UFC Fight Night 115 takes place in Rotterdam, Holland on Saturday and we’ve got our predictions for all the fights below.
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Main Card:
Stefan Struve vs. Alexander Volkov
This will be Struve’s first fight of 2017 and he’ll be looking to build on a two-fight winning streak in front of his home fans in Holland tomorrow evening.
Volkov will be looking to play spoiler though and he can certainly pose problems on the feet as he’s fairly close to the ‘Skyscraper’ in terms of both height and reach, and so will be looking to test the Dutchman’s underwhelming defense and questionable chin.
Struve would have a significant advantage if he can get the fight to the mat as submissions are still where he is at his best, but Volkov’s wrestling is improving and I think he could well keep this one upright for the most part.
This one could go either way, but though Struve will have a chance even if the fight does play out entirely on the feet (after all, let’s not forget he once handily TKO’d current champ Stipe Miocic), I feel Volkov is a little more robust and will end the fight by fourth round TKO.
Alexander Volkov to win by TKO in Rd4
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Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson
The undefeated Australian Wilkinson was drafted in on just a few weeks notice to fight Bahadurzada, who will be undertaking only his second fight in the past four years.
Despite his lengthy absence from the Octagon, Bahadurzada remains a dangerous opponent with big punching power and a battle-tested chin, not to mention the fact he finished his last fght with Brandon Thatch by way of submission.
Wilkinson hasn’t been all that active himself, with his last fight being 11 months ago, but at 25-years-old he has youth on his side and is a credible threat on the feet and on the mat.
So, Wilkinson could well put up a solid showing here, but I think Bahadurzada’s heavier hands will win out in the end for a second round TKO finish.
Siyar Bahadurzada to win by TKO in Rd2
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Talita de Oliveira Bernardo vs. Marion Reneau
Bernardo is stepping in on just a few days notice to fight the 40-year old Reneau tomorrow night.
Perhaps Bernardo will seize the moment and make a big statement with her dangerous submission game, but it’s a big ask with so little time to prepare and so I have to favor Reneau to take her into deep waters and find a late finish.
Marion Reneau to win by TKO in Rd3
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Leon Edwards vs. Bryan Barberena
Barberena has proven to be a tricky customer in the Octagon and shouldn’t be understimated, but it does feel like there’s a little more upside to Edwards game in this match-up and I think he’ll steadily outstrike his opponent over the course of three rounds to emerge with a decision victory.
Leon Edwards to win by decision.
Prelims:
Rustam Khabilov vs. Desmond Green
Bojan Mihajlovic vs. Abdul-Kerim Edilov
Francimar Barroso vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Mike Santiago vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Darren Till vs. Bojan Velickovic
Mairbek Taisumov vs. Felipe Silva
Michel Prazeres vs. Mads Burnell
Andrew Holbrook vs. Thibault Gouti
