UFC Fight Night 118 Predictions: Main Card Staff Picks
The Octagon heads to Gdansk, Poland, on Saturday, October 21, for UFC Fight Night 118. The event will kick off the final flurry of action in 2017, with 11 events scheduled between today and New Year's Eve, including stops in six different countries.
Saturday's show in Gdansk will begin 11:45 a.m. ET, with the main card beginning at 3 p.m. ET. The card contains a total of 12 bouts, including an eight-fight preliminary agenda and a four-fight main card.
The headliner for the event pits perennial welterweight challenger Donald Cerrone against up-and-comer Darren Till. Cerrone enters the contest looking to rebound from back-to-back losses, while Till is looking to build on his 3-0-1 UFC mark.
In the co-main event, strawweight standout Karolina Kowalkiewicz will look to rebound from consecutive losses when she takes on promotional newcomer Jodie Esquibel in front of a partisan Polish audience.
The full main card is as follows:
- Donald Cerrone vs. Darren Till
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Jodie Esquibel
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Devin Clark
- Oskar Piechota vs. Jonathan Wilson
Bleacher Report has assembled its fight-picking team to provide you with prognostications for each of these contests. Venture forth for predictions from Scott Harris, Nathan McCarter, Steven Rondina and Craig Amos.
Oskar Piechota vs. Jonathan Wilson
1 of 4
Steven Rondina
I'm not going to pretend I know much about Oskar Piechota, but I do know a lot about UFC matchmaking. This is a hometown favorite who has produced some great highlights facing a foreigner coming off back-to-back losses. The UFC believes Piechota will make quick work of Jonathan Wilson, and I'm inclined to believe them.
Piechota, TKO, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
Wilson is 1-2 in the UFC and opening against a newly signed UFC European prospect. You do the math.
Piechota, KO, Rd. 1
Scott Harris
These are two people with low profiles in the UFC middleweight division. Wilson is raw, while Piechota is untested—with this being his UFC debut and his previous fights happening at a relatively low level. Piechota's a Gdansk native, and that's why he's here. If Wilson has evolved at all, this is his fight to lose.
Wilson, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
Steven has it right; this is a setup to please the Gdansk crowd. But the UFC gets these wrong almost as much as they get them right, it seems. Wilson has some skill, and he's spent time inside the cage with some quality opponents. The main card will get off to a disappointing start for the Polish fans.
Wilson, TKO, Rd. 3
Jan Błachowicz vs. Devin Clark
2 of 4
Steven Rondina
This is a do-or-die fight for Jan Blachowicz. He's 2-4 in his UFC career, but I still believe that he's a better fighter than his record would suggest. Devin Clark hasn't really stood out to me, and that inspires enough confidence to take the former KSW champion here.
Blachowicz, TKO, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
I'm with Steven. This is a "last chance" fight for Blachowicz. The matchup favors him, but given his recent performances, there isn't a lot of confidence to call it a squash match. I'll pick him in a fight he should win, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him falter under the bright lights yet again.
Blachowicz, TKO, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
Two smallish light heavyweights looking for a signature win. If you can't stand out in this division, you're having some problems. Blachowicz will be the one to overcome the problems, thanks to his striking prowess and knockout power.
Blachowicz, TKO, Rd. 2
Craig Amos
It's surprising to me that Clark is the favorite here. True, Blachowicz has had a pretty rough go of it inside the Octagon, but he's been fighting far superior competition. The guess here is that he gets the win, achieving a memorable moment among an otherwise forgettable UFC tenure.
Blachowicz, unanimous decision
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Jodie Esquibel
3 of 4
Steven Rondina
This has the feel of a squash to me. Kowalkiewicz may be coming off two losses, but she's an elite-level strawweight and she's fighting in the co-main event of a card in her home country. Esquibel isn't a full-on jobber, but she fits into Kowalkiewicz's style and should be able to help the fans in Gdansk go home happy.
Kowalkiewicz, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
This is a big mismatch. Kowalkiewicz will have to defend takedown attempts from Esquibel, but she shouldn't have any trouble in doing so this Saturday. Kowalkiewicz is going to touch her up and pummel her face with violent combinations en route to a 30-25 decision.
Kowalkiewicz, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
The hometown girl will make good in this case. Kowalkiewicz is better than Esquibel in just about every phase, with the exception of boxing. Esquibel has a puncher's chance, but the hometown favorite is a favorite for a reason.
Kowalkiewicz, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
This is a terrific opportunity to get Kowalkiewicz back on track after a pair of losses to two of the best strawweights in the world. And the fight will play out according to script. I'll even wager the Pole finishes Esquibel inside the distance to notch her first stoppage inside the Octagon.
Kowalkiewicz, submission, Rd. 2
Donald Cerrone vs. Darren Till
4 of 4
Steven Rondina
This is a temperature check on Till as a contender, and while he's warming up, I don't think he's done quite yet. That's easy pickings for Cerrone. Even if Till is the better pure striker, I'm expecting Cerrone to neutralize him early, take control late and either take a clean decision or score a late stoppage.
Cerrone, submission, Rd. 4
Nathan McCarter
I really do want to pick Till here because I don't know what Cerrone has left, but I'm just not sold on him. Thus, I'll stick to what I know. Cerrone will bring it, and his pressure will eventually wilt Till. I'm not positive we'll actually learn anything about either man from this fight.
Cerrone, Submission, Rd. 3
Scott Harris
This is just a great bit of matchmaking from the UFC. Till will berserk with Cerrone, but there's no loser here. If Cerrone wins, he'll re-establish himself as a must-watch action fighter. If Till wins, the UFC has a new name to push. I'll take the veteran, but I'm still stoked to watch.
Cerrone, TKO, Rd. 2
Craig Amos
I'll make it a clean sweep for Cerrone. Till has fought his way to some decent results, but he's never really wowed me—certainly not enough to convince me he's ready to take down an icon like Cerrone. Most of the action will come standing, but the fight will end when it hits the canvas.
Cerrone, submission, Rd. 4
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