A new champion has been crowned in four of the seven title fights in 2015. Will a new women’s strawweight queen emerge from Berlin?
Our MMA writers’ records thus far look like this:
Bourbon Ben Kiely: 78-51
Darragh The Quizmaster Murphy: 76-53
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (9-0) v Jessica Penne (12-2)
BK: Being the cynical bastard that I am, I really underestimated JJ’s striking game and foolishly picked against her for her title fight against Carla Esparza. I’ve learned my lesson now, and won’t be doing that again anytime soon.
For Penne to get the win, she’ll need to take the Polish fighter down, and I just don’t see that happening.
Jedrzejczyk via TKO (round two)
DM: I’m not going to even attempt to feign humility as I predicted that Joanna Jedrzejczyk would have little difficulty in overturning Carla Esparza for the UFC strawweight title back in March.
A lot of people think that, with the 115lb weight class still in its infancy, that the belt is going to change hands quite a bit but I think that Jedrzejczyk has the potential to be a dominant champion.
It didn’t take Esparza too long to realise that the Polish fighter has nasty stand-up. Esparza is the better wrestler than Penne and if she couldn’t drag Jedrzejczyk into a grappling exchange then I don’t see how Penne does. Jedrzejczyk via TKO (round one)
Dennis Siver (22-10, 1NC) v Tatsuya Kawajiri (33-8-2)
BK: With a combined age of 73, you’re going to see an exhibition of old man strength in this bout.
A few years ago, I probably would have picked Kawajiri against zee German. Then he fought Clay Guida and looked a shade of his former self.
Siver’s a better striker and looks like he has a little bit more left in the tank compared to the Japanese fighter. Kawajiri has the skillset to make it difficult for the spinning back kick specialist, but I back the young, 36-year-old whipper-snapper to get back into the win column after getting his ass comprehensively handed to him by McGregor. Siver via TKO (round two)
DM: Dennis Siver will be delighted with life as he sets out to take on an opponent who is actually, somehow, older than the German.
It’s crazy to consider the different results that befell the fighters in the main event of UFC Boston. Conor McGregor won and sealed himself a tasty title shot against the featherweight champion. Siver lost and now fights a 37-year-old with a 1-1 record under the UFC banner.
Just as Siver was out of his depth with The Notorious, Kawajiri is in a similar position on Saturday night.
Both guys are very well rounded but expect to see a comeback in the confident kicking game of the 36-year-old and we’re praying to see the return of his patented spinning back kick. Siver via TKO (round 1)
Peter Sobotta (14-4-1) v Steve Kennedy (22-6)
BK: An 11th hour replacement always has the potential to cause an upset. However, Sobotta was training for a vastly superior fighter in Sergio Moraes for this camp. He should find this a much easier challenge, and give Berlin crowd something to cheer about. Sobotta via submission (round two)
DM: As an admirer of Sergio Moraes, it is frustrating to see him missing out on this fight. I think he legitimately had a chance of beating Sobotta.
Replacement Kennedy should be a much easier opponent for Sobotta. Once this fight goes down to the mat, it should be game over. Sobotta via submission (round 1)
Nick Hein (11-2, 1NC) v Łukasz Sajewski (13-0)
BK: Hein is a little bit over-reliant on that left hand for my liking. His striking game is solid, but I feel like he may need to finish Sajewski to win this one.
Sajewski has a few more strings to his bow. He’s fine on the feet, but really shines on the mat. This will be close, but I think UFC fans are going to have to learn how to spell/pronounce the name of another hot prospect from Poland after this fight.
Sajewski submission (round two)
DM: This pick worries me because Nick Hein is a tremendous athlete with a spectacular chin and heavy hands.
But his tendency to leave his chin open when throwing is a serious concern. Luckily he’s coming up against a lightweight who will likely have no interest in pursuing a knockout.
I think the German has enough to edge a decision with JUST enough output to squeak it. I’m talking the difference in one punch thrown in the last round to secure a judge’s call. Nick Hein via decision
