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