UFC 257 Preview and Predictions

 UFC 257 Preview and Predictions 

Early Prelims 6:30 PM EST 1/23 on UFC Fight Pass

Flyweight bout 

Amir Albazi vs Zhalgas Zhumagulov

We will start the night off with a flyweight bout with an interesting matchup. Albazi is from Sweden and currently holds a record of 13-1. Eight of his wins are by submission. His opponent Zhumagulov is from KAZAKHSTAN he is 13-4 in his MMA career. Albazi will look to take this fight to the ground and Zhumagulov will look to keep it standing. Which might not be great either for Zhumagulov because Albazi has four knockouts in his career. Should be a good style matchup to start the evening. 

Prediction: Amir Albazi over Zhalgas Zhumagulov via submission round 2

Catchweight bout 

Nik Lentz vs Movsar Evloev

In the second matchup of the evening we have a veteran fighting a prospect. Lentz has been around the block once or twice, debuted in the UFC in 2009. In his time in MMA he racked up a 30-11-2 record. Originally a wrestler from Minnesota but he has an all around game. This fight is to show though how good his opponent Movsar Evloev is. Evloev is 13-0 in MMA with 7 finishes, 4 knockouts, 3 submission. He as well has an all around game. Probably why the UFC chose Lentz for his matchup. Should be a competive first fight. However Lentz is 2-3 in his last five fights. So maybe he’s hitting his downwards spiral and Evloev wraps him up quickly. Or Lentz shows the young bucks what the big leagues are. Either way should be fun. 

Prediction: Movsar Evloev over Nik Lentz unanimous decision 

Middleweight bout 

Andrew Sanchez vs Makhmud Muradov

We have two vets fighting in the final bout of the early prelims with Missouri kid Andrew Sanchez fighting the UZBEKISTAN monster Makhmud Muradov. In this fight in my opinion expect a brawl. Sanchez comes into this contest with a 12-5 record. He won his last contest by knockout. He does have two Division II wrestling National Championships but doesn’t mean he loves to wrestle anymore. He does have cardio but also looks for the knockout. Like he did in his last contest. Muradov is looking for the knockouts. He is 24-6 with 16 of those wins coming by knockout. Muradov is on a 13 fight winning streak and a win here can evaluate to some bigger fights. Expect a brawl should be fireworks to end the early prelims. 

Prediction: Muradov over Sanchez KO round 2

Prelims 8pm EST on ESPN 

Light Heavyweight bout 

Khalil Rountree Jr vs Marcin Prachnio

The first Prelim fight is going to be the one for the fans. A fight you should kick off a card with on ESPN. Both fighters coming off losses so they may be desperate. Khalil Rountree is 8-4 in his MMA career, and looks to knock out his opponent. 10 years ago Rountree was 300 pounds MMA changed his life, and now you wouldn’t even know. He thought about a retirement after his last fight was scrapped but decided to sign an extension with the UFC in October of 2020. His opponent Marvin Prachnio is on a three fight losing streak and he is very desperate for a win. If he doesn’t win here it’ll probably be his last with the promotion. Expect a stand up war and these two will put on a show. Hopefully they don’t respect each other’s power to much so we don’t just watch a staring contest for 15 minutes. 

Prediction: Khalil Rountree Jr  over Marcin Prachnio TKO round 1

Women’s Bantamweight bout 

Julianna Pena vs Sara McMann 

The second fight on the prelims looks to me to a very exciting fight. Julianna Pena former Ultimate Fighter winner and seventh ranked women in the world at bantamweight looks to get back on track. She is 3-2 in her last 5 fights but lost too two top of the line fighters. Valentina Shevchenko and she lost to Germaine De Randamie by submission which was a shocker knowing Pena’s high level in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and De Randamie is not. Her opponent Sara McMann is a former silver medalist in wrestling and former title challenger. McMann won her comeback fight in October against Lina Lansberg by how she does, smothering and grinding you out for a decsion win. McMann took a two year break from MMA. Now it looks like she’s back again. Personally very excited about that. This fight will be grappling contest. As Pena is really good at Jiu-Jitsu and McMann is a wrestler. They’ll grind each other out but should be fun for true MMA fight fans. 

Prediction: McMann over Pena by spilt decision 

Middleweight bout 

Brad Tavares vs Antônio Carlos Júnior

Another matchup in the UFC’s third Prelim where someone needs to get back on track. Brad Tavares will be coming into this one on a two fight losing streak. One of those losses was to champion Israel Adesayna. At 33 years old Tavares comes into the fight at 17-6 in MMA. He’ll look to get back on track. He’s an all round fighter and more likely to go to decision than not. His opponent is in a very similar situation. Antônio Carlos Júnior is also on a two fight losing streak. At 30 years old Junior is 10-4-1 in his fighting career. After a huge 5 fight winning streak he’s hit the brakes after two losses. He is more of a ground fighter with a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. He will probably look to take the fight to the ground knowing that’s his best shot. Both fighters have no problem going the distance. Both desperate for wins who knows what could happen. Could be a wild one or a boring fight. 

Prediction: Antônio Carlos Júnior over Brad Tavares by unanimous decsion 

Lightweight bout 

 Arman Tsarukyan vs Nasrat Haqparast

In the final UFC bout it will be some young guns but some very good young guns. Arman

Tsarukyan fighting out of Russia is 15-2 at 24 years of age. He has 5 wins by knockout and 5 by submission. He doesn’t care how he gets the win as long as he does. His only loss is to another amazing young fighter Islam Makhachev. After two straight wins be sure that Tsarukyan confidence is back. His opponent Nasrat Haqparast is a German kickboxer with a 15-3 record. He does look for the knockout. 9 of his 15 wins are by knockout. Haqparast will look to keep the fight standing. In my opinion expect Tsarukyan to look to smother Haqparast with wrestling. Opposing styles here makes it always interesting. 

Prediction: Tsarukyan over Haqparast by unanimous decision 

Main Card 10 PM EST Pay-Per-View ESPN+ 

Women’s Strawweight bout 

Marina Rodriguez vs Amanda Ribas 

The first fight of the evening is to show off some women top 10 action. Marina Rodriguez who is a jiu jitsu and muay thia fighter. She is the sixth ranked women at Strawweight. She is coming into this one after losing her first fight in her career to Carla Esparza. That pushed her to a 12-1-2 record. She looked outstanding up to that fight. She looked super well in the Dana White contender series then went on a 3-0-2 run. Now she will go against Amanda Ribas. Ribas is the tenth ranked women’s featherweight and will look to prove something in this fight. She is a black belt in BJJ and Judo. Which is a level higher than Rodriguez. She is coming in on a five fight winning streak with a win over MMA’s princess Paige Van Zant. Now she can endorse her star more with a win over Rodriguez. Expect the fight to go back and forth. They both very similar styles. It interested who wins the exchanges if they go to the ground. Rodriguez being a purple belt and Ribas is a black belt. Rodriguez also being a black belt in judo and Rodriguez being a dark blue belt in Muay Thai. Ribas would seem to have the advantage belt wise but Rodriguez has been the better fighter overall. Expect this fight to go the distance. To close in styles and talent. 

Prediction: Amanda Ribas over Marina Rodriguez unanimous decision 

Lightweight bout 

Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar

In the second fight of the main card is not the highest caliber name wise but the UFC is looking to show off some older prospects who’ve looked real good. Matt Frevola fighting out of the fight camp in Long Island, NY coached by Matt Sierra. He is not a knockout or submission artist but he uses his black belt in BJJ and striking to his advantage to grind the opponents out. He won a close one against Luis Pena last outing and looks to win this one to come up with a three fight winning streak. His opponent Ottman Azaitar is unbeaten going into this one with a 13-0 record. Frevola has said he believes Azaitar hasn’t been tested coming into their matchup. Which I agree with. Azaitar has won ten of those thirteen fights by knock out. If Frevola can bring him into deep waters somewhere Azaitar hasn’t really been it can be a Frevola night. If Frevola gets into a brawl it’ll be a Azaitar night. Should be a close good contest. 

Prediction: Ottman Azaitar over Matt Frevola TKO Rd 2

Women’s Flyweight bout 

Jessica Eye vs Joanne Calderwood 

The UFC usually puts their third fight on main card as a fight they want everyone to watch. Jessica Eye vs Joanne Calderwood is exactly that. Personally super hyped up for the Scottish queen to go against Jessica Eye. There is also some beef between the two which is always fun. Calderwood has said she is “lucky” she can punch Eye. That she believe “She doesn’t have a lot people that like her.” Which is odd coming from Calderwood she seems so nice. Well as nice as someone who likes to be trapped in a steel cage can be. Calderwood like to grapple that’s her style. To take someone into the deep waters into the fight, tire you out, and finish you. She still has knock out power with five wins by knockout. She lost her last fight to Jennifer Mia. Many thought she could of been the number 1 contender if she didn’t take that fight on short notice. Her style definitely changed as she was a former Muay Thia fighter. At 34 years of age with 14 wins and 5 losses she looks to make a line right towards the title. A win over Eye would be a good start. Many may not like Jessica Eye but she can talk that talk when you are the seventh ranked featherweight women in the world. Not many beating you up. She is also coming into this fight on a loss against Cynthia Calvillo. Jessica Eye was the fighter who was knocked out brutally by Valentina Shevchenko. She responded from that loss with a win. She really likes to push the pace in her fights. 11 of her 15 wins are by decision. She is an all around fighter. Her fights for casual fans are usually very boring. In this grudge match it could be exciting. This is a fight you should definitely check out. Expect a 15 minute bout of just a good time. 

Prediction: Calderwood over Eye decision 

Co Main Event 

Lightweight Bout 

Dan Hooker vs Michael Chandler 

Now this fight is going to be a barn burner. One of the fights that a title doesn’t need to be on the line to get excited for. Long time Bellator legend Michael Chandler will finally be making his UFC debut. Chandler has been regarded has maybe the best lightweight in the world but many didn’t know because he didn’t fight in the UFC. Now we will know and he is taking on one of UFC’s favorite up and comers Dan Hooker. This will be a great first test for Chandler. At 34, Chandler still has a lot of fight in him but to prove he’s the best at lightweight will be no small task in maybe UFC’s best division. Chandler one big loss was in 2017 to Brent Primus. He would later comeback from injury to beat Primus for his lightweight title back. After his knockout win over longtime rival Benson Henderson former UFC lightweight champion by TKO. Now he’s ready to show the world he’s the best and whatever way it goes I’m here for it. The New Zealand camp is sending out a very good fighter at 30 years of age, the sixth ranked Lightweight Dan Hooker. Hooker can’t fight anyone outside of the top 8 anymore he is nasty. He lost his last fight to Dustin Piorier in an absolute war. If Hooker won that fight it’d be hard to deny him a title shot. Hooker has some very impressive wins over Jim Miller, Gilbert Burns, James Vick, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder. He is a stand up guy purely. He showed he can wrestle a little with the Poirier fight but nothing to impressive. Don’t expect him to hold Chandler on the ground he will look to make it a brawl. As Chandler is definitely the better fighter in this one. Which scares me a little that Chandler may wrestle and hold up down making it a boring fight. However that’s the name of the game it’s not boxing you have to have multiple tools. Hooker’s boxing though with his reach could definitely can keep the fight standing. Should be a very fun fight and the outcome certainly maybe tells you who’s on deck for that number one contender fight for that lightweight crown. Or at the worst it tells us who’s in the hole to sets up another big fight with Charles Oliveira. Cant wait for this one. 

Prediction: Chandler over Hooker unanimous decision 

Main Event 

Lightweight bout 

Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2

Now it’s time the moment we all have been waiting for a fight without a belt but damn the excitement is still there. The Notorious Conor McGregor is attempting another comeback. He says he looks to build off that last January win over Donald Cerrone in beautiful fashion. He looked great in the last outing. Ten times better than he did in October in 2019 when he got smothered by Khabib. He says he plans to get the lightweight belt strap back and defend it. So that means he’ll fight three times in 2021. Which fight fans sure hope it’s true it’s always fun with McGregor. The former double champ always brings a little extra buzz around his fights. Especially in a fight that’s basically the number one contender fight. Yes we don’t know if Khabib is completely done but let’s assume he isn’t. The winner of this will definitely fight for the belt Khabib or not. Piorier and McGregor danced before. Back before McGregor was a mega superstar just a star. McGregor knocked him out in the first round. It seemed that McGregor won the fight before it begin with all his trash talk. Both had very different paths after as we know. As we know McGregor went on to become the double champ, then boxed Floyd Mayweather, and made his return to the Octagon against Khabib where he lost, then finally the Donald Cerrone fight last January then everything in between. The fight with Piorier was at featherweight, which Piorier struggled at. Once he made the jump to lightweight that’s when his show got on the road. With wins over Anthony Pettis, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, and Dan Hooker. He got a shot at the belt against Khabib but fell like everyone else. That’s why this fight is so thrilling. Piorier is a different fighter now he’s older and way more experienced. He’s been in some wars. Wars that fight fans all loved and appreciated. He called for the rematch and he got it. He now has the chance to get redemption in front of the whole world. If you aren’t excited for this one then I don’t know what excites you. Is it Saturday yet?

Prediction: McGregor over Piorier KO second round 

By Matthew Doherty