X-Issue! Some UFC Vegas 8 main card predictions

This weekend (Sat., Aug. 29, 2020), Greatest Battling Championship (UFC) will continue on its continue to be at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, with UFC Vegas 8. In the major celebration, Anthony Smith will attempt to make a brief rebound from a brutal reduction by having on top rated up-and-comer Aleksandar Rakic. Prior to that Light-weight Heavyweight violence, nonetheless, we have a few high-quality fights to review and forecast.

Keep in mind, we’ll be back again later this 7 days to preview and forecast the largest fights of this weekend’s function.

Women’s Flyweight: Ji Yeon Kim vs. Alexa Grasso

Most effective Win for Kim? Justine Kish For Grasso? Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Existing Streak: Kim returned to the get column last time out, while Grasso’s arrived up small to Carla Esparza
X-Aspect: a probable dimension discrepancy
How these two match up: This is very likely to be a kickboxing match.

A veteran of Jewels and Deep, Kim has fought a good part of her career — which includes her most current two bouts, in which she skipped excess weight (over 125 pounds). “Fire Fist” is a Wushu and Hapkido black belt, which translates to an energetic and rangy kickboxing game in the Octagon.

Grasso, 27, has been recognised as one particular of the division’s far better prospects for numerous several years now, although she’s regrettably alternated wins and losses in her past five bouts. On the brilliant side, Grasso’s takedown protection and general performances have normally been enhancing, allowing for her to showoff her boxing talent.

This will be her first bout at 125 lbs.

Fights amongst previous Bantamweights who cannot make excess weight regularly and Strawweights going up are questionable. There is a probability the size discrepancy could overall any distinction in talent. Fortuitously for Grasso, power and sizing are more sizeable in the grappler office, and neither of these women are very likely to hunt for takedowns.

In its place, we have a putting match, and Grasso is the cleaner puncher with heavier fingers. Grasso in no way definitely experienced a trouble with speed in any case at 115 pounds, but without the need of much of a body weight slash, she really should be equipped to enable her hands go now more than at any time.

Prediction: Grasso by means of choice

Featherweight: Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo

Ideal Get for Lamas? Charles Oliveira For Algeo? Scott Heckman
Present Streak: Lamas came up limited past time out, whereas Algeo helps make his UFC debut acquiring won his last bout
X-Element: Algeo accepted this bout on very brief-recognize
How these two match up: It’s not Lamas vs. Ryan Hall, but this should really nonetheless be a exciting struggle.

Lamas has been there, done that. The former title challenger has definitely fought all the finest names of the past five decades at 145 lbs ., using out a honest share of them. He’s an opportunistic wrestler and grappler with totally brutal ground putting, and on the toes, Lamas is a tough vary striker.

Algeo is a veteran of the northeast fight circuit, acquiring competed for respected promotions like Ring of Beat and CFFC. He’s a grappler initial and foremost, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who seems to acquire the again and protected a strangle.

I favored Lamas against Hall, and I like him from a brief-recognize substitution. Algeo is a sound fighter who has fought a high-level of levels of competition, but it is actually hard to see him getting out a divisional staple on this kind of shorter-notice. Algeo is a finishing danger, but not an frustrating one particular, which is in all probability what is required to defeat Lamas devoid of a complete camp.

Lamas lands his calf kick and scores ample takedowns to protected a obvious-slice conclusion gain.

Prediction: Lamas by using determination

Mild Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba 2

Best Acquire for Ankalaev? Klidson Abreu For Cutelaba? Khalil Rountree Jr.
Present-day Streak: Ankalaev has technically received four straight, while Cutelaba shed his final bout to … Ankalaev in a controversial consequence
X-Variable: What transpires if this combat goes over and above the to start with round?
How these two match up: Two strong wrestlers with serious punching energy will throw down yet once again.

Dagestan’s leading Light-weight Heavyweight consultant delivers the capabilities 1 would expect, specifically a dominant wrestling match with crushing ground strikes. Nonetheless, Ankalaev has verified himself a incredibly good striker as effectively, notably just one with a penchant for head kicks.

Cutelaba is a wild man. He has a history in Greco-Roman wrestling and will muscle foes to the mat, but really, “Hulk” is all about smashing foes. Irrespective of whether he does so on the toes with large punches or on the mat with heavy elbows, his strategy is seriously the very same.

In the initial bout, it became quickly obvious that Ankalaev could counter his opponent at distance. He was basically sharper, and he realized what to anticipate. Perhaps Cutelaba’s system of participating in possum would have labored experienced the referee authorized the fight to enjoy out, but soon after that botched ending, Ankalaev appreciates to be mindful of that as properly.

Ankalaev is the a lot quicker kickboxer and far better wrestler. Until Cutelaba can out-clever his foe with some trickery or win the cardio battle, it appears to be like he’s in trouble. Realistically, “Hulk” is not identified for possibly of people tactics, so it’s haymaker knockout or bust for the Moldovan athlete.

Prediction: Ankalaev through knockout

Bear in mind that MMAmania.com will produce Dwell spherical-by-spherical, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC Vegas 8 battle card this weekend, starting off with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to get started at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ 9 p.m. ET.

To verify out the hottest and greatest UFC Vegas 8: “Smith vs. Rakic” information and notes be confident to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.