UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman - Predictions and Picks

#7 The Prelims: ESPN2 card

Dangerous grappler Manny Bermudez headlines the prelim card against Charles Rosa

All of Friday’s prelims will be shown on ESPN2, and headlining that portion of the card is a Featherweight bout between veteran Charles Rosa and high-level prospect Manny Bermudez. This will be Bermudez’s debut at UFC Featherweight after missing the 135lbs Bantamweight limit twice, and based on the way he ran out of steam against Casey Kenney, it’s likely the right move for him. I think he wins this one; Rosa is more of a grappler and Bermudez is one of the most dangerous men in the UFC on the mat. I like him to submit Rosa late on.

At Flyweight, Diana Belbita makes her UFC debut to take on the tough Scouse fighter Molly McCann. McCann lacks natural athleticism but makes up for it in a ton of heart and aggression, and I think that’ll carry her through this one against a fighter who appears to be more of a journeywoman and has lost to her most notable opponents. McCann via decision is my pick.

The exciting brawler Kyle Bochniak returns at Featherweight to face Sean Woodson. Woodson is unbeaten and recently won a fight on DWCS with a flying knee, so the likelihood is that this could be an exciting brawl. Bochniak is super-tough but can be outworked, so a lot of this depends on exactly how good Woodson is. I’m going with the more proven fighter and taking Bochniak via decision.

At Bantamweight, Randy Costa faces off with Boston Salmon in what could be a loser-leaves-town fight. Neither man showed a lot in their UFC debuts but I think Salmon will take this one; he’s far more experienced than Costa and should outwork him for the length of the fight. I’ll take Salmon via decision.

Longtime veteran Court McGee returns to face Sean Brady in a Welterweight fight; this is Brady’s UFC debut so it’s a tough task for him, but he does look good overall, a strong grappler with some decent striking too. In his prime I’d probably have taken McGee to outwork him, but I worry about ‘The Crusher’ and his durability at this stage, nine years into his UFC career. I’ll take the younger man Brady to win a late TKO.

Finally at UFC Heavyweight, Daniel Spitz takes on Tanner Boser. Canada’s Boser should’ve debuted back in July, only for opponent Giacomo Lemos to test positive for a banned substance, causing the fight to be scrapped. A heavy hitter, I like Boser to win this one; Spitz is a big guy but struggles with durability, so I think this goes quickly and ends with Boser by TKO.