UFC 221: Rockhold vs. Romero (Preview & Predictions)

#Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)

#1 Damien Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Damien Brown is a slick, well-rounded fighter

Damien Brown and Dong Hyun Kim seem to be pretty well-matched up in both the striking and grappling departments.

Brown is the more technical striker of the duo and utilizes his jab to maintain distance and set the rhythm in a great way. Brown is likely to out-strike Kim, and with the grappling exchanges being even-steven, the judges are likely to award the decision in favor of Brown.

Result: Damien Brown def. Dong Hyun Kim via Decision

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#2 Israel Adesanya vs. Rob Wilkinson

Israel Adesanya is an excellent kickboxer, and that statement isn’t merely derived from his days in GLORY Kickboxing.

In fact, Adesanya has proven his mettle in other organizations as well and now looks to conquer the MMA world with his elite kickboxing skills. On the other hand, Wilkinson isn’t a bad striker, so to speak, but does have a few holes in his striking defense.

Furthermore, Wilkinson’s offensive striking sees him repeat patterns and attempts which an elite striker such as Adesanya can easily read. Expect Adesanya to unleash a barrage of leg kicks right off the bat, and end this fight with a well-placed liver kick.

Result: Israel Adesanya def. Rob Wilkinson via KO

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#3 Jeremy Kennedy vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Kennedy and Volkanovski are both excellent fighters, and this bout indeed has the potential to earn Fight of the Night honors.

Kennedy is an excellent finisher, and could likely rock, drop and submit Volkanovski if her chooses to push the pace early on. However, given Kennedy’s style of using the first round to primarily gauge distance & timing, and this being a 3-rounder, the bout will likely see the final bell.

Kennedy is likely to dominate this fight not only on the feet but also on the mat; with the judges resultantly scoring the bout for him.

Result: Jeremy Kennedy def. Alexander Volkanovski via Decision

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#4 Ben Nguyen vs. Jussier Formiga

Ben Nguyen has all the makings of a star, however, has the habit of leading with his chin.

Leaving one’s chin up in the air and moving forward with complete disregard for the opponent’s power isn’t advisable, especially against the divisional elite. However, against someone who’s not as accurate with his striking, such as Formiga, Nguyen could get away with it.

Expect Nguyen to push the pace, and turn this into a grinding affair; edging Formiga on the scorecards.

Result: Ben Nguyen def. Jussier Formiga via Decision