UFC Fight Night 104 takes place in Houston, Texas tomorrow night and we’ve got our predictions for all the fights below.
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Main Card:
Dennis Bermudez vs. Chan Sung Jung
This is a tricky fight to predict as we don’t know quite how ‘The Korean Zombie’ will be after spending the last two years out while doing military service back home in South Korea. He’s still found time to train during that time, but ring rust could be a factor.
Bermudez isn’t an easy opponent to get back into the swing of things with either. Coming off back-to-back wins, ‘The Menace’ fights at a high-tempo, has good cardio and is capable offensively both on the feet and on the mat, though there are defensive holes in his game.
It’ll be interesting to see if there are any stylistic changes to ‘The Korean Zombie’s’ game after his layoff. Famed for being a somewhat reckless slugger in the past, he’s more skilled than that might suggest and started to show it later in his UFC career with good technical striking and a significant submission threat on the mat.
I’ve been going back-and-forth on my pick a bit here, but I think the time away might actually have been good for Jung and I think he may have the striking acumen to hurt Bermudez on the feet and then finish him with a submission on the mat.
Chan Sung Jung to win by submission in Rd2.
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Alexa Grasso vs. Felice Herrig
The undefeated Alexa Grasso shows a great deal of promise and a win over a veteran like Felice Herrig would be another step towards emerging as a new star for woman’s MMA.
Herrig is a durable veteran who can offer a threat on the feet, but functions best as a grappler who can pose a submission threat.
The 23 year-old Grasso on the other hand is a technical striker first and foremost, piecing together fluid combination of strikes, and together with her athleticism and takedown defense I like her to pick Herrig apart over the course of three rounds on Saturday night.
Alexa Grasso to win by decision.
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James Vick vs. Abel Trujillo
Trujillo is a powerhouse lightweight who causes problems for opponents with his explosive power, strength in the clinch and solid wrestling, but all that exertion tends to leave him fatigued in the latter stages of his fights.
Vick has the opposite body type, being tall and lanky, and will look to use that to stay on the outside with his jab and kicks.
Vick’s style could enable him to keep his opponent at bay and hope to outpoint him on the scorecards, but I think he’ll find it difficult to deal with Trujillo’s surging offense in the opening 10 minutes.
Abel Trujillo to win by decision.
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Ovince Saint Preux vs. Volkan Oezdemir
OSP hasn’t been doing too well of late with losses in three of his last four fights, but the competition won’t be quite as high this time around, with Oezdemir coming in to make his UFC debut on short notice.
Oezdemir shouldn’t be dismissed too quickly though as he has won 12 of his 13 career fights and will provide an offensive threat, but while I’ve not been overly impressed with OSP’s development in the UFC, I think he’s good enough to emerge on top here.
Ovince St. Preux to win by decision.
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Anthony Hamilton vs. Marcel Fortuna
This is a bit of an odd match-up,with Fortuna set to make not only his UFC debut, but also his first fight at heavyweight, and weighing in at 210lbs there’s almost 50lbs of a difference between himself and Hamilton.
Hamilton is turning into something of a journeyman in the division, with a ‘win one, lose one’ pattern emerging, but he hits very hard and if he can use his wrestling to keep away from Fortuna’s dangerous submission game then I think he’ll get a big finish here inside of a round.
Anthony Hamilton to win by KO in Rd1.
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Jessica Andrade vs. Angela Hill
I was impressed by Hill’s potential during her first stint in the UFC, and she’s since proven she does have what it takes to succeed with a four-fight winning streak in Invicta FC.
Now she’s back and as was the case with her last spell in the Octagon, she’s been thrown to the wolves straight away against a resurgent strawweight incarnation of Andrade.
I think Hill will make a permanent home for herself in the UFC now, but I think Andrade’s more technically sound all-round MMA game will prove to be a bit too much for her here as she loses out on the scorecards.
Jessica Andrade to win by decision.
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Prelims: (Predicted winners in bold)
Adam Milstead vs. Curtis Blaydes
Chas Skelly vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
Ricardo Ramos vs. Michinori Tanaka
Tecia Torres vs. Bec Rawlings
Fight Pass:
Alex Morono vs. Niko Price
Daniel Jolly vs. Khalil Rountree
