UFC on Fox 25 Predictions: Main Card Staff Picks

With Mayweather vs. McGregor just over a month away and Jones vs. Cormier II on the horizon, you'd be forgiven for overlooking UFC on Fox 25, which is set for Saturday. But while the event may be eclipsed by the shadows of more momentous occasions, UFC on Fox 25 boasts a handful of exciting fights worthy of attention. 

The four-fight main card in particular plays hosts to some intriguing matchups, including a headliner between middleweights Chris Weidman and Kelvin Gastelum. The two men enter the bout from opposite sides of the spectrum, with Gastelum having won three in a row (though his latest win was overturned after he tested positive for marijuana) and Weidman having lost his last three. But despite the disparate routes taken to the Octagon, the match is, on paper, a competitive affair.

The co-main event of the evening pits featherweights Dennis Bermudez and Darren Elkins against one another. Bermudez will be looking to bounce back after a recent loss, while Elkins will attempt to run his win streak to five.

The full main card billing is as follows:

• Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum
• Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins
• Gian Villante vs. Patrick Cummins
• Jimmie Rivera vs. Thomas Almeida

As usual, the Bleacher Report MMA picks team has assembled to forecast the outcome for each main card matchup. Read on for predictions from myself, Scott Harris, Nathan McCarter and Steven Rondina.

Bantamweight: Jimmie Rivera vs. Thomas Almeida

John Locher/Associated Press

Almeida rebounded after the first loss of his career.

Scott Harris

If Rivera wins this fight, he'll be very close to a title shot. But he's not going to win it. His boxing is great and his wrestling is solid, but Almeida, coming off that loss to Cody Garbrandt, is going to be a muay thai dervish in search of a home for any one of his attack points. Take Rivera off the hype train and put Almeida right back on.

Almeida, TKO, Rd. 2

Nathan McCarter

The 19-fight win streak of Jimmie Rivera is about to come to an end. He's had an unheralded rise up the ranks, which is unfortunate, and now Thomas Almeida is going to style all over him. The redemption run for Almeida will continue as he looks to regain his spot among the contenders. Rivera will be a tough out, but Almeida sweeps the scorecards.

Almeida, unanimous decision

Steven Rondina

Look, Almeida is good, but I'm not looking at him as a sure thing quite yet. That isn't to suggest I'm hugely bullish on Rivera, but I do think he's the more proven commodity at this point, which is enough for him to earn my pick.

Rivera, unanimous decision

Craig Amos

Both up-and-comers have tons of potential, but only Almeida has received a ton of hype. Rivera implements a more reserved style that cannot match the aesthetics of Almeida, but the output is what counts. He'll earn the decision by mixing his boxing and wrestling effectively, as he always does.

Rivera, unanimous decision

Light Heavyweight: Gian Villante vs. Patrick Cummins

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The face of a victor, according to three of us.

Scott Harris

Lots of good potential slugfests on this card, and this is the latest. It could get ugly, but it could also get very fun. Villante never takes a step back and will probably be dying to hear a big pop from his hometown faithful. Cummins is fundamentally sound, but Villante's power and aggression should win him the day.

Villante, TKO, Rd. 2

Nathan McCarter

There's a good chance Cummins eats canvas in this matchup. He's been susceptible, to say the least. His pressure grappling puts him in harm's way, and Villante has some power. Yet, I'm still going to take Cummins. His doggedness and recovery will allow him to get in and simply outwrestle Villante for three rounds.

Cummins, unanimous decision

Steven Rondina

This should be an ugly one. And when it's ugly? I lean in favor of the guy with superior wrestling. In this fight, that's Cummins.

Cummins, unanimous decision

Craig Amos

I don't have a lot of faith in either guy at this point. Both show flashes, but are generally too inconsistent to rely on. I'm leaning toward Cummins because he always has that superb wrestling to fall back on if things start going south. 

Cummins, unanimous decision

Featherweight: Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins

John Locher/Associated Press

Dennis Bermudez is rarely involved in a boring fight.

Scott Harris

Get ready for a big-time Darren Elkins market correction. Before that admittedly sensational comeback win over Mirsad Bektic, Elkins was known as a grinder. That's still his bread and butter, but he'll be hard-pressed to do that against a very good wrestler and a physical beast in Bermudez.

Bermudez, unanimous decision

Nathan McCarter

There's no doubt Elkins has earned this fight that could legitimately put him in contention, but this is a terrible matchup for him. I'm not expecting this to be competitive. I'm actually expecting this to be fairly quick. Bermudez isn't going to get caught up in a grappling match. He'll find his space and absolutely crush Elkins en route to a performance bonus.

Bermudez, TKO, Rd. 1

Steven Rondina

This one is probably going to be a boring, ugly slog. Elkins will look to grind his way to a win and he probably won't be able to. Look for Bermudez to keep up with Elkins in the grappling department while edging him out, if only narrowly, at range.

Bermudez, split decision

Craig Amos

Elkins is the quintessential grinder, but no one can make a Dennis Bermudez fight boring. The guy only needs a couple of inches to try something spinning or flying. Of course, the kryptonite for high-flyers is often grounded grinders, but my pick is still Bermudez. The talent gap is larger than the stylistic challenge posed.

Bermudez, unanimous decision

Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Weidman (left) and Gastelum (right) face off for the media.

Scott Harris

Oddsmakers have this at a dead heat right about now, and that seems about right. Both of these guys are pressure fighters, although Weidman does flag down the stretch. He is also susceptible to the big shot, as his last three fights (all knockout losses) illustrate. It's all a toxic witches' brew of matchmaking for the former champ.

Gastelum, TKO, Rd. 2

Nathan McCarter

What this comes down to is twofold: Do you think Weidman can survive a big shot and do you think Gastelum will land? For me, it's a no and yes, respectively.

Weidman's size, length and grappling should give him the edge on paper. But in a five-round fight, it's tough to see how Gastelum, who has looked absolutely remarkable at 185 pounds, won't land cleanly at least once. If this were a three-round fight, I would probably pick Weidman, but over the course of 25 minutes, I'm going to take the more heavy-handed middleweight.

Gastelum, TKO, Rd. 2

Steven Rondina

I don't feel like Chris Weidman is going the way of Johny Hendricks. While Hendricks' skills have noticeably eroded across the board, Weidman just happens to keep getting caught with brutal shots while facing elite-level opposition. I don't think Gastelum has the finishing skills to pull that off, though.

Weidman, unanimous decision

Craig Amos

I'm going to challenge Einstein's definition of insanity here and pick Weidman for a third straight fight. Obviously, the results haven't been there, but he's been facing top competition and generally been engaging in back-and-forth affairs. I'm calling this his bounce-back fight.

Weidman, TKO, Rd. 4