‘I can’t pick a guy whose basic health I’m concerned about’ UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. RDA Reader Picks

UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos goes down at the UFC APEX tonight with an All Brazilian affair in the main event, as Vicente Luque (coming off a brain bleed!) faces former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.

In addition to that intriguing match-up, we’ve got Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu and Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo on tap.

The BE staff has looked at all these match-ups and made our picks. Now it’s time for the readers to do the same. Read below to see who the BE readers think will win tonight. There’s also extra analysis from Luke G, Tommy and Zeist Priest.

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UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos reader picks

Vicente Luque vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Readers’ pick: Vicente Luque (57.1%)

Tommy: Should be a good fight this one I can see Dos Anjos taking Luque down a couple of times but not being able to keep him down and at 38 will his cardio hold up. Really like Luque just hope he’s healthy after his brain hemerage. I’ll take Luque to win by submission Rd 3

Luke G: RDA. I am still the president of the Luque fan club but those last two losses were truly demoralizing. Factoring in worries I have with Vicente even fighting after having a brain bleed following the beat down from Geoff Neal, I can’t pick a guy whose basic health I’m concerned about. Hope I’m wrong. What a nasty main event to sell a preposterously bad Apex card with. Maybe we’re the bad guys?

Zeist Priest: I’m uncomfortable about this fight due to Luque’s health issues, and that makes a pick even harder. Do I go with the younger, bigger guy who was looking shot and is coming back from a brain bleed? Or the ageing vet who has had as graceful a decline as the sport can allow, but is undersized at Welterweight?

I was thinking I’d still take Luque, but then again, even at his best, Luque doesn’t win decisions at high levels, and RDA seems less likely to get finished at WW. Plus, Luque has looked slower in his last few bouts… I’m going back and forth on this, but I think I’m taking Luque. But I don’t feel confident about it, or good about the fight. I just hope he comes out of it alright.

Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu

Readers’ pick: Hakeem Dawodu (78.6%)

Tommy: Depends on what Swanson has left in the tank few years ago he finishes Dawodu. Dawodu has some really nice kicks can see him attacking the legs of Swanson and taking over late in the fight. Dawodu by decision

Luke G: Dawodu. Mean Hakeem has his issues but this is a case where I have to pick the younger faster fighter. I expect Cub to take all the opportunities given to him and expect a closer fight than it really should be, but I think the leg kicks and overall strike volume that Hakeem can land will take him over the finish line.

Zeist Priest: If this was a few years back I would’ve taken Swanson easily. I’ve been watching Swanson since the end of his WEC days, and each time I think he’s done he shows he has a little more in the tank. That said, I’m taking the inconsistent Dawodu to win.

Khalil Rountree vs. Chris Daukaus

Readers’ pick: Khalil Rountree (92.9%)

Tommy: Be a good fight as long as it lasts Rountree can look absolutely amazing or he can flatter to deceive. I’m not really keen on Daukus three KO defeats against high level opponents but I can see Rountree being faster more durable. Rountree KO, round two.

Luke G: Rountree. Daukaus has been getting absolutely nuked and I don’t expect a weight cut to fix that. Honestly watching a guy leave policing to be a crash test dummy for big punchers is pretty great and I will tune in for this.

Zeist Priest: Will Daukaus look reborn in a lighter weight class? Probably not. Will I get convinced for the umpteenth time that Rountree has finally put it together, only for him to fumble the ball? Probably. Rountree takes it.

Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo

Readers’ pick: Iasmin Lucindo (78.6%)

Tommy: Viana has the experience her striking has got better and if taken down she can submit them. Lucindo is a really good striker and throws punches in bunches and I think she will out strike Viana for the win. Lucindo by decision

Luke G: Lucindo. Better striking and a passable takedown game has me siding with Isamin here.

Zeist Priest: Lucindo should probably take this, and is the fighter with more upside, but it’s just as likely Viana does something whacky and finishes in the first round. Viana for the slight upset.

Tafon Nchukwi vs. AJ Dobson

Readers’ pick: Tafon Nchukwi (71.4%)

Tommy: Not really sure about this one being honest I think Dobson has more power and can finish Nchukwi. Nchukwi is really hit and miss I just think he outworks Dobson and gets the win. Nchukwi by decision.

Luke G: Nchukwi. Both guys are coming off two straight losses so this is a real APEX special. I’ll side with the bettors giving Tafon the edge.

Zeist Priest: Both these guys don’t seem quite ready for the big leagues, and both have been inconsistent. I guess I’d say Nchukwi has the better upside, and is very solid, thick and tight. I don’t like picking Irvin guys, but Nchukwi via equivocation.

Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett

Readers’ pick: Josh Fremd (92.9%)

Tommy: Think Fremd is just better everywhere this fight goes just don’t rate Picketts’ chances at all he survives till the end but loses a wide decision. Fremd by Decision

Luke G: Fremd. Like Don Vito said, “Keep your Fremds close but your enemies closer.” I don’t know if that applies here but Jamie Pickett looks like he genuinely would have more fun being a personal trainer.

Zeist Priest: Ah, just what I ordered, a big plate of sloppy middleweights. Guess I’ll take Fremd.

Marcus McGhee vs. JP Buys

Readers’ pick: Marcus McGhee (85.7%)

Tommy: Think this is a horrible match up for Buys he may get a takedown or two but McGhee is far too powerful and catches him for the KO win. McGhee by KO, round two.

Luke G: McGhee. JP Buys has as fragile a chin as anyone in the company and Marcus showed some serious put-down power in his short notice debut. I’ll pick McGhee by KO

Zeist Priest: While Buys might out hustle McGhee with some veteran savvy, I’m taking the more likely outcome of the bigger, more athletic guy in McGhee winning.

Terrance McKinney vs. Mike Breeden

Readers’ pick: Terrance McKinney (92.9%)

Tommy: Tricky one this McKinney comes out all guns blazing and can finish you early if he doesn’t his cardio is absolutely awful and Breeden could win the remaining two rounds. I think McKinney catches him with a flurry of punches and wins by KO. McKinney KO, round one.

Luke G: McKinney. Terrance is a bundle of athleticism and potential who should be taking time off to work on a game that actually wins fights outside the first round. Instead of doing that he is taking a short notice fight against mediocre low level opposition. I’ll take him here expecting he makes it happen early but he appears to be making poor decisions for his future.

Zeist Priest: Taking Terrance “the Glass Cannon” McKinney, provided he isn’t wrecked from competing less than a month ago…

Francis Marshall vs. Isaac Dulgarian

Readers’ pick: Francis Marshall (85.7%)

Tommy: Should be a decent fight this Marshall has good boxing and wrestling and Dulgarian has a good record albeit against really low level opposition. Could be a back and forth fight just depends how Dulgarian holds up against a higher level opponent. I’ll take Marshall to win by close decision.

Luke G: Marshall. A guy who’s 1-1 vs a debutant. I’m not even gonna act like I have an independent read here and go with the call from the Vivisection fellas.

Zeist Priest: Ah, the UFC, the premier fight promotion. I’ll take Marshall, the guy with more than four professional fights.

Josh Parisian vs. Martin Buday

Readers’ pick: Martin Buday (85.7%)

Tommy: Think this is a horrible fight on paper Parisian never really impresses me to want to pick him. Buday has better cardio despite his heavy looking body(being kind there lol). Buday will outstrike him and grind him against the cage for the three rounds. Buday by decision.

Luke G: Buday. We need more gimmick belts and this one should be for the Outback Steakhouse Parking Lot Championship of the World. Buday seems like he consumes slightly fewer brats during training camp and has solid cardio, I’ll take him.

Zeist Priest: I guess Buday probably takes it.

Montserrat Ruiz vs. Jaqueline Amorim

Readers’ pick: Jaqueline Amorim (57.1%)

Tommy: Really like Amorim she was really close to finishing Sam Hughes who somehow survived the only issue is the cardio. Hughes took over after the first round. I’ll take Amorim to show a bit more fight IQ and control. Amorim by submission, round two.

Luke G: Amorim. Sam Hughes isn’t a world beater but she’s a solid task for a UFC debut. I’ll take Jaqueline here off a 6.5” reach advantage and the belief she got a lesson in her debut.

Zeist Priest: I was going to pick Ruiz for the upset here, as I feel that if Amorim can’t get her out in the first round Ruiz will take it, but then that Ruiz hasn’t competed in over two years, so I’ve gotta back the more active fighter. Amorim, provably first round submission.

Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Jose Johnson

Readers’ pick: Da’Mon Blackshear (92.9%)

Tommy: Think I’m right in thinking Johnson is on 4 days notice for this one so I’m not sure if he’s ready or not. I think Blackshear is a decent fighter doesn’t really excel anywhere. I’ll go for Blackshear by decision.

Luke G: Blackshear. Da’mon learned some tough lessons in his first two UFC fights with a Draw and a decision loss, but looked like he learned some things and had a nice KO in his last fight. I’ll take him over the debuting Johnson.

Zeist Priest: Taking Blackshear.

Juliana Miller vs. Luana Santos

Readers’ pick: Luana Santos (71.4%)

Tommy: Miller lost me a whole bunch of money last time I backed her she looked absolutely awful and was dominated by someone who hadn’t fought in three years. Had a look at Santos online she seems better all round better striker better grappling and can secure the takedowns. Santos by decision.

Luke G: Santos. I’ll side with at least one debuting fighter and I’ve decided its Luana.

Zeist Priest: This has sloppy grappling written all over it, and I think that’s the kind of fight Miller takes.

Which two fighters win Performance of the Night?

Readers’ pick: Khalil Rountree (64.3%), Vicente Luque (35.7%), Terrance McKinney (35.7%).

Tommy: Luque and Mckinney I think Luque will put on a show against Dos Anjos for however long it lasts and Mckinney comes out and throws some serious leather and win by KO, round one. Gotta be worth a bonus.

Luke G: Khalil and McGhee. I’m taking them both with the assumption they’re getting KO wins and that we all know is the clearest path to an extra 50k.

Zeist Priest: Khalil Rountree if he manages one of his sharp performances. Terrence McKinney if he looks slick and for stepping in on short notice.

Which fight wins Fight of the Night?

Readers’ pick: Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu (50%).

Tommy: Gonna go for a lower main card fight Dobson and Nchukwi. I think if Dobson has a chance he’s got to come out swinging which could make for a great fight. You watch it will be a three round snoozefest now lol.

Luke G: Cub v Hakeem. I think there’s going to be a lot of strikes thrown and Hakeem loves to make a winning fight look close. I think this fight is more likely to be a 3 round war than anything else on the card.

Zeist Priest: Jeez. Not really spoiled for choices here… Maybe Swanson and Dawodu if it’s at all competitive and fun.

Which fight are you most excited for?

Readers’ pick: Vicente Luque vs. Rafael dos Santos (64.3%)

Tommy: Dos Anjos and Luque dos Anjos is a legend of the UFC and he can turn back the clock he can win. Love watching Luque fight so glad he’s back fighting just hope he’s healthy.

Luke G: Cub v Hakeem. If the main event wasn’t marred by concerns of fighter safety I’d pick it but it is, so I guess I’m more excited for the only other relevant fight.

Zeist Priest: I guess Swanson vs Dawodu? I’m not really super high on anything here…

Leader board

Christophe remains in the top spot, but Adam Law is close behind. Tommy may be back in 10th, but he has an incredibly high correct pick percentage of 0.629. It’s pretty bunched up in the top six, we could get some shuffling once UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos is in the books.

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Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Tim is also BE's lead (only) sumo reporter. He blogs about that sport here and on his own substack, Sumo Stomp!

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

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