UFC Vegas 57 Prelims Predictions: Tsarukyan vs Gamrot
Pintsized Background
What’s that? A richly deserved exciting main event between two of the most underrated Lightweights in the business? Entering the UFC Apex, Las Vegas are two potential future champions in Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot.
Don’t neglect the co-main event, however, with Neil Magny and Shavkat Rakhmonov locking horns in a perfect crossroads affair. The Haitian Sensation has stumbled around the past couple of years, but it wasn’t that long ago the towering Welterweight was smothering Carlos Condit, Jingliang Li and Robbie Lawler. Rakhmonov will be looking to extend his impressive UFC stint to four back-to-back finishes.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 57 taking place: June 25, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, US.
What time does UFC Vegas 57 start: 🇬🇧 UK: 11PM / 🇺🇸 US ET: 7pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 57 on: 🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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- 🚀 Preview: UFC Austin Predictions: Kattar vs Emmett
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Ricardo Ramos vs Danny Chavez
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- 📊 Statistics: MMA Predictions Results: January 2022
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UFC Vegas 57 Preliminary Card Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 57 Prelims Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Ulberg (-115) Tafon Nchukwi (-105) | Nchukwi | TKO | 1 |
| Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (+175) T.J. Brown (-205) | Brown | Decision | / |
| Raulian Paiva (+115) Sergey Morozov (-135) | Paiva | Decision | / |
| Cody Durden (+100) J.P. Buys (-120) | Buys | Decision | / |
| Brian Kelleher (+140) Mario Bautista (-165) | Kelleher | TKO | 2 |
| Jinh Yu Frey (-260) Vanessa Demopoulos (+220) | Frey | Decision | / |
UFC Vegas 57: Preliminary Card
Tafon Nchukwi vs Carlos Ulberg
Light Heavyweight (205)
Tafon Nchukwi (6-2)
Some low, low-level Light Heavyweight quality to kick off the featured prelims. Nchuwi is a durable powerhouse of a man, but his power has failed to transition from the regionals to the UFC. Aside from an unsurprising Azamat Murzakanov bomb switching off the lights, the Cameroonian remains a very difficult man to take out. Nchukwi applies consistent pressure and will punish Ulberg if he full-blooded flies out of the blocks similar to the Kennedy Nzechukwu fight.
Carlos Ulberg (4-1)
Part-time fighter, full-time model. Carlos Ulberg would be an easy sell for the UFC if he could decide on a game plan. After falling on his sword trying to blast Nzechukwu out in a glorious first-round debut, Ulberg reverted to a hyper-defensive, conservative approach against Fabio Cherant. It’s a lucky dip as to what to expect from the Kiwi kickboxer, but his height could cause a real issue for Nchukwi.
Predicted Result: Nchukwi TKO Round 1
It’s a lucky dip as to what to expect from the Kiwi kickboxer. After falling on his sword trying to blast Kennedy Nzechukwu out in a glorious first-round debut, Ulberg reverted to a hyper-defensive, conservative approach against Fabio Cherant. Nchukwi is far more consistent, applying constant pressure and owning a solid enough chin to remain threatening late.
TJ Brown vs Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
Featherweight (145)
TJ Brown (16-8)
Hardly a defensive savant, TJ Brown has recently tapped into a vastly improved offensive striking game that plays into equally aggressive wrestling chops. Is Brown wily enough to scramble out of Nuerdanbieke’s relentless takedowns? It’s tough to say for certain, especially as both men are likely to succeed with takedowns at various points.
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (36-10)
Nuerdanbieke is vastly experienced, even when considering the less than stellar opposition of regional Chinese MMA. Even with so many miles on the body, Nuerdanbieke tends to make many mistakes on the mat. Not to the extent that Brown will catch him in a submission, but certainly to offer routes for Brown to get back to his feet.
Predicted Result: Brown Decision
Nuerdanbieke is vastly experienced, even when considering the less than stellar opposition of regional Chinese MMA. With both men set to succeed with takedowns at various points, it’s Nuerdanbieke’s proclivity for mistakes that may swing this fight. Nuerdanbieke is more likely to offer up routes for Brown to get back to his feet, rather than the flip scenario.
Raulian Paiva vs Sergey Morozov
Bantamweight (135)
Raulian Paiva (21-4)
A sharp counter-puncher, strong counter wrestler and a tough challenge to put away for any fighter, Raulian Paiva deserves a lot of credit. Athletically hampered, Paiva’s pressure on the feet could unravel Morozov in a similar fashion as Douglas Silva de Andrade.
Sergey Morozov (17-5)
Morozov probably won’t ever crack into the top ten of a stacked Bantamweight division, but the pop to his punches brings decent entertainment. The Kazakh fighter can fold under pressure, but against a slow starter in Paiva, Morozov should be able to lay down a clinic in the opening round. Whether Paiva survives the first round, the Brazilian’s wrestling could throw a sizeable spanner in the work for Morozov.
Predicted Result: Paiva Decision
The Kazakh fighter can fold under pressure, but against a slow starter in Paiva, Morozov should be able to lay down a clinic in the opening round. Whether Paiva survives the first round, the Brazilian’s wrestling could throw a sizeable spanner in the work for Morozov.
Cody Durden vs JP Buys
Flyweight (125)
Cody Durden (12-4-1)
Two solid enough wrestlers lock horns. Durden carries far more power in his hands than his South African counterpart, but there is also reason to believe that Durden walks straight into a takedown. Sound decision-making doesn’t rank highly in Durden’s skillset.
JP Buys (9-4)
Buys may be a 0-2 (0-3 if you count his business outside of the octagon), but he is an entertaining ball of energy. Young Savage lacks the killer submission chops to rise in the UFC, but he is a surprisingly compact wrestler and has an athletic platform to build off. Going with the heart on this one.
Predicted Result: Buys Decision
Young Savage lacks the killer submission chops to rise in the UFC, but he is a surprisingly compact wrestler and has an athletic platform to build off. My brain is telling me that Durden’s heavier hands start to make a difference deep into the fight. Going with my heart on this one and siding with the entertainer.
Mario Bautista vs Brian Kelleher
Bantamweight (135)
Mario Bautista (9-2)
Eh. Not wild about this fight. Brian Kelleher is more useful as a high-level gatekeeper for the top fifteen. Bautista is a very slick grappler on the mat, but he is easily dragged into firefights on the feet. Bautista lacks the speed or tools to deal with Kelleher’s educated short exchanges. Time to switch on the ol’ noggin.
Brian Kelleher (24-13)
As a huge fan of Brian Kelleher, it seems rather wasteful of the UFC to drop his opposition quality so drastically. This isn’t a total gimme, Kelleher has a habit of walking into submissions. It just feels like this fight will be spent on the feet, of which Kelleher has a huge technical advantage – particularly his controlled pace.
Predicted Result: Kelleher TKO Round 2
As a huge fan of Brian Kelleher, it seems rather wasteful of the UFC to drop his opposition quality so drastically. This isn’t a total gimme, Kelleher has a habit of walking into submissions and Bautista is a very underrated grappler. It just feels like this fight will be spent on the feet, of which Kelleher has a huge technical advantage.
Jinh Yu Frey vs Vanessa Demopoulos
Women’s Strawweight (115)
Jinh Yu Frey (11-6)
Even on a two-fight streak, has the time run out for Jinh Yu Frey to make a run towards the title. Thirty-seven years old in a division often dominated by athletic specimens, the American wrestler is already undersized as an overblown Atomweight. Her striking seemed to have refined against Ashley Yoder, but Yoder has been a corpse for much of her career twilight.
Vanessa Demopoulos (7-4)
Lil Monster is a high-octane fighter with a fun arsenal of submissions but her style is tailor-made for a win-one lose-one career. Far too small for Strawweight, Frey should be able to secure early takedowns at will and hold Demopoulos for record control time.
Predicted Result: Frey Decision
Lil Monster is a high-octane fighter with a fun arsenal of submissions but her style is tailor-made for a win-one lose-one career. Far too small for Strawweight, Frey should be able to secure early takedowns at will and hold Demopoulos for record control time.
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