UFC Fight Night 76: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions
Remember when UFC Fight Night 76 was actually pretty good? Back when there was an exciting lightweight main event with two high-ceiling fighters in Dustin Poirier and Joseph Duffy? And how about that heavyweight fight between Big Ben Rothwell and Super Stipe Miocic?
Yeah, that was pretty sweet, huh? Now here's what the main card looks like:
- Patrick Holohan vs. Louis Smolka
- Norman Parke vs. Reza Madadi
- Nicholas Dalby vs. Darren Till
- Neil Seery vs. Jon Delos Reyes
Excited? No? Oh, well...OK, then. If you're trying to figure out which fight is the main event, it's Holohan vs. Smolka, by the way.
Despite all the spottiness of the card, the predictions team of Steven Rondina, Craig Amos, Nathan McCarter, Jonathan Snowden and Scott Harris are still here to give these eight fighters the thumbs-up or thumbs-down treatment. Read on to find out who gets which!
2015 Standings
1 of 5
I have risen to the top—now I just need to shake off this Craig Amos character, who is tied with me at 16-5. Scott Harris is hot on our heels at 15-6, and Nathan McCarter and Jonathan Snowden? Well...you can check it out right now! Here are last week's results and the full standings:
Amos: 3-1 (16-5 overall)
Rondina: 4-0 (16-5)
Harris: 4-0 (15-6)
McCarter: 3-1 (12-9)
Snowden: 2-2 (11-10)
Neil Seery vs. Jon Delos Reyes
2 of 5
Amos
Seery will start the main card out right for the Dublin audience, beating Reyes in the exchanges on the feet. I'm not convinced he'll put Reyes away, but I'm confident in picking him to win the fight.
Seery, unanimous decision
McCarter
This is a good matchup for Seery and a good matchup to get the Irish fans cracking for the main card. Seery will be slick enough to nab a submission before it goes to the scorecards.
Seery, submission, Rd. 1
Harris
"2Tap" Seery is more than just a cool nickname, bro. The leathery Irishman is wiliness personified, and he'll tag this other person with combos and get the better of clinch exchanges.
Seery, unanimous decision
Rondina
Seery isn't a particularly awesome fighter, but he's likely better than Reyes. Oh, and he's going to be the clear favorite of a raucous crowd. That won't hurt his chances.
Seery, unanimous decision
Snowden
This is a close fight between Reyes, a physically talented project, and Seery, an aging veteran with solid skills on the feet but without a single iota of explosive athleticism. It's an interesting contrast. Frankly, I have no idea what's going to happen. But when in doubt, go with the guy who isn't closer to 40 than he is 30.
Reyes, unanimous decision
Nicolas Dalby vs. Darren Till
3 of 5
Amos
This one features two undefeated fighters in what should be an entertaining affair. Dalby is the favorite coming in, but Till was more impressive in his UFC debut. The Englishman's striking will prove to be the difference, earning him a stoppage victory.
Till, TKO, Rd. 2
McCarter
This is an underrated fight. I am expecting this one to go to the scorecards and be really close. Dalby probably proves the oddsmakers right as the favorite in picking up a unanimous-decision victory. This one could earn some bonus money.
Dalby, unanimous decision
Harris
The Fight of the Night dark horse is right here. Or maybe it's not even that dark. Nine of Till's 13 pro victories are by knockout, so you know what he's about. Dalby is a little more surgical and a little more well-rounded. He'll trade with Till but will avoid damage when it really counts.
Dalby, unanimous decision
Rondina
Maybe I'm being just generally pessimistic, but why is this fight on the main card? We know how little it means to be undefeated on the European regional scene, and the two—count 'em two, ranked fighters on the card (Aisling Daly and Darren Elkins)—are both buried on the prelims. Oh, the fight? I don't know...Till, I guess?
Till, TKO, Rd. 2
Snowden
This card has been widely criticized. And for good reason. Most of the fighters are relative unknowns pushed onto the main card by the glut of UFC shows this year and a rash of injuries in the last few weeks.
But, while not big names, the fighters here are at least evenly matched. Till has legitimate power. Dalby has the better technique. It's either Dalby by decision or...
Till, TKO, Rd. 3
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Norman Parke vs. Reza Madadi
4 of 5
Amos
Parke is coming off two straight split-decision losses to tough opponents. Madadi last fought in 2013, when he beat Michael Johnson. That's reason to think this could be a competitive bout. It's likely to reach the judges. The call here is that one finally goes Parke's way.
Parke, unanimous decision
McCarter
I've gone back and forth on this fight, but I have settled on Parke picking up the victory. Madadi hasn't been in the cage since 2013, and Parke has improved quite a bit in that time. He has dropped two straight split decisions, but he gets back in the win column by sweeping the scorecards on Saturday.
Parke, unanimous decision
Harris
Now this one I really don't want to watch. Madadi is high-energy and high-octane. He is also an old jailbird. Parke is the ice to Madadi's fire, but since he is not an old jailbird, I'll go with the Northern Irelander.
Parke, split decision
Rondina
Madadi is in an interesting spot because of his 2013 win over Michael Johnson, but let's not make the mistake that he was an elite fighter before he got locked up. Parke will probably be able to keep things standing, control the cage and edge him out on the scorecards.
Parke, unanimous decision
Snowden
If Madadi has been keeping active, it was in the prison yard. That's not a good thing.
Parke, unanimous decision
Patrick Holohan vs. Louis Smolka
5 of 5
Amos
I'm taking Smolka to earn the honor of winning what could well be the least meaningful UFC headliner ever concocted. If you're an optimist, take solace in the possibility that the matchup might actually be quite entertaining.
Smolka, submission, Rd. 3
McCarter
This isn't the main event many wanted, but it's the main event we get. And overall, it's not too bad. This should be a great fight. Holohan is going to have to throw caution to the wind to pick up the victory, as Smolka is likely the better of the two overall, but the Irishman will do that and catch Smolka. I'll take Holohan via submission in a slight upset.
Holohan, submission, Rd. 2
Harris
Not since the last time a fight night card had an injury has a main event been this egregiously low-stakes. That said, this is a nice little fight. Smolka, who should walk out to accordion music, is 5'9", the same as Conor McGregor. The young Hawaiian knows what to do with his height too, and it will undo the game Holohan and disappoint the Dublin faithful.
Smolka, unanimous decision
Rondina
This isn't a main event-caliber fight, but it's still actually an interesting bout. Both Holohan and Smolka have shown flashes of high-end skills, but the big difference is that Smolka has done it against stiffer competition. I'll pick him to beat out the local favorite on the cards.
Smolka, unanimous decision
Snowden
Welcome to the UFC in 2015.
Smolka, unanimous decision
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