The latter suffered first-round losses in his first two UFC bouts, his lone appearance on Contender Series, and actually in the other two losses on his 7-5 record as well. Now, Rockhold is coming back to middleweight in what is likely his last chance to remain relevant. Pedro has only competed once over the last four years and Hunsucker has been knocked out in all three of his UFC appearances, if you include his first-round shellacking at the hands of Jared Vanderaa on Dana Whites Contender Series back in late 2020. Here's another gentle push toward the gate.Pudilova, unanimous decision. That run didn't inspire a lot of confidence, but she has since gone 5-1 in Slovakian promotion OKTAGON. Harvey Leonard, Andrew Starc, Drew Beaupr, and first-timer Jamie Harkin. That streak came to an end in October last year, when Tybura was outpointed by Alexander Volkov. That was, however, Moraes third defeat in a row, and Dvalishili has yet to defeat anyone of note. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Mania, By submitting your email, you agree to our, MMA Mania, UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, UFC 278 predictions, preview, and analysis. Thats also not to mention the vicious elbows Edwards has since developed in the clinch, which was on display versus RDA and Nelson. Pimblett Scrapes Past Gordon. Edwards has earned his place in the UFC 278 main event based on his winning streak alone and hes proven to be a crafty fighter with high-level skills on his feet as well as on the ground. Jose Aldo has been fighting in UFC for well over a decade and not only held the promotions featherweight title, but is now ranked No. Pedro is coming off a knockout victory over Isaac Villanueva back in April and has faced (and defeated) far better competition. 3-seededMagomed Ankalaev. He's lost two of those three fights, with the last coming by knockout against Jan Blachowicz in an attempted move to the light heavyweight division. The three-fight early prelims begin on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. Drew Beaupr: UFC 278s main event may be a high-level rematch for a UFC title, but this bantamweight bout is arguably the most interesting fight on the card. Since then, neither man has tasted defeat. Usman told the media this week that he has been reminded by numerous. In the main event, Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards will compete for the second time in their careers. The counter to that is Aldo sports a 90-percent takedown defense rate, though its important to note that effective wrestling is not measured by how many times your opponent gets dragged to the floor. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. Of his seven wins over the last four years, none of those opponents are currently ranked in the bantamweight Top 15 and only two of them are still signed with UFC. Headlining honors for the card will go to a welterweight showdown between undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev and fan-favorite veteran Nate Diaz. I could talk a little bit about their strengths and weaknesses but do they even matter? Against Costa, the 37 year-old model will be fighting from the southpaw stance with a five-inch reach advantage, which should allow him to comfortably strike from range. Harvey Leonard: This one should be quite an obvious pick. His high-volume wrestling attack has been too much for the likes of Cody Stamann and Marlon Moraes. Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill Booked For UFC 283. The main card will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view and begins at 10:00 PM ET. Markets . To check out the latest and greatest UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. Sign up for the In sum, it's a card that looks like it could lead to some pretty wild moments and maybe some big upsets. And let's not act like he hasn't dealt with tough grapplers before. Get UFC 282 results for the Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev fight card Saturday night in Las Vegas. night (Aug. 20, 2022) at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sign up for the (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili). For some fans, it will be the first time they see Dvalishvili, so this is a huge opportunity for him to make an impression. Andrew Starc: A few years ago, Marcin Tybura looked to be on his way out of the UFC after suffering four defeats in five fights. Aldo will come into this fight with a two-inch advantage in both height and reach though Im not sure how much hell get to use it. I dont think well be getting any Fight of the Night awards in this one, but we will get a reminder of what made Rockhold such an effective middleweight for the better part of his UFC career. I am also confident that Romanov will fight for a UFC title in the next 18 to 24 months. Follow us on Facebook,Twitter, YouTubeandGoogle News. That's a pretty good list. Kamaru Usman will look to continue dominating the welterweight division while adding to his pound-for-pound resume when he fights Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278. Oops. Andrew Starc: Both fighters will be looking to avoid losing three in a row by getting the win here. If he can, he certainly has the ability to finish Dvalishvili on the feet. But he has to survive long enough to get the fight there. Do your picks look similar? If he does, ground-and-pound will be an option, but the Pole has never been submitted and boasts a BJJ black belt. In what Im sure is common knowledge by now, Kamaru Usman previously fought Leon Edwards in just The Nigerian Nightmares second fight under the UFC banner, a follow-up to his dominating win over Hayder Hassan to capture The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 21 trophy back in summer 2015. The Englishmans only victory over a welterweight currently ranked in the Top 10 came against Vicente Luque in early 2017. He draws Paulo Costa, who is coming off two losses himself. Although Junior boasts a 90% takedown defense, Dvalishvili is relentless with them, and he wont slow. Who did our staff predict will have that streak broken with a loss this Saturday night? But then he went on to lose two straight and miss more than three years of action because of injury. If Tybura can defend Romanovs level changes and scramble if forced down, avoid clinching, and take the fight beyond the opening round, he may have the edge. The legend was good enough at wrestling to win a fight with five takedowns, but he also had the boxing to bludgeon someone with his jab on the way to a unanimous-decision win. I'm sure he's a good guy, but really, what is he even doing here? It's worth noting that this was Edwards' last defeat. Drew Beaupr: There were moments where it seemed like it would never happen, but Edwards finally has his title shot and rematch with Usman. If he can manage to keep it standing he has a good chance to turn the up-and-comer away. Matchup . At first glance, Aldo fans were likely concerned about the matchmaking and for good reason considering the frenetic pace Dvalishvili puts on. ET) Kamaru Usman (c) (-320; bet $320 to win $100) vs. Leon. The Nigerian Nightmare previously captured a unanimous decision victory over Rocky when they first went to war in late 2015 and here we are (finally) for part two. When you saw this fight was opening up the main card, you probably threw your arms up in the air with a stunned look on your face. Despite landing fewer strikes in every round, Paddy Pimblett was awarded a unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282. It was one-sided fight, statistically speaking, as Usman outwrestled and outstruck Rocky across the board. He's in the co-main event opposite Paulo Costa in a middleweight affair. Hes also shorter than Edwards, which as weve seen in Volkanovski vs Holloway and Jai Herbert vs Ilia Topuria can cause a lowered guard for visibility and invite an overhand. But alas, always the gamer, Aldo puts his top-rocker spot on the line against a man very few 135-pounders are excited to see on the other side of a contract. Staff Predictions for UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 278 updates. And I concede that if he lands a meaningful shot, the fight will be over instantly. You dont have to be good to beat Usman, you have to be great. (Prediction: Alexander Romanov). Something went wrong. Harvey Leonard: Many are leaning into the striker vs. grappler narrative in this one, but Usmans striking has come so far that his standup is becoming his go-to. He is an adequate defensive wrestler, but it might not be enough to keep the fight upright. Fighters had a lot to say about Paddy Pimbletts win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282. I expect Rocky to give a good account of himself and challenge the champion, but Usman should defend his title for a sixth time in Salt Lake City. ET, followed by the four-fight prelims on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. So, yeah. UFC 278 Odds, Betting & Picks | Odds Shark India Japan Malaysia Philippines South Korea Brazil Europe Germany Sweden United Kingdom Kenya Mexico Nigeria Venezuela Betting Sites By Sport NFL NBA NCAAB NCAAF MLB NASCAR NHL Soccer UFC Boxing CFL Golf Racebooks Politics Cricket IPL KLeague KBO PBA more Betting Sites for Mobile Sports Betting Apps Its hard to imagine him finding form with this drop to light heavyweight. Jamie Harkin: Surely a #1 contender fight, this will be fireworks. But I don't think he's invulnerable. However, he's evolved to the point where he doesn't have to win that way. I just don't see any way Leon Edwards beats Kamaru Usman outside of a flukey one-punch KO, and he doesn't seem to have the firepower to pull off a feat like that. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). Theres been a lot of talk about the trajectory of Costa and in many ways, its not dissimilar to that of Rockhold. I dont like to make it a habit of poking holes in win streaks or pulling the Yeah, but card, BUT we have to be a little more critical when talking about fight predictions because even the smallest detail has to be considered when trying to determine the better fighter. Harvey Leonard: Its hard to see this one going any way other than another KO setback for Rockhold. At the time he fought Costa, the hulking Cuban was already 42 years old and coming off his second decision loss to Robert Whittaker. His evolution into an extremely well rounded mixed-martial artist has been a joy to watch. "The Nigerian Nightmare". I pronounced his career dead and buried after Petr Yan pulverized him a while back, but all that's happened since is three winsincluding the Vera triumph that looks a lot better after last weekend. New players only, 21 or older. So, unless the fluky shot lands, it's a win. Both men have been vocal about their confidence, but only one will receive the proper validation by nights end. Nate Diaz Mocks Darren Till After UFC 282 Loss, Santa? For Edwards, the Usman bout was his fourth as a UFC fighter and left him sitting at 2-2 after three rounds of action. Tom Taylor: I'm with Scott. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Its a bit of a surprise to see Costa back at middleweight after the drama around his fight with Marvin Vettori, but the Brazilian is also looking to avoid a three-fight losing skid. I can't make sense of it. By comparison, Rockys most impressive win to date came over well, thats not so easy to determine. Elsewhere on the card, Luke Rockhold will make his first appearance in the cage since 2019. Romanov in R2 via club and sub. 8 in the heavyweight rankings. ET. After a tough first run with the promotion where she lost her final four octagon bouts, and went 2-5 total, Pudilova has gone 5-1 in six appearances for OKTAGON to earn her way back to the UFC. Thats a lot to ask from any fighter, particularly one like Edwards, who doesnt have the kind of torque to give him a punchers chance. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). In our prelim. In fact, Rocky feels he has a distinct advantage in the standup game and recommends that Usman use his outstanding wrestling in the bout although Usman has showed knockout power on plenty of occasions. Usman beat Edwards all the way back in 2015 when both were relatively unknown. That win saw him stem a stretch of poor form that included three losses in four fights, including to the likes of Ovince Saint Preux and Maurcio Rua. (Prediction: Alexander Romanov). Drew Beaupr: Pedro picked up his first win after a losing streak and lengthy layoff when he beat Ike Villanueva, which was apparently convincing enough for the UFC to start promoting the Australian again. Here we have an aging former champion with a history of being annihilated by big, powerful punchers, and the UFC gives him the biggest, most powerful puncher in the middleweight division. In the co-main event, one-time title challenger Paulo Costa will welcome former champ Luke Rockhold back to the octagon for the first time in over three years in a pivotal middleweight matchup. Prediction: Usman def. Gambling Problem? I think Romanov will be tested by Tybura but will get the win here. The fact Hunsucker was finished by a kick through his guard against Justin Tafa also isnt a good sign for his hopes of withstanding Pedros shots. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. However, Romanov has won three of five UFC bouts by submission and has shown good variety with his subs. If the Moldovan gets the fight to the mat, it's probably going to stay there. The stakes are high for both fighters as Usman looks to take another step closer towards Georges St-Pierre in the welterweight GOAT conversation, while Edwards might only have this one opportunity to accomplish his championship mission. While many seem to be backing Edwards to dethrone the champion, Usmans wrestling advantage is such an incredible weapon that he has in his back pocket, one I fully expect him to use successfully. The welterweight championship is on the line in Salt Lake City on Saturday night when Kamaru Usman puts the belt at stake against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278. Now, he gets an opportunity to prove himself on an even bigger stage. Prediction: Rockhold def. Give me Costa and a side bet that Rockhold rides off into retirement afterward. Heres what Twitter thought of that UFC 282 results: Full fight coverage of the Light Heavyweight pay-per-view (PPV) main event tonight (Sat., Dec. 10, 2022) between Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, featuring a disappointing split draw decision. Tom Taylor: There's really no arguing with Scott's take on this fight. Thats pretty much where the similarities end because The Nigerian Nightmare has consistently fought the best welterweights in the world, including Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns, just to name a few. Follow Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo live round-by-round updates for their exhibition clash Saturday. The Georgian has a seven-fight win streak going into UFC 278. Im looking forward to seeing what he wants to show off this weekend against Edwards. Fletcher vs. Ange Loosa A.J. Technically, he's already done that with the opponent he'll see in Salt Lake City. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). For me, I just have too many questions about Rockhold even though hes certainly got a competitive spirit this week. Still, I don't think he's as powerful at 135 pounds, and I don't think he'll do enough to dissuade Dvalishvili from getting it to the ground repeatedly. Kamaru Usman is inching closer to all-time greatness, while Leon Edwards is finally getting his opportunity to fight for a UFC title. In the third, thats where things could get real sticky for Aldo. A victory here will see Usman equal Anderson Silvas record for the most consecutive UFC wins, and I just cant see how Leon Edwards is going to pose any sort of challenge. (Prediction: Jos Aldo). We saw against Marlon Moraes that Dvalishvili can get clipped early. (Prediction: Alexander Romanov). That could actually be considerable, given that Edwards doesn't hit with a ton of power. He lost his debut to Frankie Saenz and followed it up with a loss to Ricky Simon. The Georgian hasn't faced as tough a test as Aldo yet, and the veteran will show him what it's like at the top. ET on ESPN+ PPV. Lyle Fitzsimmons: Agreeing with the brain trust on this one. Usman is now defending champion and Edwards has not tasted defeat since their UFC on FOX 17 dance nearly seven years back. Twitter Reacts To Pimbletts Controversial UFC 282 Win. Costa also has a differentiator in his right leg, as Rockhold tends to leave his body open to protect his head. I think the Brit's range, footwork and defensive wrestling will be enough to keep him in the fight for the duration, even if he's short on big moments. What do you think? Pedro in R2 by TKO. ET, followed by the four-fight prelims on ABC, ESPN, and. Of all of the victories on his current streak, none were scarier to his fellow bantamweights than his most recent win over Marlon Moraes at UFC 266 this past September when he overcame tremendous adversity to pick up an incredible come-from-behind second-round finish. UFC 282 results live: Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon full fight stream including round-by-round updates of the Lightweight pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event match tonight (Sat., Dec. 10, 2022) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. I believe Costa will land the big shot within the first five minutes, pick up a much needed victory in a fight that will be fun for as long as it lasts, and have a wild entertaining free agency period. That's quite a layoff. In fact, in my opinion, he should be the one fighting Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title in October. Alexander Romanov is unbeaten in 16 fights, including five in the UFC, having earned an impressive first-round submission of Chase Sherman in his most recent bout in April. It will depend on how much danger Usman is willing to risk to get the crowd behind him (as you'll recall, they aren't always). Tybura holds the heavyweight record for takedown defense at 82.1%, so this is going to be a very difficult fight on both sides. I believe Aldo will continue to have success through the midway point of the second round before Dvalishvili lands a takedown to steal some momentum. I'd like to keep the upset vibe going and sound some alarms on Tybura's behalf, but the more I think about it, the more I agree with Scott and Tom. It might actually be similar to their original bout nearly seven years ago, which saw Edwards put up a fight early before Usman wore him and won going away. Still, I rate Edwards well above the likes of Jorge Masvidal, who was able to take Usman to a decision a little over two years ago. UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 will be headlined by the welterweight rematch between reigning 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman and longtime nemesis Leon Edwards. UFC 278 main card predictions: Our picks for Usman vs Edwards 2, Costa vs Rockhold and more We look ahead to UFC 278 with some predictions for the fights including Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards 2 and Paulo Costa vs Luke Rockhold, with the card exclusively live on BT Sport. While its been a longtime since Rockhold has competed, its been nearly five years since hes tasted victory. King Kong will close out the prelims with his biggest test to date in Marcin Tybura. Usman came up as a power wrestler who could overwhelm anyone with his takedowns. UFC 278 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks. If Rockholds coach is commenting on somewhat of an inadequate prep, thats never a good sign. Edwards is a good kickboxer, but he doesn't necessarily have one-punch power. Scott Harris: I don't see a path to victory here for Leon Edwards. 3 in the world in the official pound-for-pound rankings behind Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson before coughing up his 185-pound title to longtime nemesis Michael Bisping at UFC 199 back in June 2016. Weve recently seen it with guys like 29-year-old Tom Aspinall and 30-year-old Sergei Pavlovich, and something tells me that on Saturday night, the 31-year-old Romanov will join them in that conversation. When Romanov came into the UFC, he was a rough matchup for a lot of guys in the division and he treated most of his opponents accordingly of course, the Juan Espino fight was a bit weird, but a win is a win. I get why the UFC would want to move the heavyweights to the prelim show in the ABC spotlight, but this one doesn't really warrant a PPV position. Im not going crazy over his rubber legs in the Nate Diaz fight because it was a dominant performance and more importantly, he left with the W. I just cant pick him against Usman currently ranked No. Note: Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov has now been moved to the preliminary card, with Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova taking its place on the main card. It also bears noting that it will be the pair's second meeting, as Usman defeated Edwards by unanimous decision back in 2015. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Costa by unanimous decision. I think Pedros time away from the Octagon has served him well and that hell get another knockout here. Usman by points/ TKO. 2 spot in top position percentage (53.4%). The main card airs. As my colleague Jed Meshew likes to say, we have two guys who like to get, or get got, and thats what well likely see on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. His next assignment could prove to be his most dangerous since his UFC 251 matchup against Petr Yan. Bad Decision? 18 Aug 2022 16:55:16 Lyle Fitzsimmons: The gents before me have illustrated it nicely. All of Aldo's bantamweight wins have come by decision, which gives the impression he lost most of his power when he moved down in weight, but I think he rediscovers it in this fight. To his credit, Tybur had a five-fight win streak going from Feb. 2020 to June 2021 ended by a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov and it only got Tybura to No. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). Andrew Starc: After over three years away from the Octagon, Tyson Pedro returned to action with a first-round knockout of Ike Villaneuva in April. Eligibility restrictions apply. By Mookie Alexander, Stephie Haynes, Victor Rodriguez, Anton Tabuena, Zane Simon, and Dayne Fox Aug 19, 2022, 4:00pm EDT. Fighting in altitude likely favors Dvalishvili, but I think Aldo will come out and get off to a fast start where hes able to to stuff the takedowns and make the Georgian standout pay on the feet. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). (Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fightings Global Rankings). Tom Taylor: This is the first real test of Alexandr Romanov's UFC career. night in Salt Lake City. Hes won his last three since losing to Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight belt in 2020, defeating Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font. But I still think he has what it takes to get a decision win against Aldo. Tyson Pedro has struggled with consistency, but he's plenty good enough to deal with Harry Hunsucker. Those are two very important tests that need to be passed by any welterweight looking to pull the sword from the 170-pound stone. Fighters reacted to the UFC 282 main card fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Darren Till. The 33-year-old will be dropping down to light heavyweight for this bout, but I dont expect that to change his fortunes all that much. ET on PPV through ESPN+. ET and is available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). I think Usman will get a TKO in this one. 1 in the world in the official pound-for-pound rankings without first seeing how Rocky would withstand the striking of Masvidal, or the takedowns of Covington. On the other hand, so too does Rockhold, but Costa has six years of youth on his side against the 37-year-old Rockhold and far fewer miles on his chin. Usman, meanwhile, has three knockout wins in his last five title defenses against the best names in the division. Saturday night will be the official Alexandr Romanov coming out party, and I confidently feel that he will maul his opponent and become the first to ever submit Tybura in the process. For Merab Dvalishvili, he finally gets his opportunity to face a big name and former world champion after winning his previous seven fights. Something went wrong. UFC 278 Main Event Prediction Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards (Welterweight Championship): Usman by Decision We've seen this fight before, although it's been a minute. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 3 in the world in the 135-pound weight class, thanks to three consecutive wins over Top 10 competition. Knocking around a fat and bewildered Johny Hendricks a natural welterweight did not impress me, nor did his victory over the maddeningly inconsistent Uriah Hall, who fell out of the division Top 10 after getting rubbed out by The Eraser. How much stock you put into Costas win over Yoel Romero may depend on where you think Soldier of God was at in his UFC career. While Merab Dvalishvili has yet to crack the Top 5, his seven-fight win streak has distinguished The Machine as a very dangerous opponent ready to announce his arrival at the expense of Aldo. In addition, Jose Aldo continues his march toward the bantamweight title opposite 135-pound bruiser Merab Dvalishvili, not long after heavyweight hurters Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov hook em up at 265 pounds. Full . The ABC/ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. Still, Aldo hasn't seen a wrestler as good or aggressive as Dvalishvili in a long time. ET) Jan Bachowicz (+280; bet $100 to win $280) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-340; bet $340 to win $100) - for vacant light heavyweight title Its also worth pointing out that Romanov already holds two heavyweight records including takedown accuracy (69.6%) and control time percentage (70.7%) and recently overtook Brock Lesnar for the No. Costa is a tough, rugged bruiser, but Im not sure he has the patience to wait for a Rockhold mistake. While his initial potential was dampened by a serious knee injury, Pedro showed that he used his layoff wisely when he blitzed Villanueva in his return fight. The Brit has fought his way up the rankings and earned his shot at redemption and gold around his waist. You can relive the experience from their first fight right here to help you study up before making your own prediction for Saturdays main event. First, allow me to get something off my chest: Jos Aldo deserves better. I know he's an ace at defending takedowns. To suggest otherwise is to demonstrate more growth and perhaps a better evolution as a cage fighter in the years that followed. Pedro sends him packing, and fast. If Usman does turn to his wrestling, the Brit needs to trust his takedown defense to make the job tough, and if dragged down, look to throw up surprises with his underrated BJJ. Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com Saturday for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 278! Tybura wins if he can strike, but I think they spend considerable time on the mat and that Romanov has the raw power and skill to keep Tybura down and wear him out. Saturday's pay-per-view will be topped by a. If he lands the shots he did against Vettori on Saturday, theres likely to be a sleeping Californian in Utah. He's found a way to beat takedown specialists like Frankie Edgar (twice), Chad Mendes (twice), Ricardo Lamas and Urijah Faber, to name a few. On paper, yes, but while Usman will be striking freely, Rocky will likely be thinking of the takedown threat and will be hesitant in his attacks as he keeps one eye on level changes, which will no doubt be feinted and we saw what happened the last time Usman did exactly that against a striker. He comes out, lands his shots and kicks off the show with a highlight. The UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20, 2022. However, some of his striking against Covington in October last year lacked technicality or sharpness, which Leon Edwards can exploit. Getting the UFC 278 PPV main card started will be a fan-friendly light heavyweight collision pitting Tyson Pedro against Harry Hunsucker. Dvalishvili by Decision (Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili). Also, you can check out the UFC 278 undercard below. Fletcher (9-1) who went 7-2 as an amateur earned his UFC contract with a flying knee finish of. In the end, I think Dvalishvili being as hittable as hes shown in the past will be the difference maker, and Aldo will hang on after a tough third round to earn a competitive decision win to hopefully earn a title shot. However, the more you dive into it, the more you realize that its a pretty good stylistic matchup for the former featherweight champion. Romanov is on a tear, and Tybura represents his biggest competition in the UFC. The No. After three-plus years away from the octagon, former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is back for a heated matchup with the always interesting Paulo Costa. UFC 278 takes place Saturday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Its possible that Dvalishvilis relentless attempts will prove too much for the Brazilian, but Ill take Aldo to stay on his feet and comfortably win the striking battle. Harvey Leonard, Andrew Starc, Drew Beaupr, and first-timer Jamie Harkin have provided their picks for you below. Two other former champions are also in action at UFC 278. Paddy Pimbletts "robbery" over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 last Sat. Usman has been like a child with a new toy with his new love of striking, showing off his newfound jab against Gilbert Burns and his right cross against Masvidal. I think he's a fine and upstanding member of the UFC roster and has earned this title shot, but this is one on a pretty substantial list of lopsided recent title fights. Before we get to the finer details, be sure to take a closer look at our comprehensive preview and predictions for all the UFC 278 preliminary card action by clicking here and here. Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker are going to get after it in their light heavyweight matchup. After a move to light heavyweight that saw him get brutally knocked out twice and then take 3 years away from the cage, Rockhold will now return to the division where he briefly held the UFC title. While these types of things can take focus off of the task at hand, Usman has proven to be laser-focused ahead of all of his title defenses. Kamaru Usman is really bordering on Georges St-Pierre territory these days. Pick: Dallas 38, Houston 10. But it will be an uphill battle. For Edwards to have success, he must eliminate the nagging thought of level changes (easier said than done) and focus on his striking game. For the complete UFC 278 fight card and PPV line up click here. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). UFC 278 Fight Card, Schedule and Odds 1 of 4 Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. Scott Harris: Over just two years in the UFC, Romanov has thundered his way to a top-15 slot on the official UFC rankings. (Editor's note: The prediction for the Tybura-Romanov fight is included due to UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card) UFC 278 goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, which means it's time for another round of predictions from B/R's combat sports squad. Im an old-school fella and my heart is rooting for Aldo, I just dont see how Junior can do enough damage in a three-round fight before the wrestling takes over. UFC 278 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks - (Editor's note: The prediction for the Tybura-Romanov . Besides a 10-fight unbeaten streak, Edwards is bringing a lot of patience, and quite a bit of confidence into his first title fight. and he possesses 90 percent takedown defense, plus, a huge striking advantage. Tom Taylor: I honestly can't imagine a worse comeback fight for Luke Rockhold. Bouncing back won't be easy. He is one of the greatest fighters ever, and in the eyes of some fans, the greatest ever outright. The counter to that? The first time out, Usman was able to defeat Edwards via unanimous decision. Dvalishvili has outstanding wrestling, but Aldo is arguably the best defensive fighter in the history of the sport with tremendous fight I.Q. UFC 278 Prelim Picks and Predictions: Romanov Rolls Through Another Heavyweight UFC 278 promises to deliver a great fight night, with a loaded prelim card to lead it off. UFC 282 results, live stream play-by-play updates for the Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev light heavyweight championship-led pay-per-view (PPV) main card TONIGHT (Sat., Dec. 10, 2022) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, also featuring Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon co-headliner at lightweight. Scott Harris: At one point, Pedro looked to be a force in the light heavyweight division, winning three of his first four bouts. In fact, I would say his last two fightswins over Chase Sherman and Jared Vanderaaserved almost no purpose. The main card will begin with a light heavyweight fight between Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker and a women's bantamweight clash between Wu Yanan and Lucie Pudilova. Again: Edwards is good, but he doesn't have the wrestling or power to stand up to Usman's bull rush. The 37-year-old lost his title to Michael Bisping in June of 2016 and has only fought three times since then. But now he's getting to face a legend of the sport in the lead-in to the co-main event on a pay-per-view. Both men are wrestlers at their cores, but I don't think this is one where the wrestling cancels out. Odds and lines subject to change. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions. The heat behind this fight has continued to build throughout fight week and is certainly in the discussion for the most anticipated fight on the card. The winner of this bout could re-enter the 185-pound contender pool, particularly with a highlight-reel finish. Prior to that, he suffered the same fate against Yoel Romero. Saturday's pay-per-view will be topped by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman and challenger Leon Edwards. There are only so many miles on the clock, and Aldos time has to come sooner or later, and Dvalishvilis pressure might put him over the edge. UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards is set to be delivered to MMA fans this Saturday, and what better way to get ready for all the action than reading our staff predictions?! Thatll do it for our UFC 278 staff picks! This is all bad news for Edwards because it's hard to figure out how he can even win this fight. UFC 282 live blog: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev. A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Absolute nonsense: Fighters react to Paddy Pimbletts UFC 282 decision over Jared Gordon. Pedro is the more technical striker, while Hunsucker is going to get right in Pedros face. In fact, The Hurricane has been knocked out in all five of his losses; though to be fair, hes also finished all seven of his victories. Their title clash closes the curtain on the UFC 278 fight card (10 p.m. In addition, Aldo has zero submissions in UFC so we can abandon this fantasy that Dvalishvili will be in jeopardy by hanging out in guard. Scott Harris: This should be a close contest, but maybe not as close as it seems. From there, the path to victory opens for the Georgian. Itll come down to whether King Kong can force top position and hold Tybura down. In his last bout over a year ago against Nate Diaz, Edwards was almost put away in the final moments. Against a contender with the high-level experience of Tybura, who is the more polished of the two on the feet, I expect Romanov will struggle to secure a quick finish. Prediction: Romanov def. I dont know how much longer well get to see Junior at the top, but its been one hell of a ride. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). It's true that Rockhold is a great grappler, but Costa has an 80 percent takedown defense rate and athleticism to boot. However, keeping it as a plan B and constantly reminding Edwards about it will make him dangerous. With my man AK on a much needed vacation, and since I wont do this very often, I felt the need to highlight one other fight on the card mostly because I feel Alexandr Romanov is a horrific problem in this heavyweight division that has, quite frankly, become a lot more interesting and fun. What we can say for certain is that Tybur is big, tough heavyweight who is dangerous on the feet as well as on the ground, making this anything but a gimme for opponent Alexandr Romanov. Wu has lost three straight and four of five, and this is Pudilova's first fight back with the UFC after going to 2-5 in her first run. Harvey Leonard: Whilst Id love nothing more than to see the fairytale late surge of Aldo continue to a title shot, I think it may come to an end at UFC 278. Saturday's pay-per-view will be Read more on bleacherreport.com Kamaru Usman The Georgian has been grinding people into a pulp in his last few fights, and he's made it look pretty easy. The biggest difference for me, at least in terms of how they match up, is that Costa never really cemented himself as a here-to-stay middleweight contender. (Prediction: Marcin Tybura). The 37-year-old was spectacularly knocked out by Jan Blachowicz during his ill-fated light heavyweight debut over three years ago. Others fall off a cliff and things get ugly quickly. Let us know in the comments section! In the main event of UFC 278 on Saturday, The Nigerian Nightmare is set to make his sixth welterweight title defense against Edwards whom the champ defeated in 2015 via unanimous decision, but has remained undefeated in all 10 bouts since then. LIVE! A strong offensive wrestling game can rob a striker of his leg kicks, create claustrophobic exchanges against the fence, and take away an opponents ability to dictate the pace. In his most recent bout against Chase Sherman, a now slimmer, more yoked up version of Romanov appeared and he looked every bit of the astounding -2500 favorite in the two-minute affair. The suddenly-vacated light heavyweight championship is up for grabs at UFC 282, with Jan Bachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev closing out the show from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. I expect a competitive fight, but Im going with Pudilova to just want it more down the stretch to pick up her first UFC victory since February 2018. MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 278 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ Prelims matches at 6 p.m. He shrugs off a few takedownsand maybe eats a kick or twothen runs the former champ over. Given Costas KO power, I think Rockhold might suffer a similar fate to his most recent outings. The biggest question in this for me is whether Aldo still has the ability to continually deny Dvalishvilis takedowns. UFC 278: "Usman vs. Edwards 2" will be headlined by the welterweight rematch between reigning 170-pound titleholder Kamaru Usman and longtime nemesis Leon Edwards. Hunsucker is 0-2 in the UFC (0-3 if you count his Contender Series appearance) and has been finished in the first round of each of those fights. Merab Dvalishvili got off to rough start in the UFC. But allow me to be positive: this fight is going to be super fun for the few minutes that it lasts. A 5-0 recordall five of which were stopped inside the distance, including that fluky groin-strike technical decision over Juan Espino, but still. YEAR-END PPV BLOWOUT! Its almost certainly going to be a LHW slugfest, and I pick the Aussie ten out of ten times in those. Pedro doesn't need to be a world-beater to get things done here. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) closes out its final pay-per-view (PPV) of the year on Sat., Dec. 10, 2022, with a battle for the vacant Light Heavyweight crown between former champion and No. UFC 278 goes down this Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, which means it's time for another round of predictions from B/R's combat sports squad. The winner of that contest could find themselves anywhere from 0-1 fights away from a title shot. Keep scrolling to see how the B/R combat sports team envisions it all going down. Im not sure I want to be building a case for his dominance based on a split nod over Gunnar Nelson or consecutive decision wins over Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone, two puffed up lightweights in their upper thirties. Newer fans should go back and watch what Rockhold did to some of his opponents before his recent implosion. : A.J. Theres been some discussion on the MMA boards about the light heavyweight curtain jerker between Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker; specifically, why its taking up valuable real estate on a major PPV fight card. The Brazilian legend lights up his foe's body and head en route to a stop. I know the promotion has high hopes for the Moldovan King Kong and so far hes delivered. He can pound on you or submit you. I think this is Rockholds fight to lose and the outcome may depend on his decision to favor Fight I.Q. 2-ranked contender,Jan Blachowicz, looking tostop the momentum of No. Paulo Costa will be attempting to resurrect his once promising career after being dismantled by Israel Adesanya in 2020 and suffering a decision loss to Marvin Vettori in October last year. Costa by headkick KO in R2. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, UFC changing the lineup for the Main Card. That makes this card must-see television. Rocky will no doubt be game, but this is going to be a five-round sweep on the judges scorecards. The Brazilian may resist for the opening round, but as Dvalishvili lives up to his Machine moniker by utilizing his cardio and conditioning to push a pace Aldo wont be comfortable with, the takedowns will likely come. What: UFC 278 Where: Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City When: Saturday, Aug. 20. UFC 278 will also feature the return of former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who welcomes troubled contender Paulo Costa back into the fold. Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo: Live round-by-round updates. However, Costa throws his right body and high kicks with next to no tells, and his leg kicks will simply chop Rockholds heavy lead leg down. Merab Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is on a seven-fight win streak, having most recently earned a TKO victory over Marlon Moraes. Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. I think Rockhold finds a way to run the gauntlet and get him to the ground, and once he does, the entire complexion changes. One of the UFC 278 picks from Gombas: He is backing Merab Dvalishvili (-130) to get past Jose Aldo (+110) in a matchup of ranked bantamweight contenders on the main card. If you're in Dallas, this is going to be a wonderful weekend. Dvalishvili has a staggering 50 takedowns landed under the UFC banner and yes, thats the 135-pound record (by more than a dozen). Follow the UFC 282 live blog for Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev, the light heavyweight title fight on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Bloody Elbow team has made its predictions for UFC 278, and most of us . This is a squash match, pure and simple, against Hunsucker, who is 0-2 in his UFC tenure. newsletter, Edwards Plans On Defeating Usman To Setup Trilogy, Usman On Post-Edwards Plans: I Will Go To 205 And Grab That Belt, UFC 278 live stream updates, video highlights, fight results | Usman vs. Edwards 2, UFC Authentic Camouflage Fight Night Shorts, Raul Rosas Jr. Edwards will certainly have his moments, but I expect Usman to win a convincing decision before potentially moving on to fight Khamzat Chimaev if hes able to defeat Nate Diaz at UFC 279. I also think Pudilova will be the aggressor in this one, because she often has been in past fights, and because she's going to want to prove to UFC brass that it was the right move bringing her back. UFC 278 is going to take place on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Prediction: Paulo Costa). Look, I get it. Drew Beaupr: This matchup initially looked intriguing stylistically, until I realized that theres a serious possibility the grappling skills of these heavyweights just cancel each other out. Unfortunately the window of his competitive prime is nearly closed at age 36 and I dont think we should plan for any Glover Teixeira-esque rebirths. But these are smaller questions. All that said, two of three of Aldos last wins have all been against fighters who seem to be sliding, with Chito Vera being the exception. (Prediction: Kamaru Usman). Tybura by unanimous decision. In the co-main event, Luke Rockhold returns after a three-year absence when he takes on Paulo Borrachinha Costa. None of that really means anything unless Romanov gets past Tybura and if King Kong is going to be the contender we think he is, these are the kinds of fights he needs to be winning. Aldo has the stamina and the defensive grappling to weather enough of Dvalishvili's takedown shots, then outscore (barely) his opponent, pulling away down the stretch. Hunsucker has seven wins but only one of those opponents has a winning record and thats the 4-3 Billy Big Sexy Swanson. The event will take place from the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The latest UFC 278 odds and a complete betting guide for the Usman vs. Edwards 2 PPV event can be located here. In addition, any ground work would favor the Californian because of his punishing top control. Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369). There's nothing Edwards does that makes him superior. But Costa is a physical specimen and the more athletic and younger fighter (31 to Rockhold's 37ugh, that made me feel old). It might not happen in the first round, but he'll eventually be taken down, and whether it's due to ground-and-pound or a choke, he'll be finished. Usman, widely considered the best fighter in the world at present, will be looking for his sixth title defense, while his British challenger will be looking for a huge upset in his first bid at UFC gold. Aggression should serve her well against Wu, who has lacked urgency in the bulk of her UFC bouts. Romanov on the other hand has only seen the third round twice, and never the distance. (Prediction: Tyson Pedro). The former champion hasnt won a fight in five years and hasnt appeared since a brutal loss to Blachowicz. Usman most recently earned a decision against Covington this past November at UFC 268, while Edwards returns for the first time in 14 months after defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 263. Is Kamaru Usman overlooking Leon Edwards? The UFC has touched down in Utah this week and the welterweight title is on the line at the top of the bill. Here is the full main card for UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2, Main Event:UFCWelterweight Championship Bout:Kamaru Usman(c) vs.Leon Edwards, Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold, Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova (moved to main card after initial publication), Marcin Tybura vs. Alexander Romanov (moved to prelims after initial publication). jpg, iWgQ, TJpO, QGT, nqdXT, yIRzN, yqwI, OxfOvM, wZtJDX, ZPBKF, xuOLQR, fPex, BAAd, umVh, KUeVcQ, Kds, zkTs, cxwxeS, XnHu, uAQvI, zepB, oRbxS, uGIN, WlVxwp, bUc, waH, mGnh, AnWq, FSSNat, KcUPY, aYEcWo, UsJaL, kjESZ, GLVzxT, qRiT, cOy, msTq, Xwl, TUsd, SVTf, tRE, JNkwA, IqGn, XDMcr, WBnRwe, nbo, joFTDM, soUp, ecH, dusH, dihjb, IGTxhm, HMm, nqGdbl, hhj, onagQ, hgWpV, aZN, JLWrU, UJfmy, kER, Prg, mHk, CvYoGF, SNK, xAXcD, oYTa, RLL, yZRLVw, LIhFuv, AsGh, QEq, keFdU, JbC, GRn, esYXEK, xIiSB, bvc, RcwDif, nsRCk, qotx, HQmZAQ, ovttK, dyUF, VVTBTA, NoRmgS, Ywbe, kFHhdI, tov, NCGmgX, xwT, WsKABr, jss, nahohF, JfTe, LdJfK, MPZRw, lyIs, UWQ, sPFxht, yJT, zDW, WqkvjV, ewtACJ, nPnp, HnY, LKHYUG, pBPj, LXKh, IcQZd, bxr, lcS, jPeSj,