UFC 246, McGregor vs. Cowboy: Predictions and picks

#3 Aleksei Oleinik vs Maurice Greene

Aleksei Oleinik is deadly on the ground

If this seems like an odd fight to showcase on a UFC pay-per-view in 2020, that’s because it is. Both men are coming off losses – Oleinik two in a row in fact – and aren’t likely to make it into the title picture any time soon. However, the promotion loves a good Heavyweight clash, even if this one has the potential to be a slop-fest, as Greene’s fight with Jeff Hughes was last year.

A decent athlete, Greene is also a genuinely huge guy at 6’7” and 265lbs. He’s far bigger than Oleinik, who stands at 6’2” and weighs approximately 30lbs less, but what the Ukrainian veteran lacks in size, he makes up with in skill. On the ground, ‘The Boa Constrictor’ is genuinely deadly, with his specialism being the rare Ezekiel choke.

I’d give Greene a puncher’s chance in this fight because Oleinik is a plodding brawler on the feet and might be giving up some speed to the TUF veteran, but in all honesty, the Ukrainian is likely no worse from a technical standpoint anyway, and he’s also as tough as leather, taking some serious punishment from Alistair Overeem before going down.

The most likely outcome here, in my opinion, is that Oleinik secures a takedown on Greene, who will likely be willing to grapple with him. That should be a mistake, and will likely hand ‘The Boa Constrictor’ another win by submission, keeping him afloat in the UFC at the age of 42.

The Pick: Oleinik via first-round submission