The Garcia Report’s Personal Picks: UFC on ESPN BLANCFIELD vs. BARBER
-255 ERIN BLANCHFIELD
-150 MATEUSZ GAMROT
+295 Brahimaj
+153 BRUNO LOPES
-130 MACY CHIASSON
+175 Dusko Todorovic
+103 JAFAEL FILHO
-240 JORDAN LEAVITT
-360 BOLAJI OAKI
+180 ALICE ARELEAN
G Pick: -255 ERIN BLANCHFIELD (Via Betonline.ag)
ERIN BLANCHFIELD vs MAYCEE BARBER: This might turn out to be the closest fight on the card. I see this fight going to decision, and it can be anybody’s fight. Blanchfield is entering this fight determined, healthy, and strong. She’s looking to put on a stellar performance and she has a nice road ahead of her to be able to pull of the victory. Barber however, has been having issues cutting weight, and missed weight by half a pound. Barber is as tough of a fighter as they come, she suffocates her opponents with pressure throughout the duration of the entire fight, however, she often walks in on punches. In this fight, I see Blanchfield landing her shots, and avoiding the power punches. I predict Barber to chase Blanchfield around the ring every single round, but never being able to capitalize on big moments that may arise.
G Pick: -150 MATEUSZ GAMROT (Via Betonline.ag)
MATEUSZ GAMROT vs LUDOVIT KLEIN: This bout has the potential for fireworks, and can possibly win fight of the night. Klein’s ability to throw his head kick with little to no wind up, no tells, is incredible to watch. Gamrot has got to becareful with his opponents kicks. When Gamrot was fighting Tsarukyan, he was consistently getting hit with kicks to the body. Will Klein be able to expose the chinks in Gamrot’s armor? Or, will Gamrot be able to drag Klein to the ground, drown him in deep waters, and end the fight with a submission? I think so. Gamrot has tremendous strength, speed, and technique on the ground. I don’t think Klein will be able to put up with Gamrot’s relentlessness.
G Pick: +295 Brahimaj (Via Betonline.ag)
RAHMIZ BRAHIMAJ vs BILLY RAY GOFF: This bout features two fighters with opposite styles and tactics. Goff is talented on his feet, able to mix up combinations with nice footwork and speed. But, it seems like he doesn’t like fighting off of his back foot, and tends to allow himself to get pressed up against the cage. Brahimaj is a tenacious fighter, who is aggressive and will look for takedowns, clinches, and isn’t afraid to turn this into a rough rugged fight. Brahimaj’s downside? His chin is suspect. The question for this fight for me is, will Brahimaj be able to take down Goff and disrupt his rhythm via ground and pound? Or, will Goff showcase his phenomenal stand up by knocking Brahimaj out? Logically I would choose Goff, but if you’re looking for a big upset on this card, you may have found a pot of gold in Brahimaj. I love rooting for the underdogs, I’ll choose Brahimaj via TKO or decision. Let’s just hope his chin can weather the storm.
G Pick: +153 BRUNO LOPES (Via Betonline.ag)
BRUNO LOPES vs DUSTIN JACOBY: Bruno Lopes is the younger fighter heading into this bout here. Jacoby is 37 years old, meanwhile Lopes is 32. Lopes is an aggressive fighter who’s going to keep marching forward until he lands his power shots. He often leaves himself open however, after throwing his punches. When he chooses to throw, the punches are fast, strong, powerful. The holes in his stand up game, is when it’s time to bring those fists back to guard after punching. He’s a bit slow in that department, and Jacoby has proven to be capable of landing one shot sniper shots with his right hand. This is an interesting matchup, but this time I’ll side with the younger more aggressive fighter, Bruno Lopes via Decision, TKO, or KO.
G Pick: -130 MACY CHIASSON (Via Betonline.ag)
MACY CHIASSON vs KETLEN VIERIRA: Ketlen Vierira has size and power, but Macy Chiasson is the taller fighter and has longer reach along with a higher punch output. Chiasson may not be as strong and powerful as Vierira, but she has the speed, technique, and output advantage in this bout. I see this fight going the distance, possibly could end up being a boring one, if Chiasson chooses to play it safe. Vierira is the slower fighter out of the two, but once she chooses to explode, watch out. Nonetheless, I predict Chiasson walking away the victor via Decision.
G Pick: +175 Dusko Todorovic (Via Betonline.ag)
ZACHARY REESE vs DUSKO TODOROVIC: Zachary Reese has the height and reach advantage in this one. Standing at 6’3 with reach at 77 in. Dusko Todrovic has the physical disadvantage standing at 6’1 with reach at 73 in. I predict this fight to be close, but I see Todorovic being the over aggressor, thus allowing him to take Reese down and finish him via TKO, ground and pound. Reese has great stand up, and throws rapid combinations. Todrovic however, is going to make this fight ugly, get into Reese’s face, and press on the gas pedal. I see Reese becoming overwhelmed and crumbling to the pressure that will produce a flurry of ground and pound punches reigning from the top.
G Pick: +103 JAFAEL FILHO (Via Betonline.ag)
ALLAN NASCIEMENTO and JAFEL FILHO are earily the same type of fighters! Body have similar body styles, strength, and match up against each other well on the ground. The difference? Jafel Filho’s body is twitchier than Nasciemento’s. Meaning? Filho’s movement is faster, throws his punches with better fluidity and is swift with his footwork. Filho also throws a high volume of kicks to the legs and body. Taking this into account, I predict Filho to win. I don’t have a strong sense of how, it can either be via Submission, TKO, or Decision.
G Pick: -240 JORDAN LEAVITT (Via Betonline.ag)
JORDAN LEAVITT: Leavitt is a jiu-jitsu specialist who is an aggressive submission artist. However, when met with elite talent (Pimblett) Leavitt’s Jiu-jitsu was no match for Pimblett’s strength, size, and skill set. Nonetheless, if Leavitt gets a novice on the ground, he’s tapping them out. I believe he can get this done against Holobaugh.
KURTT HOLOBAUGH: Holobaugh’s specialty is his stand up. He’s an aggressive stalker who prefers to keep the fight standing up. He throws great hooks with both hands, and can brawl. This fight against Leavitt however, is going to be the exact opposite. Leavitt will feel Holobaugh’s pressure, and immediately clinch and drag the fight to the ground, ultimately pulling off a submission victory in my opinion.
G Pick: -360 BOLAJI OAKI (Via Betonline.ag)
BOLAJI OAKI: This is an extremely impressive fighter. High IQ on the feet. Tremendous power but still cautious on how he enters. Nice stiff jab, doesn’t have to rush his flurries, he lets them come naturally. His best punch is his lead hook to the body! This can potentially be open if his opponent is in orthodox stance and doesn’t counter repeatedly or block. Oaki’s weakness? Appears to be the ground game. He’s strong enough to get up if taken down, but there’s a chance a true submission artist could lure Oaki into some traps.
Michael Aswell: No information.
G Pick: +180 ALICE ARELEAN. (Betonline.ag)
RAYANNE DOS SANTOS: Rayanne Dos Santos has tremendous talent in the Octagon and she has all the potential in the world, but does she have enough to beat Ardelean? Dos Santos is an aggressive puncher that keeps on rumbling. As a result of this however, Dos Santos leaves herself wide open for shots to the head and the body. The key for victory for Dos Santos is to smother her opponent over and over again until her opponent fatigues out. If Dos Santos goes up against a talented striker who can dance around the ring and keep it up throughout 3 rounds, I believe she’ll lose. Not by KO/TKO, but by decision.
ALICE ARELEAN: Alice Arelean for the victory! I predict Alice Arelean wining this fight due to her poise as a stand up fighter. She can tread lightly around the ring, but when she sits on her punches she packs power mixed with precision. She knows how to pivot and create short angles once she commits to setting her feet. Dos Santos is as tough as they come, but will she be able to survive being picked apart for 3 rounds?
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