UFC 213 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
International Fight Week is here, and the UFC is bringing us two title tilts to lead its marquee event Saturday in Las Vegas.
Amanda "The Lioness" Nunes is headlining UFC 213 with her next title defense. She earned her shot at gold by edging out Valentina Shevchenko in 2016 at UFC 196, but the "Bullet" is now set for her shot at redemption. The top two bantamweights will throw down in one of the most tightly contested bouts in 2017.
The interim middleweight belt is up for grabs as well. Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker get their shot to wear gold in the co-main event.
Oh, in addition to UFC 213, The Ultimate Fighter 25 finale took place Friday.
Want thoughts from the B/R staff? Well, Craig Amos, Steven Rondina and Nathan McCarter are here to lend their voices to the main cards of the weekend's events. Continue onward to see which fighters we selected to walk out of Las Vegas with their hands raised high—and why.
Here are the main card staff picks for the TUF finale (results now available) and UFC 213.
The Ultimate Fighter Finale Quick Picks
1 of 6
Jordan Johnson vs. Marcel Fortuna
- Craig: Johnson, unanimous decision
- Steven: Fortuna, submission, Rd. 2
- Nathan: Johnson, unanimous decision
- Scott: Fortuna, unanimous decision
Brad Tavares vs. Elias Theodorou
- Craig: Theodorou, unanimous decision
- Steven: Theodorou, unanimous decision
- Nathan: Theodorou, unanimous decision
- Scott: Tavares, unanimous decision
Jared Cannonier vs. Nick Roehrick
- Craig: Cannonier, TKO, Rd. 2
- Steven: Cannonier, TKO, Rd. 1
- Nathan: Cannonier, TKO, Rd. 1
- Scott: Cannonier, KO, Rd. 2
Marc Diakiese vs. Drakkar Klose
- Craig: Diakiese, KO, Rd. 1
- Steven: Diakiese, TKO, Rd. 2
- Nathan: Diakiese, TKO, Rd. 1
- Scott: Diakiese, KO, Rd. 1
Dhiego Lima vs. Jesse Taylor
- Craig: Taylor, unanimous decision
- Steven: Taylor, unanimous decision
- Nathan: Taylor, unanimous decision
- Scott: Taylor, unanimous decision
Michael Johnson vs. Justin Gaethje
- Craig: Johnson, TKO, Rd. 3
- Steven: Johnson, unanimous decision
- Nathan: Johnson, TKO, Rd. 2
- Scott: Gaethje, TKO, Rd. 2
— Update —
TUF 25 Main Card Results
- Jordan Johnson def. Marcel Fortuna via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Brad Tavares def. Elias Theodorou via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Jared Cannonier def. Nick Roehrick via third-round TKO (2:08)
- Drakkar Klose def. Marc Diakiese via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jesse Taylor def. Dhiego Lima via submission (RNC) (R2, 0:43)
- Justin Gaethje def. Michael Johnson via second-round TKO (4:48)
Anthony Pettis vs. Jim Miller
2 of 6
Craig Amos
This fight would have been more tantalizing a few years ago, but much of the luster has gone from these two. Though Miller's recent results have been more inspiring, Pettis has faced much better competition. So it's difficult to say who's fallen further. The pick to win is Pettis. Between Miller takedown attempts, the former lightweight champion will land what he needs to initiate a knockout sequence.
Pettis, TKO, Rd. 2
Steven Rondina
Pettis has looked generally awful of late, but that submission win over Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night last August stands as proof that Showtime still has some of the magic that made him a champion. I'm not sure if this fight with Miller will be the one that proves he's back. But I think he'll right the ship, at the least.
Pettis, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I am split on this fight much the same as Craig and Steven. There's just not a lot of confidence in either man. Pettis seems to be the safer, less shopworn bet. If he can stop Miller's takedown attempts, then he should have a relatively easy day at the office.
Pettis, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Two great veterans of the sport but not a ton of heat on this one. Pettis has repeatedly shown he needs open space to get his striking off. Miller isn't going to give him that.
Miller, unanimous decision
Fabricio Werdum vs. Alistair Overeem
3 of 6
Craig Amos
The last time these two fought there was a lot of caution...and standing around. Werdum was actually the busier striker, and he landed more than Overeem. And that was back in 2011, when Werdum had no striking to speak of. He still lost the decision, but this time it'll be a different story. The former heavyweight champ has the same ground game to work with, but he is light-years ahead of his former self on the feet. I'll call a submission that is set up by a knockdown.
Werdum, submission, Rd. 2
Steven Rondina
Overeem is too smart to fall for Werdum's tricks and has improved technically to the point where I don't see the striking contest even being competitive. I'm expecting Werdum to get reamed by the Reem.
Overeem, TKO, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
I really hope this fight does not turn out like their snoozer in Strikeforce. It has the potential to be an entertaining contest, but that previous fight is forever etched into my REM cycle. As for a pick? I'll take Werdum. His striking has improved enough to be a threat while maintaining his clear advantage on the mat. He just has to avoid the big flurry.
Werdum, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
This card is so great! When this is the second fight of the pay-per-view? Watch out. Neither of these men are spring chickens, but they are still working at the highest levels. Overeem has underrated grappling, but Werdum's striking matches The Reem's more closely. Since Werdum has the stronger greatness and the stronger weakness, if you will, that settles it. Sound the mild upset alarms.
Werdum, unanimous decision
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Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Curtis Blaydes
4 of 6
Craig Amos
Blaydes is an up-and-coming heavyweight, while Omielanczuk is down-and-going. The Pole has had some decent moments inside the Octagon, but the talent gap here is too wide to ponder an upset. Blaydes takes it.
Blaydes, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
This fight is so terribly out of place on this card, isn't it? Title fights, former champions...and then this. As for Omielanczuk vs. Blaydes, ol' Omi's recent struggles have me unnerved about his staying power in the UFC at this point. I'll pick against him until he can reverse course.
Blaydes, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
Actually, this fight does not feel out of place to me. It feels as if they are prescribing to the "perfect show theory." The UFC is opening the card with two premiere bouts, and this one is in the middle to bring the crowd back down before the main events. And they can promote Blaydes as a future heavyweight contender should he win. And I think he will.
Blaydes, TKO, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
This is what you might call a "squash match." Omielanczuk is a grinder who isn't very good at grinding, relatively speaking. Blaydes is a good prospect but not much, if it all, beyond the journeyman level at this point. But he'll have plenty to handle the Pole.
Blaydes, TKO, Rd. 3
Interim UFC Middleweight Championship: Yoel Romero vs. Robert Whittaker
5 of 6
Craig Amos
I'm surprised Whittaker is the favorite in this matchup, though I concede he's been impressive lately. So impressive in fact that I'm taking the non-upset here. MMA math may be a bad tool, but I can't help but compare how each fighter looked against Ronaldo Souza—both won, but Romero needed some help from the judges. Whittaker will set a hard pace that Romero can't keep up with. Eventually, the 40-year-old Romero will break down and succumb to a flurry of punches.
Whittaker, TKO, Rd. 4
Steven Rondina
This one is so tough to call. I think Whittaker is the better fighter overall, but Romero is still capable of finishing anyone in the blink of an eye. I've struggled with this one. But right now, I'll lean in favor of Whittaker outpointing Romero down the stretch to take a narrow decision...but my mind may change at any time.
Whittaker, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I am a big fan of "Bobby Knuckles," but I'm struggling to pick him. Romero is just ridiculous. Even if the "Soldier of God" decides to go back and rely purely on his wrestling, he can grind this fight out. No matter the strides of Whittaker's grappling, Romero is far and beyond a better wrestler. If Whittaker wants to take this fight, it will have to come in the later rounds. I'm not sure he'll have enough left in the tank.
Romero, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
This is everyone's favorite fight, and I get it. Whittaker is a brilliant striker, and Romero is, well, a comic-book hero. The power and strength and flexibility of Romero will be too much. He'll force Whittaker to the ground and pound on him, and there's not much Whittaker will be able to do about it.
Romero, TKO, Rd. 2
UFC Bantamweight Championship: Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko
6 of 6
Craig Amos
This has the feel of a rematch that will be even better than the original. I expect the sequel to follow a similar course as the first, but because it's a five-round fight this time, the advantage slides to Shevchenko, who dropped rounds one and two before dominating the third. This time she'll be able to build off that momentum swing and either earn the decision or get the finish. I'm forecasting the latter.
Shevchenko, submission, Rd. 5
Steven Rondina
This one is so tough to pick. Nunes was just an extra punch or two away from taking out Shevchenko in their first fight, but Shevchenko has proved she can go five hard rounds like few others in her division. Both have improved since then, but I imagine this one will still look fairly similar to that contest. The extra time will ultimately help Shevchenko to eke out the win down the stretch.
Shevchenko, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I think it's easy to extrapolate from the first fight that Shevchenko will win because it's now five rounds. But that negates all the improvements and changes in strategy they will make for this contest. I do believe it's possible this looks exactly like that bout, but I also see the other possibilities.
Look for Nunes to have a more patient approach in the first two rounds. She will pace herself while looking for the finish. This will allow the champion to pick up the first three rounds and put the pressure on Shevchenko to find a finish. It won't come. I view this similar to the Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha rivalry: a challenger who is ultracompetitive and on the brink of taking gold but a champion who makes the improvements to retain her spot atop the mountain.
Nunes, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
It seems Shevchenko has become quite the "upset" pick. Nunes is the champ, but Shevchenko is essentially even in the odds as it stands. It's strange to consider yourself contrarian and still go with the champ. But that's what I am, and that's what I'm doing. Nunes can and will go five rounds, even with someone as talented as the challenger. Will she need to? No.
Nunes, TKO, Rd. 3
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