UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya (Preview & Predictions)

UFC 222 is here, and after several changes to the card, Cris Cyborg headlines the show against former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Yana Kunitskaya.

Additionally, Frankie Edgar faces dangerous submission specialist Brian Ortega in the evening’s co-main event. Several other intriguing matchups also transpire on the card.

So, without further ado, here are the complete predictions & preview for UFC 222—

*Indian fans can watch UFC 222 from 8:30 am onwards on Sunday, March 4th, Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN*

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#Main Card (PPV)

#1 Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya

UFC 222 was originally supposed to be headlined by a UFC Men’s Featherweight Championship fight between reigning titleholder Max Holloway and challenger Frankie Edgar.

However, Holloway ended up pulling out due to injury, and while Edgar remained on the card, the main event of the evening now has reigning UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg and Yana Kunitskaya stepping in on short notice to do battle with the belt on the line. Cyborg is the better fighter both on the mat and the feet.

Expect Cyborg to gauge her timing & distance early on, and blitz Kunitskaya in Round 2; ending the fight with a barrage of unanswered punches.

Prediction: Cris Cyborg def. Yana Kunitskaya via TKO

#2 Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega

Frankie Edgar is taking a huge risk by battling Brian Ortega on short notice after Holloway pulled out of the event.

Ortega may not have a full camp behind him, however, the late change in opponent is also likely to affect Edgar’s strategy & rhythm. Edgar has to keep this fight on the feet, and avoid going to the mat against Ortega, as the latter seems to be savvy at pulling off chokes mid-scramble from awkward angles on the mat.

Fans can expect this fight to play out with both fighters staying wary on the feet, as Edgar will look to avoid the clinch, and stick and move throughout. Edgar’s excellent wrestling is likely to ensure that his takedown defense holds up, and he out-strikes Ortega on the feet for the decision victory.

Prediction: Frankie Edgar def. Brian Ortega via Decision

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#3 Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath

Sean O’Malley may not be a technically sound fighter, so to speak.

However, UFC President Dana White seems to be high on the prospect, and that in turn seems to have earned him a spot on the PPV portion of the UFC 222 card. O’Malley is likely to utilize his athleticism and aggressive striking to overwhelm Soukhamthath, and sway the judges in his favor so as to warrant the decision win after 3 rounds.

Prediction: Sean O’Malley def. Andre Soukhamthath via Decision

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#4 Stefan Struve vs. Andrei Arlovski

Both Struve and Arlovski have taken considerable damage over the course of their long careers.

Regardless, Struve is much younger than Arlovski, and will have a huge size and reach advantage against the former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Look for Struve to jab his way out of danger, whenever ‘The Pitbull’ tries to wade into punching range.

Arlovski still carries immense power in his hands, and could set Struve on roller-skates if he connects clean, however, Struve is likely to use his 7-foot frame and maintain his distance from the smaller Arlovski—enough so as to warrant a decision victory.

Prediction: Stefan Struve def. Andrei Arlovski via Decision

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#5 Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira

A few years back, Cat Zingano was perhaps the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world.

However, Zingano subsequently suffered serious knee injury issues, as well as significant problems on the personal front such as the suicide of her husband/coach. Zingano did come back to score a TKO victory over current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes, however, then lost by way of Submission to Ronda Rousey and Decision to Julianna Pena.

Zingano hasn’t fought in about 2 years, and against someone as dangerous as the undefeated BJJ specialist Ketlen Vieira, all odds are stacked against ‘Alpha’ Cat. However, when speaking about Zingano, one simply cannot discount the explosive striking and powerful wrestling she brings to the table.

Provided that she isn’t mentally checked out—as she’d admitted to being in the Pena fight—Zingano pieces up Vieira on the feet en route to a TKO stoppage after a barrage of follow-up strikes on the ground.

Prediction: Cat Zingano def. Ketlen Vieira via TKO

#Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)

#1 Mackenzie Dern vs. Ashley Yoder

BJJ World Champion and highly regarded prospect Mackenzie Dern is set to make her UFC debut against Ashley Yoder.

Dern’s striking is a tad rudimentary, however, Yoder isn’t going to pose that big of a threat on the feet. That, in turn, bodes well for Dern in this matchup.

Expect Dern to dish out a few jabs, and keep feinting until she secures the takedown and transitions to a submission—most likely a Rear-Naked-Choke—besting Yoder in Round 2.

Prediction: Mackenzie Dern def. Ashley Yoder via Submission

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#2 Beneil Dariush vs. Alexander Hernandez

Beneil Dariush is an excellent fighter who, unfortunately, seems to have suffered a few setbacks—a particularly huge one in his KO loss to Edson Barboza.

Regardless, against Hernandez, Dariush has more than enough Fight IQ and skills to trick the latter on the feet. Expect Dariush to utilize his excellent kickboxing so as to light his foe up on the feet.

Dariush is likely to tag Hernandez with a hook at close range, and proceed to unleash a barrage of strikes on the latter before the referee steps in to end the bout.

Prediction: Beneil Dariush def. Alexander Hernandez via TKO

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#3 John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz

John Dodson is an excellent striker and has great grappling to complement his fluidity on the feet.

Expect Dodson to utilize his footwork and create angles early on in the fight. Dodson is likely to gauge Munhoz’s rhythm and timing, and then engage in throwing heavy leather in Round 2.

Dodson could catch Munhoz with his trademark left hand, right on the button, sending the latter crashing to the mat.

Prediction: John Dodson def. Pedro Munhoz via KO

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#4 CB Dolloway vs. Hector Lombard

Hector Lombard seems to have deteriorated to a considerable extent after failing a steroid test in the UFC.

Experts have pointed out Lombard’s decline after the failed test—attributing the same to the possibility that his tremendous success & otherworldly explosiveness before the drug test failure may have been aided by his steroid usage. Irrespective of the aforementioned belief, the fact remains that Lombard is a shell of his former self right now.

Regardless, he’s still a finishing threat on the feet, and could put away Dolloway early. Nevertheless, fans can expect Dolloway to weather the early storm, and out-strike Lombard en route to a decision victory.

Prediction: CB Dolloway def. Hector Lombard via Decision

#Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

#1 Zak Ottow vs. Mike Pyle

Zak Ottow is primed to dominate at UFC 222

Mike Pyle is set to retire after this fight, and generally, when a fighter steps into the Octagon with retirement in the back of his/her mind, it doesn’t really reflect well on their performances.

Ottow is a durable fighter with decent striking as well as serviceable grappling. Look for Ottow to control the rhythm of this matchup; tagging Pyle and catching the latter on the chin in the early going—knocking Pyle out cold.

Prediction: Zak Ottow def. Mike Pyle via KO

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#2 Bryan Caraway vs. Cody Stamann

Bryan Caraway possesses excellent grappling, and his striking has indeed improved as well.

Caraway is likely to out-point Stamann with his relentless pace and chain-wrestling strategy. Although Stamann could make this fight close on the feet, Caraway’s dominance in the grappling sequences would be more than enough to earn him the decision victory.

Prediction: Bryan Caraway def. Cody Stamann via Decision

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#3 Jordan Johnson vs. Adam Milstead

Jordan Johnson and Adam Milstead possess decent grappling, however, they lack proper striking fundamentals.

Look for Johnson to utilize his superior strength to muscle around Milstead in the clinch. This fight is likely to be a grinding affair; with Johnson doing enough so as to sway the judges in his favour.

Prediction: Jordan Johnson def. Adam Milstead via Decision

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