The UFC heads to Orlando, Florida for UFC Fight Night as a top 10 featherweight scrap Emmett vs Stephens headlines the card.
The UFC heads to the sunshine state this Saturday for Emmett vs Stephens. The card might not have any title implications or blood-feuds to settle but there are some fun and interesting matchups that could shake up several divisions top 10 rankings. We bring back the Burger-meter to get fans ready for the tastiest fights on the card. The Burger meter will look at the fight matchup (how good is it, how important, how entertaining) and associate it with its hamburger equivalent. I’ll breakdown the main card by relating it to its “burger form” and offer some fight predictions to hopefully help your bank accounts. Let’s get to the card:
(100% Imported Kobe Beef Burger): Ridiculously luxurious & best of the best
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(In & Out): Lives up to the Hype & always worth it
Josh Emmett (4th) vs Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (#7) (Featherweight 145lbs )
Preview: Two guys who are looking to make one final run at a possible title shot collide in the main event of the night. Fans and fighters alike know that when Jeremey Stephens steps in to Octagon they are in for a war no matter the outcome. Stephens has fists of stone and an iron will that keeps him coming forward the entire fight until either one of two things happen: his opponent beats him in a close decision or he destroys his opponent. Emmett will have to prepare himself for going the full five rounds if he wants to get past Stephens. Fortunately his cardio and wrestling will serve him well as he tries to avoid getting caught in the early rounds from the bombs ‘Lil Heathen’ will surely throw his way from the opening bell. Both men come in riding two fight win streaks and this is a make or break moment for both their careers. A win will likely set the winner up with an outside shot for a number one contender fight, while the loser assuredly becomes a gatekeeper for the featherweight division.
Odds: Emmett (+145) vs Stephens (-160)
Prediction: It’s tough to pick against Stephens because he’s just so relentless and he’s never been stopped so even if he’s losing a fight he will be there at the very end with the power to change the outcome at anytime. However, if you were going to a lab to design a fighter that will give Stephens problems Josh Emmett fits that mold. I expect a really fun and close fight, but I’m going to take the superior wrestler who has a great gas tank to frustrate Stephens. If Emmett can avoid an early scare or not get caught clean, I think he’s able to establish his ground game and frustrate Stephens on his way to a close majority decision. (Emmett +145 by decision)
(Home Cooked Burger): Solid, reliable, and hits the spot
Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade (2nd) vs Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (5th) (Straw weight 115lbs)
Preview: Two top five straw weights fighting would typically at least get a four burger rating from me but I can’t get over the fact that both of their most recent losses were against the current champ Rose Namajunas for Torres and the former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk for Andrade. I just don’t think either has the ability to dethrone the best two women in the division which makes the stakes for this fight less interesting to me. It still should provide some fun action for fans as Torres has some explosive speed that she will try to unleash on Andrade to keep the ground and pound specialist off of her. The fight will essentially come down to one very basic angle: if Torres can stay on her feet she’s got a great chance to win this fight, if Andrade can take Torres down the fight quickly becomes hers to win.
Odds: Andrade (-290) vs Torres (+250)
Prediction: I think this fight outcome gets determined in the first round, the takedowns or takedown defense will predict the outcome of this fight. I think Andrade has faced significantly tougher opponents throughout her career and is better at her takedowns than Torres is with her striking. Torres may get about a minute or two before Andrade can time her but after that I think Torres is in for a long painful evening of hammer fists while she loses a lopsided decision. (Andrade -290 via unanimous decision)
Mike “Platinum” Perry vs Max “Pain” Griffin (Welterweight 170lbs)
Preview: Max Griffin is a nice fighter. He’s got solid striking and puts on really fan friendly fights. Mike Perry is an unhinged wrecking machine in the Octagon with only one goal in mind; punching his opponent’s head off of their body. Griffin does not have nearly the quality victories that Perry has and I worry if he tries to stand and bang with Perry this fight will not last long. However, I’m not sure Griffin has any other choice if he hopes to win this fight. The guys that give Perry the most problems are skilled wrestlers and technical strikers that can keep Perry from loading up for his big bombs. Griffin has not demonstrated this skill set so far in his UFC career. Thus, he just has to wade into the center of that Octagon grit his teeth and trust his power over Perry’s. I would not want to have that as my only path to victory against Perry but as a spectator I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Odds: Perry (-390) vs Griffin (+310)
Prediction: Mike Perry sees opponent, Mike Perry smashes opponent. Tune in, don’t blink, enjoy the brutal knockout. No value in betting the fave so take the under and thank me later. (Under 1.5 rounds -140)
(Waffle House Burger): It won’t kill you but high quality it is not
Ovince Saint-Preux (5th) vs IIir Latifi (8th): OSP by submission, I’m sorry I just can’t get excited about this 205 lbs scrap between two guys who have no chance at hoisting the belt while a certain someone is lurking in the shadows waiting to return.
(Gas Station Burger): Hello darkness my old friend
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Prediction Record since 2016 to Date (65-49-1) (+$1208.50)
- UFC Record & predictions based on Win vs Loss predictions only. Unless specified otherwise I use increments of $100 (for + odds predictions) & $110 (for – odds bets) as hypothetical wagers for each prediction.
- UFC Predictions & Records are for entertainment value only
- Stats provided from http://UFC.COM & http://www.fightmetric.com/
