Page 6 - UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez

UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez - Predictions and Picks

Modified Feb 11, 2019 14:34 GMT

It's a big night of fights on ESPN on Saturday with Francis Ngannou vs. Cain Velasquez

#6 Andre Fili vs. Myles Jury

Myles Jury is looking to get back on the winning path against Andre Fili

It’s almost hard to believe now, but in 2014, Myles Jury was seen as a potential 155lbs title contender. After taking out veterans Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi, a fight with Donald Cerrone was his chance to break into the elite – but he was comfortably beaten and then dropped to 145lbs. A disappointing loss to Charles Oliveira followed, but Jury righted the ship with a pair of wins – only to then get destroyed by Chad Mendes last summer.

Andre Fili meanwhile has been around since 2013, alternating wins and losses in the Featherweight division until he finally put together two wins in a row by beating Artem Lobov and Dennis Bermudez. But the Bermudez win was heavily controversial, and his next fight saw him beaten by Michael Johnson. A member of Team Alpha Male, ‘Touchy Fili’ has always shown potential, but his defensive struggles have always plagued him, both in grappling and on the feet.

Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

This one should be a fun fight to watch as Fili’s wild offense might mesh well with Jury’s more straight-ahead style, but despite Mendes crushing him last July, I’m leaning towards Jury here. I just can’t trust a fighter as inconsistent as Fili, and in particular, I think Jury’s got enough stamina and toughness to simply grind out a win over his flashier opponent.

It could be a controversial one as I wouldn’t be surprised to see the big moments in the fight belong to Fili, but I think Jury will outwork him and take a decision.

The Pick: Jury via unanimous decision

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

Know More

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Vikshith R