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UFC London predictions: Will Volkov stay perfect in the Octagon?

Per Haljestam / USA TODAY Sports

Prior to Saturday's UFC Fight Night 127 in London, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the afternoon's main card bouts.

Heavyweight

Fabricio Werdum (11-4 UFC, 23-7-1)
vs.
Alexander Volkov (3-0 UFC, 29-6)

Five rounds is a long time for Volkov to dissect Werdum with his rangy striking, but it also gives the Brazilian plenty of opportunity to get the fight to the mat.

Werdum's striking - or at least his confidence therein - has improved drastically since his days in Pride, and while Volkov boasts the edge in length and technical proficiency, don't be surprised if Werdum attempts to lead the dance. With the Russian looking to maintain distance and pick Werdum apart, expect the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace to overwhelm him with volume to create an opening to bring him to ground - where Volkov is as good as doomed.

"Vai Cavalo" by tapout.

THE PICK: Werdum

Light Heavyweight

Jimi Manuwa (6-3 UFC, 17-3)
vs.
Jan Blachowicz (4-4 UFC, 21-7)

Bad news: the second fight between Manuwa and Blachowicz will play out much like their first.

The former fought with respect for Blachowicz's repertoire of submissions and the latter for Manuwa's one-punch KO power the first time around, and the matchup remains every bit the style clash it was three years ago. Consequently, Manuwa will keep the Pole at the end of his reach with his jab and front kicks, resort to the clinch when need be, and seek a home for his patented left hook en route to his second tepid decision over the durable Blachowicz.

THE PICK: Manuwa

Bantamweight

Tom Duquesnoy (1-1 UFC, 15-2)
vs.
Terrion Ware (0-2 UFC, 17-7)

The stage is set for a vintage showing from Duquesnoy.

Tasked with a banger who's never been knocked out in Ware, the highly touted Frenchman needn't fret over the takedown threat Cody Stamann exploited in his sophomore walk to the Octagon. Duquesnoy still eats more zingers than he should, but his patented elbows from the pocket can win him firefights, and with Ware looking to enter boxing range and uncork combinations, Saturday's tilt won't be any different.

Duquesnoy by TKO.

THE PICK: Duquesnoy

Welterweight

Leon Edwards (6-2 UFC, 14-3)
vs.
Peter Sobotta (4-4 UFC, 17-5-1)

Sobotta's promotional resurgence ends with Edwards.

The 31-year-old has impressed with the quartet of victories he's accrued over his sophomore stint in the UFC, but Edwards isn't as brittle as latest conquest Ben Saunders and poses a threat on both his feet and the mat. Still just 26, Edwards has betrayed suspect decision-making in the past, but if he can keep the fight standing and the mental gaffes at bay, he should potshot Sobotta from the first bell to last for his fifth straight W.

THE PICK: Edwards

Fight Pick
Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Volkov Werdum
Jimi Manuwa vs. Jan Blachowicz Manuwa
Tom Duquesnoy vs. Terrion Ware Duquesnoy
Leon Edwards vs. Peter Sobotta Edwards
John Phillips vs. Charles Byrd Phillips
Danny Roberts vs. Oliver Enkamp Roberts
Danny Henry vs. Hakeem Dawodu Dawodu
Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev Ankalaev
Stevie Ray vs. Kajan Johnson Ray
Mark Godbeer vs. Dmitriy Sosnovskiy Godbeer
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Nad Narimani Narimani

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