The UFC returns to Fox Sports 1 tonight with UFC Fight Night 49 going down live from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Headlining the event will be a lightweight showdown between two of the divisions best. Former UFC lightweight champion and current No. 1 contender Benson Henderson looks to stake his claim as the next title challenger when he faces off against No. 5 ranked Rafael Dos Anjos.
The co-main event features what should be an exciting welterweight bout between two savvy veterans. Mike Pyle and Jordan Mein will look to impress the masses and make a name for themselves in the UFC’s most crowded division tonight.
Here are FightHubTV’s predictions for the UFC Fight Night 49 main card:
Tom Niinimaki vs. Chas Skelly: Tom Niinimaki defeats Chas Skelly by Unanimous Decision
Both men are coming off tough losses their last time out and need a win here in order to stay relevant. Unfortunately for Skelly, he is getting a very tough out tonight in Niinimaki. Although Skelly has shown some impressive striking, his grappling prowess in nowhere near Niinimaki’s level. Expect Niinimaki to control the fight from bell to bell and take home the decision victory.
James Vick vs. Walmir Lazaro: James Vick defeats Walmir Lazaro by TKO Round 1
Continuing to pick against Vick has proved fruitless up until now, so tonight I decided to switch it up. Regardless of the fact that Vick has not seen the Octagon in over a year, he should have the tools to take out Lazaro tonight in his home town. On the other hand, Lazaro is a solid prospect from Nova Uniao with big power in his hands too, so if he lands first it could spell the end for Vick.
Max Holloway vs. Clay Collard: Max Holloway defeats Clay Collard by KO Round 1
You have to have major respect for Collard taking a fight against Max Holloway on just 6 days notice, but this is going to be a really rough UFC debut. Although technically Collard has nothing to lose, he should get absolutely annihilated by the wrecking machine that is Max Holloway. Holloway continues to improve each time out, and tonight should be no different. Expect a brutal, violent, and quick finish from Holloway tonight.
Francis Carmont vs. Thales Leites: Francis Carmont defeats Thales Leites by Unanimous Decision
This fight will be sloppy, boring, and utterly atrocious. Carmont is ridiculously boring consistently, although Leites has shown flashes of excitement as of late. Expect Carmont to take Leites down and grind out a decision in very uneventful fashion. Although Leites is an exception grappler and jiu-jitsu player, I just do not see him submitting Carmont tonight.
Jordan Mein vs. Mike Pyle: Jordan Mein defeats Mike Pyle by TKO Round 1
This fight should be a wild one or two round affair where both men exchange violent punches until one man goes down. Nearly all of Pyle’s TKO losses came early on in the fight before he was fully settled in, and I expect that to happen again tonight. If Mein wants to prove he is a legit contender, he needs to take out Pyle in this fight. Let’s not pretend that Pyle does not have the tools to beat Mein, because he absolutely does. But, if he can not hurt Mein early with a flurry, it could spell the end for Pyle.
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Benson Henderson: Benson Henderson defeats Rafael Dos Anjos by TKO Round 3
While the UFC lightweight champion is coaching TUF and sitting on the sidelines, the former champion is taking out the division’s contenders one by one. Tonight, Benson Henderson will do that once again when he takes on No. 5 ranked Rafael Dos Anjos. Henderson is better in all facets, but Dos Anjos has a very dangerous jiu-jitsu game. Expect Henderson to pressure Dos Anjos for three rounds before finishing him off with a flurry in the third. If Henderson wants to prove he is the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division, a second finish in a row would do just that.
