UFC 258 predictions: Will Usman's dominance continue?

Ahead of Saturday's UFC 258 in Las Vegas, theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the top bouts.

Welterweight championship

Kamaru Usman (17-1)
vs.
Gilbert Burns (19-3)

Usman is in for a tough fight against Burns while looking to defend his 170-pound title for the third time.

The defending champ is an elite wrestler and Burns is a jiu-jitsu ace. Their abilities on the ground will likely turn Saturday's main event into a stand-up battle. The welterweights are relatively even in skill standing up, so the bout will be competitive and both fighters will earn their moments.

It's tough to pick against Usman, though. "The Nigerian Nightmare" has improved his striking in recent years, and he'll be a bit more comfortable than Burns in that area. Burns will hold the edge in knockout power, but Usman's defense is great. The latter has also logged more experience going five rounds.

As long as the champion stays clear of the challenger's biggest shots (and doesn't get caught in a submission, of course), he should be able to outwork Burns down the stretch.

The Pick: Usman, unanimous decision

Women's flyweight bout

Maycee Barber (8-1)
vs.
Alexa Grasso (12-3)

Barber, one of the top prospects in women's MMA, will look to return to the win column against Grasso after suffering her first career loss in January 2020.

The 22-year-old faces a tough test, as Grasso is more experienced and technical.

Barber will hold the advantage in athleticism and power. If she catches Grasso off guard, "The Future" could tee off with a barrage of shots and put her away. And Barber could score with ground-and-pound if she gets her opponent to the mat.

But if Grasso maintains distance when standing up, she'll be able to pick Barber apart. Look for Grasso to score with her boxing and immediately move out of the way, leaving Barber struggling to land anything at all.

The Pick: Grasso, unanimous decision

Middleweight bout

Kelvin Gastelum (16-6, 1 NC)
vs.
Ian Heinisch (14-3)

Gastelum, the former interim middleweight title challenger, is looking to snap a three-fight skid, and his experience will lead to a victory over Heinisch.

The 29-year-old has fought the who's who of the division, including current champion Israel Adesanya, former champions Michael Bisping and Chris Weidman, and legend Vitor Belfort.

Heinisch, on the other hand, is more of an up-and-comer. He's 3-2 since joining the UFC in 2018, and his only notable fight came against Derek Brunson, which he lost by unanimous decision in 2019.

Gastelum should be able to piece Heinisch up while standing en route to a dominant win. He's only lost to top middleweights, and the gritty Heinisch doesn't fall into that category.

The Pick: Gastelum, third-round TKO