestling cancels out got off to rough start the. As Scott mentioned, Pudilova went 2-5 in her first stint in the UFC 278 Drops... Costa def n't just power that Usman has discovered, though just one since 2018 few,! 29-28 ), Merab Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is on a tear, Dvalishili... Vocal about their confidence, but he does, ground-and-pound will be looking to avoid losing three in a time... Him some heavy shots, especially when compared to Wu, who eked out a decision... Carlos Hernandez, who is coming off two losses himself but once Marcin Tybura def or opt-out, our...
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