UFC on Fuel TV 7 is this Saturday, February 16th airing live from Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom. The main card will feature several powerful strikers like James Te-Huna, Che Mills and Jimi Manuwa as well as an interim Bantamweight Championship match between champ Renan Barao and challenger Michael McDonald. Because of the time difference the Facebook prelims will start at 12:15pm and the main card will air at 3:00pm. Enjoy the predictions and UFC on Fuel TV 7 fight card.
Facebook Prelims: 1-5-0 (OUCH!)
125lbs – Phil Harris (0-1 UFC) vs. Ulysses Gomez (0-1 UFC) – Gomez via submission Wrong - Harris won via unanimous decision
135lbs – Vaughan Lee (1-2 UFC) vs. Motonobu Tezuka (0-1 UFC) – Lee via decision Correct plus method
185lbs – Tom Watson (0-1 UFC) vs. Stanislav Nedkov (1-0-1 UFC) – Nedkov via TKO Wrong - Watson won via TKO
145lbs – Andy Ogle (0-1 UFC) vs. Josh Grispi (0-3 UFC) – Grispi via TKO Wrong - Ogle won via unanimous decision
155lbs – Paul Sass (3-1 UFC) vs. Danny Castillo (4-2 UFC) – Sass via submission Wrong - Castillo won via unanimous decision
155lbs – Terry Etim (6-4 UFC) vs. Renee Forte (0-1 UFC) – Etim via submission Wrong - Forte won via unanimous decision
Fuel TV Main Card: 5-1-0 (NICE!) Total MMA Predictions: 102-68-0 = 60%
170lbs – Che Mills (2-1 UFC) vs. Matthew Riddle (7-3-1 UFC) – Riddle via decision Mills will be looking to defend home territory against the always entertaining Riddle. Mills is a very talented striker that likes to use kicks and knees just as much as his hands, but he has power in every limb. The knock on Mills is his takedown defense and grappling, although he does stay active when he’s on the ground. Riddle is a big welterweight with great wrestling so if he chooses to take Mills down he should have no problem beating him up and controlling him for 3 rounds. The only problem is Riddle has said that he will stand and strike with Mills, and only go for the takedown if Mills wants to jab and run which likely won’t happen. Riddle may bite off more then he can chew he strikes with Mills but wrestlers will wrestle and Riddle will get at least a takedown in each round and spend time in top control. Correct plus method
205lbs – James Te-Huna (4-1 UFC) vs. Ryan Jimmo (1-0 UFC) – Te-Huna via TKO
In the Light Heavyweight division we have a battle of strikers, Canada (Jimmo) vs. New Zealand in England. Jimmo’s UFC debut was a 7 second KO over Anthony Perosh, while Te-Huna also KO’d Perosh in the 1st round but took a little longer in doing so. Although Jimmo’s striking is really good, he doesn’t possess as much power as Te-Huna, so if this fight stays standing expect Te-Huna to eventually land a power shot that makes Jimmo cover up and then watch Te-Huna rush in and finish him. Neither fighter is amazing on the ground so don’t expect a submission finish, but Jimmo may force a grappling match once he feels the power of Te-Huna. If so, Te-Huna will be able to stuff almost every takedown attempt or get back to his where he can finish Jimmo. Correct
170lbs – Gunnar Nelson (1-0 UFC) vs. Jorge Santiago (1-4 UFC) – Nelson via decision
Nations collide again as Icelandic Gunnar Nelson tries to keep his undefeated streak against Brazilian Jorge Santiago. Nelson has some solid striking, but almost always just uses strikes to set up his takedowns. Santiago probably has better striking than Nelson, but Santiago has been KO’d 6 times out of 10 losses so his chin is always questionable. All that being said don’t expect this fight to stay standing as Nelson will likely be able to get a takedown and then the fun starts. Both men are so highly decorated in BJJ that it’s hard to tell if either fighter will be able to submit the other. However, Nelson should be the one in top control throughout most of the fight so Nelson will likely not submit but out grapple Santiago in this fight. Correct plus method
205lbs – Jimi Manuwa (1-0 UFC) vs. Cyrille Diabaté (4-2 UFC) – Manuwa via TKO
This fight will be very entertaining between the power of Manuwa and the technical striking of Diabate. Manuwa is undefeated in MMA with a 12-0 record, 11 by TKO or KO and 1 by submission, with only a few weaknesses like takedown defense and wild striking. Diabate has the tools to defeat Manuwa in this fight as he will have a 6 inch height and reach advantage along with his long legs. Diabate may be able to catch Manuwa with a strike comeing in, but Manuwa is so freaking tough that he should just walk through the strikes of Diabate. Diabate has shown that he can take his opponents down and Manuwa might be susceptible to trips in this fight so that may play a factor if it goes the distance. On the ground Diabate would likely have an advantage with his long limbs where he could land elbows or go for a submission, but Manuwa didn’t allow a strong Kyle Kingsbury to do any damage from on top of him. This fight will stay standing long enough for Manuwa to use that brutal left hook to rip into Diabate’s toothpick frame. Correct plus method
145lbs – Cub Swanson (3-1 UFC) vs. Dustin Poirier (5-1 UFC) – Poirier via submission
The Featherweight division is looking pretty much owned right now by Jose Aldo, but a battle between these two men will provide a very worthy contender as this fight will determine Aldo’s next challenger. Swanson is on a 3 fight win streak winning all by TKO or KO and he definitely has a chance to continue that streak on Saturday. It won’t be easy by any means though as Poirier is also a very tough striker with a great chin and a lot of heart. The difference in this fight is the fact that Swanson has shown a lack of takedown defense, even in his last 2 wins, and Poirier should have the ability to get Swanson down and work for submissions which Swanson is vulnerable to. Poirier will be able to hang with Swanson on the feet, get takedowns and eventually lock in a submission finish. Wrong - Swanson won via unanimous decision
135lbs – Renan Barao (4-0 UFC) vs. Michael McDonald (4-0 UFC) – Barao via submission
Barao will be defending his Interim Bantamweight title for the first time against a tough challenger. Aside from Barao’s first pro fight in ‘05, which he lost via decision, he has not lost a single fight since then and has won almost all of them in impressive fashion. McDonald’s only career loss was via TKO to Cole Escovedo, but he was able to avenge that loss when he KO’d Escovedo in their rematch. Both men are talented strikers with a lot of power, but Barao uses more kicks and that should be the difference in the stand-up. McDonald does have KO power and he may be able to land one of those punches, but Barao likely won't get rocked as he took Brad Pickett’s punches. On the ground Barao has a serious advantage and if the fight goes there expect him to be able to control McDonald and eventually get the submission finish. Correct plus method
The UFC is back next weekend with the organizations first ever female championship match between champ Rhonda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche. Dan Henderson will face Lyoto Machida in the co-main event and other star fighters like Urijah Faber and Josh Koscheck will be on fighting on the card. It will be a historic night with tons of great action and many submission/KO finishes. Feel free to comment on the fight picks and check back in for more UFC and Bellator predictions.
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