UFC London Preview & Betting Guide

UFC London: Blaydes vs Aspinall – 7.23.2021 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC London: Blaydes vs Aspinall. After an electric event at The O2 in March, the UFC has returned to London with a card once again stacked with European talent. Our analysis includes a pick for every bout from Dynes Sports contributors Anthony Marro and Nicholas Marro.

As coverage continues, we will keep our records up to date below. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick though as records will not reflect confidence. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

Anthony: 184-106-0 (Last Year 299-200-5)
Nick: 184-106-0 (Last Year 305-194-5)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 7-22-2022 at 5pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 12:00pm EST

Nicolas Dalby -225 vs Claudio Silva +185

Anthony: The event will open with this matchup at welterweight between Nicolas Dalby and Claudio Silva. Neither one of these two are very high-level fighters but Dalby is clearly the more proficient in terms of mixed martial arts. He is serviceable in a variety of positions and facing Silva I expect him to be the far superior striker. Dalby does have a losing record when facing southpaws, but against a striker this mediocre I do not see him eating many shots on the feet. Silva will be desperately looking to take this fight to the mat where he can utilize his black belt in jiu jitsu. He is live for an early submission in this spot but as the fight wears on his takedown attempts will quickly become more and more desperate. At the age of 39, Silva really only has a gas tank good for five hard minutes. Dalby performed well in round three against Tim Means during his most recent appearance in the octagon. He has the cardio advantage here. I expect Silva to get touched up badly on the feet as Dalby cruises to a victory. Nicolas Dalby by Round Two
Nick: Nicolas Dalby is well rounded, but most of his success has come through his strong wrestling base. He’s decent on the feet but doesn’t throw much volume. He can be dangerous offensively but defensively he is often there to be countered as he throws looping power shots rather than tight compact combinations. Silva is likely on the downturn of his career at 39-years old. However, his BJJ is still amongst the best the UFC has at Welterweight. He’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, which came to James Krause and Court McGee. Nicolas Dalby should be able to use his powerful wrestling base to mostly keep this fight standing, if and when Silva tries to take him down. I expect Dalby to be quicker than Silva in striking exchanges. He’s going to be the more accurate fighter at range and he should have a considerable power advantage on the feet as well. Silva will be live for an early submission, but Dalby should be able to weaponize his cardio as this fight hits the midway point. The line feels a bit wide here as these are two older fighters, but Dalby is the rightful favorite. Nicolas Dalby by Decision

Mandy Bohm -120 vs Victoria Leonardo +100

Anthony: Next is a women’s flyweight bout between Mandy Bohm and Victoria Leonardo. On a card stacked with great fights this is not one I feel confident putting any money on. Bohm has lost her only UFC fight thus far and I really am skeptical of her overall ceiling. However, I expect her to have the edge on Leonardo in terms of technical striking. She can use her length well to stay at distance and Leonardo will need to find her way into the pocket in order to realize any success. Leonardo likely struggles in round one finding range with this thirty-foot octagon. However, her forward pressure and ability to mix in takedowns makes her the side I lean. Brawling and pushing around Bohm should not be too difficult as Leonardo seems to be the stronger fighter. Victoria Leonardo by Decision
Nick: This is an extremely low-level matchup at women’s flyweight. Bohm is well-rounded as a former TKO Flyweight champion. She has decent offensive striking ability at range, but she’s there to be countered in exchanges. She does a decent job mixing leg kicks into her combinations, but she telegraphs most of her strikes. She struggles to defend takedowns and her BJJ is certainly behind a good portion of this division. Leonardo pulled off an impressive upset against Chelsea Hackett on Dana White’s Contender Series as a +220 Underdog. She’s a decent grappler with solid ground and pound, but her striking still appears to be underdeveloped. She’s coming off back-to-back losses to Manon Fiorot and Melissa Gatto, but she’s getting a far more favorable opponent this time around against Bohm. My confidence is low here, but I prefer the value of the underdog. Leonardo has been in there against much tougher competition and I expect she should have a considerable grappling advantage against Bohm here. This is a low confidence play as it is a low-level matchup. Still, Leonardo feels like the sharper side to be on here. Victoria Leonardo by Decision

Jai Herbert -275 vs Kyle Nelson +220

Anthony: This should be a very fun lightweight matchup between Jai Herbert and Kyle Nelson. The London crowd will be rooting for Herbert as the former Cage Warriors lightweight champion. He produced an exciting fight with Ilia Topuria here last March but wound up on the wrong side of that highlight reel knockout. Nelson is a much softer opponent and this feels like a layup in comparison. Last time the Canadian fought, Billy Quarantillo stuffed four takedowns and styled on him at kickboxing range. Herbert is a similar build to Quarantillo but ever further polished in the striking department. With a six-inch advantage in reach, Herbert should pick apart Nelson and land the much more damaging shots. Herbert also has great knees and elbows that compliment the boxing heavy attack. I normally worry about his durability, but Nelson is not at all known for his heavy hands. We have also seen Nelson get finished quite easily before, losing by stoppage in all three UFC defeats. I expect Herbert to knock him out. Jai Herbert by Round One KO
Nick: Herbert is a former Cage Warriors Champion with decent BJJ, but his most recent wins have come via strikes on the feet. He’s most comfortable fighting in the clinch with a strong Muay-Thai base, but he’s fairly competent no matter where a fight takes him. Kyle Nelson is a powerful striker, but fairly unconventional in his approach. He has flashed decent power, but mostly against mediocre competition. He’s often there to be countered in exchanges due to his hyper-aggressive style. He usually comes out strong, but quickly starts to fade as his cardio and conditioning are more of a weakness than a strength. It is also somewhat concerning that Nelson has been out of action since September of 2020.Nelson will have a puncher’s chance here, especially early. The line has gotten a bit wide considering Herbert’s questionable chin/durability. That being said, he’s very clearly the proper side. He’s being fed a mostly forgotten fighter to get back in the win column in front of his home crowd. It wouldn’t shock me to see him flatlined, but technically speaking he should have advantages no matter where this one goes. He has far more paths to victory. Jai Herbert by Round Two KO

Muhammad Mokaev -500 vs Charles Johnson +350

Anthony: Next is an exciting flyweight bout between Charles Johnson and Muhammad Mokaev. We saw Mokaev get a finish in the very first minute during the London card this March. He is an elite fighter who makes his second UFC appearance here surrounded with a lot of hype. The 21-year-old has been practicing martial arts for the past decade and his undefeated record speaks for itself. Mokaev has crisp kicks and very sophisticated striking for his age. His best attribute is the high pressure grappling and ability to find submissions on the mat he has showcased since going pro. Training at a great camp like American Top Team will only further hone his skills as he grows up in this promotion. It is scary to think about his ceiling. Johnson poses little threat to Mokaev in my eyes. He has certainly faced tough competition as the LFA flyweight champion, but I think Johnson is at a severe disadvantage in terms of technical skill. Watching tape has shown me that Johnson can compete with Mokaev when it comes to durability and cardio. However, Mokaev is way cleaner all-around and I think Johnson gets caught early scrambling for safety here. Muhammad Mokaev by Round One Submission
Nick: Mokaev is a highly regarded flyweight prospect, born in Dagestan but living and training out of Great Britain. He began fighting as an amateur at just 15-years old, amassing an impressive 20-0 record. He’s coming off an impressive win in his UFC debut, a first round submission victory over Cody Durden. He’s already one of the better wrestlers in the world at 125 pounds, and I personally consider him to be one of the most promising prospects in the UFC. Charles Johnson will be making his UFC debut here as the LFA flyweight champion. He’s a solid boxer with decent defensive wrestling ability, but he’s really never faced a grappler on the level of Mokaev. Most of Johnson’s success seems to come in the later rounds, but Mokaev is extremely dangerous early. Johnson throws a lot of kicks, which could provide openings for Mokaev to score takedowns here. Even if he does it, I expect Mokaev to ground him with relative ease. The line does feel wide considering the age and experience of Mokaev, but he’s very clearly the side here. He should be able to score takedowns at will until he works Johnson for a submission. Muhammad Mokaev by Round One Submission

Jonathan Pearce -185 vs Makwan Amirkhani +150

Anthony: This is a bout at featherweight with Jonathan Pearce taking on Makwan Amirkhani. Mr. Finland saved his spot on the roster with a finish of Mike Grundy his last time out. Three consecutive losses prior made March a do-or-die fight for Amirkhani, and he was able to get the job done quickly. He is always in search of a first-round submission given his poor cardio and inability to maintain pressure a full fifteen minutes. He is also submission reliant because his striking remains rudimentary. Pearce should have the advantage striking in this matchup but likely wants to do his work on the mat. He has landed six takedowns in each of his previous two fights. I consider him the rightful favorite with his ability to grind out wins and hold down opponents. It is crucial he stays mentally sharp in the moments when Amirkhani is fresh, but I do think he takes a measured approach to draw out those early attacks. Amirkhani and teammates at SBG Ireland seem to have lapses in their Fight IQ. It is a volatile matchup but I think Pearce stays out of danger and wins rather convincingly. Jonathan Pearce by Decision
Nick: Makwan Amirkhani’s greatest strength is his outstanding BJJ, as 12 of his 17 professional victories have come via submission. He’s coming off a solid win over Mike Grundy which also took place in the O2 Arena. He usually looks excellent early, but if he can’t take his opponents out he starts to fade as his fights wear on. Pearce fights at a torrid pace and throws a lot of volume as a striker. He doesn’t carry much power in his individual shots, but he can hurt his opponents and put them away with consistent pressure and volume. He has a solid wrestling base and decent BJJ, which was fully on display in his submission wins over Omar Morales and Kai Kamaka. In this particular matchup, he’s most likely going to try to keep things on his feet. In many of Pearce’s fights we see him put himself in dangerous grappling positions. If he does that here, Amirkhani will have a very solid chance to capitalize. If Amirkhani doesn’t secure an early submission, I expect Pearce to pull away on the scorecards. However, I prefer the value of the underdog. He only has one path to victory here, but this matchup could provide that opening. Pearce is the more well-rounded fighter of the two, but his weaknesses play to Amirkhani’s strengths. Makwan Amirkhani by Round One Submission

Nathaniel Wood -700 vs Charles Rosa +465

Anthony: Two more featherweights square off next as Nathaniel Wood takes on Charles Rosa. Wood has not fought since October 2020 when he lost a close split decision to Casey Kenney. He had entered that fight with near zero body fat but in the time since Wood has bulked up quite a bit and made the jump to 145 pounds. He looks strong and I think Rosa will struggle taking this fight to the mat. Wood defends 75 percent of takedown attempts and on the feet he should be miles ahead of Rosa. There is not much to say about Rosa’s striking other than some decent boxing combinations. Wood has a far wider arsenal of strikes and is much more comfortable with his timing and entries on the feet. He is landing at more than double the average Rosa has since joining the UFC. Rosa also loses fights often against upper echelon featherweights. If Wood is going to make a name for himself in this division it should be a fight he wins with relative ease. I am not comfortable betting Wood at such an inflated line, but he is my pick nonetheless. Nathaniel Wood by Decision
Nick: Wood is 9-1 when he fights in London. Wood has crisp striking and he throws intelligent combinations on the feet. He keeps a serious pace and puts constant pressure on his opponents, and at his best he can put out serious volume. His conditioning has been solid lately, but we have seen him fade late in fights earlier on in his career. He’s moving up a weight class here, which should help his cardio. He’s also getting a very winnable matchup against Rosa, one of the smaller featherweights in the division. Rosa fights very light-footed out of a karate style stance. He seems to finally have his timing down on the feet, but he often telegraphs his shots and leaves himself open to counters. He should have the more advanced BJJ in this matchup, but I expect Wood to be the much better wrestler. The line is getting a bit out of hand, but Wood is very clearly the side. I expect he should outclass Rosa no matter where this one goes. Nathaniel Wood by Decision

Marc Diakiese -400 vs Damir Hadzovic +300

Anthony: Next on the card is a lightweight scrap between Damir Hadzovic and Marc Diakiese. This card has a lot of very wide pairing in terms of odds, but this one makes the least sense to me. Diakiese is a very well-rounded fighter with good power for this division. Diakiese also fought a smart game plan and wrestled his way to a victory in his most recent bout. I think he is a solid, top 30 lightweight but it is a joke he is a near four to one favorite today. Hadzovic is not someone I’d define a ‘live dog’ but more an individual that can steal fights with his power and defensive awareness. Backing him here I really hope he can either catch Diakiese or draw him into a lower volume affair. We may see Diakiese absolutely smother Hadzovic on the mat but I think the first half of this fight is uber competitive. I do not mind taking a chance on such a large dog. While Diakiese does have the superior reach, Hadzovic looked like the bigger and stronger man at faceoffs Friday. Damir Hadzovic by Decision
Nick: Hadzovic is going to have a power advantage here, but it’s likely going to be difficult for him to close the distance against a highly skilled striker like Diakiese. Hadzovic is coming off a solid win over Yancy Medeiros, but he’s been out of action since June of 2021. He’s decent on the feet, but his defensive grappling ability is suspect as he carries a terrible 37 percent takedown defense. Diakiese is a talented striker in his own right. He’s technically sound with underrated power. He does a good job mixing kicks into his combinations and he’s excellent in the clinch and offensively out of breaks. He’s going to have a considerable grappling advantage in this matchup, so the key for him here will be taking this fight to the mat and keeping it there as much as possible. Diakiese should be able to cover his price if he wrestles here, and even if he doesn’t he should outclass Hadzovic on the feet. Marc Diakiese by Decision

Mason Jones -400 vs Ludovit Klein +300

Anthony: Closing the prelims is a great matchup at lightweight between Mason Jones and Ludovit Klein. I am very high on Mason Jones. He is a phenomenal boxer with a solid chin and excellent offensive output. The 1-1-1 record accrued since joining the promotion is a bit misleading. His debut fight against Mike Davis was a unanimous decision loss I believe Jones most certainly should’ve won. The no contest against Alan Patrick ended with an eye poke after Jones had been dominating every minute. He is getting the proper respect from bettors here as I do believe him to have the advantage over Klein. The fighter from Slovakia is great at kickboxing but rather lackluster on the mat. The clearest path to victory for Jones is to get Klein grappling whenever he can. I find it promising Jones has 11 takedowns already in three UFC fights. He is the stronger man and can likely smother Klein if this hits the ground. The other way Jones wins is in a brawl on the feet but I am content to back him standing too. As long as he stays in close range and away from Klein’s high kicks I see Jones getting the better of exchanges all day long. Klein has filled into this weight class nicely but I do not see him hanging around in this matchup for long. Mason Jones by Round Two Submission
Nick: Mason Jones is one of the highest regarded prospects in this division. He carries a blackbelt in BJJ, Judo and kickboxing. He’s a very well-rounded fighter with no singular standout skill, but he’s shown finishing ability against a decent level of regional competition. Jones is the former lightweight and welterweight Cage Warriors champion. He sometimes leaves himself open to counter-shots as his aggressive style isn’t matched by technical prowess, but he is advanced enough as a boxer to hang with a good chunk of this division. He also recently changed camps to Team Alpha Male. This should benefit him here as he’s likely to have better training partners and coaches around him than he did when he lived in Wales. He’s coming off an impressive win over another highly regarded prospect in David Onama. Obama held his own in that matchup, but Jones landed the more powerful shots and was the busier fighter over the course of fifteen rounds. Klein is advanced technically for a 27-year-old. He has decent grappling, but the precision and power behind his strikes is something to behold. He does a good job using feints to court his opponents into powerful shots and his left high kick is as dangerous as any singular strike in the division. Klein will have a chance to win via upset KO here, but Jones’ chin and durability seem excellent. He should be able to mix in his wrestling as he secures a convincing win. Mason Jones by Round Three Submission

Main Card- Starts 3:00pm EST

Volkan Oezdemir -145 vs Paul Craig +115

Anthony: The main card opener is a very intriguing fight between light heavyweights Paul Craig and Volkan Oezdemir. I really like the Bearjew once again here today. Craig is on a great run going 5-0-1 while finishing quality opponents like Jamahal Hill and Nikita Krylov. This feels like a step down in competition as he faces Oezdemir who is the loser of two in a row. Clearly Craig is at a striking disadvantage but his ability to drag fights onto the mat continues to make that irrelevant. Oezdemir has solid takedown defense that holds up against most standard attempts, but Craig finds a way to engage even without the usual single or double leg. He only lands a quarter of his attempted takedowns but has still found success locking up a submission win in twelve straight victories. I really expect him to pull guard here and snatch Oezdemir’s arm away. I do not think Volkan moves very quickly which should make him easier than most to trap. If he lands big on Craig a knockout is very possible but he has just one KO win since 2017. Oezdemir’s output has been diminishing and I don’t think he’s the rightful favorite in this spot. Paul Craig by Round One Submission
Nick: Paul Craig is another one of these guys who is usually aggressive early. He starts to fade when he can’t find an early finish, but he’s usually very dangerous for as long as his cardio holds up. Craig has outstanding BJJ, with thirteen of his sixteen professional wins coming via submission. Volkan Oezdemir is an extremely powerful striker, but he’s coming off consecutive losses for the first time since 2019. He’s faced an extremely high level of competition, but his career does seem to be on a bit of a downturn as his power isn’t quite as devastating as it was when he entered the UFC. In this matchup, his striking and power are going to be his most effective tools. I fully believe he still has enough strength to turn Craig’s lights out, but Craig has tremendous momentum heading into this matchup. I’d rather bet on the Under here than choose a side, but I’ll once again side with Craig at dog odds. It may not be pretty, but I do feel he can find a way to get this fight to the mat where he wants it. As long as he avoids Oezdemir’s power chasing takedowns, he should be able to find that early finish. Paul Craig by Round One Submission

Molly McCann -435 vs Hannah Goldy +325

Anthony: Next is a flyweight matchup with Hannah Goldy taking on the crowd favorite Molly McCann. I do not expect McCann to replicate the stellar knockout she earned last time there was a card in London Town. However, she should once again feed off the fan support and dominate this fight wherever she decides to. I am not sold on McCann being a legitimate threat in the flyweight title picture, but she is a technical brawler that can beat a lot of the unranked girls like Goldy. The elite cardio of McCann allows her to put on a pace that a lot of opponents are not prepared to handle. She also tends to get caught quite a bit on the feet but the shots she is landing are much harder than the blows she tends to absorb. McCann will have the wrestling advantage facing Goldy here too. I would not at all be surprised if McCann decides to ground this fight early and often to accumulate damage with a bit more risk aversion. Goldy could spoil the party here as a huge underdog but I find It very hard to see McCann losing against an opponent like this. Goldy is strong but her resume is very weak. I won’t bet much at odds this wide but Meatball Molly is the pick. Molly McCann by Decision
Nick: McCann does a good job working behind her jab. She is an extremely aggressive brawler with crisp boxing ability, decent defensive grappling ability and excellent cardio. McCann averages more than two takedowns per fight. She tends to lean on her wrestling against inferior grapplers but there’s certainly no denying that she prefers to stand and swing. McCann is coming off an impressive win over Luana Carolina, in which she won via spinning elbow KO in the third round. She’s going to have the crowd behind her in a big way here, and it seems very clear the UFC wants her to secure a win in this spot. Goldy could be described as a physical specimen. She carries a ton of muscle mass. She is extremely strong with powerful strikes, but she has been criticized at times for overexerting herself and putting herself in detrimental positions. While she’s decent everywhere, she really has no standout skill. McCann is going to be the more aggressive fighter here, and she should have technical advantages everywhere. The line has gotten a bit out of hand, but I like McCann to win once again on her home turf. Molly McCann by Round Two KO

Nikita Krylov -200 vs Alexander Gustafsson +160

Anthony: This is another solid light heavyweight matchup with Nikita Krylov facing Alexander Gustafsson. It is probably best to keep your money away from this bout with all the unknown variables at stake. Gustafsson is nearly two years removed from action with his last fight coming at heavyweight against Fabricio Werdum. It really looked like the former title challenger was ready to ride off into the sunset after three deflating performances, but it seems things have changed for the time being. Gustafsson is in solid shape back at 205 pounds and I could see him surprising a lot of people and turning back the clock today. He’s a better striker than Krylov and perhaps his size keeps him safe in the grappling exchanges we see. However, I find it hard to bet a small plus money underdog that has been on hiatus for so long. Krylov has remained active and although he was defeated in two straight fights, the level of competition has certainly been high caliber. I think he has the hands to hurt Gustafsson in this fight and far better offensive grappling when comparing the two. It is not a confident pick at all but Krylov is expected to get the job done. Nikita Krylov by Round Two KO
Nick: Nikita Krylov is more than willing to eat shots to throw them. He’s a solid kickboxer with extremely powerful kicks. If he can take fights to the mat he’s also an aggressive offensive grappler with fifteen of his twenty-seven professional Wins coming by way of Submission Alexander Gustafsson has notable wins over Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz. He gave Jon Jones one of the toughest challenges in a Hall-of-Fame fight back in 2013, but there’s no denying that he’s far past his prime. When he’s at his best he’s an outstanding striker. He throws quick and intelligent combinations, he has excellent footwork, and his defensive grappling ability is certainly more than viable. This is a very tough fight to call as it’s difficult to know which version of Gustafsson we’re going to see here. If he looks anything like he did a few years ago when he was back at 205, he’s absolutely the value side in this matchup. If he doesn’t, the swollen price on Krylov here will be very much justified. The line feels a bit wide to me and it wouldn’t shock me if Gustafsson turned back the clock in this matchup. However, it seems more likely he’s a shell of who he once was. I wouldn’t back Krylov on the money line here, but I do see him as the rightful favorite. Nikita Krylov by Round Two Submission

Paddy Pimblett -265 vs Jordan Leavitt +210

Anthony: The O2 will be deafening for this fight at lightweight between Jordan Leavitt and Paddy the Baddy Pimblett. The trash talk between these two has built up all week but Paddy was already the biggest attraction on tonight’s card. He made The O2 erupt with a first-round submission of Kazula Vargas earlier this year. Now he faces another easy test in Leavitt, a grappling heavy fighter that can really wrestle and draw out fights. Paddy has a black belt in jiu jitsu that should nullify most of Leavitt’s attacks if these two do engage on the mat. However, Pimblett is miles ahead of Leavitt when it comes to striking. All Leavitt really offers are push kicks and the occasional overhand. Paddy is far better at putting together combinations, connecting with power shots and also landing clean from range. He is also more experienced than Leavitt. Both men are 27 years old but Pimblett already has ten more fights on his resume. He is bigger than Leavitt and I really think he puts his lights out quickly this evening. This is once again a massive opportunity for Paddy who has delivered already inside this same cage. It seems he has gotten into Leavitt’s head and I see this being another early finish for Liverpool’s finest. Paddy Pimblett by Round One KO
Nick: Pimblett is a former Cage Warriors lightweight champion. He turned down offers from the UFC twice earlier in his development, but he finally feels ready to compete at the very top level. Pimblett is primarily a grappler, and his greatest advantage is certainly his highly aggressive and dangerous style. He hunts for submissions from almost any position. We’ve even seen him score a Win via Flying Triangle earlier in his career. His BJJ is certainly his greatest strength, but we’ve seen consistent improvement in his striking from fight to fight. Jordan Leavitt is primarily a grappler as well. He has a strong wrestling base and does an excellent job keeping pressure on his opponents. He trains out of an excellent camp via Syndicate MMA. He has excellent cardio, and while his strikes don’t do much damage his unorthodox style does seem to be enough to keep him out of serious trouble. Since both of these guys can grapple, I expect this fight to take place on the feet. While both of these guys have flaws in their defensive striking abilities, I see Pimblett as having the major advantage offensively. Leavitt has only once won by knockout, and it came via a slam. Pimblett has five KOs across eighteen professional victories. Leavitt can be timid in exchanges, and Pimblett is hyper aggressive. I expect Pimblett to look like the rightful favorite here in a fight that should mostly take place at striking range. Paddy Pimblett by Round One KO

Jack Hermansson -120 vs Chris Curtis -105

Anthony: The co-main event should be a very competitive scrap between middleweights Jack Hermansson and Chris Curtis. British fans had been expecting the return of Darren Till in this fight but he was forced to withdraw due to yet another injury being sustained. In his place steps Curtis one month removed from a dominant victory he earned facing Rodolfo Viera. He really is a feel good story that has only looked more impressive with each passing stride to the octagon. Since 2021, Curtis is 7-0 and the 37-bout veteran will not be intimidated going into a fight like this. Hermansson is quite clearly going to be his most difficult draw to date but in terms of stylistic matchups one would think Curtis can thrive. He stuffed all twenty of the takedown attempts Viera shot this June, and really has had three straight camps preparing to counter wrestle. Hermansson is a big middleweight with heavy hands, but his striking is not much better than that of Curtis. It is unorthodox and varies in effectiveness depending on the opponent. Once again it seems that Curtis will be looking to keep his feet and stay in the face of Hermansson to establish his boxing. This is a true coinflip fight and one of my least confident leans. I think Curtis rides this wave of momentum and has the bigger moments in this fight. I like that he trains closely with Sean Strickland who was the last man to share the cage with The Joker. Staying behind the jab and fighting smart is Curtis’ clearest path to victory. Chris Curtis by Decision
Nick: This is a classic striker versus grappler match between two dangerous middleweights. Curtis comes into this fight having won all three of his first UFC matchups. He’s taking this fight on short notice after Darren Till was forced to withdraw due to injury. Curtis is primarily a counter-striker with a tight guard defensively and power in both hands. He has an excellent chin, but the major key for him to win here will be if he can keep this fight standing. His opponent, Jack Hermansson, is one of the best offensive grapplers in the UFC at Middleweight. His style is unconventional, but he has more brute strength than most do on the mat so he can pull off Submissions that most others couldn’t. He can look awkward on the feet, but he throws powerful and accurate strikes and he does an excellent job circling away from the power of his opponents. His awkward style makes him a difficult target to find, and it’s a plus for him here that he had a full training camp. Curtis is on a roll right now, but I’m not confident he’ll be at 100percent here taking a very difficult fight on short notice. As successful as he’s been lately, Curtis’ natural weight class is 170 pounds. I expect Hermansson’s strength and grappling advantages to be enough to secure a win here. Jack Hermansson by Round Two Submission

Tom Aspinall -145 vs Curtis Blaydes +115

Anthony: This epic card concludes with a heavyweight main event as Tom Aspinall takes on Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall made The O2 explode with his win over Alexander Volkov in March. He has ascended the rankings in record time, debuting in 2020 and already finishing all five of his UFC fights. Aspinall is a boxing phenom training with elite strikers Tyson Fury and Darren Till. Speed is his most lethal weapon. He has shown so much already in under fifteen minutes total inside of the octagon. Nobody really expected to see such proficient grappling and jiu jitsu at this stage of his career. Aspinall is a real problem for this division and I can honestly predict now he will hold the championship belt down the line. However, a matchup with Blaydes feels like too much too soon. This is by far the best opponent Aspinall has shared the cage with. Blaydes is an elite wrestler and currently holds the fourth ranking in the world at heavyweight. He lands more than two takedowns per round on average. We have yet to see Aspinall face anyone this caliber a wrestler and if Blaydes elects to take him down there will be a clear discrepancy in skill. Blaydes is heavier than Tom Aspinall and much more accustomed to long, drawn-out fights. I anticipate he can get on top of Aspinall early and suck the life out of this packed arena. For Aspinall, the knockout seems unlikely on the feet while still respecting Blaydes takedown threat. His best out in this fight would be catching a submission of sorts during a grappling scramble. This is a very close scrap but Blaydes as underdog seems like the pick. He has been the favorite in all fifteen of his previous UFC bouts. If he does win, Blaydes will look like a -300 favorite, cutting open Aspinall with elbows and beating him up badly from the mount. Curtis Blaydes by Round Three KO
Nick: Aspinall doesn’t really have a ton of experience, but he’s coming off nine consecutive Wins via finish. He’s a surprisingly well-rounded heavyweight considering he only has fourteen total fights on his professional record. A former training partner of Tyson Fury, Aspinall has excellent footwork and head movement. He is a highly technical boxer with advanced ability both offensively and defensively. He has impressive speed for the division, and he comes into this fight with a lot of momentum off wins over Alexander Volkov and Sergey Spivak and a former champion in Andrei Arlovski. He has some of the best jiu jitsu in the division, as was evident in his submission of Volkov. Blaydes is primarily a wrestler and one of the best heavyweights in the world in terms of grappling ability. He has excellent takedown entries and averages more takedowns per minute than any other heavyweight in UFC history. He continues to show considerable improvements on the feet and he’s coming off a KO win over another highly regarded prospect in Chris Daukaus. This is the first time Blaydes has been the betting underdog in the UFC. This is a tough fight to call as Aspinall is still somewhat unproven. He’s likely going to have considerable speed and striking advantages in this matchup, but his defensive wrestling ability is going to be a major factor. It wouldn’t at all surprise me to see Blaydes lean on his wrestling to deplete Aspinall’s gas tank and take over late. However, I feel it’s more likely Aspinall’s advantages in speed and striking will be enough for him to secure another victory. I’m really not confident either way here, but I’ll side with the hometown favorite to keep it rolling. Tom Aspinall by Round Two Submission

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_