UFC Fight Night 101 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
Allow me to level with you. UFC Fight Night 101, going down Saturday from Melbourne, Australia, is not a strong card.
Submitted for your consideration: the two middleweights competing in the main event, Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson, are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the official UFC rankings. Both are very good fighters, both have five-fight win streaks going, both are on the outside looking into the divisional title picture, regardless of what happens in Melbourne.
Here's another fun stat for you: of the six fights on the main card, five fighters don't have Wikipedia pages. That doesn't speak well of the notoriety these competitors possess.
But hey, fights are fights, and they're coming on Saturday to help lift you out of the post-turkey day doldrums. Our Bleacher Report staff picks team is here to submit predictions for the six main-card contests. Nathan McCarter. Craig "Cookie" Amos. Steven Rondina. And myself, Scott Harris. Let's get it on.
Seo Hee Ham vs. Danielle Taylor
1 of 6
Nathan McCarter
I am a big fan of Seo Hee Ham. She's a fantastic striker with incredible speed...but she's an atomweight. Taylor showed out in her UFC debut by almost toppling rising contender Maryna Moroz. She gets a matchup against a smaller, less physical opponent in Australia.
Danielle Taylor's strength and physical advantages over Ham are what make the difference.
Taylor, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Pound-for-pound, Hamderlei is a significantly better fighter than Taylor, but there's a reason weight classes exist. I'm picking the Korean here on her technical prowess, but I'm doing so fully expecting Taylor to bully and clinch herself to a win.
Ham, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
Ham had some issues fighting taller and longer fighters, but her quickness and accuracy should play well against Taylor, who looked underwhelming in her UFC debut. Her utter lack of power ensures a decision, but Ham will still get the W.
Ham, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
I must echo the sentiments of my contemporaries. Ham is an atomweight fighting out of division in order to compete in the UFC. She's formidable technically but not physically, and Taylor will take advantage.
Taylor, unanimous decision
Tyson Pedro vs. Khalil Rountree
2 of 6
McCarter
Khalil Rountree lost his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter finale earlier in 2016, and Tyson Pedro is a 4-0 prospect. Pedro has finished all four of his professional fights with three by submission. If he hopes to win on the ground, he's in for a rough night. Rountree still remains a quality talent with a good grappling game. He scores takedowns and stuffs any submission attempts en route to a lackluster decision.
Rountree, unanimous decision
Rondina
The possibility of Rountree making a run up the rankings is nil at this point...but he's still a talented fighter. Probably more than talented enough to deal with an unknown fighter like Pedro.
Rountree, TKO, Rd. 2
Amos
Pedro has four fights and four first-round finishes. Impressive, but his three first opponents combined for a 1-6 pro record, so temper your expectations. The Aussie will pull out the win if he can ground Rountree and prevent him from letting his hands go. If he fails to do that it could get messy. I don't like his odds.
Rountree, KO, Rd. 2
Harris
Given the excitement and charisma he brings to the cage, it wouldn't be a surprise to learn that UFC officials were disappointed when he didn't live up to his favorite status on TUF. Pedro, who is totally unknown, appears to be set up on a tee for Rountree to make good and establish himself in the company. He'll get the highlight-reel finish he, and the UFC, have been seeking.
Rountree, TKO, Rd. 1
Yusuke Kasuya vs. Alex Volkanovski
3 of 6
McCarter
I have little idea why this is a main card fight. It'll be Alex Volkanovski's UFC debut, and Yusuke Kasuya is 0-1 in the UFC. Volkanovski is on a 10-fight win streak, so that's something. I don't have any technical breakdown for this nor does it deserve one. Volkanovski has more positives coming into the fight and that momentum is enough to get him in the win columns.
Volkanovski, unanimous decision
Rondina
Kasuya isn't a bum, but this is Volkanovski's fight to lose. The Aussie has a favorable matchup on his home turf. This won't be a slam dunk, but he has everything he needs to win this.
Volkanovski, TKO, Rd. 2
Amos
Volkanovski finally gets his chance in the Octagon after a few near debuts, and I predict he makes good on it. Kasuya can give him some problems on the mat, but I like Volkanovski to navigate those dangerous waters and cruise to a win.
Volkanovski, unanimous decision
Harris
Who are these people? I'll tell you who: two featherweights with a combined UFC record of 0-1. You tell me why they're on the main card. I got nothing. In all seriousness, Volkanovski is an Australian striker with a penchant for the finish. But hold on one second. Are those the upset alarms I hear in the distance? Kasuya's a ground wizard and he should be able to get the fight horizontal. It won't be pretty, but it will be a win for the Japanese veteran.
Kasuya, unanimous decision
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Omari Akhmedov vs. Kyle Noke
4 of 6
McCarter
I don't know what to make of Kyle Noke at this point in his career, but Omari Akhmedov has dropped his last two bouts by TKO to lesser competition. Thus, I'm picking Noke. It's a pick more to do with Akhmedov than having any sort of faith in Noke. Take that for what you will.
Noke, TKO, Rd. 2
Rondina
Akhmedov is younger, hungrier and generally better than Noke at this point. Noke is savvy enough to not get blown away, but Akhmedov will likely control this one en route to a clean decision win.
Akhmedov, unanimous decision
Amos
I'm not particularly bullish on Akhmedov, but I have little faith left in Noke at this point in his career. I imagine this will be fairly close in terms of output, but the strikes Akhmedov lands will do far more damage. Noke's toughness may enable him to make the final, but I'm forecasting a late Akhmedov finish.
Akhmedov, TKO, Rd. 3
Harris
This is a close fight. I like the journeyman Noke in front of his hometown fans, but I also dig the striking of Akhmedov. I'll give the nod to Akhmedov. He's lost two straight so his back is against the wall. I can't see him dropping three in a row.
Akhmedov, TKO, Rd. 2
Jake Matthews vs. Andrew Holbrook
5 of 6
McCarter
The UFC sees a lot in Jake Matthews, or else the Aussie wouldn't be in a co-main event slot here. I, too, am high on Matthews' ceiling, but Andrew Holbrook is a very difficult out for him. I'm bullish enough to think Matthews is able to score enough to win, but not enough to think he earns a stoppage.
Matthews, unanimous decision
Rondina
This is a bounce-back fight for Matthews. Squash match? Not quite. But this fight was made with one outcome in mind, and he should be able to make it a reality.
Matthews, unanimous decision
Amos
Matthews was gathering some serious momentum before turning in a massively disappointing performance against Kevin Lee. But the Aussie is still young, still developing, still finding consistency. Holbrook is no pushover, but Matthews is the more athletic and dangerous fighter. He'll exploit his advantage on the feet and end the bout inside the distance.
Matthews, TKO, Rd. 2
Harris
This event should be subtitled "Get the prospect back on track." As with Rountree earlier in the card, Matthews lost some hype with a recent loss. But losing to Kevin Lee isn't so embarrassing these days and Matthews is still 4-2 in the UFC at the tender age of 22. The young Australian rebounds against Holbrook.
Matthews, unanimous decision
Derek Brunson vs. Robert Whittaker
6 of 6
McCarter
Brunson is simply too good a grappler to be denied against Whittaker. Brunson is going to wear down Whittaker over the course of the fight before being able to finish in the later rounds. Whittaker is certainly a live dog here, but in order to win, Brunson has to decide to strike with him the entire fight.
He won't. Brunson is smart and knows how close he is to title contention. He plays it smart with grappling.
Brunson, TKO, Rd. 4
Rondina
This fight comes down to Whittaker's takedown defense. Plain and simple. If Brunson can work him over on the ground, he'll lose this decisively. But if he keeps it at range, his underrated striking game will carry him to victory. I think that's what happens here.
Whittaker, TKO, Rd. 3
Amos
It's my general policy not to bet against Brunson, as I maintain that he is one of the most underappreciated fighters on the roster. But I'm also pretty sold on Whittaker. With a hesitant and shaky voice, my gut is saying go with the Aussie, so that's what I'm going to do.
Whittaker, unanimous decision
Rondina
Whittaker is rightly popular in his native Australia. He's an exciting fighter with real sting in his hands and feet. To echo Nathan and Steven's comments, however, I don't think he has the takedown defense to truly contend with Brunson. Brunson may try to box with him, but only for limited stretches. Sooner or later he'll go to his bread and butter, the takedown and the top control, and Whittaker won't have an answer.
Brunson, unanimous decision
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