UFC 306 and Canelo Berlanga Picks
Starting off the Sphere card is Mexican prospect Raul Rosas Jr v. Qileng Aori. Aori is coming off a no contest in his last fight and Rosas Jr is coming off his biggest career win with a Rear Naked Choke over veteran Ricky Turcios. My Pick is Rosas Jr by submission in round two. look for Rosas to be tested slightly as he is a 19 year old fighting a grown man. But this clearly a fight to give Rosas Jr an easy win and get the “Mexican” crowd hyped to start the night off.
Next we have a flyweight bout between Edgar Chairez v. Joshua Van. Van a last minute replacement stepping in on ten days notice, as well as coming off an unfortunate 3rd round K.O. loss to Charles Johnson back in July, a fight he was winning. All signs point to a tough night for Joshua Van, but I look to side with him. This a very high risk high reward fight for Van and anyone gambling…that’s why I’d look to avoid this on your parlays. All that aside, I think the late matchup shift will be difficult for Chairez and Van will get a split decision victory.
There a few WMMA fights on the card, the first being Ketlen Souza v. Yazmin Jauregui. I don’t know much about the fighters so my opinion shouldn’t hold any water here, but I will side with the underdog Ketlen Souza. I feel this because I see this night as a disaster this will be the first sign of it.
After WMMA, were are in for a sure barn burner with Mexican Manuel Torres v. Ignacio Bahamondes the Chilean. This fight could go either way, and the odds reflect that as Torres is only -125 favorites, this is as close to a pick’em as you can get. My pick is Torres by a narrow decision, but I could see a finish as both are coming off finishes of their own. Make sure you’re seated in time to watch this one.
Next we go back to WMMA with our feature prelim, Irene Aldana v. Norma Dumont. Currently listed as a pick’em, I see this one being a fun WMMA fight. Aldana is coming off a fight of the night win and barn burner vs. Karla Rosa, I see this fight as a very similar match up only this time I side with Dumont. I side with Dumont because Aldana barely won verse Rosa and got absolutely starched by Amanda Nunes. She’s getting up in age (36) and I don’t think she has many wars left in her. If this is a repeat of the Rosa bout, her chin will not hold up. Domont by Unanimous Decision.
Now, we begin the main card! Opening the night with a flyweight bout of Ronaldo Rodriguez v. Ode Osbourne. This is a very sad and disappointing opener on paper, and I can see it living up to it. But this is a repeat of the Rosas Jr fight in attempt to propel another young Mexican prospect and hype up the “Mexican” crowd to kick off the PPV. My pick is Rodriguez by submission round one.
Our next main card bout, is another retread of the prelims with another barn burner, Daniel Zellhuber v. Esteban Ribovics. Both are exciting young prospects and this fight will no doubt launch the victor to a new heights in their weightclass. I can see this fight going the distance in an thriller or being an early K.O., my pick personally is Zellhuber by K.O. round two.
The featured bout is a fight originally scheduled to take place as a fight week replacement for UFC 303, Brian Ortega v. Diego Lopes. This fight is sure to be a fun one and have a finish. I’m a big Lopes fan and very high on him as a prospect, with that being said I believe this is too big of a step for him and will more than likely cost him, my pick is Ortega by submission round one. Lopes will bounce back from this and find his footing.
The co-main event of the evening is the third and final fight in the trilogy of Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. This will be an enjoyable fight to watch as each of their previous fights were. Grasso is currently the slight favorite which is good, as if their last fight was any indication, Shevchenko will walk away with the belt. My official Pick is Shevchenko by split decision.
The final fight of the night…Sean O’malley v. Merat Dvalishvili. This fight will end quickly as Merab has been chinned in many of his fight, even the ones he’s won, nonetheless by smaller individuals than Sean O’malley. I’m a massive O’malley hater and he’s won the lottery thus far in his career, and he will eventually face his match…but it won’t be tonight. My pick is Sean O’malley by round one knockout. To back this pick up, O’malley has shift to the favorite during fight week, even though he’s been the underdog before the fight was announced. I really hope I’m wrong on this one and Merab gets the win.
Canelo v. Berlanga will be taking place across the strip simultaneously with UFC 306. To quickly run through predictions, here are my picks. Picks will be in bold!
PICKS:
Featured Prelim: Stephen Fulton v. Carlos Castro (Decision)
Main Card Opener: Rolando Romero v. Manuel Jaimes (T.K.O. Round 9)
WBA Interim Super Middleweight Title Bout: Caleb Plant v. Trevor McCumby (Decision)
WBA Middleweight Title Bout: Danny Garcia v. Erislandy Lara (Decision)
Undisputed Middleweight Title Bout: Canelo Alvarez v. Edgar Berlanga (T.K.O. Round 11)
Prize Picks Parlay:
Ronaldo Rodriguez Under 31.5 Significant Strikes
Sean O’Malley v. Merab Dvalishvili Fight time Under 23 minutes
Raul Rosas Jr Under 20.5 Significant Strikes
Canelo Over 123.5 punches Landed
Diego Lopes Under 49.5 Significant Strikes
Caleb Williams Over 0.5 Pass Yards
