UFC Fight Night 236: Quick Picks and Prognostications

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Armen Petrosyan of Russia and Rodolfo Vieira of Brazil face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

Kicking off the primary card on ESPN+ is a middleweight matchup between Rodolfo Vieira and Armen Petrosyan.

Regardless of the smaller octagon usually giving a slight edge to superior submission grapplers from a stylistic standpoint, I considerably surprisingly discover myself siding with the striker right here.

Vieira definitely has the credentials for a “sport over” grappling sport, however I don’t suppose he’s been in a position to translate his sport as reliably relating to blended martial arts.

Add in Vieira’s suspect gasoline tank, and I’ll take a flier on Petrosyan to outlive the early storms and for a stoppage by strikes in spherical 3.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Darrius Flowers and Michael Johnson face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

In a battle that in all probability ought to’ve opened up the primary card, Michael Johnson meets Darrius Flowers.

Though it will likely be good to see Flowers lastly preventing at a weight class that higher fits his body, I’m nonetheless not able to put a veteran like Johnson out to pasture.

Johnson could are inclined to crumble in robust fights, however the southpaw continues to be a harmful out who is aware of find out how to punish the physique (which I feel will serve him properly right here given Flowers’ protection).

This ought to be enjoyable for so long as it lasts, however I’ll take Johnson to get again on observe with a first-round knockout.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Gregory Rodrigues of Brazil and Brad Tavares face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

In a battle that ought to be extra aggressive than the chances let on, Brad Tavares will lastly do battle with Gregory Rodrigues.

Though I don’t disagree with Rodrigues being the designated favourite, I imagine that the betting market tends to disrespect Tavares.

My bais for Tavares and his camp apart, the 36-year-old Hawaiian is likely one of the extra confirmed and sturdy merchandise at 185 kilos for the previous decade. His sturdiness will not be what it as soon as was, however I nonetheless suspect that Tavares’s chin is extra dependable than Rodrigues (who seems to come back with a transparent “off swap” in tow).

Add in Tavares’ leg-kicking capacity and stellar takedown protection, and I discover myself siding with the Xtreme Couture product to select up a late stoppage win in spherical 3.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Ihor Potieria of Ukraine and Robert Bryczek of Poland face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

As if the matchmakers haven’t already shoved sufficient middleweights down our throats in 2024, Ihor Potieria will welcome Robert Bryczek.

With Albert Duraev being compelled to withdraw from this battle, Potieria will now be stepping in to battle Bryczek – – and at a brand new weight class, no much less.

Bryczek, then again, seems to be to be an thrilling motion fighter with spectacular fingers in tow. We nonetheless haven’t seen a lot out of Bryczek previous the primary spherical, and hope to see extra from him right here.

Nonetheless, contemplating Potieria’s lackadaisical protection and propensity to place his again to the cage, I can’t assist however Bryczek to proceed his streak with one other first-round knockout right here.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Andre Fili and Dan Ige face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

The co-main occasion for UFC Battle Evening 235 options potential fireworks at featherweight between Dan Ige and Andre Fili.

Regardless of this being a battle that deserves five-round standing, we’ll sadly should accept a enjoyable fifteen minutes of motion – which is what I feel we get right here.

Though Fili is taking this battle on brief discover, the Group Alpha Male product is recent off a first-round end over Lucas Almeida at UFC 296.

It’s a troublesome battle to name contemplating how sport and well-rounded each males are, however I’ll aspect with Ige (with admitted bias in tow) to edge out a aggressive win on the scorecards.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Opponents Joe Pyfer and Jack Hermansson of Sweden face off throughout the UFC Battle Evening weigh-in on the JW Marriott on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photos)

The primary occasion within the Apex incorporates a middleweight matchup between Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer.

As said in my in-depth breakdown, I warn anybody who is totally counting out Hermansson on this spot.

Outdoors of being the rather more confirmed fighter at middleweight, Hermansson could make issues ugly towards the cage and will likely be geared up with onerous kicks that might trigger issues for Pyfer.

Nonetheless, regardless of hoping to see extra of Pyfer by way of Hermansson stretching this battle out, I think the smaller octagon encourages an earlier end.

I’ve been actually impressed by what I’ve seen from Pyfer inside the cage up to now and will likely be choosing him to win right here by knockout in spherical 2.