Welcome back to another UFC breakdown today we are looking at UFC 262, the second event with crowds since the beginning of Covid and we got a couple of big crowd favourites on the card tonight.
This card is topped off with two big name lightweight bouts to close off the night.
Shane Burgos vs Edson Barboza
We have two explosive strikers in the Featherweight division. Shane Burgos has been impressive since joining the UFC and he definitely appears calm and collected when picking apart his opponents with strikes. Next we have a crowd favourite in Edson Barboza with over 10 years experience in the UFC he is a well known striker and probably has the most recognisable highlight reel knockouts of all time.
I’d love to back Edson for this fight as he has been a mainstay in the UFC. I suppose he could be regarded as a bit of a gatekeeper at this point, sadly he has only won two out of his last seven fights. I believe Burgos is more explosive at this point and he’ll be looking to take out the legend that is Edson Barboza.
Prediction: Burgos via a TKO Round 3
Kaitlyn Chookagain vs Viviane Araujo
Now we have a bout in the Women’s Flyweight division between two top contenders. Kaitlyn is hoping to bag herself another title shot as she currently sits as the number 2 ranked women’s flyweight in the UFC. Araujo is more of an up and comer in this division since joining the UFC in 2019 she has bounced between weight divisions but she seems to have found a home in the Flyweight division. With two wins on the bounce she’ll be looking to make a jump up and become a top 5 contender in this division.
I’m going to back Araujo in this one she’s a mean fighter and she will come out swinging. She will have identified the fact that Chookagian has struggled against strikes in recent bouts. Whereas Chookagian will use her experience to draw this fight and possibly battle for a decision.
Prediction: Araujo via a TKO in Round 2
Matt Schnell vs Rogerio Bontorin
Both of these fighters have up and down records in the UFC. I believe this fight has more on the line for Bontorin considering he is coming off a two loss streak, after a four fight string in the UFC. I predicted him to win his last fight and he came very close so let’s see if he can finish this one off. Matt Schnell has not yet fought the best of the best in this division yet but he’ll be looking to improve his ranking with a win this evening.
This may backfire but I’m going to back Bontorin again for this fight. He was impressive vs Kai Kara-France but he pushed too hard for the finish and gassed himself out. Matt Schnell will be looking to finish Bontorin with his preferred submission style. I predict an early back and forth in this one.
Prediction: Bontorin via a Unanimous Decision
And to top off this card we have two big bouts in the Lightweight division. A champion will be crowned by the end of the night!
Tony Ferguson vs Beneil Dariush
In the first Lightweight bout we have the return of ‘El Cucuy’ a true crowd favourite, he provided a real buzz and attitude at the pre fight press conference early this week, this has provided its own viral moments. Tony is probably the most unorthodox fighter within the UFC whether that’s from his crazy training videos or is nasty elbows in a fight. Always expect a blood fest when he is on the octagon.
Beneil on the other hand has been in the UFC for a number of years but has never been at the top of the division, however in the last 3 years he has amassed a 6 fight win streak and in four of those fights he has won ‘Of the night’ bonuses including possibly the biggest comeback of last year.
As a fan of his work I’ll be backing El Cucuy tonight despite receiving two losses last year. I believe he will bounce back and look to prove a point at this event. Before the two losses he was on a twelve fight win streak and is frustrated he never got a shot at the undisputed title. Beneil will be looking to carry on his recent form and he will not be fazed by Tony’s reputation, he also refused to let Tony get in his head during the pre fight ceremonies.
Prediction: Ferguson via a TKO in Round 3
Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler
Charles is a great talent in the Lightweight division he holds the most submission wins in UFC history, the most ‘Performance of the night’ awards and he is tied for the most finishes in UFC history. Despite all of his accolades this is his first shot at a UFC title. He was brought in to the UFC at the age of 20 it is now eleven years later and he is finally proving his worth. He’s on an 8 fight win streak currently and he will hope to dominate as a champion.
On the other side of this bout we have a newcomer to the UFC with only one previous bout in the UFC. Chandler is a legend in his previous organisation but he was brought over to the UFC and was instantly chucked into a title contention bout, most think it is undeserved but Chandler will tell you it’s fortunate timing. He had a great showing on his debut and he’ll hope to have a similar showing this time out.
I want to see Oliveira win this fight and I believe he can come up with a tricky submission to win this despite the fact that Chandler has never been submitted before, I think this will give Oliveira a bigger incentive to go get a submission in this fight. On the other hand I think Chandler will try and keep this fight standing for the most part but don’t doubt his wrestling he could take Oliveira down and look to pound him out on the mat.
Prediction: Oliviera via a Submission in Round 2
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