FIGHT FORECASTER: UGP 49 PREDICTIONS

MAIN EVENT
UGP LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
© 2FACE RODRIGUEZ vs #1 PAIGE HOLLOWAY

ISAAC’S PREDICTION: 2Face Rodríguez by Decision — We often see changing of the guard come in waves in this sport, and I think this is another example of that. Paige Holloway is a veteran of this sport who has competed in multiple organizations all across the world and has done it all. She’s a bona fide future Hall of Famer, and can still hang with the very best in the business. However, I think the time has come for the 2Face era. His striking has shown to be so smooth and flawless, taking the teachings of former two-division champion and Hall of Famer Delaney Donovan and evolving it to a whole new level. I think the rematch is going to be more competitive, but I get the sense that 2Face Rodríguez eeks out a close decision, something like a 48-47 scorecard across the board.

KAYLA’S PREDICTION: 2Face Rodriguez by TKO, Round 3 – I’ve said this about immediate rematches (yes, I know, they’ve each had a fight in-between, you know what I mean), I just don’t think anything’s had time to change. We saw what happened last time they fought, and unless Paige is right and it really was just a bad night on her part, it’s hard to imagine this fight playing out too differently.

CO-MAIN EVENT
UGP LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
#2 SADIE WILLIAMS vs #5 RAY ROGERS

ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Ray Rogers by Decision — After suffering back to back tough decision losses to start his Union GP tenure, Ray Rogers has won back to back fights by submission against two former Everest MMA Champions. Could Sadie Williams be the third former Everest MMA Champion to succumb to the Englishman? I think so. Although Sadie is a world class grappler herself, I don’t expect Rogers to score another spectacular submission finish, but I do think he does enough to get the nod on the scorecards.

KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Sadie Williams by Decision – It’s hard for me to imagine either of these fighters submitting the other one, and I definitely don’t see a knockout coming, so it’s really a matter of who gets the better of who on the ground. I’ll lean slightly toward Sadie in that department, although it wouldn’t surprise me to see Ray pull off the upset.

UGP LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
#8 CATHERINE HARRIS vs #10 JETHRO BENSON

ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Catherine Harris by Decision — The former Everest MMA Featherweight Champion has struggled to live up to the hype she built since moving up to Union GP. She has accumulated a 2-3 record in Union, which includes losing her last two outings. This is a much more favorable matchup for her, but I think the aging Jethro Benson will potentially give her enough looks to keep it competitive for fifteen minutes.

KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Catherine Harris by Decision – After a rough couple outings, I’m gonna say Cat gets back to doing what she does–grind out a relatively clear cut result. I don’t think Jethro’s gonna be able to stop the takedowns, and he’s certainly not gonna be able to control Cat on the ground.

UGP HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
#6 DAX LEVANDRIER vs BOBBY BARNETT

ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Dax Levandrier by KO, Round 1 — To me, this fight was made because the matchmakers wanted to load this Canadian card with as much native talent as possible, and Bobby Barnett was the unlucky victim that was available. Levandrier is going to make short work here and give his hometown crowd a car crash stoppage we all love to see.

KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Dax Levandrier by KO, Round 1 – Bobby’s combined fight time isn’t even 1 full round…and he’s 0-5 in those fights. I’m not sure I need to say anything else, but basically Dax’s entire career has been putting people to sleep in the first round. I can’t imagine anything else happens.

UGP MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
TYLER CAGE vs ALEXANDER SOKOLOV

ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Alexander Sokolov by Decision — Both of these guys have bright futures in MMA, based off the short sampling we have witnessed. My heart wants to go with Tyler Cage based off his willingness to take on any challengers, highlighted by the fact he went to Japan for a RFC fight, but I think Sokolov will have something to prove after coming off a loss against Hagen Lecktor. He’s making a quick turnaround and wants to erase that sour taste of defeat and get back on his winning ways.

KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Tyler Cage by Decision – At some point, we have to stop pretending like this is just a game to Tyler. He lost his unbeaten run back at Ryujin 3, and it would’ve been easy to get discouraged at that point if this wasn’t something he wanted; instead, he came back and beat Da’vion Woodard at UGP 46. Sokolov’s a dangerous opponent, let’s not pretend this is an easy fight; they’re pretty comparable fighters, heavy-handed strikers with surprising ground skills, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see this go either way. There’s just something about this fight, call it a gut instinct, I think Tyler takes it.

UGP MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
#7 DEEBO BRIGGS vs KAPRICE GAMBLE
ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Deebo Briggs by TKO, Round 3
KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Deebo Briggs by TKO, Round 2

UGP BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION
#10 CIARAN CALLAHAN vs CALEB O’SHEA
ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Ciaran Callahan by Decision
KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Ciaran Callahan by Decision

UGP HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
BENJAMIN CLARKE vs KA’ILI TUIASOSOPO
ISAAC’S PREDICTION: Benjamin Clarke by KO, Round 2
KAYLA’S PREDICTION: Benjamin Clarke by TKO, Round 2