This Saturday, June 6, 2020, at 3 pm, PT is round 2 for the UFC to deal with COVID restrictions for putting on an event and the first back in Las Vegas but still without an audience. During UFC 249, Dana White was lucky to have only one fighter test positive for COVID and was able to source a backup in time. Will this card hold out and not suffer similar or worse fallout. We can hope. Especially as this isn’t such a bad follow up card.
Headlining the night is Amanda Nunes versus Felicia Spencer in defense of her featherweight title. Nunes holds a belt in two divisions, and with this fight, if she wins will have defended them both. Having beaten the likes of Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg, she honestly doesn’t have to do anything else to cement herself as one of the top females ever to fight. Still, she doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Spencer, though presents a challenge. Cyborg struggled to cut weight for featherweight.
Spencer, though, is at home in this class and does not suffer the disadvantages Cyborg did damaging her body to make weight. Additionally, this is a different fight for Nunes, as she is used to kickboxers, Spencer isn’t tiny and has a fantastic ground game. If she can take it to the matt and get in the mount, this could go drastically different than anything we’ve seen Nunes encounter before.
Prediction – Nunes (-600) is the big favorite, and Spencer (+425) is the underdog, I agree with those odds. I think Nunes will succeed in defending her belt, but the fight goes the distance and will have the judges pick the winner.
Co-headlining the event are Cody Garbrandt and Raphael Assuncao, both of whom haven’t had the best of times lately. Garbrandt will also be making his first appearance in the ring in over a year. This fight is pivotal for both men and could cement an ending for the loser. It’s definitely interesting due to the fighting styles of both. Garbrandt has some seriously heavy hands for the division, but his chin has cost him three of his last fights. Whereas Assuncao prefers taking it to the ground and doesn’t have very many knockouts to his name.
Prediction – Garbrandt (-125) is the favorite, and Assuncao (+145) is the underdog. It makes sense as to why when taking Garbrandts, punching power into consideration. If he hadn’t been knocked out so often, Garbrandt would have no question on finishing this fight. So I’m going with Garbrandt ending this in the third round with a TKO over Assuncao.
The final fight I want to cover and will earn “Fight of the Night” is Eddie Wineland vs. Sean O’Malley. This will be a great fight as both are KO artists capable of finishing a match. Wineland is the gatekeeper of this weight class but still hopes to move up. O’Malley is a rising star hoping to shoot to the top of the division. He has been patient, though, and this fight proves he is pacing himself well.
Prediction – The “Suga Show” O’Malley (-500) will close the distance off the center and be able to slip past Wineland’s (+360) defense for a knockout in the second round. Wineland has been fighting for a long time but continues to step forward with his head high while throwing straight punches. This is something that O’Malley will know and expect. He’s also fast enough to capitalize on such a mistake. This fight will be a blast to watch and someone is going down. Get your bets in!
