I haven’t been consistent in getting my picks up for UFC events here at the sites. I used to do every event, and then I dropped down to just pay-per-views, and now it’s really just the big events.
I do add more UFC picks articles at my main site: SportsBettingCanadian.ca, so check out that site if you want more consistent UFC picks.
With the coronavirus shutting down the sports world, it’s hard to know if UFC 249 will go ahead on April 18th, but Dana White is adamant that the fight will happen, even if it’s not in the United States.
Dana White on Khabib vs. Tony: Whatever it takes. No crowd. Probably not even in the United States. This fight is going to happen.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 16, 2020
With the bosses assurances, and the fact I have a ton of time with no sports action right now, I’m going to go ahead and give my picks for what could be the next UFC event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson
This Khabib vs Ferguson fight needs to happen. This is the fifth time these two have been scheduled to fight in the last five years, and both guys just keep on winning. Khabib and Tony are both on 12 fight winning streaks in the UFC, and the winner of this fight has a legitimate claim to the pound for pound title.
Khabib is a pretty big favorite in this fight. He’s definitely a beast, but I also think there is this kind of mystique surrounding Khabib simply because he hasn’t lost. That said, I would argue Tony has the more impressive wins resume in the UFC, and you could easily argue that Khabib lost Gleison Tibau in his second UFC fight.
I think Tony’s scrambling ability and the fact that he can do damage from small openings gives him a great chance in this fight. He has huge output on the feet and I think he will be able to pull off some interesting maneuvers to evade some of Khabib’s wrestling attacks.
Tony is a wild man, and I think his somewhat wreckless style will work well against Khabib. Other fighters like Iaquinta, Barboza, and even Conor have gone in their focusing more on defending takedowns than dishing out their own damage. Khabib is going to take you down. You just have to deal some damage before he does, and keep looking to deal damage throughout the fight. I think Tony will do this, and I honestly think it’s something Khabib hasn’t really dealt with yet.
Play: Ferguson +240
Jessica Andrade vs Rose Namajunas
I think Rose is easily the better fighter between these two. She has ability to pick Andrade apart from the outside. She was doing this in their first fight before going for a bonehead submission, which was not necessary at all. If Rose comes back fully invested in avenging her loss, she will get this win and potentially set up a huge fight with Zhang.
Play: Namajunas -170
Jacare Souza vs Uriah Hall
Souza is coming off two losses, but he had a very tight fight with Jan Blachowicz, who will likely get the next title shot, and I just think Hermansson was a pretty tough match-up for him. I do still think Souza has something left in the tank, and he should be able to show it against Hall, who is a level below him in my opinion.
Hall is on a two fight winning streak, including a win over Antonio Carlos Junior, who is a superb jiu jitsu fighter. This win may make people believe Hall will also defeat Souza, but let’s not forget the win over Carlos Junior was a split decision, and Souza is a big step up from Carlos Junior.
I expect Souza to be able to hang with Hall on the feet, while actually having the better chance of getting a knockout. If it goes to the mat I believe Souza has a great shot at a submission. Even if the fight stays on the feet and there’s no knockout, I think Souza will be the more active fighter because Halls attacks come few and far between.
Basically the only way Hall wins is if he catches Souza with a spectacular knockout and I just don’t see it happening. Jacare has so many paths to victory in this fight.
Play: Souza -145