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UFC Fight Night 121 is here and the show will go forward; headlined by Fabricio Werdum, despite his potential legal troubles outside the Octagon.
All recent debacles aside, Werdum is the star of this show Down Under and will compete against veteran grinder Marcin Tybura. Besides, Aussie star Bec Rawlings competes in the evening’s co-main event opposite Jessy Rose-Clark.
Furthermore, the FOX Sports 1 card features several other intriguing matchups as well. So, without further ado, here are the predictions and complete preview for UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs Tybura:
Main Card (FOX Sports 1)
#1 Fabricio Werdum vs Marcin Tybura
Fabricio Werdum was involved in a highly-publicized street altercation with Brazil’s public enemy number-1 Colby Covington.
Regardless, lest Werdum is distracted from the task at hand, this is his fight to lose. The Brazilian former UFC Heavyweight Champion is a better striker and grappler than Tybura, and although the latter could catch him at boxing range, Werdum should secure the takedown and submit ‘Tybur’.
Prediction: Fabricio Werdum def. Marcin Tybura via Submission
#2 Bec Rawlings vs Jessy Rose-Clark
Bec Rawlings is a vastly better fighter than what we’ve seen from her in the UFC thus far. Regardless, she’s the more well-rounded MMA fighter in this matchup.
One can expect Bec to impose her gameplan against Jessy right from the get-go, and outpoint her via her trademark high-volume striking. Additionally, the Aussie could also take the latter to the ground and threaten with submissions; not likely to finish but enough to impress the judges nonetheless.
Prediction: Bec Rawlings def. Jessy Rose-Clark via Decision
#3 Tim Means vs Belal Muhammad
Tim Means is eerily similar to a former opponent of his ergo Matt Brown.
Means has great Muay Thai and decent grappling, but Muhammad has an iron chin and wild looping strikes that really bring an unpredictability factor to all his fights. However, one can expect Means to keep Muhammad at bay; before eventually securing the clinch, and working the knees and elbows for the finish.
Prediction: Tim Means def. Belal Muhammad via TKO
#4 Jake Matthews vs Bojan Velickovic
Jake Matthews came in as a highly-touted prospect in the UFC but has hit a few roadblocks, so to speak.
Matthews is the better fighter in this matchup, and come fight night, it’ll show. He’s likely to engage in a rapid-fire Round 1 as he always does, before mixing in a healthy share of takedowns; running away with the victory on the scorecards.
Prediction: Jake Matthews def. Bojan Velickovic via Decision
#5 Elias Theodorou vs Dan Kelly
Dan Kelly got brutally knocked out by Derek Brunson.
However, Elias is no Brunson when it comes to KO power. What he is though, is an extremely gifted athletic specimen, much like Brunson. Elias is likely to dominate Kelly on the feet en route to a clear-cut decision win.
Prediction: Elias Theodorou def. Dan Kelly via Decision
#6 Alexander Volkanovski vs Shane Young
Volkanovski is an explosive athlete and a very dangerous threat—both on the feet as well as the mat.
One can expect him to absolutely trounce Young in what appears to be a horrible mismatch. Volkanovski is likely to catch Young at boxing range, before following up with ground strikes for the finish.
Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski def. Shane Young via KO
#Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)
#1 Ryan Benoit vs Ashkan Mokhtarian
Benoit possesses the skills to make it big in the sport of MMA, should he keep his composure and work ethic on point.
He’s likely to control the pace of this matchup as well as decide whether this fight takes place on the feet or the mat. Look for Benoit to take a decision win against Mokhtarian.
Prediction: Ryan Benoit def. Ashkan Mokhtarian via Decision
#2 Will Brooks vs Nik Lentz
Will Brooks has been on a disappointing run in the UFC thus far. For a man who was being touted by many as a top-5 talent, Brooks has faced considerable problems when faced with high-calibre UFC opposition.
Regardless, Brooks is a much better fighter than Lentz, and when that Octagon door slams shut, that will indeed become more than evident. Look for Brooks to control the rhythm of the fight, outpointing Lentz on the feet, with both fighters even-steven in the grappling department.
Prediction: Will Brooks def. Nik Lentz via Decision
#3 Anthony Hamilton vs Adam Wieczorek
Hamilton is likely to run over Wieczorek.
Hamilton may have iffy striking defence but he hits like a freight train and is a fantastic athlete. Look for Hamilton to blitz Wieczorek out of this bout early and violently.
Prediction: Anthony Hamilton vs Adam Wieczorek via KO
#4 Damien Brown vs Frank Camacho
Brown is a vastly underrated grappler, and although he could most definitely finish this fight on the feet, his opponent is crafty as well.
That in turn, may avoid Brown from getting that Submission finish. However, Brown is the more technical fighter of the two, and likely to out-strike and out-grapple his foe on fight night.
Prediction: Damien Brown def. Frank Camacho via Decision
#Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
#1 Alex Chambers vs Nadia Kassem
Alex Chambers is capable of so much more in the Women’s Strawweight Division, but doesn’t quite seem to let her hands flow inside the Octagon.
Kassem, on the other hand, is a bit rough around the edges, and all signs point towards the former getting outworked by Chambers. One also ought to note that Chambers is the hometown fighter, which in turn may sway the judges in her favor. In a more bold estimate, one could definitely see Chambers catching Kassem in a submission during a ground scramble.
Prediction: Alex Chambers def. Nadia Kassem via Submission
#2 Eric Shelton vs Jenel Lausa
Shelton and Lausa are on a similar skill level, so to speak.
However, it’s Shelton who enjoys the slight technical edge in this matchup. Shelton may be able to grind his way to a win, but it’s hard to see a finish in this fight.
Prediction: Eric Shelton def. Jenel Lausa via Decision
#3 Tai Tuivasa vs Rashad Coulter
Tai Tuivasa is the next big thing in the UFC Heavyweight Division. Great striking and steadily improving grappling skills…
Tuivasa has professional boxing experience and is very young, despite having competed for long. Look for the Aussie to make a huge statement by dinging Coulter’s chin in the very first round.
Prediction: Tai Tuivasa def. Rashad Coulter via KO
Indian fans can watch UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs Tybura Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN & SONY ESPN HD (Main Card) from 8:30 am Sunday, November 19th.
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