UFC Fight Night 93 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
Welcome once again, fight fans, to Germany (or Deutschland, as it's also known).
On Saturday, the UFC will host UFC Fight Night 93, its fourth event in Germany and first in the city of Hamburg. In the headlining slot: aging heavyweights (are there any other kind? There shouldn't be). Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett square off to see who could remain relevant in the company's biggest but also thinnest weight division.
We also have the return of Alexander Gustafsson, which is good. There are also a host of rising Europeans looking to grab a slice of the spotlight in their relative backyards.
Certainly, there's a lot not to like on paper; there's no reason to gloss over that. But here we are, and we're going to make some picks. And in so doing, let us educate ourselves as to the identities of the individuals involved in this endeavor's main card.
It's our usual picks team reporting for duty: Craig Amos, Nathan McCarter, Sydnie Jones, Steven Rondina and myself, Scott Harris. Let's get it on.
Nick Hein vs. Tae Hyun Bang
1 of 4
Craig Amos: An obvious power advantage lies with Bang, but Hein should be able to negate that. He's the better grappler and submission fighter and will be able to keep his opponent playing defense for the majority of the contest. If a finish materializes, it'll likely be a submission, but the belief here is that this one will go all three rounds.
Hein, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter: Hein is a solid lightweight fighter who is being put in this position to look good in front of a hospitable crowd. Hein out-grapples Bang for 15 minutes. Perhaps he'll get a submission, but I'm not going to take that bet.
Hein, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones: I agree with Nathan and Craig: Hein will grind this fight to a decision, which he'll take. His opponent will be like, "Let Bang bang, bro!" But Hein will not.
Hein, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina: Yeah, I'm right there with all of you. Bang is good but probably doesn't have what he needs to resist Hein turning this into a slog.
Hein, unanimous decision
Scott Harris: Look at Hein, looking all incredulous. He shouldn't. He's not going to muck around and play Bang's game and risk losing in front of his countrymen. So make this one a clean sweep why don't you.
Hein, unanimous decision
Ryan Bader vs. Ilir Latifi
2 of 4
Amos: Ilir Latifi is a live underdog, but I don't like his chances overall. He hits hard and starts fast, but Ryan Bader has faced many of the best light heavyweights in the world and has acquitted himself respectably. Bader will take over after a close first round and wind up with a decisive edge on the scorecards.
Bader, unanimous decision
McCarter: This is a remarkably difficult fight to pick. Stylistically, this is Bader's fight. His wrestling and polished boxing should be able to control Latifi from bell to bell. But Latifi is a magical, majestic specimen. I try not to go against magic too often. Latifi catches Bader with his fists of concrete. Give me the upset.
Latifi, KO, Rd. 1
Jones: Bader was steadily building momentum before Anthony Johnson stopped it in less than 90 seconds in January, but Johnson does that with almost everyone. Bader is still a savvy fighter, and unless Latifi can finish him, he'll take the decision.
Bader, unanimous decision
Rondina: It's hard not to like Latifi both as a fighter and a personality, but Bader is just kind of an awful matchup for him. It's possible Latifi can smash him and then finish things, but Bader is crafty enough to take this fight to the ground and keep it there.
Bader, unanimous decision
Harris: This is exactly the kind of fight Bader wins. He's good enough to fend off Latifi's brawl and skilled enough to out-power-wrestle him. I like McCarter's enthusiasm up there, but such things won't be enough. Take it from me, the guy who's losing so badly in the picks this year to date that he refuses to post them when it's his turn to publish.
Bader, unanimous decision
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jan Blachowicz
3 of 4
Amos: Jan Blachowicz entered the UFC with some hype, but his results have been checkered to this point. Certainly there is nothing about his performances that suggests he has more than a puncher's chance against an elite fighter like Alexander Gustafsson, who remains a top-tier guy despite recent results.
Gustafsson, KO, Rd. 2
McCarter: Gustafsson should roll. Blachowicz isn't papier-mache, but he also isn't on Gustafsson's level. Blachowicz's fight with Igor Pokrajac was telling of where he stands in the division. It was a matchup designed for him to look good, and Pokrajac nearly finished him in a back-and-forth battle. Gustafsson puts in a workmanlike performance. Nothing more.
Gustafsson, unanimous decision
Jones: Gus has taken several of the best fighters in the UFC to decisions, while Blachowicz has decision losses to far less skilled opponents. Although Gus is 2-3 in his last five, Blachowicz is enough of a step down in competition that it shouldn't be hard to find the finish.
Gustafsson, TKO, Rd. 1
Rondina: Contrary to what everyone else is suggesting, there is a decent chance that Blachowicz wins this fight. A good enough chance that I'm willing to pick against ol' Lusty Gusty, though? Nope.
Gustafsson, TKO, Rd. 3
Harris: Blachowicz is a physically powerful fighter, but he won't be able to catch up to Gustafsson. The Swede uses long reach and pinpoint combinations to win the day.
Gustafsson, TKO, Rd. 2
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Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett
4 of 4
Amos: I don't expect a lot of action from this fight, but I do anticipate an upset. At least upsets are kind of exciting, right? I'm also forecasting a stoppage, so it should at least end with some drama.
Arlovski, TKO, Rd. 3
McCarter: Arlovski has already fought twice in 2016, and both fights ended with him being knocked out. I'm not even sure he should be able to take this fight. Barnett has heavy hands, and when heavy hands meet a questionable chin, it usually signals an early night.
Barnett, KO, Rd. 1
Jones: Both are on their second UFC runs; this time around, Arlovski has gone 4-2, while Barnett is at 2-2. Arlovski may be coming off two consecutive losses, but he's proved more promising than Barnett at this point, who seems to be in the twilight of his career. Barnett is still dangerous, but his adaptability is falling off.
Arlovski, unanimous decision
Rondina: I'm right there with Nathan in terms of my fear that Arlovski's chin has gone. A lot of non-hardcore fans have forgotten just how scary things were for Arlovski from 2009 to 2011, and seeing him get knocked out in consecutive fights brings back some bad memories. I'm taking him here based on his technically superior striking, but I'm not especially confident in that pick.
Arlovski, TKO, Rd. 3
Harris: Not only is Arlovski's chin eroding, but so are the 37-year-old's athletic skills. He's not going to be able to stay on his toes for the extended periods needed to play an effective matador to Barnett's charging toro. Barnett wraps him up and keeps him there. A knockout is possible, but here's guessing Barnett plays it extra safe while playing to his strengths in grappling.
Barnett, unanimous decision
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