21 March 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: THOMPSON v PETTIS – PREDICTIONS

Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis moves up to welterweight for a dream bout against fellow striking phenom Stephen Thompson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 148 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time).

“There’s something different when you knock somebody out with your foot.” @WonderboyMMA #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/UFt5jEoKHi

— UFC (@ufc) March 22, 2019

The co-main event is also a must-watch collision as ranked heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Justin Willis throw down, while top five flyweights Jussier Formiga and Deiveson Figueiredo meet in the middle of the Octagon to stake their claim for a title shot.

Fast-paced action will fill out the card, which has the potential to rock the Music City.

This is a low-key superfight that promises to electrify. A thrilling contest we never thought we’d see, the headliner between two of the most dynamic and creative strikers in UFC history makes this top-heavy card one casual fight fans cannot afford to miss.

We already knew Pettis is a bona fide warrior. His bloody battle with Tony Ferguson in his last Octagon appearance at UFC 229 in Las Vegas in October highlighted this fact, and now “Showtime” is taking it up another level by facing off with the fourth-ranked welterweight in his debut at 170 pounds.

The former lightweight champion’s heart and sensational striking are undeniable, and he’ll have a significant advantage on the ground, where he’s among the elite submission artists off his back. He’s a legit Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and some of the biggest wins of his career have come via tapout, including his title triumph over Benson Henderson at UFC 164 back in 2013.

This will be a striking war, though, the type both athletes live for. Thompson has fought the murderer’s row of the welterweight division. His rise up the ranks saw “Wonderboy” finish reigning champion Robert Whittaker and ex-kingpin Johny Hendricks, both in the first round, and he outpointed Rory McDonald to earn a title shot against Tyron Woodley.

The five-time kickboxing world champion took “The Chosen One” to a draw before dropping a decision in the rematch, which he bounced back from with a win over Jorge Masvidal. He’s seeking to rebound once again after a narrow loss to Darren Till in London, and in Pettis, he has the perfect, big-name opponent to do just that.

Pettis, at 5’10”, gives up two inches in height and three in reach, and will be significantly lighter than the natural welterweight and more powerful puncher. His jump up to 170 is commendable and will gift fans a great fight, but Thompson embodies a bridge too far for the game “Showtime”.

Prediction: Thompson via KO.

9️⃣ years later and we still can’t believe it!

The time @ShowtimePettis entered the Matrix ⤵️ #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/v06KF01fjH

— UFC (@ufc) March 21, 2019

With a logjam at the top of the heavyweight division, where champion Daniel Cormier is holding out for a money fight against Brock Lesnar, and Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou and Junior dos Santos all have strong claims for a shot at the belt, this bout will lead to a title eliminator of some sort for the winner.

Fourth-ranked Blaydes had an impressive four-fight win streak (which includes a brutal TKO of Alistair Overeem via ‘helbows’) snapped by Ngannou, the only man Blaydes has bent the knee to in his 13-fight pro career, and he’s opted for the only ranked dance partner available in Willis, who sits at No. 10.

Dismissing Willis would be disrespectful. “Big Pretty” is 4-0 in the UFC and picked up a big win over Mark Hunt in his last fight. The victory over the K-1 legend was his second straight by decision, his lone UFC knockout coming against Allen Crowder in 2017.

I expect this to be a showcase fight for Blaydes, the former NJCAA national wrestling champion, who’ll maul the outmatched Willis with his grappling and vicious ground and pound.

Prediction: Blaydes via TKO.

Injuries to their original opponents Nasrat Haqparast and Chris Gruetzemacher see Makdessi and Pinedo being thrown together. Makdessi has won two on the trot, while Pinedo made good on his UFC debut, beating Devin Powell by decision in November. That’s where the key difference lies between them – experience.

Makdessi made his UFC debut all the way back in 2010, and has been in there with the likes of Donald Cerrone and Ross Pearson, beating the latter last time out. Pinedo has solid wrestling but remains untested at this level and has been guilty of being reckless on the feet. Makdessi hasn’t had a finish in almost four years, and he looks primed to rectify that at the expense of “El Mudo”.

Prediction: Makdessi via TKO.

If not for their diminutive stature and the future of the flyweight division being up in the air, this could easily have been a co-main or even a headliner of another card. Even more so after the shocking news of TJ Dillashaw’s failed drug test dropped on Wednesday.

Dillashaw “voluntarily relinquished” his bantamweight belt – escaping the shame of being stripped – and has copped a one-year suspension, which puts paid to the earmarked champion versus champion rematch against flyweight king, Henry Cejudo.

It’s a big blow for Cejudo, who wanted his opportunity of becoming a dual-division champ after starching Dillashaw in their first meeting, but also for Formiga. The Nova União product was set to challenge Cejudo for the title before being cast aside for the more lucrative champ-champ clash, and agreed to put his number one contender status on the line against a juggernaut long before this week’s shocking revelation.

Figueiredo has decimated three of his four UFC opponents, including his last victim John Moraga, and boasts a flawless 15-0 record. He’s been instilled as the favourite as a result, despite being three spots below Formiga on the rankings. I’m going with Formiga here. A high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with 10 submission victories, he’s a UFC mainstay on a two-fight win streak, and pushed Cejudo to the limit before losing a split decision in 2015.

Prediction: Formiga via submission.

Will Saturday night include another @RazorBlaydes265 KO? #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/7MN2Pmauqg

— UFC (@ufc) March 20, 2019

A reunion for the two Ultimate Fighter season 27 alumni. 6’3” Pena’s first battle is making weight in his first fight at flyweight. It’s a risky weight cut for “The Violent Bob Ross”, but I’m backing him to deliver on the scale and inside the Octagon. Peterson picked up his maiden UFC win against Matt Bessette in December but gets hit far too often, which a fighter the calibre of Pena will capitalise on.

Prediction: Pena via TKO.

Barber made a statement in her UFC debut, hammering Hannah Cifers with hard elbows to score a TKO win in November. Aldrich has been around longer, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that due to her uneventful wins over Chanmi Jeon, Danielle Taylor and Polyana Viana. I expect Barber to take the fight to the ground and rain down blows until the referee intervenes.

Prediction: Barber via TKO.

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