Rose Namajunas takes on Amanda Ribas in the UFC Vegas 89 main event this coming Saturday, so let’s try and nail some predictions.
Former UFC strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, is making her second appearance at flyweight, coming off a loss to Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris back in September.
Amanda Ribas on the other hand is moving back up to flyweight after an impressive win at strawweight last time out, knocking out Luana Pinheiro in the third round. This will mark the Brazilian’s first time as a main-event headliner under the UFC banner.
After a tough week of predictions last week, let’s try and bounce back with a clean sweep.
Amanda Ribas vs Rose Namajunas
This is actually a super fun matchup for what it’s worth. With Namajunas being a former champion in the weight class below, she is looking to pick up her first win at 125lbs, and Amanda Ribas would be a strong name to add to the resume.
Both of these women have been performing inconsistently as of late, but Ribas’ performances have probably been more promising than ‘Thug’ Rose’s.
Since the 31-year-old’s lackluster loss to Carla Esparza, she has regressed and hasn’t seemed to be able to change things back around.
Despite that, I favor Namajunas in this fight. She has consistent five-round experience whereas Ribas doesn’t, and I think that could play a big part in this fight. Rose has a good base of boxing and can mix in her kicking attacks well. The biggest part of her fight with Manon Fiorot was that she was quite undersized in that matchup.
With Ribas having floated between strawweight and flyweight, these two should be coming in at a similar size, and although Ribas has a reach advantage of an inch, I think Namajunas holds the advantage in the striking.
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Rose will be hoping to secure a spot in the ‘super strange’ flyweight rankings, as she looks to capture the flyweight strap in 2024.
Prediction: Rose Namajunas decision
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa
Justin Tafa is repaying his brother the favor by stepping in for him to take on Karl Williams. Justin was scheduled to fight Marcos Rogerio De Lima at UFC 298, but Tafa pulled out on the Friday of the fight. Little brother, Junior stepped in to save the day.
With Junior then not being able to make the short turnaround, Justin is now stepping in for him.
The fact that this is a co-main event on any card is pretty eye-opening, but here we are in the midst of an Apex 2024.
Karl Williams is going to look to get this fight to the ground where he holds a big advantage. Even on the feet, I think these two share similar skills, which aren’t too impressive.
With Williams holding the wrestling advantage, I have to side with him to continue his win streak to seven.
Prediction: Karl Williams decision
Edmen Shahbazyan vs AJ Dobson
Edmen Shahbazyan’s career has been a weird road that has winded back and forth when he was seemingly being highlighted as a future championship contender.
“The Golden Boy” is 1-4 in his last five fights, with a win here absolutely imperative for his future in the promotion. Having said that, his losses have all come against highly respectable opponents, with this drop in caliber being a sensible one.
AJ Dobson on the other hand has only won one of his first three UFC fights since earning a contract on the Contender Series back in 2021.
Shahbazyan is now with Xtreme Couture since moving from Glendale, Arizona, where he was training with Ronda Rousey, who was his manager at the time, and head coach Edmond Tarverdyan. Now under the tutelage of Erick Nicksick and Dewey Cooper, the change came at a good time for the 26-year-old.
With him now having had a good amount of time with his new team, I believe we may see at least a mini-career resurgence for Shahbazyan.
Prediction: Edmen Shahbazyan knockout
Payton Talbott vs Cameron Saaiman
This is the fight I am highlighting as one you must tune in for. Although this event for the large part isn’t very exciting, this is a great fight on paper.
Payton Talbott made his full UFC debut back in November last year and showcased exactly why people are excited about his future in the sport. Before that, he put on an incredible performance in the Contender Series, earning his contract.
Cameron Saaiman on the other hand is one of the fighters spearheading the push of MMA back in his home country of South Africa. The 23-year-old shares the mats with UFC middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, and has shown throughout his first four UFC fights, that he is one to watch for the future.
Despite that, after seeing Talbott’s rise through the regional scene and subsequently on the Contender Series, he is someone I am extremely high on. With a striking style similar to bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley, he also has a very strong grappling game.
I think the 25-year-old will be slightly too well-rounded for Saaiman and will continue his impressive run through the 135lb division.
Prediction: Payton Talbott decision
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Billy Quarantillo vs Youssef Zalal
Youssef Zalal is getting another bite at the UFC cherry, after his first stint in the promotion ended after three losses and a draw in his final four fights.
After scoring three first-round finishes since being cut, the UFC gave him the call to step in late notice against ‘Billy Q’, after Gabriel Miranda withdrew from the fight.
Although ‘The Moroccan Devil’ likely has a power advantage in this fight, I believe Billy Quarantillo is the more polished striker, and his footwork will prove to be an edge in this fight. Having said that, I think this is a very close fight in terms of skill sets, and so I am split with my prediction.
As Zalal is the slight underdog and it’s a new slate for him, I favor him to begin his second UFC stint with a win.
Prediction: Youssef Zalal knockout
Fernando Padilla vs Luis Pajuelo
If this doesn’t scream UFC Apex main card fight, I don’t know what does.
I believe we will see something happen for the first time in this fight. Either Pajuelo will suffer his first-ever professional loss by submission, or Padilla will lose his first-ever professional fight by knockout.
The fact that the Mexcian, Padilla, survived any of Kyle Nelson’s onslaughts in his last fight, I would have to favor him to be able to stay conscious in this fight, and somehow get the submission.
As well as that, Luis Pajuelo has not fought someone of Padilla’s caliber yet, and with this being his first fight since his win on the Contender Series, I think it will be a step up slightly too big for his UFC debut fight.
Prediction: Fernando Padilla