UFC 282 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
UFC 282, the promotion's final pay-per-view offering of the year, goes down this Saturday on its home turf in Las Vegas. And while it may not be the year-end blockbuster we're accustomed to—we can thank the injury bug for that—it's still a solid card with plenty of meaningful matchups.
Headlining honours for the card were originally supposed to go to a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jiri Prochazka and challenger Glover Teixeira—a rematch of one of the year's best fights. Unfortunately, that plan imploded when Prochazka was sidelined with a serious shoulder injury and vacated the belt, leaving the UFC with no choice but to add title stakes to a clash between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev, which was originally slated for the co-main event.
With that fight in the main event spot, the co-main event slot will now be filled by a lightweight clash between rising star Paddy Pimblett and gritty veteran Jared Gordon, neither of whom are ranked at the moment.
Beyond that, the card was supposed to feature an exciting welterweight clash between former champ Robbie Lawler and fellow striker Santiago Ponzinibbio, but Ponzinibbio will instead meet the opportunistic Alex Morono after Lawler suffered an injury in training.
The first two bouts of the night will see Ilia Topuria and Bryce Mitchell collide in a classic striker versus grappler clash at featherweight, before Darren Till and Dricus du Plessis battle at middleweight.
Like we said, it's not exactly a blockbuster, but there's plenty to look forward to all the same.
Keep scrolling to see who the B/R combat sports squad is picking to close out the year with a win on the UFC 282 main card this Saturday.
Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev
1 of 5
Tom Taylor: This short-notice fight for the vacant light heavyweight title definitely feels like a consolation prize, but it's probably the best matchup the UFC could make under the circumstances.
Both Blachowicz and Ankalaev are excellent strikers, with Blachowicz probably possessing a slight power edge. Both have also shown they can grapple and have happily leaned on this side of their game when it's advantageous to do so.
It's a close fight on paper, but I see Ankalaev, who has lost just once in 19 fights, landing more shots and a couple of takedowns over five rounds against the former champ. It might not be pretty, but it'll be enough to win the fight and the vacant belt.
Ankalaev by unanimous decision
Scott Harris: This card is so bad. It's so bad! What a shame that then-champ Jiri Prochazka fell injured and Glover Teixeira's inclusion crashed and burned. So, this title fight doesn't include the last two men to hold the title. That's not great! These are two great fighters—you'd have to be to deter Teixeira, as Ankalaev did—and I think Ankalaev ultimately outmuscles the ex-champ and makes an interesting, if unheralded, addition to the always-interesting light heavyweight championship lineage.
Ankalaev by unanimous decision
Lyle Fitzsimmons: To me, the result hinges on whether Blachowicz can dissuade Ankalaev with his fists or if he'll be successful in getting the fight to the floor. Given the Russian's 86 percent takedown defense, though, it seems more a lark. The prospects of a late stoppage or decision seem most likely.
Ankalaev, unanimous decision
Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon
2 of 5
Tom Taylor: Anybody who has been reading Bleacher Report's MMA coverage over the last few years knows that I'm always very slow to board hype trains. Pimblett's is no exception. I'm not sold. I think he's reckless will eventually get knocked out by somebody on the feet. But I doubt it'll happen in this fight.
Jared Gordon is solid, but he has never had a ton in the way of stopping power. That gives "The Baddy" the all-clear to come out guns blazing and, at some point, find an opening for a knockout or submission. I think it'll be the latter. Call it a rear-naked choke.
Pimblett by submission, Rd. 2
Scott Harris: Why would I pick against Pimblett at this point? He's just one of those guys who always seems to have the wind at his back. I agree with Tom here: The UFC has set Gordon up on a tee as another showcase for their rising British star. Pimblett has shown time and again that he can take advantage.
Pimblett by submission, Rd. 2
Lyle Fitzsimmons: How enthusiastic you are about this one goes in tandem with how much you've bought into the hype surrounding Pimblett. And I'm all-in. Only four of the 19 men he's beaten have lasted the distance, and given Gordon's track record of losing octagonal slugfests—a KO seems the best course of action.
Pimblett by KO, Round 2
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Alex Morono
3 of 5
Tom Taylor: Alex Morono immediately struck me as a tougher matchup for Santiago Ponzinibbio than the injured former champion Robbie Lawler.
He's got great cardio, great pace, decent power and some good killer instinct too—traits Lawler once possessed in droves but has seemingly lost in the twilight of his career.
Give me Morono by decision in a close but entertaining fight.
Morono by unanimous decision
Scott Harris: Ponzinibbio has always been a reliable action fighter. At one point, he had a seven-fight win streak that included victories over the likes of Neil Magny and Gunnar Nelson, two performance bonuses and four wins by way of knockout. But he's 36 now with losses in two straight and three of his last four. He's still a berserker, but he is not in his prime. Guys like Morono can weather the storm and outlast him over three rounds. I'll again concur with Tom; sound the upset alarms.
Morono by unanimous decision
Lyle Fitzsimmons: A loser in three of four after a seven-fight win streak, the Argentinian Ponzinibbio was to be the next stop on Lawler's farewell tour before the ex-champ was replaced by the surging Morono. He's younger and taller than Lawler and busier and more accurate than Ponzinibbio. Result: A good scrap and maybe a KO.
Morono by KO, Rd. 3
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Darren Till vs. Dricus Du Plessis
4 of 5
Tom Taylor: This is a great matchup. Till is one of the middleweight division's slickest striking technicians, while Du Plessis is among its fiercest knockout threats.
I almost always pick the measured, tactical striker over the powerful one. Alex Pereira's recent knockout of Israel Adesanya was a good counterargument to that rule, but I'm sticking to my guns. Till fights smart and outstrikes Du Plessis over three rounds.
Till by unanimous decision
Scott Harris: Du Plessis is 3-0 in the UFC with two knockouts. But let's not anoint him as the world's next great knockout artist just because he happens to be the name in front of you on the card lineup.
He's a talented striker, but if Till can't right the ship against Du Plessis, then it's time to acknowledge that the charismatic former contender's best days are behind him. But let's wait and see on that judgment.
Although Till has lost four of five, those four losses came to Tyron Woodley, Jorge Masvidal, Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson. That's tough company. Du Plessis is a step down from those guys until he demonstrates otherwise.
Till by unanimous decision
Lyle Fitzsimmons: It's hard for me to back a guy who's been submitted twice and KO'd in his last five fights, four of which were losses. Regardless of the opponents. And it's especially hard if the guy he's fighting this time hasn't lost a fight in four years. Again, regardless of the opponents. Score one for South Africa.
Du Plessis by unanimous decision
Bryce Mitchell vs. Ilia Topuria
5 of 5
Tom Taylor: Both of these guys are very good—hence their undefeated records—with Mitchell among the featherweight division's best grapplers, and Topuria among its best strikers.
It's a great matchup that could end any number of ways, but I favor Topuria, who I've been high on for a long time, to give Mitchell the same treatment he gave BJJ black belt Ryan Hall last year.
Topuria by TKO, Rd. 1
Scott Harris: Great clash of styles here. Topuria is on the way up, but I think Mitchell controls Topuria with wrestling. Love him or hate him, Mitchell is 15-0 for a reason, and it's his grappling skill. Mitchell takes another step toward true contention at 145 pounds.
Mitchell by unanimous decision
Lyle Fitzsimmons: Topuria has neither lost in the UFC nor as a MMA pro. But he's also never faced the likes of Mitchell, who's 5-0 as a full-time UFC fighter. He's on the sort of roll that creates star power, and the guess here is that he'll find a way to get Topuria into a compromising position that yields a 10th career submission.
Mitchell by submission, Rd. 2
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