UFC on Fox 24 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks
The UFC heads to Kansas City, Missouri, for the first time with one of their strongest Fox cards to date.
Headlining the action will be Demetrious Johnson. The UFC flyweight champion is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport today and possibly ever. He is top notch in every facet of the game. "Mighty Mouse" is closing in on Anderson Silva's title defense record (10). A win will see Johnson tie the mark.
Perhaps the most compelling matchup on the card is the co-main event.
Strawweight contenders Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas meet for the first time inside the cage. They are two of the most marketable and promising strawweights on the roster, and a big win on Saturday could see them as the next challenger for the title.
Who does the B/R staff favor in the UFC on Fox 24 main card matchups?
Craig Amos, Steven Rondina, Scott Harris and, myself, Nathan McCarter are here once again to give you our thoughts. Pull up and chair and gander at who we picked to get their hand raised in each of the four main card tilts this Saturday.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Renato Moicano
1 of 4
Craig Amos
Renato Moicano is by no means talentless, but if you take a look at the record strength of schedule faced by Jeremy Stephens, he doesn't look all that scary. The big-fight experience of the American will prove an asset, as will that murderous power he wields in both hands.
Stephens, TKO, Rd. 2
Steven Rondina
Stephens is due to hit the athletic wall any time now, but I don't think it will come here, and I certainly don't think an unproven guy like Moicano will be one to expose him. Look for Stephens to do his usual thing and either walk Moicano down en route to a clean loss or just club him with a right hand.
Stephens, TKO, Rd. 3
Scott Harris
Hey, it's Jeremy Stephens! And some other guy I don't really know! In all seriousness, Moicano is a fun prospect—you may remember the undefeated Brazilian from his last fight, an upset of well-touted Zubaira Tukhugov. Stephens is a longtime veteran, but he still throws plenty of heat, and some of it will bring Moicano low.
Stephens, KO, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
That's a clean sweep for the opener as I'm taking Stephens, too. I'm not really sold on Stephens as a top-five featherweight no matter what number the UFC puts beside his name, but he is undoubtedly talented. Moicano is going to struggle with Stephens' power, which will lead to an untimely end to the bout.
Stephens, TKO, Rd. 1
Ronaldo Souza vs. Robert Whittaker
2 of 4
Craig Amos
This is a close call in my books. Oddsmakers are favoring Ronaldo Souza definitively, but Robert Whittaker offers a considerable threat with his quick hands. I'll side with the favorite, anticipating that he'll be able to close the distance and initiate some clinches, then score some trips from there. The control he exercises on the mat will be enough to earn him a decision.
Souza, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Souza's wrestling and striking have improved since his days as a BJJ specialist, but Whittaker is a really bad on-paper matchup for him. I'm expecting Jacare to struggle to get the fight to the ground, get a bit tired, and then get outworked and outpointed standing by the Australian en route to an "upset" decision loss.
Whittaker, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Jacare, Jacare, Jacare. No one outside of Yoel Romero has the tools at middleweight to handle the world-class grappling and ever-improving striking of Souza. Whittaker will have his days; Saturday will not be one of those days.
Souza, submission, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
The biggest issue for Whittaker in this matchup is the fact that Jacare can take a shot. That puts Whittaker in the position of having to avoid the ground for 15 full minutes. That's not good. Eventually, Jacare will be able to close the distance and get in tight. From there it's all but academic. Whittaker is no slouch, but when the grappling is instituted by Jacare, there aren't many who can hang. Jacare lays claim to being a top contender while the middleweight division is in flux with Michael Bisping set to fight Georges St-Pierre.
Souza, submission, Rd. 1
Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson
3 of 4
Craig Amos
I'm confident this will be a high-action fight with a lot of exciting moments. I'm less confident in picking the winner, but I'll go with Namajunas, who will find the space to use her size and athleticism to earn the victory.
Namajunas, unanimous decision
Steven Rondina
Waterson is quite possibly the best atomweight fighter in the world. Too bad she's fighting at strawweight! The difference in size and strength is going to be obvious at the weigh-ins, and it will be even more obvious in the cage.
Namajunas, submission, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
Waterson tends to play things a little fast and loose on the ground, and that may get her in trouble against a fighter with the dynamic grappling of Namajunas. But she will still prevail. There's a lot of skill and power in Waterson's standup, and she'll outpoint Thug Rose there.
Waterson, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
This is truly a pick 'em fight, which makes it extremely exciting. I'll side with Harris on this one. Namajunas probably should hold the overall edge in the matchup, but two specific things stand out that make me lean toward Waterson. First, Namajunas struggles with high-pressure strikers. See: Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Waterson's karate style attacks and speed will give Namajunas difficulty against a more experienced striker.
Second, Waterson's biggest issues come from physically strong grapplers. Namajunas is skilled, but she's not exceptionally strong. She's not Claudia Gadelha or Herica Tiburcio. Namajunas will likely still have an advantage with her long limbs, but Waterson won't be completely outgunned. Those two factors lead me to pick Waterson by decision.
Waterson, unanimous decision
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UFC Flyweight Championship: Demetrious Johnson vs. Wilson Reis
4 of 4
Craig Amos
I've always considered Wilson Reis to be a bit underrated, but when I say this fight is closer than it looks, I don't mean there is anything less than a gaping canyon between these men. Johnson's biggest edge will be on the feet, and he'll force Reis to fighter there. The only variable is whether he'll cruise to an easy decision or score the knockout.
Johnson, TKO, Rd. 4
Steven Rondina
I co-sign everything Craig says. Reis has quietly been one of the most interesting fighters since his days in EliteXC...but this is Demetrious Johnson we're talking about.
Johnson, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
This isn't going to do a lot for either man in the wider court of public opinion. Johnson, probably the best active fighter in the world, will play the long game and coast to a decision that won't exactly light up the television ratings. Reis will, for all his talent and athleticism, be exposed as another guy who just doesn't have enough to beat Johnson. It's a grim take for a champion as brilliant and likable as Johnson, but hey, it's a cold world.
Johnson, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
This is just an echo chamber for Mighty Mouse's greatness. Hey, anything can happen right? Just don't bank on it. Johnson is far superior. Look for another dominant showing from the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.
Johnson, TKO, Rd. 4
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