UFC Austin Prelims Predictions: Kattar vs Emmett
Pintsized Background
The UFC returns to Austin, Texas this Saturday with an incredibly intriguing main event. Can the long, technical boxing of Calvin Kattar keep the immense power of Josh Emmett on the end of his jab? Additionally, Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone lock horns in the co-main that would ideally be a double-feature swansong after two equally long and arduous careers.
Where/When is UFC Austin taking place: Moody Center. Austin, USA.
What time does UFC Austin start: 🇬🇧 UK: 9pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 4pm
What channel is UFC Austin on: 🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
- 🚀 Preview: UFC 275 Predictions: Teixeira vs Prochazka
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Glover Teixeira vs Jiri Prochazka
Travel down the Pintsized rabbit hole:
- 📊 Statistics: MMA Predictions Results: January 2022
- 📺 YouTube: Pintsized Channel
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UFC Austin Preliminary Card Picks & Odds
| UFC Austin Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. Ismagulov (-155) G. Kutateladze (+135) | Ismagulov | Decision | / |
| G. Rodrigues (-170) J. Marques (+150) | Marques | Decision | / |
| A. Yanez (-320) T. Kelley (+250) | Yanez | TKO | 3 |
| J. Jasudavicius (-240) N. Silva (+195) | Jasudavicius | Decision | / |
| C. McGee (-120) J. Wells (+100) | McGee | Decision | / |
| D. Chavez (+235) R. Ramos (-300) | Ramos | Decision | / |
| GD. Paula (-265) Maria Oliveira (+215) | De Paula | Decision | / |
UFC Austin: Preliminary Card
Adrian Yanez vs Tony Kelley
Bantamweight (135)
Adrian Yanez (15-3)
Decision split or not, Davey Grant is a tough nut to crack and by far the most impressive name on Yanez’s record. The Texan was pushed to an unnaturally high pace, with the extra volume sapping some of the cleaner boxing work that we have come to expect of the prospect. There’s no doubting Yanez’s power or his insane bodywork, but I imagine it’ll be a while before we see him face a jabber again, after struggling so hard early against Randy Costa.
Tony Kelley (8-2)
Being racist about an opponent? Majority of fans largely silent. Missing weight? Oh, bucko, you’ve messed up now. Kelley thoroughly dominated Randy Costa from the get-go, not allowing the first-round knockout menace to get out of the blocks. Stalling grappling on the feet belies his entertaining high-risk submission game in the scrambles. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, this is the same dude that drove across a country during the pandemic rather than wear a mask for a flight.
Predicted Result: Yanez TKO Round 3
Kelley thoroughly dominated Randy Costa from the get-go, not allowing the first-round knockout menace to get out of the blocks. Yanez’s mature counter-striking and patience under aggression, however, seem primed to take out Kelley’s pace. Yanez can be thrown off his game by superior length, but Kelley doesn’t own an effective enough jab to make Yanez uncomfortable.
Jeremiah Wells vs Court McGee
Welterweight (170)
Jeremiah Wells (10-2-1)
Two fights into his UFC career, and the jury is not yet out on Jeremiah Wells. Filling in an ancient Warlley Alves does wonders for the highlight reel, but a similarly early submission over the unknown Blood Diamond does just as little for meaningful analysis. Preferring power over volume, Wells has to be backing his natural gifts to carry him on a whistle-stop UFC tour. Don’t forget, this is a thirty-five-year-old spring chicken.
Court McGee (21-10)
Watching Court McGee’s mini redemption arc has been a joy to watch. The thirty-seven-year-old knows what his game is and sets about his work with rare consistent integrity. Wells will have to carry serious power if he wants to send The Crusher to sleep. There is no doubt that McGee will come on strong in the final round. For the opening two, I’m siding with McGee to break Wells with never-ending volume or takedown attempts.
Predicted Result: McGee Decision
McGee’s veteran pressure, built upon volume and relentless takedown attempts, is a threat that Wells has yet to face in his career. Wells will have to carry serious power if he wants to send The Crusher to sleep. Unless Father Time has finally put McGee under his spell, this is the type of fight designed for McGee to clean the scorecards.
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Natalie Silva
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Jasmine Jasudavicius (7-1)
Jasudavicius, for all the concerns I had over her debut, managed to comfortably banish Kay Hansen to Only Fans. A huge frame for Flyweight, Jasudavicius is a beast in the clinch and can comfortably bully opponents into top position. Her striking was surprisingly crisp too, though it would be nice to see her use her length more effectively.
Natalie Silva (12-5-1)
Natalie Silva doesn’t appear to have the skillset needed to overcome Jasudavicius. The Brazilian prefers a physical fight, using her natural size to strong-arm her way to the mat. As is the case with most Women’s Brazilian fighters transitioning from regionals to the UFC, Silva’s record is padded with cans. Jasudavicius’ sole win in the UFC towers over the twelve wins that Silva has amassed.
Predicted Result: Jasudavicius Decision
A huge frame for Flyweight, Jasudavicius is a beast in the clinch and can comfortably bully opponents into top position. I was concerned about the Canadian’s striking before her debut, but her hands were surprisingly crisp en route to banishing Kay Hansen to Only Fans. Silva’s preferred style of physically bullying opponents will run into trouble against a naturally larger fighter.
Gloria de Paula vs Maria Oliveira
Women’s Strawweight (115)
Gloria de Paula (6-4)
Athletically gifted, de Paula is an alright striker. I’m struggling to flow with praise for the inexperienced scrapper. Going striker for strike with Diana Belbita is a truly worrying sign, but at least there’s a level of defence to de Paula’s game.
Maria Oliveira (12-5)
Spider Girl may have the higher ceiling yet has been unfortunate not to find a middling step-up in her career. It has either been a Marina Rodriguez icing or a string of cans. If Oliveira cannot use her reach to dominate the range, Spider Girl is a far more unnatural striker and unravel when she whiffs at the air.
Predicted Result: De Paula Decision
Going striker for strike with Diana Belbita is a truly worrying sign, but at least there’s a level of defence to de Paula’s game. Oliveira, on the flip side, has to dominate the range with her reach or else she will unravel. A coin-flip between two inexperienced strikers.
Danny Chavez vs Ricardo Ramos
Featherweight (145)
Danny Chavez (11-4-1)
Chavez was a regional fighter who was gifted a step up to the Big Leagues during the pandemic era. It was a surprising debut from the Columbian Warrior, showcasing a well-rounded skillset with four perfect takedowns and clean-ish striking. Ramos is known for the spectacular, but Chavez’s solid jab and leg kicks are more consistent weapons.
Ricardo Ramos (15-4)
Ricardo Ramos could still be a UFC sweetheart, the Brazilian just needs a couple of favourable match-ups. Charles Oliveira-esque, if you will. The twenty-six-year-old carries ferocious power, exceptional athleticism and a stunning array of kicks. That isn’t to ignore Ramos’ strong wrestling chops, but Chavez has proven a tricky customer to takedown.
Predicted Result: Ramos Decision
Ramos is known for the spectacular, but Chavez’s solid jab and leg kicks are more consistent weapons. Ramos’ strong wrestling chops will struggle to shine as Chavez has proven a tricky customer to takedown during his UFC stint. If Chavez was more willing to lead the fight, he could deny Ramos the space to pull off his array of spectacular spinning attacks. Unfortunately for the Columbian Warrior, he doesn’t seem capable of laying down an uncomfortable pace on the Brazilian.
Cody Stamann vs Eddie Wineland
Bantamweight (135)
Cody Stamann (19-5-1)
On a three-fight slide, you’d have been forgiven for assuming that Stamann would have been cut. Spartan has long been set as the ‘gatekeeper’ of Bantamweight, with his athletic gifts largely negated by his T-Rex reach. While it is very unlikely that Stamann can knock out a weathered Wineland, Stamann’s wrestling should be just enough to overcome a once impressive TDD.
Eddie Wineland (24-15-1)
It would be a crying shame if Eddie Wineland is remembered for his highlight-reel KO to Sean O’Malley. Wineland used to be a fleet-footed, tricksy counter-puncher. Without the spring to his step, Wineland is too easily caught as he squares onto his shots. There’s still pop to Wineland’s punches, but Stamann has never shown chin issues.
Predicted Result: Stamann Decision
Wineland used to be a fleet-footed, tricksy counter-puncher. Without the spring to his step, Wineland is too easily caught squared-on. There’s still pop to Wineland’s punches, but Stamann has never shown chin issues and has enough of an athletic edge to overcome a once impressive TDD.
Kyle Daukaus vs Roman Dolidze
Middleweight (185)
Kyle Daukaus (11-2)
Daukaus has a canny knack for making fights swelteringly uncomfortable for opponents. An irritating range on the feet owing to his 6’3″ frame, Daukaus’ greatest strength is chaining his boxing with clinches and takedowns.
Roman Dolidze (9-1)
Dolidze is a bullying front-foot striker and enough of a physical specimen to cause issues for Daukaus. Technically, the two are planets apart, but Daukaus does tend to fall apart if any area of his well-rounded skill set is not firing.
Predicted Result: Daukaus Decision
Technically, the two are planets apart, but Daukaus does tend to fall apart if any area of his well-rounded skill set is not firing. As seen in the Trevin Giles fight, pressure can break Dolidze, and Daukaus has a canny knack for making fights swelteringly uncomfortable for opponents.
Phil Hawes vs Deron Winn
Middleweight (185)
Phil Hawes (11-3)
Hawes did the classic, ‘piece apart Chris Curtis until you’re slept by a peach of a counterpunch’. Megatron carries beastly power and can be a bully from top control, but he is best set to have entertaining scraps outside of the rankings for a while.
Deron Winn (7-2)
A powerful wrestler, Deron Winn is shot in the foot by nature itself due to his slight frame. Hawes can slow which will allow Winn to impose his ground game, but it depends on how much punishment Winn eats in the interim.
Predicted Result: Hawes Decision
Megatron carries beastly power and can be a bully from top control, but he is best set to have entertaining scraps outside of the rankings for a while. Both men tend to slow down the stretch, but a sloppier fight does offer a chance for Winn to impose his ground game. Winn lacks the striking threat needed to keep Hawes gun-shy.
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