UFC Zagreb: SportsJOE picks the winners so you don’t have to

Who cares if you only recognise half the fighters’ names? A Sunday evening UFC card is something to be celebrated.

Here’s what our MMA writers’ records for the year look like thus far. 

Bourbon Ben Kiely: 27-16

Darragh The Quizmaster Murphy: 25-18

Ben Rothwell (36-9) vs. Junior dos Santos (27-4)

BK: Right, I’m finding it very difficult to pick a winner from this bout because both fighters’ styles seem to be the perfect antithesis of the other’s. JDS’ crisp, technically sound boxing should trump Rothwell’s sloppier, unorthodox striking, right?

Well, the problem is that fighters with an unusual stand-up game like Rothwell are the ones who are likely to catch boxers like the former champion. Big Ben also has the kind of chin that can stand the force of an atomic bomb and that outstanding guillotine choke that is a danger for anyone in the division.

With that in mind, I’m leaning towards my namesake to win and subsequently get passed over for a title shot in favour of Velasquez/Overeem. Rothwell via submission (round one)

DM: Form aside, I can’t vote against Junior dos Santos here.

Sure, Ben Rothwell has all the ability in the world to wrap his arms around the neck of the Brazilian and earn his third consecutive submission victory but, to do that, Rothwell has to get close to JDS.

The key with ‘Big’ Ben’s victories over Josh Barnett and Matt Mitrione was that he got his opponents in precarious positions but I can’t see a world in which JDS ends up there.

There is probably no better fighter at gauging distance at heavyweight than the Brazilian and, for my money, he’s the best boxer to ever fight at that weight.

I think any attempts from Rothwell to rush in will see him chopped apart on the feet and I don’t think dos Santos is foolish enough to try to grapple with the Wisconsin fighter. JDS via TKO (round two)

Gabriel Gonzaga (17-10) vs. Derrick Lewis (14-4-1NC)

BK: In a battle of who can get to the top position to ground and pound their opponent first, more often than not, the stronger wrestler wins. The “Black Beast” should be able to make the most of his advantage in this area to make it a night to forget for Gonzaga. Lewis via TKO (round two)

DM: This is simply a case of who lands first. Lewis is the more explosive, athletic guy and ‘Napao’ is about 60 years old.

I don’t think Gonzaga is strong enough to impose his BJJ on Lewis who just has nasty power in his hands. Lewis via KO (round one)

Francis Ngannou (6-1) vs. Curtis Blaydes (5-0)

BK: Solely based on the strength of his moniker, I’m siding with Curtis “Razor” Blaydes. A gutsy move considering my last-minute YouTube research leads me to believe he’s only ever fought fighters who are morbidly obese.

But come on, “Razor” Blaydes. That’s a winning name right there. Blaydes via KO (round one)

DM: These are two big boys but Francis Ngannou is the much more athletic guy. Where I worry about Ngannou is his takedown defence and balance in transitions as he does have a proclivity to end up on his back in scrambles.

But, on the feet, Ngannou’s striking is pretty damn crisp. He’s got a fantastic lead hook and sends uppercuts from unusual angles so I see him punishing any sloppy entries from Blaydes, as good as Curtis’ name is. Ngannou via KO (round one)

Timothy Johnson (9-2) vs. Marcin Tybura (13-1)

BK: Believe it or not, this is a main card fight on an actual UFC event, ladies and gentlemen. Former M-1 champion Tybura certainly looked impressive on the European circuit, but the UFC is a huge step up.

However, I think he could have had a much more difficult promotional debut than Timothy Johnson, who will need to put his wrestling chops to use in order to take this one. Tybura via decision

DM: If it’s not a first round knockout, this will be a snoozefest against the cage. Both guys have knockout power in their hands but they also have a tendency to dawdle in the clinch.

As impressive as Tybura has been in M-1, I don’t like this fight for him.

Timothy Johnson is the physically stronger man, should have better wrestling and his indomitable, blue collar attitude should get it done here. It won’t be overly technical if it stays on the feet but, somehow, Johnson comes out on top. Johnson via decision

Igor Pokrajac (20-12-1NC) vs. Jan Blachowicz (18-5)

BK:With Croatian-American Stipe Miocic already booked for his title fight in UFC 198, the home crowd will be banking on Pokrajac to give the home fans something to cheer about in his return to the promotion.

Unfortunately, I can only see this Croatian sensation getting pummeled by the Pole, who’s way quicker, has way better cardio and is just a better striker all round. Blachowicz via TKO (round one)

DM: Jan Blachowicz is far too good a fighter to be staring down the barrel of three consecutive defeats.

It would be a great story to see Pokrajac return to the UFC in his home city and get the win but how on earth does that happen?

37 years tells on MMA fighters and I think Pokrajac left his chin back in 2013. Blachowicz will test it and test it often, and I don’t see it passing.

If he doesn’t get the knockout, I believe Blachowicz can more than hang with Pokrajac on the mat and should have the better gas tank. Blachowicz via TKO (round one)

Maryna Moroz (6-1) vs. Cristina Stanciu (5-0)

BK: If you’re a regularly reader of our UFC predictions, you’ll probably know that when it comes to female fights, I tend to argue that physicality is the key to victory.

However, just like I did for UFC Brisbane (it didn’t work out that time either) I’m picking the less powerful, but more efficient striker in Moroz.

Watch her lose now. Moroz via decision

DM: My pick for fight of the night right here. I see this being a thrill-a-minute war.

Stanciu, who makes her promotional debut, is quite the creative striker but she’s not exactly technically sound in terms of defence. She keeps her chin up in the air and could get caught as the rounds wear on.

Moroz may not enjoy a power advantage over Stanciu but I think if this enters the grappling realm, which it almost certainly will, then the Ukrainian comes out on top. Moroz via decision