UFC 206 predictions: Holloway, Pettis battle for a taste of gold

Prior to UFC 206 in Toronto on Saturday, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis and Alexander K. Lee give their predictions on the evening's main-card bouts.

Interim Featherweight Championship Bout

Max Holloway (12-3 UFC, 16-3)
vs.
Anthony Pettis (6-4 UFC, 19-5)

Alexander K. Lee: Max Holloway could be in for a long night against Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. In Pettis, Holloway is facing a former UFC champion with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

That said, Holloway is one of the most complete strikers at 145 pounds, with an intensity and diversity that rivals Jose Aldo. There are few weaknesses in his standup game and even against the gifted Pettis, he should have the advantage. On the ground is another story entirely, as Pettis is a dangerous submission artist. Holloway's grappling is nothing to sneeze at, but he'd be wise to keep this one on the feet.

This one is going to go all five rounds and it's Holloway who will walk out with gold around his waist.

THE PICK: Holloway

Themistoklis Alexis: Pettis' penchant for highlight-reel finishes won't be enough to stop Holloway's steady rise.

"Blessed" proved he can draw finishers into his world in a three-round decision over Jeremy Stephens. Expect him do the same against the well-rounded Pettis as opposed to the last-second theatrics he pulled against Ricardo Lamas. The crafty Holloway will control the striking range from the outside while picking "Showtime" apart from a litany of angles for the length of his first five-rounder.

Further bolstering Holloway's chances of winning his first UFC strap is this fun fact: All of Pettis' five career losses have come via decision.

THE PICK: Holloway

Welterweight Bout

Donald Cerrone (18-4 UFC, 31-7)
vs.
Matt Brown (13-9 UFC, 20-15)

Alexis: One can't help but wonder what Matt Brown was thinking when he ditched Tarec Saffiedine in favor of Donald Cerrone.

The matchup may have barn burner written all over it, but Brown's tendency to go for broke makes him the ripest prey for Cerrone, who's as lethal as he is technically savvy on both his feet and the ground. Brown has only been knocked out once and gone the distance with two of the fiercest sluggers at 170 pounds in Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks, but he's also tapped in 10 of 15 career losses.

Look for "Cowboy" to send Brown reeling from his kickboxing in short order before finishing the job via submission.

THE PICK: Cerrone

Lee: "The Immortal" might be down and out after this one.

As fun as this fight with Cerrone is likely to be for the fans, it's going to end in miserable fashion for Brown when he taps out or gets knocked out by Cowboy. Cerrone is simply superior to Brown in every facet of MMA, whether it be power, technique, grappling, or durability. Brown will put on a good show for as long as this one lasts, but he's going to see his opponent's hand raised for fifth time in six fights.

THE PICK: Cerrone

Featherweight Bout

Cub Swanson (8-3 UFC, 23-7)
vs.
Doo Ho Choi (3-0 UFC, 14-1)

Lee: Doo Ho Choi is on the fast track to stardom and standing in his way is veteran Cub Swanson. Nobody said breaking into the top 10 of the UFC's stacked featherweight division would be easy.

Speed kills, and there are few fighters at 145 pounds faster and more precise than Choi. However, given that Jose Aldo is the only fighter in Swanson's 12-year career to finish him with strikes, it will be a tall task for Choi to add "Killer Cub" to his list of knockouts. That makes this the perfect opportunity to show that he can go the distance against elite competition.

For three rounds, Swanson is going to struggle to get in on Choi without getting popped, and that should lead to a decision win for the young fighter.

THE PICK: Choi

Alexis: "The Korean Superboy" has finished his last eight opponents, but Swanson is just the man to shatter his air of invincibility.

Both fighters have clubs for hands, but Choi's repertoire of combinations is limited, while Swanson does his best work from unconventional angles. The vet hasn't won by submission since he honed his chops in the WEC, but he shouldn't have any problem taking the fight to the ground if the youngster's counters get too close for comfort. Choi hasn't had to work off his back in his brief UFC stint, so expect Swanson to exploit his discomfort and secure a tapout before long.

THE PICK: Swanson

Middleweight Bout

Tim Kennedy (3-1 UFC, 18-5)
vs.
Kelvin Gastelum (7-2 UFC, 12-2)

Alexis: Tim Kennedy has gone through far too much to end his two-year layoff with anything less than a W.

The 37-year-old - who's seen two separate dates with Rashad Evans fall through - has been in fighting shape for months, while Kelvin Gastelum's weight management troubles have raised questions as to whether he'll show up in similar condition on fight night. The "Ultimate Fighter" winner could resort to his grappling and make the fight ugly if Kennedy gets the better of the striking exchanges, but the Strikeforce alum boasts equally sneaky submission skills that once gave decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner Roger Gracie fits.

Even if Gastelum tips the scales with his first six-pack, his odds of outworking Kennedy are slim.

THE PICK: Kennedy

Lee: Gastelum is about to realize that his future was at 185 pounds all along.

He's going to be giving up inches and reach to Kennedy - and pretty much anyone else he fights at middleweight - but Gastelum is an explosive athlete with good wrestling that should make up for any physical shortcomings. Though Kennedy is in excellent shape himself, his long layoff is going to cost him on fight night, when a single mistake could influence the whole match.

Gastelum won't hesitate to take the action right to Kennedy from the opening bell, a strategy that will set the tone for an impressive performance and get Gastelum back on the right track.

THE PICK: Gastelum

Welterweight Bout

Jordan Mein (3-2 UFC, 29-10)
vs.
Emil Meek (0-0 UFC, 8-2-1)

Lee: Worlds will collide in this intriguing matchup between one fighter ending a near two-year retirement and another looking to build on a stunning upset in his UFC debut.

Emil Meek is yet to go to a decision in his first 12 fights, and that was never more impressive than in a 45-second KO of top-10 welterweight Rousimar Palhares in Meek's last fight before joining the UFC. He'll likely come out of the gates smoking hot and put Jordan Mein behind on the scorecards after one round.

However, once Mein finds his old rhythm, he'll start to pick Meek apart with his far more developed skill set en route to a late finish.

THE PICK: Mein

Alexis: This clash of knockout artists should yield its first (and likely only) telling blow in no time.

Both Mein and Meek have made a career of drawing first blood, but the former hasn't seen the inside of the Octagon in nearly two years, nor has he faced a storm like Meek's in his handful of bouts therein. Look for "Valhalla" to make his UFC debut a brief affair - he'll walk Mein down from the jump and won't stop swinging until the referee says otherwise.

THE PICK: Meek