UFC Predictions: 5 massive bantamweight fights on the horizon

The UFC bantamweight division is arguably the most stacked and explosive weight class across combat sports. The 135-pound division features a nice mix of up-and-coming prospects and experienced contenders, many of whom will fight over the next two months.

The championship will be contested at UFC 288 in May between reigning champion Aljamain Sterling and former bantamweight titleholder Henry Cejudo, with No.1-ranked Merab Dvalishvili and No.2-ranked Sean O'Malley tantalizingly close to a shot at gold.

Merab Dvalishvili (left) and Sean O'Malley (right) [Images via @merab.dvalishvili & @suga.sean on Instagram]

Both Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili earned their places in the top tier of the division with decision wins over Petr Yan. The contenders ranked below them will also be looking to break into the upper echelons of the weight class down the line, and as such, are highly motivated for their upcoming bouts.

On that note, here are our predictions for five massive bantamweight fights on the horizon.

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#5. Pedro Munhoz vs. Chris Gutierrez

Chris Gutierrez has been in the UFC since 2018, but his breakout moment happened at Madison Square Garden last year, when he brutally knocked out former UFC champion Frankie Edgar. 'El Guapo' will look to defeat another veteran next month when he takes on perennial contender Pedro Munhoz.

Chris Gutierrez hasn't tasted defeat since his submission loss to Raoni Barcelos back in 2018, his lone loss in the UFC. He is currently riding an eight-fight unbeaten streak and occupies the No.13 spot in the bantamweight rankings, four places behind Pedro Munhoz.

At 36, Munhoz is in the twilight of his professional career. The Brazilian has won just one of his last six fights inside the octagon and hasn't recorded a finish since 2019. However, his losses have only come against the best fighters in the division, and perhaps more importantly, none of them were able to finish him.

Gutierrez has a technical edge in this one and certainly has the tools to out-point his Brazilian counterpart. He is seemingly coming into his own at the moment and the Munhoz matchup feels like a stepping stone into the top 10, so we're predicting another highlight reel finish from 'El Guapo'.

Our Pick: Chris Gutierrez via second-round TKO

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#4. Song Yadong vs. Ricky Simon

This next pairing pits two exciting up-and-coming bantamweights on the rise against one another as No.8-ranked Song Yadong is set to take on No.10-ranked Ricky Simon at a UFC Fight Night next month. This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup between two athletic specimens, which should make for a fun fight.

Song Yadong is among the most highly touted prospects in the promotion. The 25-year-old Chinese phenom comprised a three-fight win streak before running into Cory Sandhagen last year and will be desperate to return to winning ways. However, he has a tricky stylistic matchup ahead of him.

Ricky Simon boasts a smothering style of fighting which often neutralizes his opponents. The American's relentless wrestling output has seen him put together a five-fight win streak and he even has a win over No.1-ranked Merab Dvalishvili on his record.

Yadong is certainly a championship caliber prospect, but this matchup might've come a tad too early in his career. Expect Simon to take this fight to the ground as frequently as he can, and given how difficult it is to submit Yadong, this could turn out to be a one-sided wrestling-heavy beatdown.

Our Pick: Ricky Simon via unanimous decision

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#3. Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez

Among the most exciting bantamweight contenders on the rise is Adrian Yanez, who has slowly but surely emerged as a real threat to the title. Yanez holds the No.12 spot on the bantamweight ladder and will be looking to potentially enter title contention when he takes on No.6-ranked Rob Font at UFC 287.

Rob Font compiled a decent win streak to work his way to the top of the division, but his momentum was derailed by back-to-back defeats to Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera. Moreover, the 35-year-old's game is somewhat one-dimensional as he primarily relies on his boxing.

Unfortunately for Font, his next opponent Adrian Yanez might just have the faster hands of the two. Yanez is six years younger and hasn't taken much damage in his recent fights, unlike Font, who was left bloodied and battered by Marlon Vera last year.

Yanez is the favorite in this bout and for good reason. The matchup undoubtedly favors him, but it remains to be seen how he deals with the pressure of fighting on a massive pay-per-view main card.

Our Pick: Adrian Yanez via third-round TKO

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#2. Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen – UFC San Antonio main event

Every so often in MMA, fans are treated to a fight that is guaranteed to produce fireworks. As soon as the Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen bout was announced as the headliner for UFC San Antonio, true aficionados of the sport, especially the striking connoisseurs, collectively licked their lips in anticipation.

Marlon Vera has been on a tear since his decision loss to Jose Aldo in 2020, racking up wins over Davey Grant, Frankie Edgar, Rob Font and Dominick Cruz to enter the top 5. His last three victories have perfectly encapsulated everything about his game, which relies on big moments in the striking exchanges.

On the flipside, Cory Sandhagen's style is the polar opposite. 'The Sandman' keeps a high pace and typically outstrikes all his opponents. His striking arsenal is far more diverse than Vera's, and his exceptional footwork often leaves his opponents baffled.

This fight is so evenly matched and could easily go either way. Vera needs to be deadly accurate with his strikes if he is to put away Sandhagen, who has the movement and cardio to evade the Ecuadorian for five rounds.

It's a tight one, but we predict Sandhagen to stay on the outside, pick Vera apart from range and eke out a decision win, but we're far from confident on this one.

Our Pick: Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision

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#1. Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo – UFC 288 main event

After a three-year hiatus, Henry Cejudo, one of the most accomplished combat sports athletes of all time, is set to return to the famed octagon. 'Triple C' vacated the title back in 2020 and is looking to reclaim his strap when he takes on current bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling in the main event of UFC 288.

Aljamain Sterling hasn't quite garnered the respect he deserves from the masses, despite having defended his title twice already against former champs T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan. A win over a former two-division champion like Henry Cejudo would certainly boost his standing among the fans.

On the other hand, it's hard to predict how Cejudo will look after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Olympian is now 36 years old, which doesn't bode well for him in the bantamweight division. However, his skills and in-cage accomplishments are undeniable.

It remains to be seen how Cejudo's wrestling and Sterling's grappling will fare against one another's skillset. They might just cancel each other out on the mat and duke it out on the feet, where they're pretty evenly matched. Ultimately, we're giving 'Funk Master' the edge to retain his UFC bantamweight title.

Our Pick: Aljamain Sterling via fourth-round submission