UFC Predictions: UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno Predictions and Picks

#6 The Prelims: UFC on ESPN2 card

Skilled grappler Mackenzie Dern highlights this weekend's prelims.

The UFC is set to put on three prelim fights on ESPN2 this weekend, although right now, one is up in the air due to a highly predictable reason.

Strawweight veterans Tecia Torres and Angela Hill were initially pegged to face off in a rematch of their 2015 encounter, but Hill has since been forced out with COVID-19. As of the time of writing, no replacement has been found, and so the UFC may well move an earlier prelim up and remove Torres from the card altogether.

Should Torres remain on the card, she’ll likely be faced with an overmatched newcomer. And so, regardless of the opposition, to see The Tiny Tornado with her hand raised is likely.

At the top of the prelim card sits a Featherweight clash between veterans Cub Swanson and Daniel Pineda. Swanson has, of course, been in the UFC for nearly a decade now. And despite suffering four losses in a row between 2017 and 2019, he’s still a relevant contender. Last time we saw him, he overcame Kron Gracie in an amazing brawl.

Meanwhile, Pineda returned to the UFC earlier this year after a strong run in the PFL promotion and impressed by taking out Herbert Burns via TKO. The Pit is a highly-skilled fighter, but I’m not sure he’s better than Swanson in any area. Expect a fun fight, but I’m picking Swanson via decision.

In the Strawweight division, top prospect Mackenzie Dern takes on Virna Jandiroba. On paper, at least, this looks like a tremendous fight. One of the most decorated grapplers in the UFC, people questioned how serious Dern was taking her UFC career. But she’s looked amazing this year – coming in in excellent shape to submit both Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos.

Jandiroba, meanwhile, is a tremendous grappler in her own right, with 13 submissions on her ledger. She’s picked up two straight wins in the UFC via tapout, most recently submitting longtime veteran Felice Herrig.

This should be an excellent fight, but I think Dern has to be favored. She tends to struggle against strikers who she can’t takedown. But Jandiroba is almost a pure grappler, and so it’s likely she’ll look to mix it up with Dern on the mat.

That should be a mistake given Dern’s ridiculous skills and experience in the grappling world, and while the fight could be filled with cool scrambles and exchanges, I like Dern to win by submission.