UFC 226 LIVE SATURDAY NIGHT JULY 7TH FROM THE T-MOBILE ARENA LAS VEGAS
This is one stacked card. We haven’t had a card with this many amazing fights from the prelims to the main card in a long time. The original Co-Main event was pulled off the show earlier this week when Champ Max Holloway was forced to with draw due to concussion like symptoms. Brian Ortega could have had a last-minute replacement in Jeremy Stephens or Frankie Edgar for an interim title but never came to be. Fight is to be rumored to be pushed to August 4th. Also had a scary situation at the press conference when Daniel Cormier stood up and tripped and fell over a speaker that was behind him. He iced it down to prevent any swelling in his leg. He said he wasn’t sore and everything felt fine as of Thursday night.
The main event has TUF 27 Coaches square off in a super fight. We have Heavyweight Champ Stipe Miocic vs Light Heavyweight Champ Daniel “DC” Cormier. This is a very exciting match up for both fighters. Both have a heavy wrestling influence in their game.
Fight Pass Prelims
Jamie Moyle 4-2 vs Emily Whitmire 2-2
Jamie’s has one submission and three decision wins in her career. She is a well-rounded fighter.
Emily’s two wins come by decision. She is better and more comfortable on her feet than the ground.
Jamie’s well-rounded game will help her get the win
Dan Hooker 16-7 vs Gilbert Burns 13-2
Dan’s wins are eight KO/TKO, seven submissions, and one decision. He is on a three-fight win streak. Those three wins were against Jim Miller, Marc Diakiese, and Ross Pearson. He has 10 1st round finishes. Look for Dan to keep the fight standing despite his well-versed ground game.
Gilbert’s wins come by five KO/TKO, seven submissions, and one decision. He is on a two-fight win streak, which both times he finished with strikes. He has knockout power but has an incredible ground game. He is a four-time World Jiu Jitsu Champ. Look for him to take the fight to the ground.
Very exciting fight. This fight could very easily end up being fight of the night. I must go with Dan Hooker in this match.
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
Lando Vannata 9-2-1 vs Drakkar Klose 8-1-1
Lando has four KO/TKO, four submissions and one decision wins. He is 1-2-1 in his last four fights.
Drakkar has four KO/TKO and four decision wins. He does have an impressive win over Marc Diakiese. He is very explosive.
Drakkar will get the win in this fight.
Curtis Millender 15-3 vs Max Griffin 14-4
Curtis has six KO/TKO and nine decision wins. He has a seven-fight win streak. three of those he has finished his opponent with either head kicks or a knee to the head. Last win was over Thiago Alves. Will use his reach to his advantage
Max has seven KO/TKO, two submissions, and five decision wins. He has a win over Mike Perry. He is a very unorthodox striker.
Curtis is going to ride his seven-fight win streak and make it number eight after tonight.
Raphael Assuncao 26-5 vs Rob Font 15-3
Raphael has four KO/TKO, 10 submissions, and 12 decisions. He is on a three-fight win streak. He has notable wins over Bryan Caraway, and TJ Dillishaw. He has a Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu background he will utilize.
Rob has seven KO/TKO, four submissions, and four decisions. Won his last three of four fights. He has great cardio and a good striking.
Raphael will come out with the victory.
Uriah Hall 13-8 vs Paulo Costa 11-0
This is going to be a very exciting fight. Both fighters always put on a great show for the fans. This is another fight that has potential to be fight of the night and is the main event on Fox Sports 1 Prelim show.
Uriah has nine KO/TKO, two submissions, and two decisions. He has notable wins over Gegard Mousasi and Chris Leben. He is a very unorthodox fighter. He can strike from anywhere with precision and speed. Look for him to use this to gain an advantage over his opponent.
Paulo comes in undefeated with an impressive 10 KO/TKO and one submission. He has a notable win over Johny Hendricks. He has lots of power. He will keep this fight standing but has a good ground game.
Another great match up. This fight will most likely be standing the entire time. Look for big bombs to be thrown by Paulo and Uriah has those devastating kicks that come out of nowhere. I do see Paulo getting another victory in this match up.
Main Card
Despite having one title fight being canceled we still have a great main card.
Gokhan Saki 1-1 vs Khalil Rountree 6-2
Gokhan’s only victory is by KO. He has a heavy kickboxing background that he will use.
Khalil has four KO/TKO and two decision wins. He has a two-fight win streak going. He is a TUF Season 23 fighter. He is a very good striker
Khalil is the veteran in this fight and will use that to his advantage to get the win.
Michael Chiesa 14-3 vs Anthony Pettis 20-7
Michael has 10 submissions and four decision wins. He has wins over Al Iaquinta, Francisco Trinaldo, and Jim Miller. He has good scrambling. He likes to go to the ground. Good matchup for him
Anthony “Showtime” has nine KO/TKO, seven submissions, and four decision wins. He is a former world champ. He has wins over Donald Cerrone, Benson Henderson, and Gilbert Melendez. He is very well rounded and is a creative striker. He needs this win.
I see the young Chiesa beating the veteran in this fight.
Paul Felder 15-3 vs Mike Perry 11-3
Paul’s wins are by 10 KO/TKO one submission, and four decisions. He is stepping up to welterweight for this fight. He is a devastating striker. He has finished three of his fights with elbows. He does have a very good ground game that he can use if it goes to the ground.
Mikes 11 wins are KO/TKO. He is however on a two-fight losing streak that he will look to end. He is a striker and will keep this standing.
Another potential fight of the night. This fight will be standing the whole time. Look for Felder to work the clinch and use his elbows and come out with the victory.
Co-Main Event
Francis Ngannou 11-2 vs Derrick Lewis 19-5
Francis has seven KO/TKO four submissions. He is 10-1 in his last 11 fights. He has wins over Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arvloski. He is very powerful standing and on the ground. He is incredibly fast for his size. His last six of seven wins have been by KO.
Derrick’s 19 wins come way of 17 KO/TKO one submission and one decision. He is 7-1 in his last eight fights. He has wins over Roy Nelson, Travis Browne, and Gabe Gonzaga. He has tons of heart and will keep going no matter what. He will look to avoid the takedown and keep the fight on the feet.
This fight will either end in a big knockout or go the distance. But either way I give the edge to Ngannou.
Main Event
Stipe Miocic 18-2 vs Daniel Cormier 20-1
This is a super fight for Stipe’s Heavyweight belt. This is a classic wrestler vs wrestler matchup. Both fighters are veterans in the cage. Both are well versed standing, and, on the ground, this is a great match for both fighters.
Stipe’s wins are by 14 KO/TKO and four decisions. He has a six-fight win streak going. He also has successfully defend his title three times in a row. He has key wins over Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos, and Francis Ngannou. He is a former Division-1 wrestler at Cleveland State. He is a Golden Gloves boxing champ. He has an impressive nine 1st round knockouts. Very fast for his size. He does have an 8” reach over Cormier.
Cormier’s wins are by nine KO/TKO four submissions, and seven decisions. Has wins over Anthony Johnson, Anderson Silva, Alexander Gustafsson, and Dan Henderson. His only loss is to Jon Jones. He is a two-time Wrestling Olympian. He was the NCAA runner up and a Pan American Games Champ. He is a brown belt in Jiu jitsu. He is also a perfect 13-0 as a heavyweight. He has not fought heavyweight since 2013 though.
Going to be a great fight. I honestly don’t see either one trying for any takedowns. If they do look for DC to use the high crotch single to take Stipe down. Stipe will use that 8” reach he has to his advantage and use more strikes.
Fight will go the distance and Stipe will retain his belt in a very close contest.
DraftKings Optimal Lineups
Cash
Stipe $8900
Costa $9400
Rountree $7800
Millender $8700
Klose $7200
Felder $7400
GPP
Perry $8800
Pettis $7600
Cormier $7300
Lewis $6900
Saki $8400
Moyle $9200