UFC Predictions: UFC Vegas 23: Vettori vs Holland Predictions & Picks

#3 UFC Vegas 23: The Main Card

Strawweight prospect Mackenzie Dern highlights this weekend's undercard.

Four more fights will feature on Saturday’s main card, and in the Middleweight division, Kyle Daukaus faces Aliashkab Khizriev.

Khizriev looks like a very dangerous newcomer to the UFC. He’s 13-0 and holds a win over former UFC star Rousimar Palhares. Judging by his highlight reel, he’s big, aggressive and has skills in all areas.

Daukaus is equally well-rounded and obviously has more UFC experience. But he lacks the raw physicality of Khizriev. So the newcomer seems more likely to win, probably by decision or late TKO.

Also, in the Middleweight division, Sam Alvey takes on Julian Marquez. The book has essentially been written on how to beat Alvey in the UFC now – avoid the big counter right hook, and you should win. So it would depend on whether Marquez can do that.

The likelihood is that Marquez should be able to that. He should have a speed advantage over Alvey; he's the more varied striker and looked good on his return to the UFC in February. Therefore, Marquez via TKO is the pick.

---

Meanwhile, in the Strawweight division, Nina Ansaroff faces Mackenzie Dern. This would be an intriguing fight that should tell us a lot about how well-developed Dern is in her overall MMA game now.

Obviously, she’s the best grappler in the division, with a ridiculous amount of credentials to her name. But in previous UFC outings, her takedowns have been lacking.

That’s what makes Ansaroff dangerous for Dern. ‘Strina’ fended off a lot of the takedowns of Tatiana Suarez in their fight – and Suarez is a far better wrestler than Dern.

However, Ansaroff falls in terms of a lack of aggression at times, while Dern is always a willing frontrunner. Considering the same, Dern by razor-close decision is the pick.

Finally, in the Welterweight division, Mike Perry clashes with Daniel Rodriguez. Whether or not Perry should even be fighting, given his apparent mental issues, is a question mark. The last time we saw ‘Platinum’, he didn’t look like himself in a loss to Tim Means.

This could be a dangerous fight for him. Daniel Rodriguez lost his last fight, but he’s an excellent, dangerous fighter with finishing skills in all areas.

Perry is tough enough to avoid a TKO here and has a puncher’s chance. But judging by his recent behaviour, you’ve got to question if his head is in the game. Therefore, Rodriguez, via decision, is the pick.

---

#4 UFC Vegas 23: The Prelims

Picks in bold

UFC Lightweight Division: Jim Miller vs Joe Solecki.

UFC Lightweight Division: Scott Holtzman vs Mateusz Gamrot.

UFC Bantamweight division: Erin Blanchfield vs Norma Dumont Viana.

UFC Lightweight Division: John Makdessi vs Ignacio Bahamondes.

UFC Heavyweight division: Yorgan de Castro vs Jarjis Danho.

UFC Bantamweight division: Hunter Azure vs Jack Shore.

UFC Featherweight division: Luis Saldana vs Jordan Griffin.

UFC Light-Heavyweight division: Da Un Jung vs William Knight.

UFC Welterweight division: Impa Kasanganay vs Sasha Palatnikov.