UFC Fight Night 165: Edgar vs. Korean Zombie - Predictions and Picks

#7 The Prelims: ESPN+ card

Heavyweight prospect Ciryl Gane headlines the prelims

All seven of this weekend’s prelims will be shown on ESPN+. Headlining the portion is a Heavyweight clash between Ciryl Gane and Tanner Boser. Boser edged a decision over Daniel Spitz in his UFC debut in October, but I think he’s in over his head here; Gane came into the UFC with a reputation as a Francis Ngannou-like striker, but he’s actually won both of his fights by submission. If Gane can avoid the clubbing blows of Boser then I think he’ll win this one by submission again.

At Featherweight, Sung Woo Choi takes on Suman Mokhtarian. Choi is coming off two straight losses in the UFC and honestly didn’t show a lot in those two fights, so despite a layoff of over a year, I’m taking Australia’s Mokhtarian by submission here.

The always-exciting Dong Hyun Ma returns at Lightweight to face Omar Antonio Morales Ferrer. Venezuelan debutant Ferrer has 10 wins to his name – and looks like a heavy hitter – and that could bode well for him against the brawler Ma, whose chin now appears to have been cracked. I’ll take Ferrer via KO here.

In a key Flyweight fight, Alexandre Pantoja looks to snap the winning streak of Matt Schnell, who has picked up three victories in a row. I like Pantoja here; his grappling is incredibly dangerous and he’s an equally excellent striker, and his losses are to top contenders like Deiveson Figueiredo and Dustin Ortiz. Schnell has improved over the years, but I think Pantoja will take a decision here.

At Bantamweight, Said Nurmagomedov takes on Raoni Barcelos. This is an excellent fight that should probably have made the main card; Barcelos is perhaps the more dangerous finisher, but I think Nurmagomedov’s wrestling will win him a decision.

At Strawweight, Miranda Granger takes on Amanda Lemos. Granger is unbeaten in MMA and won her UFC debut earlier this year, while Brazil’s Lemos hasn’t fought since a 2017 loss to Leslie Smith. I don’t know a lot about either woman to be frank, but I’ll take Granger via decision in a coin flip.

Finally, Ryan Benoit returns at Bantamweight to face China’s Heili Alateng. Alateng is hugely unproven at the UFC level, and while Benoit hasn’t fought since 2017, he was always a solid fighter and a tricky challenge even for top contenders at 125lbs. I like Benoit to win via TKO in this one.