UFC Fight Night 120: Poirier vs Pettis (Preview & Predictions)

UFC Fight Night 120 is here and sure to be a hit of the 2017 calendar year.

Two of the world’s best Lightweights do battle inside the Octagon in the evening’s headliner, as former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis, takes on perennial contender, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier.

Furthermore, the card also features former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Andrei Arlovski, in what may likely be his last dance in the promotion should he lose to Junior Albini. Besides, 155-pound veterans Joe Lauzon and Clay Guida start off this card in Norfolk, Virginia.

Additionally, in what’s being promoted as a potential ‘Retirement Match’, Matt Brown and Diego Sanchez go to war in the co-main event of the evening. So, without further ado, here are the predictions and preview for UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Pettis—

Indian fans can watch UFC Fight Night 120 on November 12th, Sunday 8:30 am Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN SD & SONY ESPN HD

Main Card

#1 Dustin Poirier vs Anthony Pettis

Pettis looks to regain the UFC Lightweight crown, with a win over Poirier

Dustin Poirier is one of the most powerful offensive fighters in the UFC’s Lightweight division today.

However, the same appreciation cannot be warranted to his defence—striking defence to be specific. He leaves himself open while exchanging in the pocket, and has paid a huge price for it against fellow KO artists such as Conor McGregor and Michael Johnson.

While Poirier and his opponent, Anthony Pettis, both possess an excellent BJJ game—with the former holding a slight advantage in the wrestling department over Pettis—when it comes to technique in the standup, ‘Showtime’ wins this hands down. Expect Pettis to come out loose and counter Poirier, when the latter plants his feet to exchange.

Chances are that Pettis makes a statement with a huge knockout victory, however, given the fact that he may be a bit gun-shy in the early going, a decision win would be a safer bet.

Prediction: Anthony Pettis def. Dustin Poirier via Decision

#2 Matt Brown vs Diego Sanchez

Both Brown and Sanchez are winding down their careers, with the former publicly stating his intentions of hanging up the gloves after this bout.

Regardless, this fight would’ve been PPV quality back in the day, but has come to fruition later than desirable, so to speak. Both fighters have taken insane amounts of damage over the course of their respective careers.

Speaking of which, Brown seems to be the fresher of the two, besides also boasting better standup skills. Expect the Immortal one to knock the living daylights out of Sanchez… don’t blink!

Prediction: Matt Brown def. Diego Sanchez via KO

#3 Junior Albini vs Andrei Arlovski

Speaking of not blinking, here’s another fight which could be over a few seconds in.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski has severely regressed over the years, owing to the wear and tear that is typical in the sport. Although Junior Albini can spark out Arlovski’s chin at any given moment, the crafty veteran does carry that otherworldly KO power in his right hand.

For old times’ sake, here’s hoping Arlovski’s trademark right uppercut connects.

Prediction: Andrei Arlovski def. Junior Albini via KO

#4 Nate Marquardt vs Cezar Ferreira

Nate Marquardt has experienced a dramatic fall from grace—from knocking out Tyron Woodley in Strikeforce, to getting wiped out by Kelvin Gastelum in the UFC.

Marquardt has failed several steroid tests in the past, and under the current USADA-directed UFC, his performances seem to have dropped off a cliff.

Regardless, Nate still possesses great KO power, and excellent grappling skills. On paper, he ought to be a handful for someone like Ferreira, but should the latter ping him on that battle-worn chin, it may be lights out for Nate ‘The Great’.

Prediction: Nate Marquardt def. Cezar Ferreira via Decision

#5 Raphael Assuncao vs Matthew Lopez

Assuncao has hit a rough patch after a few injuries and a decision loss to TJ Dillashaw.

Nevertheless, he remains one of the top contenders in the UFC Bantamweight division, and possesses the striking and grappling advantage over Lopez.

Look for Assuncao to outpoint Lopez on the feet, and drag him to the ground as the fight wears on. The former will most likely finish this fight late via sub, after dominating Lopez.

Prediction: Raphael Assuncao def. Matthew Lopez via Submission

#6 Joe Lauzon vs Clay Guida

Joe Lauzon and Clay Guida are longtime veterans of the sport who seem to have been around forever.

Both fighters have great grappling and decent striking skills to boot. However, Lauzon has the crispier combos on the feet.

Look for Lauzon to outpoint Guida in the standup, while grappling scrambles being somewhat even.

Prediction: Joe Lauzon def. Clay Guida via Decision

Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)

#1 John Dodson vs Marlon Moraes

John Dodson looks to work his way up to the UFC Bantamweight Championship

John Dodson has God-given KO power on both hands—as evidenced by his first fight with Mighty Mouse, where he battered DJ before ultimately losing a decision, as well as his KO win over current UFC Bantamweight kingpin TJ Dillashaw.

Dodson is a great grappler, excellent striker and highly well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist. Look for him to light up Moraes before he eventually sleeps him in Round 2 or 3.

Prediction: John Dodson def. Marlon Moraes via KO

#2 Tatiana Suarez vs Vivian Pereira

Tatiana Suarez is one of the UFC’s top prospects today.

Suarez is sharp on her feet and even more dangerous on the ground. Although Viviane Pereira is a deceptively powerful boxer, her size disadvantage often plays the Achilles’ heel to her wonderful MMA game.

Look for Suarez to overpower the smaller Pereira before securing a takedown and ending the fight by way of submission.

Prediction: Tatiana Suarez def. Viviane Pereira via Submission

#3 Sage Northcutt vs Michael Quinones

Sage Northcutt came into the UFC with the promotional muscle firmly behind him.

However, the young prospect hit a few roadblocks, which in turn led the MMA community to the conclusion that ‘Super’ Sage may be ~~a tad~~ super green.

Regardless, Quinones is not as dangerous as someone like Bryan Barberena or Mickey Gall—the two men who thoroughly dominated Northcutt—and one can expect the karateka to overwhelm Quinones on the feet en route to a TKO finish.

Prediction: Sage Northcutt def. Michael Quinones via TKO

#4 Angela Hill vs Nina Ansaroff

Nina Asaroff trains with her partner and current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes.

However, her striking is nowhere close to the Lioness’ level. On the other hand, Muay Thai specialist Angela Hill seems to have added new wrinkles to her game after being briefly cut from the UFC.

Hill is the better fighter here and come fight night, it’ll show. The MT savant is likely to dominate Ansaroff to a clear-cut decision win.

Prediction: Angela Hill def. Nina Ansaroff via Decision

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Sage Northcutt looks to get back on track with a win over Michael Quinones

#1 Court McGee vs Sean Strickland

Court McGee is one of the toughest fighters in MMA, but seems to have hit his ceiling as a competitor.

McGee may be the better fighter, but given Strickland’s size and explosiveness, this matchup seems like a trap for the UFC veteran. Look for McGee to control the early going and outpoint Strickland.

Although McGee is likely to run away with a washout on the judges’ scorecards, should Strickland land those strikes on the veteran’s chin, he may very well get the upset here.

Prediction: Court McGee def. Sean Strickland via Decision

#2 Jake Collier vs Marcel Fortuna

Marcel Fortuna is the more durable of the two, and that will most definitely show when that Octagon door closes.

Fortuna can finish the fight if he catches Collier early. However, this fight is likely to go the distance. Fortuna seems to be better everywhere—be it the feet or the mat.

Look for Fortuna to progress in the division; besting Collier.

Prediction: Marcel Fortuna def. Jake Collier via Decision

#3 Darren Stewart vs Karl Roberson

Darren Stewart is a tough scrapper, while Roberson seems to be the more composed and tactical of the duo.

Roberson seems to have great pop in his strikes and excellent durability. Look for him to overwhelm Stewart and impress the judges to win on the scorecards.

Prediction: Karl Roberson def. Darren Stewart via Decision