UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs Blachowicz 2
2-15-20
From Rio Rancho, NM
Available on ESPN+
By Dylan Hager
2020 Picks Record:
Overall 15-20
Main Card 10-5
Prelim 5-15
Congratulations! After spending Valentines Day with your lover, the UFC is giving you fights on Saturday! This might be the weakest card the UFC has produced in a while, but there are several up-and-comers poised to take advantage of the spotlight. Time to pick!
Corey Anderson (13-4) (5) vs Jan Blachowicz (25-8) (6)
Rematch time in the Light Heavyweight Division when #5 ranked Corey Anderson takes on #6 Jan Blachowicz. Corey defeated Jan at UFC 191 way back in 2015, but both of these men have grown so much as a fighter since then.
Anderson is coming in hot on four fight win streak, with wins over Patrick Cummins, Glover Teixeira, Ilir Latifi, and Johnny Walker. Anderson is known more for his wrestling, but it was his striking that led to 1st Round TKO of Walker in MSG last November. Jan has won two straight and six of his last seven. He lost to Thiago Santos last February, but came back with wins over Luke Rockhold and Jacare Souza in July and November respectively.
It would be way too simple to say if this fight goes to the ground, Anderson will win, but if it stays on the feet, Jan will win. Anderson has showed improvement in his stand up game, and he has KO power. Jan has dynamite in his fist. He's probably best on his feet, but he does have nine career submission wins and did a good job defending takedowns against Luke and Jacare. Now, Anderson is a true Light Heavyweight, and Rockhold and Souza were coming up from Middleweight. The winner of this fight could be next to challenge Jon Jones for the title at 205lbs, but they will probably need to win in dominant fashion to do so. I think Jan is one of the most underrated fighters on the UFC roster, and I think he gets the job done Saturday. He's good enough on the ground to counter Anderson's wrestling, and his hand will be a problem. I like Jan to get the TKO around the middle of the fight. Prediction : Jan Blachowicz 3rd Round TKO
Diego Sanchez (29-12) vs Michel Pereira (23-10)
This fight is either going to be awesome or awful. Diego Sanchez is a legend in the UFC. He is the last remaining fighter from The Ultimate Fighter: Season 1. He made his UFC debut in 2005, and he is one of the wildest, toughest fighters on the roster. He will be in the Octagon with Michel Pereira. Pereira became famous (maybe infamous) for his wild style in the Octagon. He won his UFC debut over Danny Roberts in under two minutes, and he used a ton of flying strikes and strikes off the cage wall on his way to victory. Last time out, Pereira used all his energy dancing to the cage and throwing the wild strikes, and he lost a decision to Tristan Connelly. It is easy to knock Pereira's gas tank, but he does have a ton of power while the energy is there. If Diego can take this fight to the ground, I think he can grind a decision win. If Diego can get this fight out of the first round, he might be able to grind out a tired Pereira on his way to a win, but if Pereira is able to connect with all of his power early, I'm not sure Diego will be able to take the punishment. I don't think Pereira's style is going to lead to a long and successful career, not to say he couldn't change his style and have success, but I hope he learned a lesson in his last fight. I love Diego, but I think the power of Pereira is going to be too much for the legend. Prediction: Michel Pereira 1st Round TKO
Montana De La Rosa (10-5) (12) vs Mara Romero Borella (12-6 (2)) (13)
I'm so excited for this fight! This could be a sleeper for Fight of the Night. It is #12 Montana De La Rosa vs #13 Mara Romero Borella. Montana is a part of history on Saturday regardless of how her fight goes. Her and her husband, Mark, will become the first married couple to fight on the same card. De La Rosa comes in having won four of her last five. She fell to Andrea Lee last June, but she had submitted all three of her UFC opponents up to that point. Borella is 7-2 with one no contest in her last ten fights. She won a decision over Taila Santos last February, but she was TKO'd by Lauren Murphy last August. I hope most of this fight is fought on the ground. Both women are decent on the feet but great on the ground. Borella probably has the edge on the feet, but I think Montana might be slightly better on the ground. In a week division, the winner of this fight could vault into the top ten. I like Montana to get the job done late. Prediction: Montana De La Rosa 3rd Round Submission
Brok Weaver (14-4) vs Kazula Vargas (11-2)
Light Heavyweight battle between two up-and-coming prospects. Weaver is making his UFC debut after winning a Contender Series fight last August. Vargas lost a decision in his UFC debut last August to Alex da Silva. Not going to lie, I do not know much about either fighter. Both fighter seem to have good hands but not the best ground game. At this spot on the card, we could use a nice KO to keep the night moving. I like what I saw from Brok on the Contender Series. I'll give him the nod. Prediction: Brok Weaver 2nd Round KO
Rogerio Bontorin (16-1) (7) vs Ray Borg (12-4)
Former title challenger, Ray Borg, makes his return to the Flyweight Division to take on Rogerio Bontorin. Borg comes in a couple pounds overweight. Borg is 1-1 since losing to Mighty Mouse, but both of those fights were at Bantamweight. He dropped a decision to Casey Kenney last March, but he came back with a win over Gabriel Silva last July. Bontorin might not have as big a name as Borg, but he just as good a fighter. He's 2-0 in the UFC with wins over Magomed Bibulatov and Raulian Paiva. Bontorin has quick and powerful hands, but Borg is probably better on the ground. We'll have to see if Borg's weight gives him an extra advantage on the ground, or if it just slows him down. Bontorin is a fighter on the rise. I don't know if he can finish Borg, but I do like him to win. Prediction: Rogerio Bontorin Decision
Lando Vannata (10-4-2) vs Yancy Medeiros (15-6 (1))
Lightweight action kicks off the main card when Lando Vannata steps in the Octagon with Yancy Medeiros. Lando is a weird 1-2-2 in his last five. He submitted Marcos Rosa Mariano, lost to Drakkar Klose and Marc Diakiese, and fought Bobby Green and Matt Frevola to draws. Yancy is 3-2 in his last five. He defeated Cowboy Oliveira in a war in December 2017, but he dropped fights to Cowboy Cerrone and Gregor Gillespie since then. Both of these guys are so tough on the feet, and they are good not great on the ground. I think Yancy probably has the edge standing up, but they are so even on the ground. I don't see either guy getting finished, and both guys need this win. That is a recipe for a great fight! I like Yancy in this one. Prediction: Yancy Medeiros Decision
Seven fights on the prelim card this week. Veterans like Tim Means and Jim Miller will be in action. My eyes are on the Casey Kenney vs Merab Dvalishvili fight. Expecting fireworks from that one!
Tim Means (29-11-1 (1)) vs Daniel Rodriguez (10-1) Prediction: Tim Means
John Dodson (20-11) vs Nathaniel Wood (16-3) Prediction: Nathaniel Wood
Jim Miller (31-13 (1)) vs Scott Holtzman (13-3) Prediction: Jim Miller
Devin Clark (10-4) vs Dequan Townsend (21-10) Prediction: Devin Clark
Casey Kenney (13-1-1) (15) vs Merab Dvalishvili (9-4) Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili
Macy Chiasson (5-1) (12) vs Shanna Young (7-2) Prediction: Macy Chiasson
Mark De La Rosa (11-3) (13) vs Raulian Paiva (18-3) (14) Prediction: Mark De La Rosa