UFC: Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale - Predictions and Picks

#2 Justin Frazier vs. Juan Espino

Juan Espino (left) will look to become the first TUF winner from Spain

This fight is the Heavyweight finals of TUF 28, and in all honesty, it doesn’t really hold too much intrigue. TUF in general has felt passé since 2016’s Flyweight-based Season 24, and despite making the finals in somewhat impressive fashion, I personally doubt that Frazier or Espino can be the fighter to restore the reality show’s reputation.

Based on their fights during the reality show tapings, it would appear that both Frazier and Espino are primarily grapplers, and they’ve also got a similar level of experience with Frazier at 10-2 and Espino at 8-1. It’s notable that they’ve also both lost to the best opponents they’ve faced – Espino to a pre-Bellator Vitaly Minakov in 2011, Frazier to a pre-UFC Derrick Lewis in 2012.

Essentially, these men are almost mirror images of one another; Frazier is perhaps more aggressive than his Spanish opponent, but despite being nearly a decade younger than Espino, he doesn’t appear to have an athletic advantage in any way. That might cause him problems as judging by his semi-final win over Maurice Greene, Espino does pack considerable power in his punches.

I doubt this fight inspires much fanfare afterwards as I just don’t see either man as being good enough athletes to make it near to the top of the division – but a few years ago Espino may well have had the potential and I’m picking him here to surprise Frazier with a big power hook and then finish him on the ground.

The Pick: Espino via second round TKO