UFC 223: 5 Crazy Predictions

After over two years and three separate attempts at rescheduling Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov, it seems that it is finally time for this dream lightweight fight to take place, at UFC 223 on April 7th in Brooklyn, New York.

Add to that, a vengeful Joanna Jędrzejczyk, out to get her Strawweight Championship back from the recently crowned Rose Namajunas, and this card has all the makings of a classic. Not to mention the undercard which includes the likes of Anthony Pettis, Michael Chiesa, Felice Herrig & Karolina Kowalkiewicz. All of these fights are up in the air, and while this makes it hard to predict how things will end up, that certainly won't stop us!

#1 Thug Rose does it again

Rose Namajunas celebrating her victory at UFC 217

Daniel Cormier bugling the name "Thug Rose" at the top of his lungs as the former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk fell to Namajunas has become one of the most iconic memories in recent UFC history. Not many would have predicted that the monstrous Boogeywoman Jędrzejczyk would fall at what seemed to be her peak, in the middle of a 14-fight win streak. One person who definitely predicted it was her opponent, Thug Rose.

While it is absolutely foolish to write the former champion off, looking at Rose's prowess and the way in which she defeated Joanna, it is a hard sell to pass on a successful first defense by Rose. The Vegas odds have Joanna as the favorite, and it may indeed be that the former champ storms back to reclaim her throne, but seeing Rose walk out with her belt may be a very real possibility.

#2 Return of The Showtime Kick

Anthony Pettis hitting the Showtime Kick on Benson Henderson

It has now been almost eight years since Anthony Pettis springboarded off a WEC cage and shot his foot into Benson Henderson's face at WEC 53 in a successful attempt at winning the WEC Lightweight Championship. It has also been over 3 years since Anthony Pettis lost the UFC Lightweight Championship to Rafael Dos Anjos, the last time Pettis held a title.

It's safe to say that Pettis's career has not been on an upswing since then, taking 3 losses in a row, an unsuccessful run at Featherweight, and a rocky return to Lightweight, with losses to Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier respectively.

Therefore, it seems like it's time for Pettis to pull out all the stops and springboard himself back into an advantageous position, and what better way to do that than by recreating the kick that originally shot him into the MMA stratosphere? His fight with Michael Chiesa does not promise an easy time for the former champ, but it does promise an exciting one. Like he did against Benson Henderson, will Pettis rise to the spotlight again and prove to everyone that it's still Showtime?

#3 Paul Felder hits an Irish Dragon Fist

Paul Felder fighting Josh Burkman

The opening bout of the UFC 223 main card sees Paul "The Irish Dragon" Felder, take on Alexander Iaquinta. Pail Felder has had some spectacular KOs in his career, including in his last 3 fights, which were all knockout victories. As has Al Iaquinta who has racked up 4 KO victories out of his last 5. With records like that and Vegas odds that don't favour either man in any noticeable way, it isn't easy to call this fight.

However, considering that Iaquinta's last fight was almost a year ago, and his second last, almost 3 years ago, time seems to be on the side of Felder. Therefore, with both of these fighters' distaste for leaving it to the judges, we feel that the Irish Dragon will come out of the bleachers swinging and leave the octagon with another KO victory on his record.

#4 The Russian Hammer retires

Artem Lobov punching Alex White

Ever since signing with the UFC in December of 2015, The Russian Hammer Artem Lobov has amassed a paltry record of 2 wins and 4 losses. The Novgorod born MMA fighter has always been on the lookout for a fight, however, with an overall record of 13 wins and 14 losses, no matter how gutsy, it surprising that he is still with the top fighting organization in the world.

Relegated to the UFC prelims as simply being Conor McGregor's training partner does not cut it anymore, Lobov faces another fighter's fighter in Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres. With the Vegas odds placing Lobov as an underdog, it is not out of the question that another loss, or at this point even a win, would lead Artem to leave his pursuit of combat for good.

#5 Khabib & Tony Fight to a Draw

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson face off as Dana White watches haplessly in the background

It seems too good to be true. In a world that forced these two amazing fighters apart multiple times before we got to this point, is it really going to all end so quickly in a matter of days? We say no. A high profile, high impact title fight like this, with opponents that are so equally, yet oddly matched, it seems like it has to go one way or the other. Either with Khabib wrestling Tony to the ground and mauling him, and eating him for supper like he has done with every other opponent, or with Tony utilizing his skilful and unorthodox striking and Jiu-Jitsu to take Khabib apart piece by piece.

Or... maybe, just maybe this fight is not the end. Maybe this fight that seems so unpredictable, is just that. Unpredictable. These two are so evenly matched that it is not at all out of the question that neither man gets it done. Is it so crazy that these Lightweight titans would go to war and come out completely at a stalemate? We don't think it is. And whether it is crazy or not, we believe that it isn't all bad. We don't usually hope for MMA fights to end in a draw, but considering how good this bout could turn out to be, we kind of hope it does.