First 2...
YAZMIN JAUREGUI(9-0) VS ISTELA NUNES (115)
FRANCIS MARSHALL(6-0) VS MARCELO ROJO (145)
- 2/1.90 YAZMIN JAUREGUI DEC/TECH DEC -105
- 2/2.90 MARCELO ROJO +145
- 1/2.50 MARCELO ROJO KO,TKO,DQ,SUB +250
YAZMIN JAUREGUI(9-0) VS ISTELA NUNES (115)
- Jauregui Decision ...Nunes is only 23, entertaining on the feet, and fighting in a division deep enough to allow plenty of time to learn – Jauregui is one to watch for in the near future. Nunes tends to start fast, with solid counter-strikes early, but as seen against Sam Hughes – she eventually caves against relentless pressure.
FRANCIS MARSHALL(6-0) VS MARCELO ROJO (145)
- Rojo KO ...There's a huge ceiling with Marshall’s freak athleticism, but as always, there are worries about prospects fast-tracked through the DWCS system rather than working through the regionals. Rojo isn’t a great athlete, nor is he a particularly strong technician, but he's a tough cookie to break. More so, Rojo can crack and I’ll back his old manpower to surprise a 23-year-old who has faced little in the way of adversity over six fights.
[0-3 -5u]
DARREN ELKINS VS JONATHAN PEARCE(13-4) (145)
- 3/1.43 NATAN LEVY -210
- 2/1.90 NATAN LEVY KO,TKO,DQ,SUB -105
- 3/2.22 JONATHAN PEARCE KO,TKO,DQ,SUB -135
DARREN ELKINS VS JONATHAN PEARCE(13-4) (145)
- Pearce ITD..For a fighter on a 4-fight streak, including an impressive beatdown of Makwan Amirkhani, Pearce has to be confused with this match-making. Elkins has managed to pick up recent wins in his traditional gutsy, grappling fashion, but Pearce hits far too hard for "The Damage" to cope with. Especially when his face transforms into a bloodbath after eating the first couple of strikes in a fight. This one gets ugly, early.
[1-5 -8.47u]
MICHAEL JOHNSON VS MARC DIAKIESE(16-5) (155)
- 1/2.25 MARC DIAKIESE KO,TKO,DQ,SUB +225
- 3/1.49 SCOTT HOLTZMAN -201
- 3/2.38 EMILY DUCOTE -126
- 3/0.84 MARC DIAKIESE -359
MICHAEL JOHNSON VS MARC DIAKIESE(16-5) (155)
- Diakiese ...Michael Johnson remains a threat on the feet, while Diakiese is the consummate game planner. That suggests the Brit will happily swallow the crowd’s boos and bag a wrestling-heavy victory. Don’t be fooled by MJ’s 1-5 record in his last six fights, however – in typical MJ fashion, he showcased enough talent to argue his case for beating all six opponents.
- Ducote ...Ducote is still a work in progress on the feet, certainly a level below Hill, yet the wrestling threat will create real trouble for Hill to settle. Expect a close decision, as Hill remains a dynamic and entertaining striker deep into her career twilight.
- Price KO ...Rowe oozes fluidity on the feet compared to Price, who relies on his awkward frame and durability to break opponents. A lack of ground game could be the kicker, however – an area where Rowe’s TDD deficiencies will prove more fatal than the strength of Price’s wrestling.
UFC Orlando: Main Card
ERYK ANDERS VS KYLE DAUKAUS(11-3) (185)
- Daukaus ...Suffering his first knockout loss in the professional ranks last time out, Daukaus was caught clean in the clinch. Daukaus cannot afford to hold any baggage from the devastating loss, as his dominance in the clinch has been the root of his past successes. Anders has regressed over his UFC tenure without a real bump up in opposition quality from his early days. Expecting a dull affair in which Anders backs himself onto the cage, allowing Daukaus to cruise to a decision.
- Hermansson ...The Swede, once a feared grappler at Middleweight who dominated Jacare Souza, is now a strangely robotic striker. As seen against Chris Curtis, Hermansson can keep a counter-puncher on the end of his jab with relative ease. That alone is the key to victory against Roman Dolidze. The Georgian is a mess of parts, dangerous in all areas of a fight, but he massively struggled against Trevin Giles – the only fighter who has entered against Dolidze with a clear, consistent game plan.
- Tuivasa KO ...The huge red flag has to be Tuivasa’s lack of recovery time after a bloody beatdown in Paris at the hands of Ciryl Gane. Against Pavlovich, a ferociously fast starter, it could be too much too soon for Bam Bam. However, Tuivasa has made a career out of thriving in tough 50/50 exchanges and turning the tide of a fight with a one-shot. Pavlovich is a swarmer once he has his opponent hurt and could easily walk himself into a Greg Hardy-esque highlight reel.
- Nicolau Sub ...Nicolau may lack KO power and generally pushes a pedestrian pace, but his accuracy and consistency have improved significantly since his return to the UFC. Schnell flies out of the blocks trying to create a mess and falls back onto his grappling chops. For a fighter with a questionable chin, it is a head-scratcher as to why Schnell has adopted such a wild style.
