Bisping vs. Leites: UFC Fight Night Crystal Ball Predictions | FOX Sports – FOXSports.com
The UFC’s exciting marathon of great action continues Saturday with the fourth event in eight days for the promotion. Michael Bisping will take on Thales Leities in a pick-’em middleweight contenders match in the main event.
English lightweight slugger Ross Pearson will pit his striking against grappling wiz Evan Dunham in the co-main event, and Scottish sensation Joanne Calderwood will look to come back from the first loss of her professional career against Cortney Casey.
All that and much more starts at 9 a.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass, and then at 10 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO. Read on for our analysis and picks for each of the UFC Fight Night Glasgow card’s 12 bouts, and then let us know who you’re picking, on Facebook and Twitter.
Michael Bisping (26-7) vs. Thales Leites (25-4)
Bisping will be all emotion and momentum in this main event contest after coming from behind to win his previous fight, at UFC 186 in April, and fighting at home in the United Kingdom. Leites, on the other hand, will balance his new aggressive style with a recognition of the dangers the durable Bisping brings to the table.
Leites has won his last eight fights, five in the UFC, and would appear to be just another couple wins away from middleweight title contention. He’s shown striking power of late to go with his excellent ground skills.
Bisping has underrated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills and won’t be a fish out of water should the fight hit the ground. What’s more, he isn’t easy to take down at all.
At UFC 186, wrestler C.B. Dollaway had difficulty doing so, and even Chael Sonnen — one of the best wrestlers in MMA — had trouble doing so years ago. Bisping will be in shape, resilient and hard to hold down.
Leites won’t just be shooting, however. We’re betting he comes out firing with straight punches on Bisping.
The Brazilian can certainly hurt people with his punches, but he also has a tendancy to chase opponents, so Bisping has likely been working striking and takedowns specifically to counter his barrages.
Leites may end up just being too young, strong and good for Bisping at this point. He is also the more likely man to finish the fight.
“The Count” always has a shot to win because he is so hard to put away, however.
Prediction: Leites by decision
Ross Pearson (19-8) vs. Evan Dunham (15-6)
Pearson deserves to have won three out of his last four, on account of his decision “loss” to Diego Sanchez being such an awful home-town decision for the New Mexico native. Saturday, however, the British Pearson will be much closer to home than his American opponent.
Not that Ross ever fights to go to decision, anyhow. This fight will be an interesting contrast.
Dunham has great grappling but is good at using his length to strike. Pearson is much shorter but has quicker punches, and real power in them.
He’s also gotten pretty good at defending takedowns. Dunham would have the advantage on the ground but he’ll need to figure out a way to get the fight there, first.
Prediction: Pearson by decision
Joe Duffy (13-1) vs. Ivan Jorge (26-4)
“Irish Joe” will also be closer to home than his Brazilian opponent here, in this featured lightweight fight. Duffy is known as being the last man to beat (and finish) new interim featherweight champ Conor McGregor, but he made a new statement in March with a KO win in his UFC debut.
Jorge has a pair of UFC wins to his credit since 2013, and is very dangerous on the ground. He has more wins, by far, from submissions than by any other means, and he knows he’ll want to get Duffy on his back in this fight.
Duffy is fresher and younger, seven years to be exact, and will be tough to peg down, though. If he can keep Jorge at bay and connect with his power punches, Duffy stands a good chance to go 2-0 in the UFC.
Prediction: Duffy by decision
Joanne Calderwood (9-1) vs. Cortney Casey (4-1)
Casey gets a very tough draw in her UFC debut, facing the Scottish top-10 strawweight at home. What’s more, Calderwood is coming off of the first loss of her professional career, so we can assume that she’ll be especially aggressive and eager to get back on track.
Casey has half Calderwood’s pro experience, but she is at least used to fighting far from home, with a number of her fights taking place in Guam – far away from her Arizona residence.
Casey also fought eight times as an amateur before going pro, so she is more seasoned than her record may indicate. She’s a very good submission fighter with enough KO power on her feet to make Calderwood pay attention.
Calderwood will need to keep Casey off her with nice footwork and crisp, quick punches.
Prediction: We’ll go with Casey for the upset decision win.
Leon Edwards (9-2) vs. Pawel Pawlak (11-1)
Both welterweights are aggressive and powerful strikers, but Edwards may be the slightly more refined striker.
Prediction: Edwards by decision.
Stevie Ray (17-5) vs. Leonardo Mafra (12-2)
Mafra may have some size on Ray, and a power striking advantage, but Ray will feel at home in Glasgow, and is slick on the ground.
Prediction: Ray by decision.
Paddy Holohan (11-1) vs. Vaughan Lee (14-10-1)
Both these men are best on the ground, with their submission skills, but Holohan may be the more rangy striker.
Prediction: Holohan by decision.
Ilir Latifi (9-4) vs. Hans Stringer (22-6-3)
Latifi hits hard, real hard, but Stringer could edge him out if he ends up on top, on the ground.
Prediction: Stringer by decision.
Mickael Lebout (13-4-1) vs Teemu Packalen (7-0)
Both lightweights are hungry for their first UFC win (Lebout in his second promotional outing, Packalen in his debut) but Packalen may have the submission skills to be the one to get it done.
Prediction: Packalen by decision.
Rob Whiteford (11-2) vs. Paul Redmond (10-5)
Both men are well-rounded, but Whiteford will likely have the home-field advantage should this one go to a decision.
Prediction: Whiteford by decision.
Marcus Brimage (7-4) vs. Jimmie Rivera (16-1)
Rivera is solid but look for Brimage to use his foot speed, wrestling and power strikes to win this one.
Prediction: Brimage by decision.
Daniel Omielanczuk (16-5-1) vs. Chris De La Rocha (3-0)
De La Rocha packs a punch but he’d also better pack a lunch because he’s taking on someone with a great deal more MMA experience.
Prediction: Omielanczuk by decision
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