UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik - Predictions and Picks

#6 The Prelims: ESPN card

Rob Font headlines this week's prelim card against Ricky Simon

The top three prelim fights this weekend will be shown on the ESPN network too, and headlining is a Bantamweight clash between Ricky Simon and Rob Font. Font hasn’t been seen in almost a year; he’s had two opponents pull out of fights with him due to injuries, which is more bad luck than anything else.

Simon meanwhile saw a big winning streak snapped by Urijah Faber in July, but prior to that he’d looked like a potential contender in the division. For me this depends on whether Simon can get inside Font’s reach, but given he’s only two inches down himself, I think his more energetic style can do enough to outwork him for a decision.

At Welterweight, we’ve got a battle of two real veterans as Thiago Alves takes on Tim Means. After a bad 2018 I actually thought Alves should’ve retired, but he’s not looked bad at all this year, outpointing Max Griffin and then coming close to a win over the hyper-aggressive Laureano Staropoli in May.

Means meanwhile is on a bad run; 1-3 in his last 4, and unless he can catch Alves cleanly and knock him out, I’m not convinced he can win this one. I’ll go with Alves via decision, but to see Means stop him wouldn’t be a shocker.

The unbeaten Bryce Mitchell takes on Matt Sayles at Featherweight, in what should be a close one to call between two relatively well-rounded fighters. I like Mitchell here, as I think he’s slightly better in all areas. I’ll go with him by close decision.