Tyler Monahan previews the weekend’s UFC from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas where a long-awaited grudge match between Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley headlines the event.
The UFC is back with another card full of solid fights, after a few weeks of underwhelming events they need this one to really go well. With Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley going at it in the main event there is a real possibility that we have a fight of the year contender, there are sure to be some animosity between the two. Besides that the card also has some of the most respected names in the game, it looks like we will be in for quite the treat on Saturday night.
UFC Record: 13-7
All odds from FoxBet Sportsbook.
Mackenzie Dern vs Randa Markos
I am really interested to see how Mackenzie Dern comes out in this one against the more experienced Randa Markos. Dern is one of the up and coming names in the women’s division, standing at 8-1 in her career to this point. A submission specialist if Dern can get her opponent on the ground it could be lights out early, but Markos is a well-rounded fighter who will surely look to keep the fight on their feet.
Dern isn’t known as a heavy hitter but she has the edge in speed and usually wears down her opponent, Markos is going to have to start swinging early and look for a finish but the problem is she doesn’t have a knockout win in her career either. Everything in this bout points toward Dern winning and I feel comfortable backing her in this fight even if she doesn’t have as much experience as her opponent.
Pick: Mackenzie Dern moneyline -188
Donald Cerrone vs Niko Price
One of the most experienced fighters in the entire UFC, Donald Cerrone’s career looks to be winding down rather quickly. Over his last few fights he just doesn’t look like the same fighter, he’s a step slower and taking a beating to the heavy hitters he has been facing. Cerrone is winless in his last four fights, and while they were against some of the biggest names in the sport none of them were particularly close and he was knocked out in three of those four fights.
Niko Price comes into this fight on a slide as well, once considered a top prospect in the UFC the hype surrounding him has screeched to a halt. He is 2-2 in his last four fights and hasn’t been able to get on any sort of winning streak. Against the older and slower Cerrone, Price should be able to get back on track with his quick jabs and heavy blows. Cerrone can take a punch as shown in his last few fights but I think the power of Price might be too much to take.
This could be Cowboy’s last fight if things go poorly, but I do see this one lasting into the third round, Cerrone might be just fighting for pride at this stage in his career.
Pick: Total Rounds Over 1.5 -118
Colby Covington vs Tyron Woodley
Covington vs Woodley has the chance to be one of the better fights of the entire year that no one expects. Covington is probably the biggest villain in the entire UFC, people look forward to him getting punched in the face. While Tyron Woodley might be on the tail end of his career he is still the perfect opponent to give fans what they want and hit Covington hard.
In his career seven of his nineteen wins have come from knocking out his opponent, he is no stranger to laying out someone. What Covington has that should benefit him in this fight is that he is so quick on his feet and is able to tire out bigger opponents like Woodley. He is great on the mat and if he can get this fight on the ground he will have a huge advantage as five of his fifteen wins have come from submitting his opponent. Covington will look to take this fight into the later rounds, and the longer that Woodley doesn’t land a heavy punch looking for a knockout the better chances Covington has of winning.
Look for this fight to last into the later rounds with Covington dominating on the ground looking to run out the clock.
Pick: Colby Covington to win in Rounds 4, 5 or by decision -175
