UFC Fight Night 102: Preview and Predictions
In a warm-up for tomorrow’s UFC 206 event in Toronto, Canada, the WME-IMG promotion is a stone’s throw away in Albany, New York tonight and has a 205 lbs and above main card for the MMA enthusiasts to consume.
As a result of the light heavyweight and heavyweight bouts on display, UFC Fight Night 102 could be the quickest four-fight card in UFC history or it may well feel like the longest.
Here’s hoping for the former.
Derrick Lewis (16-4) vs Shamil Abdurakhimov (17-3)
It’s no secret that this fight is set up for Derrick Lewis to add another big knockout win to his collection.
The problem that might arise however is that Abdurakhimov can make fights into a gruelling slog and that’s something that Derrick Lewis or the fans in attendance certainly won’t want.
With that being said, Lewis’ ridiculous power can help him out of any sticky situation (whether that be on his back or stuffing a takedown) and he can simply explode his way out of trouble.
On the feet, Lewis should definitely have the edge and another knockout win via ‘swanging and banging’ wouldn’t be surprising here.
Pick: Derrick Lewis
Francis Ngannou (8-1) vs Anthony Hamilton (15-5)
This is another fight where the UFC would like one man to win in spectacular fashion but they’ve paired that man against a potential stylistic spoiler.
Ngannou hits like a truck and has some sharp boxing in order to technically pick his spots but Hamilton has steadily grown over his career into a well-rounded fighter.
Hamilton will want to neutralise the threat of Ngannou’s power by taking away the striking distance in the clinch or on the mat but the Frenchman has some good takedown defence that should keep this fight at range and enable Ngannou to land his powerful strikes.
Pick: Francis Ngannou
Corey Anderson (8-2) vs Sean O’Connell (17-8)
Corey Anderson has decided to disappoint everyone in the build-up to this fight by announcing that his nickname will no longer be ‘Beastin 25/8’, so it’s difficult to remain unbiased here when he has hurt so many people’s hearts.
Nonetheless, it’s hard to look beyond Anderson for this bout as his fight IQ is pretty high if you disregard his last fight with Shogun Rua. O’Connell’s only route to victory is to land one of his power punches and engage in a brawl but Anderson’s one of the better wrestlers at 205 lbs and he’s able to set up his takedowns astutely.
Expect another Anderson decision victory and for the nickname heartbreaker to return to the win column.
Pick: Corey Anderson
Gian Villante (14-7) vs Saparbek Safarov (8-0)
Safarov is a short notice replacement here and it’s always a tough pick to side with someone who hasn’t had a full camp.
Safarov has finished all of his fights though, making him a dangerous opponent and so Villante will have to remain cautious here – an approach that goes against what we’ve seen from Villante in the UFC thus far admittedly.
Villante has the home advantage here however and that extra motivation combined with Safarov jumping in on short notice makes it hard to side with the Russian.
Pick: Gian Villante
(Last Predictions: 5/6, Total: 100/162, 62% Success Rate)