UFC London Prelims Predictions: Blaydes vs Aspinall
Pintsized Background
UFC London’s featured prelim will see two high-octane strikers lock horns and refuse to surrender an inch of ground. Lower down the prelims, Nathaniel Wood returns after a string of unfortunate external circumstances. Jai Herbert will look to build off his exciting yet ultimately brutal loss to Ilia Topuria, while Muhammad Mokaev’s hype train is set to soar with another promotional win under his belt.
Where/When is UFC London Prelims taking place:
July 23, 2022. 02 Arena. London, England.
What time does UFC London Prelims start:
🇬🇧 UK: 5pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 1pm
What channel is UFC London Prelims on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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- 🚀 Preview: UFC on ABC 3 Predictions: Ortega vs Rodriguez
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Shane Burgos vs Charles Jourdain
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UFC London Prelims Picks & Odds
| UFC London Prelims Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| L’udovit Klein (+285) Mason Jones (-345) | Jones | Decision | / |
| Damir Hadrovir (+295) Marc Diakiese (-360) | Diakiese | TKO | 3 |
| Charles Rosa (+440) Nathaniel Wood (-580) | Wood | Decision | / |
| Jonathan Pearce (-190) Makwan Amirkhani (+160) | Amirkhani | Submission | 1 |
| Charles Johnson (+370) Muhammad Mokaev (-460) | Mokaev | Decision | / |
| Jai Herbert (-280) Kyle Nelson (+235) | Herbert | TKO | 3 |
| Mandy Bohm (-120) Victoria Leondardo (+100) | Bohm | Decision | / |
| Claudio Silva (+205) Nicolas Dalby (-245) | Dalby | Decision | / |
UFC London Prelims: Preliminary Card
L’udovit Klein vs Mason Jones
Lightweight (155)
L’udovit Klein (18-4)
A ferocious kickboxer, Klein finally finds a tailor-made striking match-up destined for a FOTN bonus. Klein has wilted to grapplers in the past, Landwehr was able to drain Klein with pressure against the cage. Whether Klein can handle the pace that Jones set is yet to be seen, but the Slovak’s head kick will find a regular home on the Welshman.
Mason Jones (11-1)
As highly as I rate Klein as an entertaining prospect, Mike Trizano did break Klein down with a jab. Jones is a heavy-pressure fighter and will be constantly walking Klein down. Klein is a powerful single-shot striker, yet Jones’ combinations will leave a lasting effect. Aside from an early Klein kick taking the Welshman’s chin by surprise, this should be a brutal war with Jones pulling away in the later rounds.
Predicted Result: Jones Decision
Both Nate Landwehr and Mike Trizano have broken down L’udovit Klein in the past with pressure. Jones is a madman who will consistently walk opponents down with clean combinations. The Slovak is a powerful sniper, who when flowing, is one of the classiest strikers in the division. Aside from an early Klein kick taking the Welshman’s chin by surprise, this should be a brutal FOTN war with Jones pulling away in the later rounds.
Marc Diakiese vs Damir Hadzovic
Lightweight (155)
Marc Diakiese (15-5)
There may not have been a highlight reel finish over Viacheslav Borshchev, but Diakiese won’t mind after breaking his short slide. Enduring a three-round beating to Rafael Fiziev amusingly ages graciously with every brutal finish that the Kyrgyzstani collects. Diakiese remains a plus athlete with underrated wrestling and a massive heart.
Damir Hadzovic (14-6)
Gotta be honest lads, I’m not sure Hadzovic is very good. A career scalp over Yancy Medeiros in his last outing, the slow-paced momentum striker has never developed his skillset. Susceptible to being out-wrestled, unable to push an uncomfortable pace on Diakiese – it would take a Diakiese mental meltdown to lose this one.
Predicted Result: Diakiese TKO Round 3
A combination of Hadzovic’s tendency to be out-wrestled and an inability to push a hard pace leaves it very much in the hands of a Diakiese mental meltdown for the Brit to lose this one. Diakiese is a plus athlete, who has regularly shown the ability to dig deep, and is a class or two above Hadzovic.
Nathaniel Wood vs Charles Rosa
Featherweight (145)
Nathaniel Wood (17-5)
Despite the two-year gap, Nathaniel Wood finds himself a gentle return to the division. Wood’s issues stem from his preference for low kicks and leading with his chin. Rosa has an eye for a counter, but he rarely pulls the trigger.
Charles Rosa (14-7)
A strong neutraliser, Boston Strong spends most fights these days just pushing out enough activity to keep the rounds ticking. Rosa fights with a sparring partner mentality, caused largely by a lack of volume on the feet and an inability to transition to the mat.
Predicted Result: Wood Decision
Despite the two-year gap, Nathaniel Wood finds himself a gentle return to the division. Wood’s issues stem from his preference for low kicks and leading with his chin. Rosa has an eye for a counter, but he rarely pulls the trigger.
Makwan Amirkhani vs Jonathan Pearce
Featherweight (145)
Makwan Amirkhani (17-7)
Mr Finland ruined Mike Grundy’s fairytale story with a brutal one-minute submission victory at UFC London in March. Amirkhani has struggled over recent years with SBG forcing the Finn to kickbox. On his day, Amirkhani is a terrifying early-round submission threat. Gas tank troubles have plagued his career, however.
Jonathan Pearce (12-4)
On the one hand, Jonathan Pearce was beaten to a pulp by Joe Lauzon in 2019. On the other, Pearce has a canny knack for surviving submissions and meat heading his way back into fights. Giving Amirkhani his ideal fight early, though, will create a huge scare.
Predicted Result: Amirkhani Submission Round 1
Amirkhani has struggled over recent years with SBG forcing the Finn to kickbox. On his day, Amirkhani is a terrifying early-round submission threat. Gas tank troubles have plagued his career, however, an area that Pearce thrives in. Giving Amirkhani his ideal fight early, though, seems like a recipe for disaster.
Muhammad Mokaev vs Charles Johnson
Flyweight (125)
Muhammad Mokaev (6-0)
There were a few nerves on show for Mokaev’s debut, throwing erratic explosive strikes during the opening minute. Capping off the minute with a guillotine choke victory over Cody Durden has set the hype train to the moon. The twenty-one-year has called out every name in the Flyweight division during his downtime yet the UFC has opted for calmer match-making.
Charles Johnson (11-2)
UFC debutant, Charles Johnson, carries a four-fight streak into the big leagues. Notably, Johnson engaged in a tit-for-tat fight with Brandon Royval – highlighting a bit of room to grow at Flyweight. Johnson pries with strikes on the outside to find holes, yet in the process, often primes himself for takedowns.
Predicted Result: Mokaev Decision
UFC debutant, Charles Johnson, carries a four-fight streak into the big leagues. Johnson pries with strikes on the outside to find holes, yet in the process, often primes himself for takedowns. Against a mat magician like Mokaev, it could be an ugly affair.
Jai Herbert vs Kyle Nelson
Lightweight (155)
Jai Herbert (11-4)
Yes, yes, yes. The Black Country Banger remains on the UFC books. There was a worry that Herbert’s 1-3 record, with all four fights resulting in finishes, would force the UFC’s hand in cutting the former Cage Warriors champ. Aside from brutal match-making, Herbert is a lethally accurate kickboxer who proved his power against Ilia Topuria. Terrible positional awareness and pocket fighting ended up biting Herbert in his last outing, but if the Wolverhampton man has free reign over the centre of the octagon, he is a brutal technician.
Kyle Nelson (13-4)
Another 1-3 record holder, Kyle Nelson represents a significantly lower ceiling. Nelson does own a power wrestling game that could threaten Herbert – it never seems like the Canadian has a definite game plan to seamlessly integrate his wrestling alongside striking. Nelson’s hands are heavy enough to crack Herbert’s biscuit chin, but it will be a huge task for Nelson to get inside of Herbert’s reach.
Predicted Result: Herbert TKO Round 3
Terrible positional awareness and pocket fighting ended up biting Herbert in his last outing, but if the Wolverhampton man has free reign over the centre of the octagon, he is a brutal technician. Considering Nelson rarely has a definite game plan to seamlessly integrate his wrestling alongside striking, it is difficult to see the Canadian work his way inside of Herbert’s reach.
Mandy Bohm vs Victoria Leonardo
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Mandy Bohm (7-1)
Would it have hurt the UFC to have skipped this fight during the booking process? A physical specimen carried in the regionals on the back of her athletic gifts, Bohm struggled in her UFC debut. Bohm was frozen on the feet under consistent volume from Ariane Lipski and found no way to get into the fight.
Victoria Leonardo (8-4)
A snapped arm against Melissa Gatto, a brutal TKO stoppage against Manon Fiorot – Victoria Leonardo has offered fabulous highlight reels for her opponents. Gritty and durable, Leonardo lacks athleticism in a soft division.
Predicted Result: Bohm Decision
Bohm was frozen on the feet under consistent volume from Ariane Lipski and found no way to get into the fight. Not that Leonardo has fared much better. A snapped arm against Melissa Gatto and a brutal TKO stoppage at the hands of Manon Fiorot have been Leonardo’s return in the UFC. Bohm’s athletic edge to get the W in a regional affair.
Nicolas Dalby vs Claudio Silva
Welterweight (170)
Nicolas Dalby (19-4-1)
A strange card opener but a welcome one. Dalby is very much a hot and cold fighter. On his day, Dalby can turn up to drag Till to a draw and claim victories over Daniel Rodriguez and Alex Oliveira. There are losses to Tim Means and Carlo Pedersoli that continually throw spanners in the works. A high-paced operator, Dalby requires his striking and grappling to piece together from the opening bell and prevent opponents from ever gaining a foothold.
Claudio Silva (14-3)
Once a feared submission artist, Silva’s 39 years on the planet have finally started to show. James Krause and Court McGee are two of the savviest veterans that the Brazilian had the misfortune of facing. If the UFC wanted Silva to earn a few more finishes, they need to hand over cocky prospects who want to test their chops on the mat with the BJJ practitioner.
Predicted Result: Dalby Decision
Dalby is very much a hot and cold fighter. On his day, Dalby can turn up to drag Till to a draw and claim victories over Daniel Rodriguez and Alex Oliveira. The Dane’s downfall is his requirement to set and stick to his preferred pace, preventing opponents from ever gaining a foothold. Silva, at a spritely 39 years, can’t match the pace Dalby will set on the feet.
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