UFC 298: Quick Picks and Prognostications

Anthony Hernandez vs Roman Kopylov faceoff UFC 298 ceremonial weigh-ins

Kicking off the paid portion of the cardboard is a middleweight matchup between Anthony Hernandez and Roman Kopylov.

Regardless of not disagreeing with Hernadez being put in because the betting favourite, I’ve a sneaky suspicion that the southpaw Kopylov is a reside canine on this spot.

Except for the truth that Hernandez formally stands at 0-1 reverse UFC-level lefties, the California native has proven a propensity to be stung by physique photographs in each victory and defeat.

Add in the truth that he’s arguably going through the very best bodyworker at 185 kilos, and I can’t assist however take a flier on Kopylov and his latest wrestling enhancements to get it carried out for him right here.

The choose is Kopylov by knockout in spherical 2.

Filling out the primary card is a crucial battle at bantamweight between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo.

Regardless that Cejudo initially opened because the betting favourite, cash has come pouring in on the rightful no. 1 contender, Davalishvili.

Cejudo will be the superior fighter on paper, however I don’t disagree with the road motion acknowledged above.

Till they mean you can carry firearms into the octagon, I’m undecided I can guess on anybody stopping or out-working Dvalishvili in the meanwhile.

The choose is Dvalishvili by unanimous determination.

In a battle that ought to be extra aggressive than the percentages let on, Geoff Neal will lastly do battle with Ian Garry.

Though I can perceive the temptation to take a shot at Neal on this spot, I nonetheless discover myself leaning towards the favourite.

Say what you’ll about Garry, however the 26-year-old seems to be a really expert and well-prepared fighter. And regardless of Neal being his most harmful check thus far, the Fortis MMA product hasn’t precisely been the toughest to gameplan for given each his headhunting and left-sided sensibilities.

I positively wouldn’t thoughts being improper right here, however the choose is Garry by unanimous determination.

The co-main occasion for UFC 298 contains a middleweight showdown between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa.

As acknowledged in my in-depth breakdown, these two have been on a collision course for fairly a while now.

Though I can perceive anybody who’s questioning Whittaker’s endurance at this level in his profession, I imagine that his shot choices of straight punches and checking hooks will serve him properly contemplating Costa’s historical past with these punches.

I’ll choose Whittaker to lastly get again to his ending methods however discovering a stoppage late in spherical 3.

The principle occasion in Anaheim contains a implausible featherweight title battle between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

As acknowledged in my in-depth breakdown, this battle offers me the identical vibes that UFC 231’s principal attraction between Max Holloway and Brian Ortega did.

Holloway, who was on the peak of his reign, was being doubted by the general public attributable to well being struggles that stemmed out and in of the cage. Nonetheless, come battle evening, the then-Hawaiian champion would go on to have the efficiency of a lifetime.

Now, I’m undecided if Volkanovski can replicate something to that stage, however I do suspect that the Macedonian champion reminds us of his wrestling skills this Saturday.

I additionally suspect that Volkanovski’s educated lead hand and kicking recreation can even be essential given Topuria’s wrestle-boxing propensities, however buying and selling with the Georgian is not any joke.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Topuria stun the champion early for an upset, however I’ll take the higher adjuster in Volkanovski to retain through unanimous determination.