UFC FIGHT NIGHT 81 PREDICTIONS

*Records included ONLY COUNT UFC FIGHTS

Fight Pass Prelims

Light Heavyweight – Francimar Barroso (2-1) vs Elvis Mutapcic (0-0) The Pick: Mutapcic via Decision

Bantamweight – Rob Font (1-0) vs Joey Gomez (0-0) The Pick: Font via KO

Featherweight – Charles Rosa (1-2) vs Kyle Bochniak (0-0) The Pick: Rosa via Submission

Light Heavyweight – Ilir Latifi (3-2) vs Sean O’Conner (2-2) The Pick: Latifi via KO

Fox Sports 1 Prelims

Featherweight – Maximo Blanco (4-3) vs Luke Sanders (0-0) The Pick: Blanco via Decision

Lightweight – Chris Wade (3-0) vs Mehdi Baghdad (0-0) The Pick: Wade via Decision

Light Heavyweight – Tim Boetsch (9-8) vs Ed Herman (9-7-1) The Pick: Boetsch via Decision

Welterweight – Patrick Cote (10-9) vs Ben Saunders (7-3) The Pick: Saunders via Decision

Main Card

Lightweight – Ross Pearson (10-6-1) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (8-3)

Ross Pearson was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: US vs UK back in 2009, and this should be a sneaky good matchup as he takes on Francisco Trinaldo, who is on a four match winning streak. This fight will probably go three fun, exciting rounds but don’t be surprised if Trinaldo’s explosive striking gets him the KO, because of that striking I give him the advantage.

The Pick: Trinaldo via Decision

 

Heavyweight – #6 Travis Browne (8-3-1) vs. #14 Matt Mitrione (9-4)

These two veteran heavyweights jockey for position in the rankings. Browne is a 6’7″ Hawaiian that you do not want to get into a slugfest with. Matt Mitrione is the type of guy that will use his cross to set up a devastating hook and Mitrione, a former NFL player is a pure striker at his core, which is why I have him knocking out the #6 Heavyweight in the world.

The Pick: Mitrione via KO

 

Lightweight – #1 Anthony Pettis (5-2) vs. #4 Eddie Alvarez (1-1)

Former lightweight champion and current #1 Contender Anthony Pettis will take on former Bellator lightweight Eddie Alvarez, who is coming off of a decision victory over Gilbert Melendez, the winner of this fight could be the next contender to  Rafael dos Anjos’ Lightweight championship which makes this fight insanely important. They’re almost equal on their feet but Pettis has a big advantage on the ground.

The Pick: Pettis via Submission

 

Bantamweight Championship – (C) T.J. Dillashaw (8-2) vs. #1 Dominick Cruz (3-0)

#1 Contender vs Champion, a perfect end to a already fantastic Fight Night. The former bantamweight champion, Cruz finally gets to fight for the championship that he never ever lost. On the other side Dillashaw has developed into one of the most dangerous men in the UFC. Cruz hasn’t gone five rounds since he was stripped of his title via injury, and that might be his fatal flaw.

The Pick: Dillashaw via TKO