UFC Fight Night 94 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
The UFC is off to Hildalgo, Texas, for UFC Fight Night 94.
What's your main event? Oh, just a top-tier lightweight battle between Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Johnson. Nothing to get too excited about. If that's not enough for you, middleweight contenders Derek Brunson and Uriah Hall are featured in the co-main event!
The UFC brings you a six-fight main card this weekend, and the Bleacher Report staff are here to give you their thoughts and predictions on each of those fights. Steven Rondina remains in the lead, but Scott Harris has charged up the board with back-to-back perfect event picks.
Let's not waste any time. Just who is on the squad and what's their record?
Craig Amos (79-57), Scott Harris (80-56), Sydnie Jones (79-57), Nathan McCarter (80-56) and Steven Rondina (85-51).
Chas Skelly vs. Maximo Blanco
1 of 6
Craig Amos
Blanco is better than Skelly at several facets of MMA, but Skelly is just such a grinder. He'll make sure Blanco fights a one-dimensional fight, and that the dimension he fights in is Skelly's preferred domain. It won't be pretty, but Skelly will get back into the win column.
Skelly, submission, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
Blanco's style is just too crazy to bet on. He's the bleeding guy high-fiving the guy who bled him. Skelly will be that guy on Saturday, with wrestling serving as a safety net when the action gets too hot.
Skelly, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
I don't have much to add here. Blanco has a patchy record and has gone 4-4 in the UFC so far. Skelly has shown more potential and more competency throughout his 17 fights. If Blanco's going to have a dominant performance, it won't be here.
Skelly, submission, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
Truly, I wanted to pick Blanco here. He's a wild card. However, once you start actually breaking everything down and looking at the matchup you can quickly see why Skelly is the favorite. His four-fight win streak from 2014-2015 was underrated as well. He'll take the fight on the scorecards.
Skelly, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Not really sure which areas Craig is talking about, honestly. Skelly's just the better fighter and I'm expecting him to either take a handy decision or stop things late.
Skelly, unanimous decision
Chris Wade vs. Islam Makhachev
2 of 6
Craig Amos
Toughest fight to call on the card for me. I've obsessed over it enough and just need to make up my mind. Wade, I guess. No...yes. Wade.
Wade, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
If you like prospects, this is your favorite scrap of the evening. Wade is a wrestle-boxer and should win a striking battle should it materialize. It won't materialize. Makhachev has the signature Dagestani control-time game down pat. He'll ride the Long Islander for 15 minutes.
Makhachev, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
If you want to make a hierarchy of grappling styles, I put Sambo ahead of wrestling. That, paired with 67 percent of Wade's wins coming via decision, has me leaning toward Combat Sambo world champion Makhachev.
Makhachev, TKO, Rd. 3
Nathan McCarter
I'll echo what Scott said. Wade isn't going to be able to keep Makhachev from closing the distance, and he won't land a clean one-punch KO. Fans can probably go get a snack or two while the smothering ground game is in effect.
Makhachev, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
This one should be competitive, but I just feel that Makhachev is the better grappler and that's enough to get my pick.
Makhachev, unanimous decision
Roan Carneiro vs. Kenny Robertson
3 of 6
Craig Amos
Robertson should be comfortable enough on the mat—so long as he's on top—to prevent Carneiro from earning the submission. Since a submission is Carneiro's only likely path to victory, the pick has got to be Robertson.
Robertson, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Living fossil Roan Carneiro is a powerful grinder, but Robertson has the submission skills to make the difference. He'll wear down the aging lion; he won't end up getting a tap but it will be clear who controlled the action.
Robertson, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
Congrats to Carneiro for having a second run in the UFC this late in his career, but it's not going to go well, despite his successful initial return. Robertson may not be a shooting star, but he can handle Carneiro.
Robertson, submission, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
I suppose I'll dissent from the group here. Carneiro isn't completely gone. He got taken out by an elite opponent, Brunson, in his last outing. Prior to that he had a solid win streak. Robertson is a game opponent and capable of winning, but Carneiro should be able to out-point him.
Carneiro, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
This one's a toss-up for me. The Brazilian is really old at this point (38, to be exact) and dropping back down to 170 which, despite being his natural weight class, probably won't be an easy process. If all goes well, Carneiro could pull this off, but there are just too many variables working against him here to get my pick.
Robertson, unanimous decision
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Evan Dunham vs. Rick Glenn
4 of 6
Craig Amos
Glenn may be new to the Octagon, but he isn't a pushover. He's facing a tall order in Dunham, though, who has put together three solid showings in a row. So long as the UFC veteran hasn't lost any momentum for being away for the past nine months, this one should go as expected.
Dunham, submission, Rd. 3
Scott Harris
Your Fight of the Night dark horse, right here. Glenn is a merciless striker with a championship pedigree. Dunham has a ground edge, but Glenn's not as limited there as some might think. Losing to Lance Palmer does not a deficient ground fighter create. Sound the upset alarms—the Iowa native wins a cracking good fight, despite his entry on short notice.
Glenn, TKO, Rd. 2
Sydnie Jones
Dunham's more than capable of holding his own against top lightweights, and while Glenn may be promising, I'm with Steven. Debut plus UFC veteran opponent plus moving up a weight class doesn't bode well for the newcomer.
Dunham, submission, Rd. 1
Nathan McCarter
I struggle with picking Costco employees to beat ranked UFC lightweights. Maybe that's just me?
Dunham, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Glenn's good, but he's also moving up a weight class and facing a crafty wrestler in his UFC debut. He's definitely capable of beating fringe top-10 guys...just not fringe top-10 lightweights.
Dunham, unanimous decision
Uriah Hall vs. Derek Brunson
5 of 6
Craig Amos
Despite losing to Robert Whittaker last November, Hall looked excellent for the third time in a row. The developing consistency tempts me to pick him, but not against Brunson, who is one of the most underrated middleweights around. I don't expect a complete blowout, but Brunson will get his hand raised.
Brunson, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Hall is the "fun" pick, but Brunson is the favorite for a reason. If Hall can't unleash a flash KO there's not much in the way of a Plan B. Brunson wrestles Hall to a decision.
Brunson, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
Hall has his flashes of...I don't know if I can call it brilliance, because they seem at least somewhat shaped by luck. Brunson, on the other hand, has routinely turned in solid performances at a bare minimum. I like Hall and won't enjoy watching him lose this fight, but...
Brunson, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I'm in step with everyone else. Hall may go Mortal Kombat on Brunson, but that's his only real out. Brunson is a legitimate contender who's being slept upon. He makes a statement with a controlling, dominant performance.
Brunson, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Either Hall breaks off a random, savage knockout here or he loses by decision. I'm leaning toward the latter.
Brunson, unanimous decision
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Johnson
6 of 6
Craig Amos
Poirier has looked like a destroyer since jumping up to 155. Johnson poses a challenge to him, but he doesn't offer enough to break Poirier's confident stride.
Poirier, submission, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
I like Johnson but I like Poirier more. He has the strength to stay out of Johnson's grind and should really be able to unload on the feet.
Poirier, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
Poirier is tough and skilled; it feels like he's been around forever and it's easy to forget he's only 27. He also has a far more consistent record than Johnson, who has some impressive wins. But Poirier is too durable and too shrewd to lose this.
Poirier, submission, Rd. 4
Nathan McCarter
I haven't changed my pick from earlier in the week. Poirier's quick combinations and jab will force Johnson to take his chances from way outside. Poirier can easily defend the shots from that range, and as he sprawls he'll look for the d'arce. He'll cinch it up in the second.
Poirier, submission, Rd. 2
Steven Rondina
Johnson's striking is too good to count him out, but this one should be a straightforward fight for Poirier. As long as he doesn't get clipped by one of those long left hands, he'll be in fine shape.
Poirier, unanimous decision
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
