Summer is not over quite yet, and the UFC is still going strong. Saturday, the promotion heads to Boston, Massachusetts and into the TD Garden for UFC 292.
There's TWO title fights scheduled in the men's bantamweight division and the women's strawweight division, and there's also a great welterweight matchup in the main card, but before I get to them, I'll to my typical rundown of other fights that intrigue me a bit.
#13 Andrea Lee vs Natalia Silva - Women's Flyweight Bout
Andrea Lee is a pretty solid fighter that's been fighting in the UFC for just over five years, she's had mixed results and is on a two fight losing streak but she's a very game opponent almost every fight I've seen her in. She's 5-5 overall in the UFC heading into this fight but has never been finished, losing by decision in each loss. Andrea comes from a kickboxing background, but since becoming a pro in 2014 has proven to be a decent grappler to boot.
Lee has a tough matchup against Natalia Silva. Silva started off her pro career fairly slowly, but she started her pro career at just 18 years old! Silva has been on a tear lately and has not lost since losing in December of 2017! She's on a nine fight win streak including being currently 3-0 in the UFC! She's very athletic, well rounded and focused. Lee is 34 years old, Silva is just 26.
This will be a great fight! Silva's first ranked opponent in the UFC, this is gonna be really interesting!
Lee on the left, Silva on the right.
I think Silva takes this one!
Andre Petroski vs Gerald Meerschaert - Men's Middleweight Bout
This fight is super intriguing! Andre Petroski is much less experienced than Gerald Meerschaert. Meerschaert has 51 professional fights on his record, while Petroski only has 10. There's not a massive difference in age between them though, Meerschaert is 35 and Petroski is 32.
Meerschaert is a bit of a journeyman at this point in his career. He is very game in most fights, he just isn't an excellent athlete to really become a contender I'm afraid. But I could be wrong, and he often does bring an exciting fight. Meerschaert has been doing ok lately as he's 4-2 in his last six fights.
Taking a look at Petroski though, he may be less experienced than Meerschaert, but the man is a dog! He has a good wrestling background, he's a good athlete, and has a ton of power. He's also got a lot of life experience even if it wasn't in the cage. Petroski is from Pennsylvania and not too far from me at all. He has dealt with heroin addiction in the past which is something unfortunately all too common in the state.
Maybe I'm biased for the local dude, but I'll take Petroski in this one! Plus, Boston isn't too far from eastern PA, so it's like a hometown event maybe.
Brad Katona vs Cody Gibson - Men's Bantamweight Bout
Now this fight's got some interesting backstory for sure!
This fight is actually the tournament final of the Ultimate Fighter 31 in the bantamweight division! I didn't watch the reality show, but I know McGregor vs Chandler must have been a crazy season.
Brad Katona actually won the reality show tournament back in 2018 and is attempting to do so again five years later, at a lower weight class as well. He'd be the first two-time TUF Champ ever.
Both Gibson and Katona have prior UFC experience but have not fought in the UFC in years. Katona's last fight for the promotion was in 2019, and Gibson's last fight in the UFC was in 2015. Both fighters have been champions for other organizations after departing the UFC.
I remember Katona had a bit of a hype train after winning the tournament a few years ago, crazy it's been five years. Katona is the much shorter but probably more well rounded fighter. Cody's size might be a problem but, if I had to choose I would select Brad to grind out a decision.
Austin Hubbard vs Kurt Holobaugh - Lightweight Division
This is the second finale of The Ultimate Fighter 31. Just like with Katona vs Gibson, Hubbard vs Holobaugh are former fighters in the UFC. Hubbard in particular was pretty decent in the UFC going 3-4, never losing a consecutive fight. He last fought in the UFC in 2021.
Hubbard has nice balance and good boxing, he is a pretty big lightweight as well.
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Holobaugh is a former featherweight and he's really competitive, but I believe Hubbard's experience and power will be too much and he'll get the win.
Chris Weidman vs Brad Tavares - Middleweight Bout
Chris Weidman fights for the first time in over two years after his gruesome leg injury vs Uriah Hall in April of 2021. Weidman is a former champ and at 39 years old he still believes that he could still make a run at the title, we shall see.
He's fighting a veteran, journeyman of the sport in Brad Tavares. Brad actually fought on the Ultimate Fighter way back in 2010 and he's fought with the UFC ever since. I may call Tavares a journeyman but he's never had a losing streak of more than two, and he's had a winning streak of five and four at different times in his career.
There's not a massive difference in age as Brad is 35 himself. I think Brad actually gets it done because he's been way more active and in general Brad is underrated.
Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz - Men's Bantamweight Bout
Marlon Vera has been a steady winner throughout his UFC career. he's been in the UFC since 2014 and after a bit of an inconsistent start, he has reached a new level since 2018. He has had a win streak of four and five in that time with wins over guys like Sean O'Malley, Frankie Edgar, and Dominick Cruz.
Pedro has been in the UFC a similar amount of time as Marlon and has a similar story in terms of his career being up and down a bit, but pretty dominant as a whole. He's had losses, especially recently but his strength of schedule has been top notch. He's got wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Chris Gutierrez.
It only makes sense that these two finally fight after so long. I think Marlon gets the win, he's six years younger than Pedro and that age difference might be a factor here.
Da'mon Blackshear vs Mario Bautista - Men's Bantamweight Bout
It's incredible that Blackshear is fighting so quickly after his historic performance last week! Yes, last week he fought and now he's in the main card here again!
Mario is an up and coming bantamweight currently on a four fight win streak!
Fights like these have history making potential, and it makes the bantamweight division that much more interesting. If Blackshear can get it done, then he could have some massive hype going for him!!
I think Blackshear gets it done, I think he seizes the opportunity!
#11 Neil Magny vs #13 Ian Machado Garry - Men's Welterweight Bout
Now this fight is about to be historic! No matter what happens, this fight will be a significant one to look back on I believe.
Ian Machado Garry is like, the next big thing right now in the UFC. I have found him slightly annoying at times, because there are some obvious comparisons between Garry and McGregor, but Garry does just keep on winning. Also, lately it seems Garry is just leaning into the heel role a bit. I don't mind Garry being cocky as long as continues to prove himself, and he is Irish like Conor!
Neil Magny on the other hand has been in the UFC for a long time and holds a very impressive 21-9 UFC record and only has one losing streak of two that came way back in 2013. He's as respected as it gets in MMA, really.
This is Garry's toughest fight to date. Also, Ian often has a height advantage over many opponents, but he won't at all in this fight. Garry and Magny are both 6'3". They also have pretty similar fight styles, but Magny is probably a much better grappler.
I wonder if Magny's sheer experience will give him the edge, but right now Garry looks unbeatable. I'll take Garry to get a huge win.
Zhang Weili (C) vs Amanda Lemos for the Women's UFC Strawweight Championship
Zhang Weili has been an unstoppable force against practically any woman in the UFC not named Rose Namajunas. She's just an absolutely freaky athlete and just plows though opponents by whatever avenue that presents itself. She's won fights by decision, knockout and submission. She's only been in the UFC since 2018 but has already won, lost, and then won her title back in that time!
Lemos is getting her first chance at a title after going 7-2 in the UFC since 2017 with wins over girls like Angela Hill and Michelle Waterson.
I will take Zhang in this one!
In the Main Event we have Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Sean O'Malley for the Men's Bantamweight Championship
This is a BIG one!
Aljamain Sterling is on paper the most dominant champion in UFC bantamweight history with wins over legend after legend. Pedro Munhoz, Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo have all taken losses to Aljamain Sterling!
O'Malley on the other hand is not nearly as accomplished, but he is an undeniably solid fighter with only one loss on his pro record and a win most recently over Petr Yan in October of last year.
O'Malley is also just a really popular fighter and a big draw thanks to his lifestyle choices of being a partier, his overall cockiness and often crazy hair styles and and clothing choices. He's been a bit fast tracked to a title, but he's done well also.
O'Malley is going to have to bring his best skills to the octagon. Sterling is an extremely gifted grappler and O'Malley's seem passable but overall pretty unproven.
I am worried that Sterling is going to be way too strong for O'Malley. Sterling will be shorter than O'Malley but not by as much as O'Malley probably thinks.
Sterling handled a taller Cory Sandhagen with ease, and I think this fight will go the same way.
Sterling by submission in round two!
Can't wait, these fights are going to be great!
