UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega - Predictions and Picks

#6 The Prelims – Fox Sports 1 card

Fan favourite Claudia Gadelha headlines the prelim card

A battle of top-ranked Strawweights headlines the FS1 prelim card as former title challenger Claudia Gadelha takes on the surging Nina Ansaroff, who also happens to be the partner of current Bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes. This should come down to whether Gadelha – who pulled off an unconvincing win over Carla Esparza in June – can impose her grappling on Ansaroff, who is more of a striker. I’m going with Gadelha as I feel like Esparza, with her powerful wrestling, was always a tricky match for her, and in hindsight she also did well standing with Jessica Andrade despite losing that fight eventually. Ansaroff simply isn’t as proven against top-ranked opposition and I think her run ends here, so I’m taking Gadelha via decision.

In another key Flyweight bout, Jessica Eye takes on Katlyn Chookagian in what could prove to be a #1 contender’s fight; given both women have 2 strong wins each in the division. Eye relies on her super-fast hands and a decent grappling game that became somewhat underused against the larger opponents she faced at 135lbs, while Chookagian fights with a range striking style similar to former Bantamweight champ Holly Holm. If Eye can get inside and turn this into a firefight I’d favour her, but I’m not sure that she can track ‘Blonde Fighter’ down inside the cage. I’m going with Chookagian via decision, potentially in a controversial call.

Eryk Anders makes his return to Middleweight against Elias Theodorou in a match of rising prospects, and this one should come down to Anders’ brutally powerful striking and takedowns against Theodorou’s more elusive style and energy-sapping pace. I like Theodorou here; ‘The Spartan’ is by far the better technical fighter and if he can avoid a bomb from Anders, I think he’s got the advantage in all areas. I’m taking him by third round TKO after using his rangy kicking game and underrated grappling to wear ‘Ya Boi’ down.

In a battle of grapplers, Canada’s Olivier Aubin-Mercier faces off with BJJ whiz Gilbert Burns at 155lbs. Both men have also worked on their striking, but it’s Burns who’s shown more power – even if he was knocked out by Dan Hooker earlier in the year. It’s a close fight to pick but I think Burns probably has a slight advantage in all areas, so I’m taking him via decision.