Since its inception, the UFC Apex has become home to some extremely lackluster and dull fights over the past four years. Heavyweight main events have become the most uninspiring because of their complete lack of need for five rounds.
We have another this weekend though as rank 9 and 10 heavyweights, Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura, square off in the main event. Tuivasa is looking to buck the trend of his recent fights, hoping he can snap a three-fight losing skid, for the second time in his career. The 38-year-old Tybura also looks to return to the green side.
The main event was dull enough with it being back-to-back heavyweight Fight Night main events, but with them both coming in off losses and seemingly towards the tail end of their respective careers, it’s an even bigger kick in the teeth.
Alas, let’s see if we can put some correct predictions on the board, as I predict the result for all six main card fights.
Tai Tuivasa (15-6) vs Marcin Tybura (24-8) – Heavyweight
Predicting heavyweight MMA is hard enough already, let alone when you’re predicting between two fighters who are coming off the back of lifeless losses.
‘Tybur’ Tybura is going to look to get this fight against the cage and subsequently down to the ground, where he will hold an advantage in wrestling and grappling. Although wrestling is Tybura’s bread and butter, he does have the capability of catching you off guard and shutting your lights off.
‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa isn’t going to waver from his norm, despite it clearly not working for him in his last three outings. The Aussie will look to explode his way into range with a flurry of punches in bunches, but that could leave him susceptible to a takedown.
Tuivasa does his best work in the fire when he has an opponent who is going to bring the dog out of him. In his fight with Ciryl Gane, they had several back-and-forth exchanges where Tuivasa actually caught and hurt the Frenchman. Unfortunately for Tuivasa, Tybura is unlikely to meet him inside the fire.
Despite that, I think the striking edge that Tuivasa has over Tybura will be enough for him to catch the Pole and pick up a much-needed win.
Prediction: Tai Tuivasa knockout
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Bryan Battle (11-2) vs Ange Loosa (10-3) – Welterweight
Bryan Battle wants out of the UFC Apex, but first, he has to put on an exciting performance against Ange Loosa. Since making the sensible move down to welterweight, Bryan Battle has put on some quick and exciting performances.
The only loss during Battle’s UFC tenure came against Rinat Fakhretdinov, who held a massive grappling advantage over him. Other than that fight, Battle has made relatively easy work of his opponents.
Loosa though is physically intimidating. In his last fight against Rhys McKee, he utterly dominated the Northern Irishman, coming close to finishing him on several occasions.
Although Ange is the more athletic fighter in this matchup, I think Battle will be able to do his best work at range and will be able to take over the fight from the outside with his three-inch reach advantage. If Loosa tries to impose himself on Battle in the clinch, I see him tiring.
Prediction: Bryan Battle decision
Ovince Saint Preux (26-17) vs Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-4) – Light Heavyweight
Without needing to beat around the bush, ‘OSP’ is at the tail end of his career at 40 years old, and his last few performances give a reason for concern.
‘The African Savage’s’ athleticism and ability to mix it up will give him a dominant edge in this fight, and will ultimately see him return to the win column.
Prediction: Kennedy Nzechukwu knockout
Christian Rodriguez (10-1) vs Isaac Dulgarian (6-0)- Featherweight
I am predicting that this will be one of the best fights on the six-fight main card. Christian Rodriguez has been taking fighters’ undefeated records, but Isaac Dulgarian is coming in with the confidence that he’s never been beaten.
Not only has Dulgarian never been beaten, he has never even seen the second round, in any of his fights. With a solid background in college wrestling, Dulgarian isn’t a lay-and-pray type wrestler, he is a takedown and smash type fighter.
Training full-time at Factory X, Dulgarian is mixing with some of the best strikers in the UFC. Behind him also, one of the best head coaches in MMA, Marc Montoya.
Although Rodriguez is the more experienced of the two, Dulgarian being a natural featherweight and having such dominant wrestling, I can’t look past his path to the win here.
Prediction: Isaac Dulgarian decision
Pannie Kianzad (17-7) vs Macy Chiasson (9-3) – Women’s Bantamweight
An extremely underwhelming fight two fights into the main card, sees Pannie Kianzad take on Macy Chiasson.
Kianzad’s last fight came against Ketlen Vieira in July last year, and the Swede was utterly dominated on the ground by the Brazilian. It will be a concern for Kianzad, that that’s where Chiasson will be looking to take the fight.
The American’s last fight was at a catchweight of 140lbs, and before that, she fought at featherweight. The last time she was scheduled for bantamweight, she missed weight by 2.5lbs.
Although this isn’t a fight people will be scrambling to watch, it could get exciting if Kianzad can let her hands go, and strike with the volume she wants to.
Prediction: Pannie Kianzad decision
Gerald Meerschaert (35-17) vs Bryan Barberena (18-11) – Middleweight
One positive we get from Saturday night’s event is that we get two ‘Bam Bam’s’ in one.
At this point, we know exactly what Meerschaert wants to do, and that is to get the fight to the ground where he can wrap up a submission. The 36-year-old has an eye-opening 27 wins by submission throughout his career, 27.
‘Bam Bam’ Barberena has shown that he is susceptible to being submitted, coming in off three losses, two being by submission.
In this matchup, I think the striking is closer than what people give Gerald credit for, and then he also holds that major grappling advantage. That is something that cannot be argued with. Because of that, I think ‘GM3’ picks up his 10th UFC win.
Prediction: Gerald Meerschaert submission