Fight Predictions: UFC on ESPN: Usman vs Buckley
Kamaru Usman & Joaquin Buckley face off after weigh-ins.
If you're in Atlanta, Georgia, and someone invites you to the 'State Farm' Saturday night, jump on that! Cause the 'UFC' is in town, bringing 'UFC on ESPN 69' to the Arena!!
We have two fighters stepping in on short notice. Cameron Smotherman looks to bounce back from a flat performance on the 'Sandhagen vs Figueiredo' card. While after exiting the promotion in March 2022, Kris Moutinho put together a five fight finishing streak to get the callback. BUT, both fighters have stiff competition for their second commings. Smotherman faces the high energy Ricky Simón, and Moutinho has to deal with the rising star Malcolm Wellmaker.
Two 'The Ultimate Fighter' winners go at it, as season eleven winner Court McGee faces Michael Chiesa, who won the first & only 'Live' iteration of the show. With a combined record of sixty five fights, these veterans are looking to make one final push!
A former Champion on the 'Main Card' is looking to find the love once more. Cody Garbrandt believes he can still reach the pinnacle of the 135 division, but he faces the canny vet Raoni Barcelos. Who already spoiled a rising stars hopes earlier in the year, and can tie you in knots on the ground.
There are two women chasing Valentina Shevchenko's gold, in the Co-Main. The former two-time Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas has hopes of reigning over the Flyweights. So is looking to start building her case against rising prospect Miranda Maverick. Maverick has strung a four fight win streak together under the radar, BUT now wants that statement win to show she's not here to play games!
AND, in the Main Event, we have another former Champion, Kamaru Usman! After reigning the Welterweight division for four years, he's hit a rough patch. However, after taking some time away to heal up, Usman is eyeing the road back to gold. Whilst standing opposite him, Joaquin Buckley has been on a six fight win streak and believes one more win gets him a crack at the belt!!
For the full event preview, you can listen to the podcast (ep 249) Otherwise, here are your @ChinCheckPod #fightpredictions 🥊
Main Card
Watch Headline Fight breakdown: HERE.
Main Event - Welterweight
Kamaru Usman (W) vs Joaquin Buckley
Watch the Co-Main breakdown: HERE.
Co-Main - Women's Flyweight
Rose Namajunas vs Miranda Maverick (W)
Watch Main card breakdown: HERE.
Middleweight
Edmen Shahbazyan (W) vs Andre Petroski
Bantamweight
Cody Garbrandt vs Raoni Barcelos (W)
Middleweight
Mansur Abdul-Malik (W) vs Cody Brundage
Light Heavyweight
Alonzo Menifield vs Oumar Sy (W)
Preliminary card
Watch breakdown: HERE.
Light Heavyweight
Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato (W)
Welterweight
Michael Chiesa (W) vs Court McGee
Bantamweight
Malcolm Wellmaker (W) vs Kris Moutinho
Flyweight
Cody Durden vs Jose Ochoa (W)
Bantamweight
Ricky Simón vs Cameron Smotherman (W)
Welterweight
Philip Rowe (W) vs Ange Loosa
Women's Flyweight
Jamey-Lyn Horth vs Vanessa Demopoulos (W)