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

#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