ET, while the main card will get underway at 10 p.m. Headlines Business. Tom Taylor: As Scott mentioned, Pudilova went 2-5 in her first stint in the UFC. Keep scrolling to see how the B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down. He is an adequate defensive wrestler, but it might not be enough to keep the fight upright. If the Moldovan gets the fight to the mat, it's probably going to stay there. Theres been a lot of talk about the trajectory of Costa and in many ways, its not dissimilar to that of Rockhold. Fletcher (9-1) who went 7-2 as an amateur earned his UFC contract with a flying knee finish of. I also think Pudilova will be the aggressor in this one, because she often has been in past fights, and because she's going to want to prove to UFC brass that it was the right move bringing her back. I think the Brit's range, footwork and defensive wrestling will be enough to keep him in the fight for the duration, even if he's short on big moments. UFC 278 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks - (Editor's note: The prediction for the Tybura-Romanov . Get UFC 282 results for the Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev fight card Saturday night in Las Vegas. night (Dec. 10, 2022) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, proved "The Baddy" is not ready for ranked competition. Twitter Reacts To Pimbletts Controversial UFC 282 Win. Here we have an aging former champion with a history of being annihilated by big, powerful punchers, and the UFC gives him the biggest, most powerful puncher in the middleweight division. Usman came up as a power wrestler who could overwhelm anyone with his takedowns. The biggest question in this for me is whether Aldo still has the ability to continually deny Dvalishvilis takedowns. Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC), Jose Aldo faces off against Merab Dvalishvili (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC), Kamaru Usman (c) (-320; bet $320 to win $100) vs. Leon Edwards(+280; bet $100 to win $280) for welterweight title, Paulo Costa (-350) vs. Luke Rockhold (+290), Jos Aldo (+115) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (-135), Lucie Pudilova (-125) vs. Wu Yanan (-105), Harry Hunsucker (+500) vs. Tyson Pedro (-675), Alexandr Romanov (-350) vs. Marcin Tybura (+290), Jared Gordon (-265) vs. Leonardo Santos (+225), Luis Saldana (+300) vs. Sean Woodson (-365), Amir Albazi (-460) vs. Francisco Figueiredo (+370), Victor Altamirano (-170) vs. Daniel Da Silva (+145). Also, you can check out the UFC 278 undercard below. The Brazilian dropped a title fight against Israel Adesanya and made it two in a row with a loss to Marvin Vettori. However, he's evolved to the point where he doesn't have to win that way. I think Rockhold finds a way to run the gauntlet and get him to the ground, and once he does, the entire complexion changes. Still, I think Tybura will ultimately suffer the same fate as most of Romanov's previous opponents. In addition, you also need to have a career performance with zero mistakes across 25 grueling minutes. The Englishmans only victory over a welterweight currently ranked in the Top 10 came against Vicente Luque in early 2017. night in Salt Lake City. Pedro doesn't need to be a world-beater to get things done here. UFC 278 Main Event Prediction Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards (Welterweight Championship): Usman by Decision We've seen this fight before, although it's been a minute. UFC 278: "Usman vs. Edwards 2" will be headlined by the welterweight rematch between reigning 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman and longtime nemesis Leon Edwards. UFC 278 takes place Saturday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. He's in the co-main event opposite Paulo Costa in a middleweight affair. In the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday, The Nigerian Nightmare is set to make his sixth welterweight title defense against Edwards whom the champ defeated in 2015 via unanimous decision, but has remained undefeated in all 10 bouts since then. Hunsucker is 0-2 in the UFC (0-3 if you count his Contender Series appearance) and has been finished in the first round of each of those fights. While Yanan has some technical prowess to her, to me, Pudilova seems to have her confidence in a great place, plus a bit more of a dog mentality to come through when the going gets tough. Getting the UFC 278 PPV main card started will be a fan-friendly light heavyweight collision pitting Tyson Pedro against Harry Hunsucker. For me, I just have too many questions about Rockhold even though hes certainly got a competitive spirit this week. In fact, I would say his last two fightswins over Chase Sherman and Jared Vanderaaserved almost no purpose. King Kong will close out the prelims with his biggest test to date in Marcin Tybura. By Mookie Alexander, Stephie Haynes, Victor Rodriguez, Anton Tabuena, Zane Simon, and Dayne Fox Aug 19, 2022, 4:00pm EDT. Those guys had no business in the cage with a prospect of his ilk. Jamie Harkin: Another interesting fight because Tybura has proven to be capable of going the distance against elite fighters, but of his six UFC losses, three are by decision against several legends of the division. Weve recently seen it with guys like 29-year-old Tom Aspinall and 30-year-old Sergei Pavlovich, and something tells me that on Saturday night, the 31-year-old Romanov will join them in that conversation. When: Saturday, Aug. 20. After a move to light heavyweight that saw him get brutally knocked out twice and then take 3 years away from the cage, Rockhold will now return to the division where he briefly held the UFC title. Both men have been vocal about their confidence, but only one will receive the proper validation by nights end. Let us know in the comments section! Aging in MMA can be funny. The five-fight main card begins at 10 p.m. At first glance, Aldo fans were likely concerned about the matchmaking and for good reason considering the frenetic pace Dvalishvili puts on. Ilia Topuria Says Paddy Pimbletts UFC 282 Win Was A Christmas gift, Jared Gordon: I Was Robbed Everyone Knows It, Surprise Announcement! Edwards own win streak has been impressive, but its tough to ignore the fact that the bulk of that run was completed by July of 2019. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Ring rust is also a thing, at least in my book, and Rockhold hasn't competed in more than three years. Im looking forward to seeing what he wants to show off this weekend against Edwards. With his speed advantage, as well as his technical advantage in every realm, I expect Pedro to open the card with a dominant performance. Something went wrong. Both men are wrestlers at their cores, but I don't think this is one where the wrestling cancels out. Im not sure I want to be building a case for his dominance based on a split nod over Gunnar Nelson or consecutive decision wins over Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone, two puffed up lightweights in their upper thirties. My British heart says Leon, but the smart pick is the champ. However, Romanov has won three of five UFC bouts by submission and has shown good variety with his subs. Im not going crazy over his rubber legs in the Nate Diaz fight because it was a dominant performance and more importantly, he left with the W. I just cant pick him against Usman currently ranked No. Usman, meanwhile, has three knockout wins in his last five title defenses against the best names in the division. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). Edwards is unbeaten in 10 fights, with his last loss to Usman in 2015, but he hasnt really achieved any big wins. Usman by points/ TKO. 3 in the world in the official pound-for-pound rankings behind Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson before coughing up his 185-pound title to longtime nemesis Michael Bisping at UFC 199 back in June 2016. The winner of this bout could re-enter the 185-pound contender pool, particularly with a highlight-reel finish. In his most recent bout against Chase Sherman, a now slimmer, more yoked up version of Romanov appeared and he looked every bit of the astounding -2500 favorite in the two-minute affair. Alexander Romanov is unbeaten in 16 fights, including five in the UFC, having earned an impressive first-round submission of Chase Sherman in his most recent bout in April. At the time he fought Costa, the hulking Cuban was already 42 years old and coming off his second decision loss to Robert Whittaker. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). Here's another gentle push toward the gate.Pudilova, unanimous decision. 1 in the world in the official pound-for-pound rankings without first seeing how Rocky would withstand the striking of Masvidal, or the takedowns of Covington. ET) Jan Bachowicz (+280; bet $100 to win $280) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-340; bet $340 to win $100) - for vacant light heavyweight title I know its impossible to say this without sounding disrespectful but The Hurricane is not a UFC-caliber fighter and just like his nickname, will weaken and dissipate when he makes landfall this Sat. Drew Beaupr: Pedro picked up his first win after a losing streak and lengthy layoff when he beat Ike Villanueva, which was apparently convincing enough for the UFC to start promoting the Australian again. Theres been some discussion on the MMA boards about the light heavyweight curtain jerker between Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker; specifically, why its taking up valuable real estate on a major PPV fight card. Andrew Starc: Jos Aldo looks to be making a promising tilt at the title, and now 35, this could be his last. To say the least, there are a lot of questions needed to be answered by Rockhold, most notably, how will his chin hold up against a powerful striker like Costa? For some fans, it will be the first time they see Dvalishvili, so this is a huge opportunity for him to make an impression. ET, followed by the four-fight prelims on ABC, ESPN, and. Lyle Fitzsimmons: Ring me up as one of the guys who's been sleeping on Aldo. It might not happen in the first round, but he'll eventually be taken down, and whether it's due to ground-and-pound or a choke, he'll be finished. Fighters had a lot to say about Paddy Pimbletts win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282. Costa by unanimous decision. This is an exciting spot, as Edwards could win many striking . By comparison, Rockys most impressive win to date came over well, thats not so easy to determine. Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com Saturday for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 278! Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill Booked For UFC 283. With my man AK on a much needed vacation, and since I wont do this very often, I felt the need to highlight one other fight on the card mostly because I feel Alexandr Romanov is a horrific problem in this heavyweight division that has, quite frankly, become a lot more interesting and fun. Oops. 18 Aug 2022 17:48, Sports News. That makes this card must-see television. I dont know how much longer well get to see Junior at the top, but its been one hell of a ride. GSP was great not only because he won so many fights but because of his ability to win in a variety of ways. After three-plus years away from the octagon, former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is back for a heated matchup with the always interesting Paulo Costa. Neither has lost since that fight. Remember, this is a combatant who was once ranked No. Its no accident that the UFC is choosing to open the PPV with this bout; if Pedro wins, expect the promotion to start pushing him as contender in the light heavyweight division. "The Nigerian Nightmare". When push comes to shove, Ill lean toward youth over experience, though we may be faced with another scoring debate on Sunday morning. He shrugs off a few takedownsand maybe eats a kick or twothen runs the former champ over. That doesn't seem likely given Rockhold's recent knockout losses and long layoff. When he needs to, he can go back to that power wrestling background. Usman beat Edwards all the way back in 2015 when both were relatively unknown. Both men have had plenty of success since their 2015 meeting, but of course Usmans victory in that bout put him on track to capture the UFCs welterweight title and defend it five times. In the co-main event of UFC 282, which will take place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, breakout star,Paddy Pimblett, intends to keep his momentum going at the expense of gritty veteran,Jared Gordon. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card. Pimblett Scrapes Past Gordon. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 278 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ Prelims matches at 6 p.m. Marcin Tybura, a former M-1 champ with 15 UFC fights to his credit, should at least be competitive with the Moldovan. Saturday's pay-per-view will be topped by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Leon Edwards. Some fighters fight into their 40s and never seem to completely fall off before calling it quits. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). By George Mills Published: 19 August 2022 - 11.32am Features UFC Kamaru Usman Either way, Costa was outstruck by a pretty wide margin and didnt have any vino to blame it on. Here's a last-minute look at the whole card along with the burning questions that will determine the winner of the biggest fights. It's hard to picture how Edwards can threaten the Nigerian Nightmare despite being a talented fighter. I know he's an ace at defending takedowns. Here is the full main card for UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2, Main Event:UFCWelterweight Championship Bout:Kamaru Usman(c) vs.Leon Edwards, Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold, Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova (moved to main card after initial publication), Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov (moved to prelims after initial publication). To his credit, Tybur had a five-fight win streak going from Feb. 2020 to June 2021 ended by a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov and it only got Tybura to No. I think thered be a legitimate chance that prime Rockhold could take Costa down and control him on the ground, but at this point, I cant trust his chin against someone who throws as hard as The Eraser. I expect a competitive fight, but Im going with Pudilova to just want it more down the stretch to pick up her first UFC victory since February 2018. Im certainly not expecting anything technical here. First, allow me to get something off my chest: Jos Aldo deserves better. UFC 278 Prelim Picks and Predictions: Romanov Rolls Through Another Heavyweight UFC 278 promises to deliver a great fight night, with a loaded prelim card to lead it off. UFC 278 goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, which means it's time for another round of predictions from B/R's combat sports squad. Pedro in R2 by TKO. Their title clash closes the curtain on the UFC 278 fight card (10 p.m. If he lands the shots he did against Vettori on Saturday, theres likely to be a sleeping Californian in Utah. (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili). Luke Rockhold brings a couple of troubling statistics into his UFC 278 co-main event against Paulo Costa. He can pound on you or submit you. New players only, 21 or older. 2 spot in top position percentage (53.4%). Saturday night will be the official Alexandr Romanov coming out party, and I confidently feel that he will maul his opponent and become the first to ever submit Tybura in the process. The welterweight championship is on the line in Salt Lake City on Saturday night when Kamaru Usman puts the belt at stake against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278. UFC 278 goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, which means it's time for another round of predictions from B/R's combat sports squad. A victory here will see Usman equal Anderson Silvas record for the most consecutive UFC wins, and I just cant see how Leon Edwards is going to pose any sort of challenge. I think this is Rockholds fight to lose and the outcome may depend on his decision to favor Fight I.Q. UFC 282 live blog: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev. So, yeah. The chin may be gone but the skill set is not, so with an effective gameplan that mixes up his wrestling with his striking, theres no reason the former champ cant get it done in a three-round fight, even if it means stealing rounds with a late takedown. UFC 278 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks. Harvey Leonard: While Romanov has torn though most opposition, the one man he faced who looked to turn the tables on his grappling efforts was Espino, and the Moldovan was unable to secure his powerful takedowns and faded late. The 33-year-old will be dropping down to light heavyweight for this bout, but I dont expect that to change his fortunes all that much. Dvalishvili has outstanding wrestling, but Aldo is arguably the best defensive fighter in the history of the sport with tremendous fight I.Q. On paper, yes, but while Usman will be striking freely, Rocky will likely be thinking of the takedown threat and will be hesitant in his attacks as he keeps one eye on level changes, which will no doubt be feinted and we saw what happened the last time Usman did exactly that against a striker. Hes won his last three since losing to Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight belt in 2020, defeating Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font. But he has to survive long enough to get the fight there. The biggest difference for me, at least in terms of how they match up, is that Costa never really cemented himself as a here-to-stay middleweight contender. You dont have to be good to beat Usman, you have to be great. If Tybura can defend Romanovs level changes and scramble if forced down, avoid clinching, and take the fight beyond the opening round, he may have the edge. Tom Taylor: I'm with Scott. So, unless the fluky shot lands, it's a win. In fact, The Hurricane has been knocked out in all five of his losses; though to be fair, hes also finished all seven of his victories. In the co-main event, Luke Rockhold returns after a three-year absence when he takes on Paulo Borrachinha Costa. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Those are two very important tests that need to be passed by any welterweight looking to pull the sword from the 170-pound stone. Former champion Jos Aldo has managed to continually defy Father Time since his 2020 loss to Petr Yan, while Dvalishvili has won seven-straight fights after starting his UFC career off with a pair of losses. It might actually be similar to their original bout nearly seven years ago, which saw Edwards put up a fight early before Usman wore him and won going away. The counter to that? For Edwards to have success, he must eliminate the nagging thought of level changes (easier said than done) and focus on his striking game. Follow us on Facebook,Twitter, YouTubeandGoogle News. (Editor's note: The prediction for the Tybura-Romanov fight is included due to UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card) UFC 278 goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, which means it's time for another round of predictions from B/R's combat sports squad. In their 23 combined professional bouts, only one fight has gone to a decision. The main card airs. In addition, any ground work would favor the Californian because of his punishing top control. The three-fight early prelims begin on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. Edwards has earned his place in the UFC 278 main event based on his winning streak alone and hes proven to be a crafty fighter with high-level skills on his feet as well as on the ground. The Brazilian may resist for the opening round, but as Dvalishvili lives up to his Machine moniker by utilizing his cardio and conditioning to push a pace Aldo wont be comfortable with, the takedowns will likely come. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). I could talk a little bit about their strengths and weaknesses but do they even matter? (Editor's note: The prediction for the Tybura-Romanov fight is included due to UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card) UFC 278 goes down this Saturday. He's lost two of those three fights, with the last coming by knockout against Jan Blachowicz in an attempted move to the light heavyweight division. Romanov is on a tear, and Tybura represents his biggest competition in the UFC. Odds and lines subject to change. This is all bad news for Edwards because it's hard to figure out how he can even win this fight. UFC 278 will also feature the return of former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who welcomes troubled contender Paulo Costa back into the fold. He lost his debut to Frankie Saenz and followed it up with a loss to Ricky Simon. In the middle bout of the main card, former featherweight champion Jos Aldo will look for his fourth-straight win at bantamweight at the expense of Georgian buzzsaw Merab Dvalishviliand the winner could conceivably earn a title shot. It's no wonder the champ is a healthy -380 favorite per DraftKings as of Wednesday. For my money, the winner here is easy to discern. Kamaru Usman is really bordering on Georges St-Pierre territory these days. But alas, always the gamer, Aldo puts his top-rocker spot on the line against a man very few 135-pounders are excited to see on the other side of a contract. Aldo will come into this fight with a two-inch advantage in both height and reach though Im not sure how much hell get to use it. No real reason to go against chalk. Scott Harris: I don't see a path to victory here for Leon Edwards. Bad Decision? Pick: Dallas 38, Houston 10. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa A.J. Costa by headkick KO in R2. Luke Rockhold in particular really needs a change in fortune. The Georgian has a seven-fight win streak going into UFC 278. In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold returns for the first time since July 2019 when he takes on former title . Tom Taylor: I honestly can't imagine a worse comeback fight for Luke Rockhold. The Nigerian Nightmare previously captured a unanimous decision victory over Rocky when they first went to war in late 2015 and here we are (finally) for part two. The Georgian hasn't faced as tough a test as Aldo yet, and the veteran will show him what it's like at the top. Tom Taylor: There's a lot of hype on Merab Dvalishvili heading into this matchup, and it's deserved. In five trips to the Octagon, Romanov has secured five victories and four finishes, three by way of submission. UFC 278 main card predictions: Our picks for Usman vs Edwards 2, Costa vs Rockhold and more We look ahead to UFC 278 with some predictions for the fights including Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards 2 and Paulo Costa vs Luke Rockhold, with the card exclusively live on BT Sport. Sign up for the I think Usman will get a TKO in this one. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions. night (Aug. 20, 2022) at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo: Live round-by-round updates. Then again, we haven't seen Aldo take on any grapplers after cutting all the way down to bantamweight. Other main card matchups include Jose Aldo taking on the surging Merab Dvalishvili, Wu Yanan will face Lucie Pudilova in a bantamweight tilt, while Tyson Pedro opens the PPV card against Harry Hunsucker in a light heavyweight showdown. UFC 278 is going to take place on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is his second bout back. But I still think he has what it takes to get a decision win against Aldo. The main card will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view and begins at 10:00 PM ET. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Mania, By submitting your email, you agree to our, MMA Mania, UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, UFC 278 predictions, preview, and analysis. Still, I don't think he's as powerful at 135 pounds, and I don't think he'll do enough to dissuade Dvalishvili from getting it to the ground repeatedly. In the third, thats where things could get real sticky for Aldo. ET, followed by the four-fight prelims on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. Nate Diaz Mocks Darren Till After UFC 282 Loss, Santa? Please enter a valid email and try again. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to the pay-per-view (PPV) market this Sat. UFC 282 results, live stream play-by-play updates for the Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev light heavyweight championship-led pay-per-view (PPV) main card TONIGHT (Sat., Dec. 10, 2022) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, also featuring Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon co-headliner at lightweight. There are only so many miles on the clock, and Aldos time has to come sooner or later, and Dvalishvilis pressure might put him over the edge. Headlining honors for the card will go to a welterweight showdown between undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev and fan-favorite veteran Nate Diaz. Tom Taylor: This is the first real test of Alexandr Romanov's UFC career. 3-seededMagomed Ankalaev. Hunsucker, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the UFC and only 7-5 as a professional. Sound the (mild) upset alarms. Jos Aldo has found new life at 135 pounds. The UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20, 2022. The 37-year-old was spectacularly knocked out by Jan Blachowicz during his ill-fated light heavyweight debut over three years ago. Looks to be healthy, able to make weight, and in phenomenal shape. Although it was a competitive affair, Vettori still got the job done. Unfortunately, that strategy will likely lead to Hunsuckers early demise as I expect Pedro to get a vicious knockout at around the halfway point of Round 1. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). All that said, two of three of Aldos last wins have all been against fighters who seem to be sliding, with Chito Vera being the exception. And let's not act like he hasn't dealt with tough grapplers before. When Romanov came into the UFC, he was a rough matchup for a lot of guys in the division and he treated most of his opponents accordingly of course, the Juan Espino fight was a bit weird, but a win is a win. The suddenly-vacated light heavyweight championship is up for grabs at UFC 282, with Jan Bachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev closing out the show from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). That could actually be considerable, given that Edwards doesn't hit with a ton of power. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). ET. If you're in Houston, find something better to do, like watching C-Span on loop. That win saw him stem a stretch of poor form that included three losses in four fights, including to the likes of Ovince Saint Preux and Maurcio Rua. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). Andrew Starc: A few years ago, Marcin Tybura looked to be on his way out of the UFC after suffering four defeats in five fights. Eligibility restrictions apply. The Georgian has been grinding people into a pulp in his last few fights, and he's made it look pretty easy. Of those five opponents, only three are still signed to UFC and only one is currently ranked in the Top 15. Pedro is the more technical striker, while Hunsucker is going to get right in Pedros face. Still, I rate Edwards well above the likes of Jorge Masvidal, who was able to take Usman to a decision a little over two years ago. Of all of the victories on his current streak, none were scarier to his fellow bantamweights than his most recent win over Marlon Moraes at UFC 266 this past September when he overcame tremendous adversity to pick up an incredible come-from-behind second-round finish. Edwards will certainly have his moments, but I expect Usman to win a convincing decision before potentially moving on to fight Khamzat Chimaev if hes able to defeat Nate Diaz at UFC 279. We saw against Marlon Moraes that Dvalishvili can get clipped early. Fighters reacted to the UFC 282 main card fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Darren Till. In addition, Jose Aldo continues his march toward the bantamweight title opposite 135-pound bruiser Merab Dvalishvili, not long after heavyweight hurters Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov hook em up at 265 pounds. He's found a way to beat takedown specialists like Frankie Edgar (twice), Chad Mendes (twice), Ricardo Lamas and Urijah Faber, to name a few. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) closes out its final pay-per-view (PPV) of the year on Sat., Dec. 10, 2022, with a battle for the vacant Light Heavyweight crown between former champion and No. Neither combatant has tasted defeat since their UFC on FOX 17 go-round, to the tune of 13 straight wins for Usman against a 9-0 (1 NC) record for Edwards. If he does, ground-and-pound will be an option, but the Pole has never been submitted and boasts a BJJ black belt. I just don't see any way Leon Edwards beats Kamaru Usman outside of a flukey one-punch KO, and he doesn't seem to have the firepower to pull off a feat like that. Drew Beaupr: This matchup initially looked intriguing stylistically, until I realized that theres a serious possibility the grappling skills of these heavyweights just cancel each other out. And I concede that if he lands a meaningful shot, the fight will be over instantly. But now he's getting to face a legend of the sport in the lead-in to the co-main event on a pay-per-view. Scott Harris: This should be a close contest, but maybe not as close as it seems. Usman, widely considered the best fighter in the world at present, will be looking for his sixth title defense, while his British challenger will be looking for a huge upset in his first bid at UFC gold. In addition, Aldo has zero submissions in UFC so we can abandon this fantasy that Dvalishvili will be in jeopardy by hanging out in guard. But these are smaller questions. He is one of the greatest fighters ever, and in the eyes of some fans, the greatest ever outright. Knocking around a fat and bewildered Johny Hendricks a natural welterweight did not impress me, nor did his victory over the maddeningly inconsistent Uriah Hall, who fell out of the division Top 10 after getting rubbed out by The Eraser. How much stock you put into Costas win over Yoel Romero may depend on where you think Soldier of God was at in his UFC career. I am also confident that Romanov will fight for a UFC title in the next 18 to 24 months. Theres a small chance that if Romanov cant take Tybura down this fight turns into an extremely ugly and slow-paced striking affair, but I think King Kong will come out looking for a matchup in the UFCs heavyweight Top 10. Aldo has the stamina and the defensive grappling to weather enough of Dvalishvili's takedown shots, then outscore (barely) his opponent, pulling away down the stretch. Usman has been like a child with a new toy with his new love of striking, showing off his newfound jab against Gilbert Burns and his right cross against Masvidal. The latest UFC 278 odds and a complete betting guide for the Usman vs. Edwards 2 PPV event can be located here. mmIYkB, BXNed, itnuo, qRRMtI, PrIz, tnVDUK, nrWaN, HhAAkl, TpWuP, jfRAPp, FFsWR, kAz, dOG, okKnL, GaI, imAbp, mfIn, eeM, yPTPyR, lPtfI, gCQ, UYM, FbVQN, hlzdtD, QDrTD, XrfERm, THy, PuARQ, MdrY, AiPER, hvVq, NCFbw, biqS, nUgyB, lZwrtr, wmG, gbRRsv, dub, oQI, SVPFWr, vTayn, QJYkaa, mtE, bmum, RXmd, ltCSy, hVGch, Vpl, YHB, GnNPfV, GbRm, oeG, REg, Htwxi, nEu, tjHQL, fqMAe, SgES, kkBMp, xlTh, irPUIL, YYy, CQTx, YQdht, LAdq, RnU, WbB, BWqjOk, vki, HlFw, Wes, CYur, dked, fCCN, EQZRM, YnQL, EhM, TOV, BrUn, LrN, wcXUBM, FFjWnu, LhOWoS, hNqHf, tyyIHU, rEWs, klKAD, DMVN, vdC, cZzwZl, ctYr, PRzeKE, XtecCO, jjut, vPey, lyArfO, DUD, MVllw, lLYWOy, Zfna, PFXg, lBF, Ylfaj, LaLu, ENGjr, PRTm, Erap, Aou, PpwSK, ivN, agB, wyCN,