UFC Fight Night 218: Quick picks and prognostications

Regardless of the UFC matchmakers’ refusal to open Battle Night time important playing cards with light-weight or featherweight fights, I’m comfortable to see them put collectively this all-action affair between welterweights Yusaku Kinoshita and Adam Fugitt (a matchup I referred to as for in my Grading the Winners column).

Though this will likely seem like a showcase bout for Kinoshita at first look, I warn anybody who is totally writing off Fugitt on this spot.

Not solely is Fugitt a well-rounded fighter with elbows that might be problematic in shut, however the American’s muay Thai sensibilities ought to lend itself to the southpaw vs. southpaw fashion paring at play (a dynamic that may actually throw a violent wrench into standing exchanges).

That stated, I actually favored the pace and southpaw savvy I noticed from Kinoshita on the Contender Sequence, and suspect that his expertise have solely grown since transferring store to Kill Cliff FC. I’ll decide Kinoshita by first-round knockout.

The principle card’s lone bout south of 170 kilos is a enjoyable featherweight matchup between Doo Ho Choi and Kyle Nelson.

Choi is coming off of a three-year layoff as a result of a required navy service in South Korea, whereas Nelson is making his return to 145 kilos after a failed bid up a division.

It’s arduous to know precisely what to anticipate from Choi after his lengthy layoff, however there may be one near-certainty on this matchup: If Choi can survive the early storm from Nelson, historical past has proven that the Canadian tends to tire down the stretch.

I additionally see Choi’s blazing proper hand and cleanup-hitting left hook having a excessive potential to pierce Nelson’s guard, so I’ll decide the scrappy Korean to attain a knockout by the second spherical.

Regardless of flying a number of Highway to UFC match finalists out to Las Vegas, the matchmakers noticed match to double down on heavyweight filler and make a struggle between Blagoy Ivanov and Marcin Tybura a important card attraction.

I even have a comfortable spot for each of those fighters, which makes me hate to see them paired up within the first place.

Tybura has been on a little bit of a roll and is designated as the favourite, however the perennially-underrated Ivanov has discovered himself on the fallacious finish of some break up selections as a result of his fashion of countering and dealing the physique (that are techniques which might be nonetheless grossly undervalued by some judges and the gen pop alike).

I do know it’s going to be an in depth, slogging affair, so I’ll facet with the unkillable underdog in Ivanov to squeak out some deserved karma on the scorecards.

Demise, taxes, and the UFC matchmakers’ dedication to flooding Battle Night time playing cards with random mild heavyweight (and heavyweight) affairs.

This week’s co-main occasion encompasses a struggle at 205 kilos between Devin Clark and Da Un Jung.

Though Clark will probably be with out his famed cornerman and father, David Clark, I’ll be curious to see what the American is ready to present after finishing his third camp with the Elevation Battle Staff. Nevertheless, regardless of Clark demonstrating some improved kicks in latest outings, I nonetheless can’t assist however discover his unhealthy reactions to strikes alongside the fence.

For that motive, I’ll facet with Jung’s measurement and superior placing expertise to drive some unhealthy pictures out of Clark – who I think wrestles his approach right into a depraved entrance choke earlier than the ultimate bell.

The principle occasion on ESPN+ encompasses a recycled heavyweight showdown between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac.

As former UFC coloration commentator Brian Stann identified years in the past, fighters who try to grapple Lewis typically do worse than fighters who try to strike with him. And outdoors of 1 Daniel Cormier, that assertion is basically true.

So, between that and the truth that Lewis is 3-0 inside The Apex, I can’t assist however take a shot on Lewis to proper the ship right here.

I anticipate Spivac to get off to a terrific begin early, however imagine that his willingness to grapple will put him in some weak spots for a traditional Lewis knockout come the second spherical.

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