UFC 248
3-7-20
From Las Vegas, NV
Early Prelims available on UFC Fight Pass
Prelims available on ESPN
Main Card available on ESPN+ ppv
By Dylan Hager
2020 Picks Record:
Overall 33-39
Main Card 19-13
Prelim 14-26
UFC Middleweight Title: Israel Adesanya (18-0) (c, 6 P4P) vs Yoel Romero (13-4) (3)
First off, I'm completely against this fight happening. Yoel has lost three of his last four and missed weight in two of those four fights. He's getting the title fight because Paulo Costa is hurt. That said, this fight is going to be freaking great!
Adesanya is making his first official title defense after beating Robert Whitaker by 2nd Round TKO to win the title last October, but he did defeat Kelvin Gastelum for the interim title last April in the Fight of the Year. The champ is excellent on the feet. He has great quickness and footwork. He has both great power and counter striking. The man has never lost a professional fight.
Yoel is coming in having lost three of four, but for what it's worth, all three losses were by decision and were very close. Two of those losses were in main events against Whitaker. He did TKO Luke Rockhold in February of 2018, and his last loss was against Costa last August. Romero is so explosive. He has great wrestling, but he hasn't gone to the wrestling near as much in his last couple fights. He has good power and an incredible chin.
This fight is just going to rule. The champ has the reach advantage, but Yoel will have the advantage on the ground. Both fighters have the ability to take a punch. Izzy ate big shots from Kelvin and Whitaker and kept going, and Romero hasn't been finished since 2011. I don't think Izzy finishes this one, certainly not early, but I do think the champ retains. I could see Romero putting everything he has left into this fight, knowing that he is getting up in age and probably won't have many more title shots. I wouldn't be shocked if Yoel won the title, but I think Izzy will do what it takes to keep this on the feet and win the decision. Prediction: Israel Adesanya Decision
UFC Women's Strawweight Title: Weili Zhang (20-1) (c, 3 P4P) vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-3) (4, 5 P4P)
Women's Strawweight never disappoints, and this title fight should be no different. Weili Zhang makes her first title defense against former champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Zhang is 4-0 in the UFC and on a twenty fight win streak. She won the title from Jessica Andrade last August via a 42 second TKO. She has great power on the feet and a very good ground game. She is the total package at 125lbs.
Joanna is the best fighter in the history of the division. She held the title from March 2015 - November 2017. She had lost three of her last four before winning her last fight against Michelle Waterson. JJ will have the reach advantage in this fight. She has excellent kickboxing. She's much more of a volume striker as opposed to a power puncher, and she does a great job using her leg kicks.
I cannot wait for this fight. Joanna has much more experience in big fights, but that also means we know much more about Joanna than we do Zhang. I think Zhang has the better power, and she is definitely better on the ground. Joanna will look to keep this on the feet and use her reach advantage. Joanna has fought a full five rounds seven times, and Zhang has never had to fight past a third round. I like Joanna's chances better the longer the fight goes. I see the former champ using her reach, using her leg kicks, and using her title fight experience to keep this fight standing. We see the return of Joanna Champion on Saturday. Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk Decision
Beneil Dariush (17-4-1) vs Drakkar Klose (11-1-1)
Kind of a sneaky good Lightweight fight on the main card. Both Dariush and Klose are coming in on three fight win streaks. Dariush's last three came against Thiago Moises, Drew Dober, and Frank Camacho, and Klose has three wins over Lando Vannata, Bobby Green, and Christos Giagos. I think they are about even on the feet. Dariush only has three career TKO finishes, and Klose only has four. Dariush will definitely have the advantage on the ground though. Klose has a decent defensive ground game, but Dariush is excellent on the mat. I like Dariush to finish this one in the second. Prediction: Beneil Dariush 2nd Rd Submission
Neil Magny (21-7) vs Li Jingliang (17-5)
An awesome Welterweight matchup on the main card see the return of Neil Magny against "The Leach" Li Jingliang. Magny is 2-2 in his last four, but he has not fought since November 2018. The UFC veteran has wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Carlos Condit, and Johnny Hendricks. Last time out he was KO'd in a main event against Santiago Ponzinibbio. Jingliang has three straight wins. He picked up a TKO win last August over Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Both fighters are well rounded, but better on their feet. Magny's layoff could be the biggest factor coming into this fight. Will the layoff and birth of his first child make him rusty in the cage, or be the extra motivation needed to make a run? I really like both fighters. I hate that one of these guys has to lose this weekend. I'm going to give the edge to Magny. Prediction: Neil Magny Decision
Alex Oliveira (19-8-1 (2)) vs Max Griffin (15-7)
Another Welterweight fight on the main card, this one between two guys badly in need of a win. Cowboy Oliveira has lost three straight against Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry, and Nicolas Dalby. Griffin has lost three of four to Curtis Millender, Thiago Alves, and Alex Morono. He does have a win against Zelim Imadaev last April sandwiched in between the Alves and Morono losses. Both of these guys are better on the feet than they they are the ground. I'm taking Cowboy Oliveira. I think he does what it takes to avoid that magic number four fight losing streak. Griffin is a tough fighter. I don't know if Oliveira finishes him, but I like Cowboy to get the win. Prediction: Alex Oliveira Decision
Six more fights on the prelim card this weekend. It is nice to see Sean O'Malley making his return. Not a lot of big names, but I'm very excited to watch Mark Madsen and Deron Winn return to the octagon on Saturday. Quick picks as always!
Sean O'Malley (10-0) vs Jose Alberto Quinonez (8-3) Prediction: Sean O'Malley
Mark Madsen (9-0) vs Austin Hubbard (11-3) Prediction: Mark Madsen
Rodolfo Vieira (6-0) vs Saparbek Safarov (9-2) Prediction: Rodolfo Vieira
Gerald Meerschaert (29-12) vs Deron Winn (6-1) Prediction: Deron Winn
Giga Chikadze (8-2) vs Jamall Emmers (17-4) Prediction: Giga Chikadze
Danaa Batgerel (7-2) vs Guido Cannetti (8-4) Prediction: Guido Cannetti