UFC Fight Night 110: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions
- from Bleacher Report on Jun 09, 2017
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After a relatively calm two months, the UFC is back in 2016 form with its events, delivering one every single weekend. While many are still chewing on June 3's UFC 212 and how Max Holloway posted a phenomenal performance over longtime elite Jose Aldo, fans have to gear right back up for this weekend, with UFC Fight Night 110.
Granted, this event isn't what anyone would label as "stacked," with a main card featuring more than a few fighters who are mysteries even to UFC diehards. Still, the main event is good enough to make many forget about those ills, featuring the beloved Mark Hunt opposite fast-rising fellow fan favorite Derrick Lewis.
The full main card is as follows:
- Derrick Lewis vs. Mark Hunt
- Derek Brunson vs. Dan Kelly
- Dan Hooker vs. Ross Pearson
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Henrique da Silva
- Tim Elliott vs. Ben Nguyen
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Mizuto Hirota
As per usual, the Bleacher Report staff is here to make picks and plead cases for each of these bouts. So read on and find out who the team is picking!
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Nathan McCarter
Make it 12 in a row for Volkanovski. Hirota is a fun fighter who's on an unbeaten streak of his own, but it feels inflated given the competition. Volkanovski will make that evident with a one-sided victory.
Volkanovski, TKO, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
Do I really have to pick this fight? Is this really on the main card? Good lord. Hirota is the most grizzled of veterans, and his submission skills will shine through against whoever this other person is.
Hirota, submission, Rd. 2
Steven Rondina
I'm basically of the same persuasion as Scott on this one. This person, who I'm told now isn't actually Alexander Volkov's pint-sized clone, is promising...but Hirota represents a step up from the regional-level fighters he has faced thus far. He might be able to hack it, but I'm leaning in the direction of the veteran.
Hirota, unanimous decision
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McCarter
Elliott is one of the upper echelon fighters in the flyweight division. Nguyen may pose some interesting looks for Elliott, but he won't pose significant threats. That's the difference.
Elliott, unanimous decision
Harris
Nguyen goes by the book, and Elliott is unorthodox. That goes for the standing and ground phases. Nguyen's sharp striking will be a big differentiator, and on the ground he'll hold his own on the scrambles.
Nguyen, unanimous decision
Rondina
I'm still not willing to completely buy into Elliott as a top-end flyweight, but I'm close enough to pick him over a still-iffy Ben Nguyen.
Elliott, unanimous decision
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McCarter
Oy. I don't even know where to start with these two underperforming fighters. I have to feel Da Silva comes out swinging with his back against the wall. And Cutelaba doesn't have the ability to thwart that.
Da Silva, TKO, Rd. 1
Harris
Watch out for a brawl with these two. Cutelaba is a bit more polished, and he'll find his shots against the hyper-aggressive Da Silva.
Cutelaba, TKO, Rd. 1
Rondina
This is the toughest fight to pick on the main card. These are sloppy fighters with heavy hands that should come together for a fight resembling a child smashing two action figures together. The winner is a coinflip. I got tails, so I'll take Da Silva.
Da Silva, TKO, Rd. 1
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McCarter
Pearson's pressure and striking could be a big issue for Hooker, but length and grappling make the difference. Hooker will be able to tie up and get Pearson down. Once there, Hooker's grappling allows him to run up the score in the eye's of the judges.
Hooker, unanimous decision
Harris
This is the dark horse for Fight of The Night among the main card candidates. Pearson is due for a win, and his movement will get it done over the tough but uninspiring Hooker. He'll stay clear of the clinch and get it done.
Pearson, TKO, Rd. 2
Rondina
Pearson has never been known for winning lots of fights, but he's been losing a lot more than usual of late. Is he on a steep, Johny Hendricks-like decline at this point? Maybe, maybe not, but I'm going to pick against him until I start seeing something different.
Hooker, unanimous decision
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McCarter
Brunson has the greater measure of athleticism. Their games are similar and it will be a grinding affair, but Kelly and his hometown fans will be disappointed.
Brunson, unanimous decision
Harris
Kelly cannot possibly win this fight, can he? He is a battered, broken old man going against one of the best in the division. The aura around Kelly gets demolished against Brunson. Brunson will put it on the unlikely contender with an onslaught of punches.
Brunson, TKO, Rd. 1
Rondina
I'm riding on the Dan Kelly hype train until it derails. I'm expecting the four-time Olympian to shuffle, clinch and grit his teeth to an ugly, forgettable, oddly inspirational win over the young (or younger, at least) gun.
Kelly, unanimous decision
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McCarter
Every bone in my body is telling me to pick Lewis here. He's younger, on the upswing, has huge power and Hunt's chin has been exposed in recent fights. But I'm going with The Super Samoan.
Why? He's more tactical with his striking. We've seen Lewis slow down and get sloppy. In fact, we've seen that quite a bit. Those are the opportunities Hunt can expose with a quick counter left. Put another walk-away KO on the board.
Hunt, KO, Rd. 2
Harris
This is a battle between two right hands. Lewis has the height and reach advantage, and I like him in the clinch. Boom.
Lewis, KO, Rd. 2
Rondina
You need to be either a striking technician or a really strong wrestler in order to beat Mark Hunt. Lewis doesn't fit into either of those categories, and as such, I expect this to end in either a wheezy decision or another highlight for the Super Samoan.
Hunt, TKO, Rd. 2
