In this Saturday’s edition of soulless UFC Apex action, middleweights Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer enjoy the pleasure of main event-ing a 14-fight card brimming with Dana White’s Contender Series alumni. What’s not to love about regional level fighters competing in front of a handful of fans and media members? This is the prime MMA promotion, after all!
Rant aside, the card features a number of genuinely entertaining fighters that make it worth your while to check in every so often. Take Michael Johnson, for example, who will once again impress on the feet for a round before his chin crumbles before our eyes. Okay, the rant resumed – but aside from an intriguing featherweight showdown between Dan Ige and Andre Fili in the co-main event, Saturday’s card amounts to nothing more than background viewing.
Jack Hermansson vs Joe Pyfer
Eight years have passed since Jack Hermansson’s UFC debut victory over Scott Askham, yet it’s arguable that the Swede has recently returned back to square one. Around 2018-19, ‘The Joker’ was riding a four-fight win streak, including a five-round domination of veteran Jacare Souza on the mat. There was reason to believe that Hermansson could be the next big title contender at middleweight. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old has never sharpened his tools on the feet to the extent where he could survive against those populating the top-10. Hermansson looked terrified against Jared Cannonier in a two-round stoppage loss back in 2019, and once again appeared fearful of Roman Dolidze’s power in his last outing.
Still, Joe Pyfer remains a clear step below the top-10 middleweights of the MMA world. ‘Bodybagz’ finds himself on a five-fight finish streak (including a perfect 3-0 record in the UFC) against middling level opponents. Pyfer’s success stems as much from his matchmaking as his skillset. The 27-year-old possesses decent pop in his shots but it is his willingness to shoot takedowns that has earned the respect of his more technically skilled opponents. For Hermansson, the quicker the fight hits the mat the better – who’s grappling skills off the back can catch Pyfer out, in a similar fashion to Abdul Razak Alhassan’s near guillotine choke of Pyfer last October.
Hermansson vs Pyfer Prediction: Hermansson Submission Round 2
Dan Ige vs Andre Fili
Has Dan Ige ever fully recovered from his humbling loss to The Korean Zombie in 2021? The Hawaiian is a fan favourite for his heavy hands, granite chin and front-foot aggression but they are also the same qualities that hold him back. Ige is incapable of leading a fight, failing to utilise his underrated grappling until he is already in a disastrous position i.e. Bryce Mitchell, Mosvar Evloev. As such, Saturday’s showdown with Andre Fili must be considered a striking-first affair. While ‘Touchy Fili’ is renowned as the featherweight gatekeeper, the reputation masks his guile on the feet. Three rounds benefits Fili more, but expect a razor-close decision for either man.
Ige vs Fili Prediction: Fili Decision
Ihor Potieria vs Robert Bryczek
Falling to his third stoppage loss in a row could see Ihor Potieria leave the UFC on Saturday. The Ukrainian entered the organisation as an exciting striker, having battered Lukasz Sudolski in under a round on the Dana White’s Contender Series. Although only 27-years-old, Potieira’s flaws are extensive – having been outclassed on the feet by Carlos Ulberg and on the mat by Nicolae Negumereanu and Rodolfo Bellato. Promotional newcomer, Robert Bryczek, also faces a must-win type of deal although in differing circumstances. Time is not on the side of the 33-year-old Pole, who will need to leverage his success in OKTAGON to progress the middleweight rankings quickly. Expect an early finish for the more polished debutant.
Potieria vs Bryczek Prediction: Bryczek TKO Round 1
Brad Tavares vs Gregory Rodrigues
Perennial middleweight gatekeeper, Brad Tavares, is rolled out once again by the UFC, this time to test the chops of Gregory Rodrigues. It is a strange piece of matchmaking all things considered. Robocop has already overcome stiff tests at 185lbs in the form of Chidi Njoukani and Jun Yong Park. Perhaps Rodrigues’ first-round KO loss to Brunno Ferreira has left the UFC unwilling to push the Brazilian up the rankings, but Tavares isn’t known for his lights out power.
Tavares vs Rodrigues Prediction: Rodrigues Decision
Michael Johnson vs Darrius Flowers
There are few fighters as fun to watch as Michael Johnson. The veteran provides edge-of-your-seat entertainment from the opening bell, showcasing fluid boxing and a surprising wrestling threat. That is until, of course, he is faced with incoming strikes. Johnson has weathered a number of storms in his career, yet now aged 37-years-old and with 40 professional fights wearing on his body, his lights can be switched out at a moments notice. Darrius Flowers is a classical bang average DWCS product, but he carries enough power to ensure that only one shot is needed to pad his record.
Johnson vs Flowers Prediction: Flowers TKO Round 2
Rodolfo Vieira vs Armen Petrosyan
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wizard, Rodolfo Vieira, will last in the UFC as long as the matchmakers are willing to hand him favourable match-ups. The Brazilian is a magician on the mat and possesses a fabulous chin, however, he is a one-dimensional fighter hailing from ye olden times. Although the 34-year-old has taken major strides in refining his striking and takedown threat, he will struggle to safely take Armen Petrosyan to the ground.
Vieira vs Petrosyan Prediction: Petrosyan Decision
Trevin Giles vs Carlos Prates
Once famed for his indestructible chin, Trevin Giles needs to spend some time soul-searching in front of the mirror after suffering three knockout losses in his past five fights. The welterweight is only 31-years-old, however, he has been in a number of wars in the UFC – in part due to his ‘wear and tear’ style that requires him to outlast opponents. With Giles’ chin appearing all but washed, UFC debutant Carlos Prates can look to extend his six-fight stoppage streak on Saturday.
Giles vs Prates Prediction: Prates TKO Round 2
Timothy Cuamba vs Bolaji Oki
Listen, if you win in DWCS and don’t immediately receive a UFC contract, chances are that you not ready – damn near, any live body is signed up these days. In Timothy Cuamba‘s case, the 25-year-old needed an extra step of picking up a stoppage victory on Tuff-N-Uff to earn his call-up. The American’s best work comes from the outside, having peppered regional opposition with his body kicks. Against fellow UFC debutant, Bolaji Oki, Cuamba will have to showcase serious footwork to maintain his preferred distance. The Flemish fighter sits in the pocket at boxing range and launches lengthy combinations. It is a far simpler path for victory in a contest between two developing professionals.
Cuamba vs Oki Prediction: Oki Decision
Loma Lookboonmee vs Bruna Brasil
Women’s Strawweight is a division that regularly disappoints outside of title fights, yet Loma Lookboonmee provides one of the brightest sparks. The Thai fighter pulverises opponents from the clinch, belying her slight frame, in addition to showing enough defensive knowhow to keep herself standing. For Bruna Brasil, who has struggled to keep fights on the outside in the past, she must edge Lookboonmee on volume to swing the scorecards.
Lookboonmee vs Brasil Prediction: Lookboonmee Decision
Devin Clark vs Marcin Prachnio
Just when it looks like Devin Clark is out of the UFC, the eight-year promotional veteran pulls victory out of the jaws of defeat. ‘Brown Bear’ is a technically limited fighter in all aspects of MMA, relying on his physical prowess and grit to break opponents. Amusingly, that may be all that is required to beat Marcin Prachnio. The Pole has enjoyed a mini renaissance, picking up three wins in his past five fights, but it is important to remember that he was stopped in the first-round by Sam Alvey in 2018.
Clark vs Prachnio Prediction: Prachnio Decision
Jeremiah Wells vs Max Griffin
Jeremiah Wells jumped onto everyone’s radar when he slept Court McGee in 94 seconds back in 2022. The American possesses a freak power that could shoot him up the rankings, yet unfortunately, the 37-year-old has fought just twice since that victory. This fatal case of inactivity may have already ended any title aspirations for a fighter who is well into their athletic twilight. Opponent, Max Griffin, is one year Wells’ senior, but his defence-first style means he resembles a far younger competitor in the octagon.
Wells vs Griffin Prediction: Griffin Decision
Zac Pauga vs Bodgan Guskov
Zac Pauga enthusiasts will proclaim that ‘The High Chief’ is one of the few light heavyweights who can box using feints and counters. Pauga realists, however, would counter that he was slept by a Mohammad Usman left hook which is still in motion to this day. Uzbeki striker, Bogdan Guskov, suffered a crushing first-round knockout loss in his UFC debut – although it was quite the overmatching by feeding him to former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. Backing Guskov to sit down on his punches early and prevent Pauga’s mind games.
Pauga vs Guskov Prediction: Guskov Decision
Hyder Amil vs Fernie Garcia
Undefeated UFC debutant, Hyder Amil, has arguably been ducked by both Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and Melsik Baghdasaryan without having fought once in the promotion. The 33-year-old was forced to dig deep in his TDD locker during a gritty DWCS decision victory, underlining his well-rounded skillset. As such, considering Fernie Garcia‘s inability to impose himself in any of his three UFC losses, a comfortable debut victory should be expected for Amil.
Amil vs Garcia Prediction: Amil Decision
Daniel Marcos vs Aoriqileng
Peruvian Daniel Marcos is a true dark horse at Bantamweight, effectively learning on the job after fighting in God awful regional promotions for much of his career. A career-best performance over Davey Grant last July highlighted Marcos’ top-15 credentials, revealing the technical know-how to crack one of the divisions’ hardest punchers. ‘Soncora’ will face a similar challenge on Saturday in Aoriqileng. While the Mongolian is yet to earn a stoppage victory in the UFC, he has knocked down Cameron Else and Johnny Munoz Jr en route to crushing decision victories.
Marcos vs Aoriqileng Prediction: Marcos Decision
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