UFC 277 Main Card Predictions: Peña vs Nunes 2
Pintsized Background
Putting the UFC 277 predictions aside for one moment, can we all just agree on how truly God-awful this card is? The main event on paper is incredible. A rematch featuring the former, long-reigning champion seeking to regain her belt. In reality, aside from the shock of Nunes losing, it was pretty dire viewing in terms of technical ability shown. Although the co-main involves two of the most exciting Flyweights, the fight is for an interim belt to justify the PPV price tag. Deiveson Figueiredo is the rightful Flyweight champion, and as such, should have been offered the respect to recover from his hand injuries.
Where/When is UFC 277 Main Card taking place:
July 30, 2022. American Airlines Center. Dallas, United States.
What time does UFC 277 Main Card start:
🇬🇧 UK: 3am / 🇺🇸 US ET: 10pm
What channel is UFC 277 Main Card on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
- 🚀 Preview: UFC London II Predictions: Aspinall vs Blaydes
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Molly McCann vs Hannah Goldy
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- 📊 Statistics: MMA Predictions Results: January 2022
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UFC 277 Main Card Picks & Odds
| UFC 277 Main Card Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Nunes (-265) Julianna Peña (+225) | Nunes | TKO | 1 |
| Brandon Moreno (-210) Kai Kara-France (+180) | Moreno | Decision | / |
| Derrick Lewis (+105) Sergei Pavlovich (-125) | Lewis | TKO | 2 |
| Anthony Smith (+390) Magomed Ankalaev (-490) | Ankalaev | Decision | / |
| Alex Perez (+155) Alexandre Pantoja (-180) | Pantoja | Decision | / |
UFC 277 Main Card: Main Event
Julianna Peña vs Amanda Nunes
Women’s Bantamweight (135)
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Julianna Peña (11-4)
From being choked out by GDR to subbing the Women’s GOAT in under two rounds – can the Peña vs Nunes rematch inspire a tepid PPV? Peña’s abhorrent post-fight comments sparked a little animosity between the two, yet Nunes is a consummate professional and has failed to engage the fans with a petty rivalry that excites casuals. Despite the time that has passed, it must never be forgotten, Peña out-boxed Nunes before hitting the submission.
The dipping jab. A basic step forward, moving off the centre-line, was enough to topple the most feared Women’s fighter of all time. Peña is unlikely to have added more strings to her limited striking bow. Nunes occasionally timed an intercepting uppercut as a means to counter Peña, but the damage had already been done early by the Venezuelan Vixen.
Amanda Nunes (21-5)
No matter the combat sport, even the elite of the division can be embarrassed. Lennox Lewis, the arguable number one Heavyweight boxer, dropped fights against meagre opponents. Is Nunes capable of handling the mental scars in an immediate rematch with an opponent that remains thoroughly limited? Can Nunes move her head out of the way of Peña’s jab? Will Nunes enter at angles or use feints to draw out Peña’s straight shots?
If Nunes sits on the outside, the Brazilian has to continue to be favoured as a result of her clubbing power. Once the former champ waded into the pocket, it opened up the avenue for Peña to avoid prolonged exchanges and take the fight to the mat. Sure, Peña hammered Nunes on the outside last time, but you’d hope that fighters at the top of the division can adopt a couple of technical adjustments. This is Women’s Bantamweight, however – a division which granted Megan Anderson a title shot.
Predicted Result: Nunes TKO Round 1
The dipping jab. A basic step forward, moving off the centre-line, was enough to topple the most feared Women’s fighter of all time. Nunes occasionally timed an intercepting uppercut as a means to counter Peña, but the damage had already been done early by the Venezuelan Vixen. Can Nunes move her head out of the way of Peña’s jab? Will the Brazilian enter at angles or use feints to draw out Peña’s straight shots? God forbid, Nunes dips into her underrated top game and hammers Peña from the top.
If Nunes sits on the outside, the Brazilian has to continue to be favoured as a result of her clubbing power. Sure, Peña hammered Nunes on the outside last time, but you’d hope that fighters at the top of the division can adopt a couple of technical adjustments. This is Women’s Bantamweight, however – a division which granted Megan Anderson a title shot.
UFC 277 Main Card: Co-Main Event
Brandon Moreno vs Kai Kara-France
Flyweight (125)
UFC Interim Flyweight Championship
Brandon Moreno (19-6-2)
After a gruelling trilogy with Deiveson Figueiredo, Moreno’s hype flip-flopped between extremities. The third-round submission over Figueiredo saw the Funko Pop collector skyrocket in popularity, only to crashland with a decisive loss in their rubber match. Has Moreno lost a piece of himself as a fighter over such a brutal trilogy?
The Assassin Baby owns one of the P4P best chins in the business, yet Figgy Pudding has softened Moreno’s chin while Kara-France carries firecrackers in his hands. Moreno battered Kara-France last time out through excellent use of angles and confusing the once stoic counter-puncher. Now that Kara-France is more willing to press on the front foot, the rounds may feel more debatable on the scorecards.
Kai Kara-France (24-9)
After a shock guillotine choke loss to Brandon Royval, Kara-France enjoyed a glittering 2021-22 with scalps over Rogerio Bontorin, Cody Garbrandt and Askar Askarov. Crucial to recent success has been Kara-France’s comfort in the pocket. Bontorin and Garbrandt are heavy-handed foes, yet Kara-France’s edge in speed has been noticeable during his ascent to the interim title.
Interestingly, during their first bout, neither man attempted a takedown. Kara-France showcased far more elusive TDD against Askar Askarov than in any of the other 31 fights in his extensive career. Whether the newfound explosiveness will deter Moreno from dipping into his wrestling chops, however, is yet to be seen.
Predicted Result: Moreno Decision
After a gruelling trilogy with Deiveson Figueiredo, Moreno’s hype flip-flopped between extremities. Can one of the P4P best chins in the business endure Kara-France’s newfound aggression and heavy hands? During their first bout, neither man attempted a takedown. Kara-France showcased far more elusive TDD against Askar Askarov than in any of the other 31 fights in his extensive career. Whether the newfound explosiveness will deter Moreno from dipping into his wrestling chops, however, is yet to be seen. Backing an equal affair on the feet, with razor close rounds falling in favour of Moreno.
UFC 277: Main Card
Derrick Lewis vs Sergei Pavlovich
Heavyweight (265)
Derrick Lewis (26-9)
Folks are far too hasty to write off Derrick Lewis. Sure, the Heavyweight isn’t a dedicated athlete – his fitness is often a coin flip in the build-up to any of his fights. Losing to Tai Tuivasa, however, in a strike-for-strike fist fight is exactly the sort of loss that Lewis has always teetered on the edge of losing. Lewis still carries comically nuclear power. Pavlovich isn’t riding a career-high form like Tuivasa, nor is he as comfortable in throwing extended combinations within the pocket. Lewis still represents a nightmare to keep on the mat, and if you can’t put him away, he will find the light switch.
Sergei Pavlovich (15-1)
The roidy Russian enjoyed a first-round finish on his return to the octagon just a few months ago. Pavlovich was highly backed on his debut against a fading Alistair Overeem, yet the Russian was battered to a pulp on the mat by the resurgent veteran. Pavlovich hits hard but his strikes are often telegraphed. Lewis isn’t a defensive savant, but Tuivasa aside, the Black Beast isn’t a man to handshake into a war of attrition in the pocket.
Predicted Result: Lewis TKO Round 2
Hot off the presses – Lewis still carries comically nuclear power. Pavlovich hits hard but his strikes are often telegraphed. Lewis isn’t a defensive savant, but Tuivasa aside, the Black Beast isn’t a man to handshake into a war of attrition in the pocket. The Russian can certainly take Lewis down, but to keep his opponent on the ground is highly unlikely. Eventually, Lewis has to be backed to find the killswitch.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Alex Perez
Flyweight (125)
Alexandre Pantoja (24-5)
The back control king returns to the octagon. If Pantoja has the opportunity to hit the mat, the Brazilian can neutralise opponents into a static affair. On the feet, Pantoja is a reactive counter-puncher who could punish Perez’s preference for chopping leg kicks. Add in Pantoja’s granite chin and it leaves Perez needing to push a ridiculous pace over three rounds to overcome the technical deficits.
Alex Perez (24-6)
Damn, it’s really been a two-year lay-off since Perez was iced in a round by Deiveson Figueiredo. Granted, Perez has suffered 6 cancelled bouts, but any hype from the Formiga leg kick KO has all been lost. Perez owns a fantastic top control game and a vicious low leg kicking game, but he was also humiliated by Figgy’s outrageous athletic gifts. Pantoja sits into his jab to the extent that Perez’s leg kicks could well pick apart the Brazilian by the latter rounds – but the layoff is a red flag.
Predicted Result: Pantoja Decision
If Pantoja has the opportunity to hit the mat, the Brazilian can neutralise opponents into a static affair. On the feet, Pantoja is a reactive counter-puncher who could punish Perez’s preference for chopping leg kicks. Sure, Pantoja sits into his jab, yet his durability is insane and he produces punches in bunches to bully opponents.
Magomed Ankalaev vs Anthony Smith
Light Heavyweight (205)
Magomed Ankalaev (17-1)
For all my concerns with Ankalaev’s striking, he continues to add minimal layers with each fight. The jab remains key behind all of the Russian’s front-foot offence, yet there are educated layers that are intentionally built. It goes without saying at this point that Ankalaev is a monster on the mat. Smith had his teeth pummelled out by Grandad Teixeira, another disgusting GnP performance is on the cards. As Smith is unable to set a consistent pace over three rounds to wilt Ankalaev, the Russian’s weaknesses are unlikely to arise.
Anthony Smith (36-16)
I do love me a bit of gatekeeper Anthony Smith. Surprisingly well-rounded, Smith can meet fighters at their own game and only folds to the most committed opponents. Aleksandar Rakic, Glover Teixeira and Jon Jones were able to overcome initial adversity to eventually ask questions of Smith. For all the heart that Lionheart shows, he does tend to hit a point of no return when survival becomes the strategy. Ask Jimmy Crute, Ryan Spann and Volkan Oezdemir whether Smith hits ridiculously hard and can hold his own on the mat.
Predicted Result: Ankalaev Decision
For all my concerns with Ankalaev’s striking, he continues to add minimal layers with each fight. The jab remains key behind all of the Russian’s front-foot offence, yet there are educated layers that are intentionally built. Ask Jimmy Crute, Ryan Spann and Volkan Oezdemir whether Smith hits ridiculously hard and can hold his own on the mat. Still, there comes a point in an Anthony Smith fight where he adopts a strategy of survival – Ankalaev can draw that out of Lionheart.
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