McGregor vs. Siver: A Complete Guide to UFC Fight Night 59
UFC Fight Night 59 takes over Boston this Sunday.
Headlining the event will be the No. 5-ranked featherweight contender Conor McGregor. He has a title shot on the line against No. 10-ranked Dennis Siver. The boisterous contender has risen up the ranks quickly. He has a chance to cement his place as one of the organization's top stars with an emphatic victory.
And that isn't even the best fight on the card.
The co-main event will see the trilogy fight between No. 3-ranked lightweight contender Donald Cerrone and No. 5-ranked Benson Henderson. Henderson has won both of the previous two meetings in the now defunct WEC promotion, and this fight will be only three rounds instead of five.
Cerrone returns to the cage just 15 days since his last victory at UFC 182.
UFC Fight Night 59 looks to deliver stellar action all night long, and this is your guide to all the fun. Let's examine all the fights on the card.
Tateki Matsuda vs. Joby Sanchez
1 of 12
Division: Flyweight
Records: Tateki Matsuda (10-6), Joby Sanchez (6-1)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
Matsuda and Sanchez enter the cage on Sunday with 0-1 UFC records. Matsuda lost to Chris Beal, and Sanchez dropped his debut against Wilson Reis. It was a tall order for both fighters who were making their UFC debuts.
This should be a competitive 15-minute opening bout. Neither fighter has a signature win, but whomever comes out on top will be happy to notch his first career UFC victory. Matsuda and Sanchez are closely matched, but I like Sanchez in this bout. Sanchez is a bit more well-rounded with more paths to win.
Prediction: Sanchez, Decision
Matt Van Buren vs. Sean O'Connell
2 of 12
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Matt Van Buren (6-3), Sean O'Connell (15-6)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
A combined 0-3 in the Octagon, Van Buren and O'Connell also meet in a bout between fighters who are seeking their first UFC victory.
Van Buren fought his way to The Ultimate Fighter 19 finale but came up short against Corey Anderson. O'Connell has lost to Ryan Jimmo and Gian Villante under the UFC banner.
This fight should send the loser out of the UFC. It is also a fight that favors Van Buren.
He has progressed a lot since TUF. He is the bigger man in this bout with a 4-inch height advantage. He will use his reach to pick O'Connell apart before connecting with a shot that leads to a TKO finish.
Prediction: Van Buren, TKO, Round 1
Charles Rosa vs. Sean Soriano
3 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Records: Charles Rosa (9-1), Sean Soriano (8-2)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
The winless UFC fighters keep performing in the third fight of the night.
Rosa lost his UFC debut to the show's headliner, Siver, and Soriano is 0-2 after dropping bouts to Tatsuya Kawajiri and Chas Skelly.
Regardless of their losses, these two fighters have shown promise. The opening fight on the Fox Sports 1 preliminary telecast will put the spotlight on these two prospects. Of the two, Soriano has shown a bit more.
Both Rosa and Soriano got tough draws in their UFC outings thus far, but Sunday they fight each other in a more even contest. It is quality matchmaking that will show us where they are in their development. Soriano is most likely a little further along. A stoppage will put him back on the map as a featherweight to watch.
Prediction: Soriano, TKO, Round 2
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Johnny Case vs. Frankie Perez
4 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Records: Johnny Case (19-4), Frankie Perez (9-1)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Finally, we get to a fighter with a UFC victory to their credit. Case made an impressive Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 52. Perez will made his UFC debut in this bout.
Do not let the records fool you: Case may have four career loses, but he is on a roll right now. He brings nine consecutive victories into the cage, so he has a lot of momentum. Perez may only have one loss, but he has yet to take a big step up in competition.
Against Francisco Trevino, what the matchup was going to be before an injury put Trevino on the sidelines, I didn't like Case. But now he gets a better matchup. Perez's jiu-jitsu will be nullified by Case's top game, and that will ultimately be the difference. I'm not quite sure Case can get the finish. This goes to the scorecards and Case picks up the W based off positional control.
Prediction: Case, Decision
Author's Note: Originally, I had written this based on the proposed Case-Trevino bout instead of UFC newcomer Perez despite using Perez's name. Trevino had to be replaced due to injury. I apologize for the mix up.
Patrick Holohan vs. Shane Howell
5 of 12
Division: Flyweight
Records: Patrick Holohan (10-1-1), Shane Howell (13-8)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Paddy Holohan was impressive in his UFC debut in Ireland. He took care of Josh Sampo in just over three minutes. Things did not work out as well against Chris Kelades for his second UFC bout, but he did pick up a bonus check for Fight of the Night.
Howell is 0-1 in the UFC after losing to Ray Borg.
This is Holohan's fight to lose. Perhaps the Irish Boston crowd will be the boost he needs to put together another amazing performance. Holohan will finish this fight. With another impressive victory he will make himself a hot commodity in the thin flyweight division.
Howell drops to 0-2 in the world's premier MMA organization.
Prediction: Holohan, KO, Round 1
Zhang Lipeng vs. Chris Wade
6 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Records: Zhang Lipeng (9-7-1), Chris Wade (8-1)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Lipeng's record isn't pretty, but the TUF: China winner is fun to watch in the cage. Wade made an impressive UFC debut against Cain Carrizosa by finishing him in just 72 seconds by submission.
Wade seems to be the more polished fighter. The cast of TUF: China showed how far behind the eight-ball Chinese fighters were during the finale to that season.
Even with that polish, Lipeng can get the upset. Odds Shark has Lipeng as a steep underdog heading into the weekend. Perhaps I am too much a fan of Lipeng and want to see him succeed too much, because for some reason I have a gut feeling he gets a stoppage at UFC Fight Night 59.
Expect the unexpected.
Prediction: Lipeng, TKO, Round 1
John Howard vs. Lorenz Larkin
7 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Records: John Howard (22-10), Lorenz Larkin (14-4)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Both Howard and Larkin have shown a lot of promise in their careers, but this is someone's last chance in the UFC.
Larkin has dropped three straight, and Howard has lost back-to-back fights. It is time for someone to get back in the win column to prove he belongs in the UFC.
Larkin bested Robbie Lawler in 2012, announcing himself as a serious prospect. It just hasn't panned out to date. Now he drops to 170 pounds.
Howard has always been a step behind the upper echelon of the welterweight division, but his upsets of Uriah Hall and Siyar Bahadurzada seemed to finally put him on track.
If the weight cut goes great for Larkin, I am looking forward to a rebirth. Stopping Howard won't be easy. Only Jake Ellenberger has done it in the UFC. Howard will make Larkin work, but Larkin gets his hand raised after a 15-minute battle.
Prediction: Larkin, Decision
Cathal Pendred vs. Sean Spencer
8 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Records: Cathal Pendred (15-2-1), Sean Spencer (12-3)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Pendred has already created a bit of a stir on social media, but not concerning this fight. He tweeted that he would be CM Punk's first fight in the UFC. The UFC has yet to confirm or deny that tweet, but first thing is first—Sean Spencer.
Spencer is not an easy out. In fact, he may be the better athlete of the two fighters and has had more Octagon experience against a higher level of competition. Pendred should not be worrying about Punk or social media. He has a tough task Sunday.
Pendred has not looked great in the UFC, and Spencer will continue that trend with an emphatic performance. The speed advantage will be the difference in this fight. Spencer pummels Pendred against the fence to earn the stoppage in the featured preliminary contest.
Prediction: Spencer, TKO, Round 2
Norman Parke vs. Gleison Tibau
9 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Records: Norman Parke (20-2-1), Gleison Tibau (32-10)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
The first fight of the main card is in the crowded lightweight division.
Parke, unbeaten since 2010, will try to state his case for a top-15 ranking against longtime UFC veteran Tibau. The Brazilian has come close to breaking through, but each time he reaches the next level he is defeated by the top tier of the division. Is Parke in the top tier?
That is what we will find out. This is a significant step up in competition for Parke.
I love Parke's raw ability, but Tibau's strength and wrestling are going to be too much to handle. Parke is not going to be able to get off his back or threaten with enough offense to win on the mat. Tibau controls this fight in a rather unappealing fashion.
It won't be pretty, but it will be effective. Tibau collects all three rounds.
Prediction: Tibau, Decision
Uriah Hall vs. Ron Stallings
10 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Uriah Hall (9-4), Ron Stallings (12-6)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Hall was originally supposed to fight Costas Philippou, but then Louis Taylor filled in on short notice. But he, too, got injured, so Stallings enters on less than a week's notice.
Stallings is coming off a loss on the regional circuit, but beggars can't be choosers. And he did well enough against Adlan Amagov in Strikeforce in 2011. He is not just a random body the UFC has pulled in to face Hall.
Unfortunately for Stallings, it will be the same result. Hall is going to crush him.
After two poor performances after a hot streak on TUF, Hall has finally started to put it together in his last two bouts. This will make three straight for him, and perhaps he can regain some of the heat he generated following the reality television series. Expect a big KO from Hall after he finds his range.
Prediction: Hall, KO, Round 2
Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson
11 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Records: Donald Cerrone (25-6), Benson Henderson (21-4)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
This is the fight to watch on Sunday.
Cerrone steps in on short notice to take on Henderson, but this may actually play into Cerrone's favor. He is the type of fighter who could perform better on a quick turnaround. He is a rare breed.
Henderson is trying to make another run up the ladder, and it was beating Cerrone that gave Henderson his first taste of gold back in the WEC. It was a stellar fight then, and this one should be as well. Their second fight ended abruptly with a Henderson submission, but that isn't likely to happen this time.
This is just a well-matched fight between two elite lightweights who are seeking their spot in title contention.
Their styles are perfect for Fight of the Night honors. They both force the action. It is just a shame this is only going to be three rounds instead of five.
Against just about anyone else coming in on short notice, I would favor Henderson, but Cerrone is hot right now. He is better than ever, and he can test Henderson like never before. I don't envision a stoppage in this fight, but I do expect Cerrone to pull away and look every bit like the next challenger for the belt.
Prediction: Cerrone, Decision
Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver
12 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Records: Conor McGregor (16-2), Dennis Siver (22-9)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Unsurprisingly, this fight is tailor-made for McGregor.
Don't get me wrong—Siver is a fine fighter. But he is settling into a gatekeeper role, and McGregor is driving a tank to crash through those gates.
If McGregor gets too cute against Siver, he could end up unconscious. Siver has the striking and power to push the hype train off the tracks. It just isn't likely. McGregor is focused on getting that title shot. He has talked his way up the ladder and backed it up inside the cage.
His hand speed is the difference. He beats Siver to the punch. He nails another prediction with a knockout within two minutes to a thunderous ovation in Boston. See you later this year, Jose Aldo.
Prediction: McGregor, KO, Round 1
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