This weekend sees two light heavyweight contenders in Anthony "Lionheart" Smith and Aleksandar "Rocket" Rakic go to war. With the title being vacant at the present time, this fight will have huge ramifications within the title picture. Also on the card, fan favourite Robbie Lawler goes head-to-head against Neil Magny is the co-main event.
Here are The MMA Mindset's predictions for each of the main card's fights.
Featherweight - Ricardo Lamas vs Bill Algeo
Chris: This is an unusual one. Lamas was originally scheduled to face grappling wizard Ryan Hall, however, Hall had to pull-out with an injury 10 days before the scheduled bout. The UFC quickly found a replacement and pencilled in DWTNCS winner Bill Algeo. This is a nightmare debut for any fighter, and even though The Bully is coming to the end of his career, he is still an extremely dangerous and experienced fighter.
Algeo took advantage of his second opportunity on the Contender Series and earned himself the illustrious UFC contract. Despite Senor Perfecto being in the so-called prime of his career, it's a tough ask to beat someone who has already amassed 10 wins in the UFC. For this reason, I can see the experience of Lamas taking over and him controlling the fight from the start.
Prediction: Ricardo Lamas - Decision
Cal: With Bill Algeo stepping in on 10 days notice for the injured Ryan Hall, an octagon debut against someone as tough as Ricardo Lamas is a pretty big ask. With wins over the likes of Charles Oliveira and Cub Swanson on his resume, Lamas will probably prove to be too tough a task for Algeo on such short notice.
The Contender Series winner will undoubtedly learn a lot from his debut in the octagon, and it will most likely set him up for a strong future, but it's hard to see him having his hand raised when all's said and done.
Prediction: Ricardo Lamas - Decision
Women's Flyweight - Ji Yeon Kim vs. Alexa Grasso
Chris: This fight has all the ingredients to be a stand-up clinic, with both the combatants seemingly disinterested in the ground game. Ji Yeon Kim is yet to attempt a takedown in her 5 UFC outings, and despite only finishing one fight in the promotion, has the ability to close out fights early (check out her regional circuit fights). Likewise, Alexa Grasso only averages 0.19 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Grasso came into the promotion with a certain amount of hype behind her, but has failed to gain momentum, most recently losing to former champ Carla Esparza. Alexa is coming into the fight as a clear favourite, and I can see her having enough on the feet to dictate the pace and land effective strikes throughout.
Prediction: Alexa Grasso - Decision
Cal: I'm with Chris on this one promising to be a fight fan's delight, with both women known for their stand up game. Alexa Grasso is a name on most fan's lips heading into the event, but Ji Yeon Kim shouldn't be overlooked.
Both women have suffered an inconsistent start to life in the octagon and both will be desperate to start climbing the rankings, but Grasso will have learnt a lot from her most recent loss to former champion Carla Esparza and will most likely outstrike Yeon Kim, eventually finishing her late on.
Prediction: Alexa Grasso - Third Round - TKO
Welterweight - Robbie Lawler vs Neil Magny
Chris: "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler comes into this fight on a three-fight skid for the first time in his career. However, as he shown before, he is no stranger to a career resurgence. Personally, Lawler is one of my favourite fighters of all time. His pressure style and heavy hands are a crowd-pleaser, and he's finished 21 of his 28 professional wins.
Magny is coming off a decision victory over Anthony Martin at UFC 250, and has looked great in his past 2 fights. The "Haitian Sensation" is not known for finishing his fights, going to decision 13 times in his 23 wins (not a bad finish rate, but when you compare with the top fighters it certainly lacks), but his ability to control and dictate a fight could prove influential in the result. Lawler is giving up a huge height and reach disadvantage, but I can still see him having too much for his 33-year-old opponent. Also, I'll never go against "Ruthless".
Prediction: Robbie Lawler - Third Round - TKO
Cal: I'd love to agree with Chris here. Robbie Lawler is undoubtedly one of my favourite fighters of all time and any fight he's involved in always promises to be a 'fight of the night' contender, but I just can't look past Neil Magny here.
The 33-year-old has looked great in his last couple of fights and will more than likely wear Ruthless down, keeping himself at a distance and avoiding Lawler's knockout power, outstriking and out grappling him on his way to a decision victory.
Prediction: Neil Magny - Decision
Light Heavyweight - Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Chris: So this ones going to hurt, figuratively and literally. I'd give anything for "Lionheart" to regain his prior momentum before his loss to Jon Jones, but I just can't see it happening. Especially in this fight. Smith looked a shadow of his former self in his last outing against Glover Teixeira, and never seemed to get going. Whether that was due to personal reasons, or his ability to fight we do not know. All I can say, is that I have a bad feeling about fight.
"Rocket" Rakic has been near enough perfect in his UFC career. Despite losing an extremely close split decision to Volkan Oezdemir in 2019, he has looked dominant inside the octagon. Aleksandar has freakish power and stand up ability, and boasts huge range and length. I can only see this going one way, and that's an early night for Anthony Smith, unfortunately.
Prediction: Aleksandar Rakic - First Round - Knockout
Cal: No matter which way you look at Anthony Smith, it's hard to deny the damage he took in his latest fight with Glover Teixeira. Lionheart took some serious punishment in the loss and is most likely still carrying some of it heading into his meeting with Aleksandar Rakic.
Rakic has looked incredible during his UFC stint and would be undefeated in the octagon if it wasn't for an extremely controversial (and flat out wrong) decision loss to Volkan Oezdemir last year. Rakic is an extremely elite striker and I can't see Smith's chin holding up through three rounds. Lionheart will look to use his grappling to gain an advantage on the 28-year-old, but that will most than likely just prolonge the inevitable.
Prediction: Aleksandar Rakic - Second Round - Knockout
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