UFC 302 is set to deliver an action-packed card, culminating in the highly anticipated main event between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown and predictions for each fight on the card, provided by MMA Guru. Let’s dive in!
Prelims
Joselyne Edwards vs. Ailin Perez (02:07)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Joselyne Edwards: Taller, rangier but grappling is a weakness.
- Ailin Perez: Dominant grappler who out-grappled Lucy Pudilova.
- Prediction: Ailin Perez to win, leveraging her superior grappling.
Betting Odds:
Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez (04:21)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Mickey Gall: Inconsistent performances.
- Bassil Hafez: Showed resilience and good grappling against JDM.
- Prediction: Bassil Hafez to win due to toughness and grappling prowess.
Betting Odds: N/A
Niko Price vs. Alex Morono (07:15)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Niko Price: Unpredictable, but chin has become questionable.
- Alex Morono: Consistent performer with solid fundamentals.
- Prediction: Alex Morono to win via decision or TKO, capitalizing on Price’s recent inconsistencies.
Betting Odds: N/A
Main Card
Phil Rowe vs. Jake Matthews (10:33)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Phil Rowe: Underrated with good clinch and grappling skills.
- Jake Matthews: Struggles against taller opponents.
- Prediction: Phil Rowe to win as an underdog, exploiting Matthews’ weaknesses.
Betting Odds: N/A
Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki (14:28)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Grant Dawson: Better stand-up and solid grappling.
- Joe Solecki: Recently KO’d, lacks striking power.
- Prediction: Grant Dawson to win via decision, controlling the fight on the feet.
Betting Odds: N/A
Roman Kopylov vs. Cesar Almeida (17:22)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Roman Kopylov: Experienced and proven in the UFC.
- Cesar Almeida: Good kickboxing but lacks finishes against top opponents.
- Prediction: Roman Kopylov to win by decision, leveraging his experience and striking.
Betting Odds: N/A
Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos (19:37)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Randy Brown: Tall, rangy striker with improving skills.
- Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos: Powerful but aging.
- Prediction: Randy Brown to win by TKO, utilizing his range and boxing.
Betting Odds: N/A
Jailton Almeida vs. Alexandr Romanov (22:55)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Jailton Almeida: Consistent and powerful grappler.
- Alexandr Romanov: Out of shape and inconsistent.
- Prediction: Jailton Almeida to win by dominating Romanov.
Betting Odds: N/A
Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (25:42)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Kevin Holland: Struggles with consistency.
- Michal Oleksiejczuk: Powerful with underrated grappling.
- Prediction: Michal Oleksiejczuk to win, utilizing his weight advantage and grappling.
Betting Odds: N/A
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa (29:18)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Sean Strickland: Consistent with good striking defense.
- Paulo Costa: Powerful but inconsistent.
- Prediction: Sean Strickland to win by TKO in the later rounds, dealing with Costa’s pressure.
Betting Odds: N/A
Main Event
Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier (33:27)
MMA Guru’s Thoughts:
- Islam Makhachev: Superior grappler with improving striking.
- Dustin Poirier: Strong striker but struggles against elite grapplers.
- Prediction: Islam Makhachev to win by submission (arm-triangle or Von Flue choke) in the first round.
Betting Odds: N/A
Picks Summary
- Ailin Perez
- Bassil Hafez
- Alex Morono
- Phil Rowe
- Grant Dawson
- Roman Kopylov
- Randy Brown
- Jailton Almeida
- Michal Oleksiejczuk
- Sean Strickland
- Islam Makhachev
Stay tuned for UFC 302 and enjoy the fights! For more detailed insights and betting tips, check out the full video breakdown by MMA Guru.
