Maia Vs Askren Predictions
- Maia Vs Askren Predictions Bleacher Report
- Ufc Fight Night Maia Vs Askren Predictions
- Maia Vs Askren Predictions
- Maia Vs Askren Predictions Ufc
Tomorrow morning’s UFC Singapore card is a sneaky good one. The main event between former Bellator and ONE Welterweight champion and former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight title challenger Demian Maia is a scintillating fight that will either be terrible, or a true grappler’s delight. If it’s the latter, it could be an ideal way to cap of what should be an entertaining card. The rest of the card is full of fun matchups from the first prelim through the co-main event, featuring the likes of Michael Johnson, Beneil Dariush, Frank Camacho, and various other UFC veterans and enjoyable prospects. All in all, it’s a solid, light card with a lot of potential for entertainment.
Welterweight contenders meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 162 on Saturday as Demian Maia takes on Ben Askren. The 11-fight event from Singapore features the main card starting at 8 a.m. Askren is a -190 favorite (risk $190 to win $100), while Maia is a +165 underdog (risk $100 to win $165) in the latest Maia vs. Askren is a -190 favorite (risk $190 to win $100), while Maia is a +165 underdog in the latest Maia vs. In the co-main event of UFC Singapore, Michael Johnson (-335) faces Stevie Ray.
Maia Vs Askren Predictions Bleacher Report
Preliminary card (5am/4am CT, ESPN+)
Raphael Pessoa (9-1) vs. Jeff Hughes (10-2, 1 NC)
In August, Pessoa made his UFC debut as fodder for Ciryl Gane, who is fighting on the main card. Pessoa predictably lost, but is a dangerous fighter nonetheless, having finished seven of his nine victims, six of them via knockout. He packs a punch and if he lands flush, he can end Hughes’ night. Unfortunately for him, Hughes has a pretty good chin.
Hughes also needs a win, having gone 0-1 with a no contest in his first two UFC fights. A former Legacy Heavyweight champion, Hughes has the tools to stick around in the UFC and his only loss via finish came against TUF veteran Dan Spohn in the fifth round of a fight that took place almost three years ago. Hughes is solid, albeit unspectacular, and should win as long as he doesn’t get caught. Prediction: Hughes via decision.
Loma Lookboonmee (3-1) vs. Aleksandra Albu (3-1)
This is an Invicta fight if I’ve ever seen one. Lookboonmee has solid striking chops, but is an Atomweight and is very raw. Albu’s been a member of the roster since late 2013, but is entering just her fourth UFC fight. She was signed just months after making her pro debut, and not due to her actual fighting abilities. She’s the bigger and more experienced fighter, but nobody even knows if she’s even Invicta level at this point. At least Loma can say that she is, and I’ll pick her to get the upset. Prediction: Loma via decision.
Sergei Pavlovich (13-1) vs. Maurice Greene (8-2)
Greene is a solid grappler with half his wins coming via submission, and is 3-0 in the UFC. Pavlovich is 13-1, has ten first round finishes due to strikes, and his only loss came in his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem. Pavlovich, who was the Fight Nights Global Heavyweight champion not long ago, has what it takes to be a ranked Heavyweight in due time. Greene is solid and has done better in the UFC than expected, but I think he’ll fall short in this one. Prediction: Pavlovich via tko, round 2.
Enrique Barzola vs. Movsar Evloev (11-0)
Up next is a very good Bantamweight contest that should be on the main card, but isn’t, due to the likelihood of it going the distance. Evloev is unbeaten and well-rounded, having finished seven of his fights, while possessing a solid gas tank. The former M-1 Bantamweight champion looked good in his UFC debut in April and will look to keep his unbeaten record intact. Barzola is the TUF: Latin America 2 Lightweight winner and is 6-2 in the UFC, but has gone the distance in 10 of his last 11 bouts. This one will likely go the same way, and is a coin flip. I’ll go with Barzola, but an Evloev win should surprise no one. Prediction: Barzola via decision.
Alex White (13-5) vs. Rafael Fiziev (6-1)
Buckle up your seatbelts, because this fight has all the makings of being a highlight machine. Fiziev has never gone the distance, with six of his seven pro bouts ending in the first round. White has finished 10 of his 13 wins and desperately needs a win, as he’s five of his last eight fights. I’ll pick him to get the win, although neither fighter pulling off a finish wouldn’t be a surprise at all. Prediction: White via tko, round 3.
Randa Markos (9-7-1) vs. Ashley Yoder (7-4)
In the headlining prelim bout, former TUF contestants will battle, as TUF 20 contestant Randa Markos will take on TUF 23 contestant Ashley Yoder. Markos hasn’t had a winning or losing streak since her third pro fight, is 5-6-1 in the UFC, and is coming off a loss. Based on that, she should win this fight, right? Well, Yoder has won two straight and has the momentum heading into this fight. Both women are solid grapplers with decent gas tanks, and have been finished just one time in their combined careers. It really is a toss-up, as is the case with the vast majority of the fights on this card, but I’ll pick Markos. I have no confidence in my pick whatsoever, but it is what it is. Prediction: Markos via decision.
Main card (8am/7am CT, ESPN+)
Muslim Salikhov vs. Laureano Staropoli (9-1)
The main card’s opening bout will be a striker’s delight. Salikhov is a Wushu ace with nearly 200 kickboxing bouts to his credit, and has finished 14 if his 15 UFC wins, with 12 of them coming via knockout. All but one of his finishes has come in the first round, and he’s 2-1 in the UFC. As for Staropoli, the Argentinian came to the UFC a year ago, having never gone the distance. He has since fought twice, winning both fights via decision, and looked great against the vastly more experienced Thiago Alves in May. Now he has a chance to go to 3-0 in the UFC and therefore turn himself into a must-see prospect. I think Salikhov will finish him, but the fans should be in for a treat with this one. Prediction: Salikhov via tko, round 2.
Ciryl Gane (4-0) vs. Don’tale Mayes (7-2, 1 NC)
Oh, the treatment one can get by being a highly viewed training partner for Francis Ngannou. In August, despite being a pro for just a year and having only three pro fights to his credit, he made his UFC debut on the main card and will do so again on this card. The UFC clearly views him as a blue chip prospect and I can’t blame them. He’s unbeaten, has finished all his fights, has big-time potential and is fun to watch. As for Mayes, the former Dana White Contender Series contestant has won four straight fights. He’s never beaten anyone of note, but does have five finishes to his credit. He’ll likely lose this fight, but should still be a decent test for Gane. Prediction: Gane via tko, round 2.
Beneil Dariush (16-4-1) vs. Frank Camacho (22-7)
The featured bout will likely be the most entertaining fight of the night. Both Beneil Darius and Frank Camacho have a penchant for putting on highlight-reel performances, having finished a combined 29 of their 38 total wins. Camacho is a true knockout artist, while Dariush is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with legit Muay Thai credentials.
Dariush has been shaky in recent years, but is clearly the more balanced fighter of the two, with a notable advantage on the ground. Camacho can finish him, but I’m expecting this fight to be a repeat of Dariush’s most recent fight, in which he got rocked by Drew Dober, but pulled off a comeback that was capped off with a submission win. History doesn’t always repeat itself, but I’m expecting it on this occasion. Prediction: Dariush via submission, round 2.
Michael Johnson (19-14) vs. Stevie Ray (22-9)
In the co-main event, former TUF Finalist Michael Johnson will look to rebound from a brutal knockout loss in March when he takes on Steve Ray. In March, Johnson was 46-seconds away from winning a decision against Josh Emmett and earning his third straight win. However, he got finished in the final minute, and has lost six of his last nine overall. It was just his second ever finish loss due to strikes, and now he’s back in must-win territory.
Ray is also in a must-win position, having lost three of four since starting 5-1 in his first six UFC fights. Like Johnson, he’s been finished due to strikes twice in his last three losses. Unlike Johnson, he’s a good grappler, while Johnson has been submitted eight times in his career. It’s all too likely that Johnson will succumb to a submission here, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is his fight to lose. As long as he hasn’t completely checked out, I think he’ll prevail. If he doesn’t, then it’s entirely possible that he’ll get cut. Prediction: Johnson via decision.
Demian Maia (27-9) vs. Ben Askren (19-1, 1 NC)
Ufc Fight Night Maia Vs Askren Predictions
In the main event of the evening, fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and two-time UFC title challenger Demian Maia will face former NCAA Division 1 All-American, former Bellator and ONE Welterweight champion Ben Askren in what could be an amazing grapple-heavy fight. Askren, who was once viewed as a boring fighter, has gone the distance just once in his last 11 fights. He’s a fantastic wrestler, has improved his striking, and is coming off the first loss of his career.
As for Maia, the BJJ wizard is a few weeks away from turning 42, and is coming off his second-straight victory. He’s 21-9 in the UFC, has challenged for two titles in his UFC career, and a win would put him back in contention.
Maia Vs Askren Predictions
Maia Vs Askren Predictions Ufc
This fight will either be a fascinating grappling bout or an awkward kickboxing match. If it’s the former, then Askren will likely have the edge, although Maia is the better submission ace by far. On the feet, it’s pretty much a toss-up. I’ll pick Askren to get the decision, but a Maia win would be awesome to be honest. Prediction: Askren via decision.