UFC Predictions: UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum

#3 UFC Vegas 34: The main card

The underrated Alexandre Pantoja stars on UFC Vegas 34's main card

In a heavyweight bout, Chase Sherman takes on Parker Porter. As always, with this kind of heavyweight fight, it’s a risk for the UFC. While we could be treated to a slugfest, this may also turn into a sloppy fight between two gassed-out big men.

Who is likely to win? Judging by what we’ve seen from both men in the UFC, it's probably Sherman. He’s got more experience, clearly hits hard, and appears to have a slight speed advantage over Porter, who doesn’t seem to be in the best shape. Sherman via TKO is the pick.

In a lightweight clash, Vinc Pichel takes on Austin Hubbard. This should theoretically be an exciting fight between two well-rounded and aggressive fighters. However, the slight advantage should be with Pichel.

The veteran of TUF 15 is 38 years old now but has retained his freakish strength – something that allows him to impose his grinding style on his opponents. Given Hubbard’s takedown defense has been questionable at times, Pichel via decision is the likely outcome.

In a great-sounding flyweight fight, Alexandre Pantoja faces Brandon Royval. Pantoja is probably one of the UFC’s most underrated fighters. The Brazilian fights a lot like former UFC flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo and holds a win over current champ Brandon Moreno.

Royval is a double tough fighter with excellent skills on the ground – particularly when it comes to scrambling – but he may be physically overmatched here by an opponent who hits hard and holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. With that considered, the pick is Pantoja via TKO.

Finally, bantamweights Mana Martinez and late replacement Trevin Jones square off. Martinez is making his UFC debut and looks like an exciting fighter. He’s won all eight of his career victories via KO/TKO. Jones, meanwhile, has more UFC experience and recently defeated Mario Bautista via KO.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️TREVIN JONES WITH A STUNNING UPSET!📺 Tune in on #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/nUbdfC9RhV

— UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2020

This one could go either way given the exciting styles of both men, but the late notice for Jones may give Martinez the edge – meaning he is the pick to win via KO.

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#4 UFC Vegas 34: The Prelims

Picks in bold

UFC featherweight division: Austin Lingo vs. Luis Saldana

UFC bantamweight division: Brian Kelleher vs. Domingo Pilarte

UFC bantamweight division: Bea Malecki vs. Josiane Nunes

UFC light-heavyweight division: William Knight vs. Fabio Cherant

UFC lightweight division: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Ignacio Bahamondes

UFC welterweight division: Sasha Palatnikov vs. Ramiz Brahimaj

UFC middleweight division: Antonio Braga Neto vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan