UFC Vegas 58 Prelims Predictions: Dos Anjos vs Fiziev
Pintsized Background
Deep down on the UFC Vegas 58 Prelims, the fights are tailor made for carnage. Expect heavy artillery and fireworks from the heavy-hitting likes of David Onama and Kennedy Nzechukwu. BTEC Valentina, Antonina Shevchenko, also appears in a winnable match-up against the game yet weathered Cortney Casey.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 58 Prelims taking place:
July 9, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 58 Prelims start:
🇬🇧 UK: 11pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 6pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 58 Prelims on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
- 🚀 Preview: UFC Vegas 276 Predictions: Adesanya vs Cannonier
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Jalin Turner vs Brad Riddell
Travel down the Pintsized rabbit hole:
- 📊 Statistics: MMA Predictions Results: January 2022
- 📺 YouTube: Pintsized Channel
TIPPING JAR
Pintsized Interests is just a baby finding its first steps in the big, bad world of sports journalism. If you enjoy the content that is regularly uploaded then please consider donating via the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go towards ensuring the survival of Pintsized Interests in the long-term.
UFC Vegas 58 Prelims Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 58 Prelims Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiemann Zahabi (+160) Ricky Turcios (-190) | Turcios | Decision | / |
| Antonina Shevchenko (-170) Cortney Casey (+145) | Shevchenko | Decision | / |
| Cody Brundage (+110) Tresean Gore (-130) | Gore | TKO | 3 |
| David Onama (+225) Garrett Armfield (-275) | Onama | TKO | 1 |
| Karl Roberson (-115) Kennedy Nzechukwu (-105 | Nzechukwu | TKO | 2 |
| Ronnie Lawrence (-140) Saidyokub Kakhramonov (+120) | Lawrence | Decision | / |
UFC Vegas 58: Preliminary Card
Aiemann Zahabi vs Ricky Turcios
Bantamweight (135)
Aiemann Zahabi (8-2)
When I’d all but written off Aiemann Zahabi, he pulls out a peach of an overhand right in the first round against Drako Rodriguez. Turcios absolutely could run riot off an athletic edge alone, it depends on whether Zahabi is allowed to set a comfortable pace. There’s a decent case to be made for Zahabi out-pointing Turcios in a clean striking affair. Unfortunately, Zahabi has shown clear weaknesses on the mat. The ground represents the key area, where Turcios’ high-octane scrambles and ambitious submission attempts could cause issues.
Ricky Turcios (11-2)
Pretty Ricky gains durability over the fight and always brings excitement to the cage. Turcios is a terrible decision-maker, but his fluid adaptive skillset often makes him a difficult opponent to game plan against. Turcios will be more than happy if he can drag Zahabi into punch-for-punch trades and ensure he can draw on his gas tank to pull away late.
Predicted Result: Turcios Decision
Turcios is a terrible decision-maker, but his fluid adaptive skillset often makes him a difficult opponent to game plan against. Turcios will be more than happy if he can drag Zahabi into punch-for-punch trades and ensure he can draw on his gas tank to pull away late. Add in Turcios’ high-octane grappling and Zahabi’s real flaws emerge.
Antonina Shevchenko vs Cortney Casey
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Antonina Shevchenko (9-4)
Almost a year on from her crushing second-round TKO defeat to Casey O’Neill, Antonina returns to the octagon at the ripe old age of thirty-seven years old. Shevchenko has shown solid improvements on the mat over her last two losses. So much so, that I believe the thoroughly over-the-hill Casey will struggle to out-wrestle her. Moreover, at range, Shevchenko is technically light years ahead.
Cortney Casey (10-9)
Earning a decision victory over Liana Jojua means nothing in the current fight economy. Far too happy to work off her back, an image emerges of Antonina dominating from top position while Casey fruitlessly searches for an armbar. Casey found that very submission against Mara Borella just two years ago, while Antonina was felled by a triangle-armbar against Andrea Lee, yet it would take a planetary alignment for such luck to reoccur.
Predicted Result: Shevchenko Decision
Far too happy to work off her back, an image emerges of Antonina dominating from top position while Casey fruitlessly searches for an armbar. Casey has never set about refining her striking from range, allowing Antonina’s technical prowess to shine on the night. Casey does push a hard pace and may be rewarded on the scorecards for it, yet it feels like Cast Iron will have no answer to the lesser Shevchenko’s takedowns.
Cody Brundage vs Tresean Gore
Middleweight (185)
Cody Brundage (7-2)
Thrown into the fire early on in his career, Cody Brundage finally seems to be piecing together the puzzle. Incredibly thicc for Middleweight, Brundage may have a technical edge against Gore’s preferred bullying wrestling. That isn’t to say that Brundage is a smart fighter. Nothing is gelling Brundage’s game together. The Colorado fighter eats tons of punishment as he waits for a game plan to click in his head.
Tresean Gore (3-1)
Somehow, someway, Gore may be less effective leading a fight than Brundage. Gore is a physical specimen and is enough of a mystery package to place his ceiling just yet. Owing to Gore making fewer mistakes, Mr Vicious has shown enough ability to keep himself standing against Brundage’s early takedown attempts. Both men are prone to tiring, but Gore’s dynamite hands will make an impact late.
Predicted Result: Gore TKO Round 3
Owing to Gore making fewer mistakes, Mr Vicious has shown enough ability to keep himself standing against Brundage’s early takedown attempts. Both men are prone to tiring, but Gore’s dynamite hands, combined with Brundage’s total lack of striking defence, is a deadly combination.
David Onama vs Garrett Armfield
Featherweight (145)
David Onama (9-1)
A rematch of an amateur match-up in the KC Fighting Alliance 27, in which David Onama secured a unanimous decision. Onama appeared far more physically imposing than Armfield. Worse yet for Armfield, he is unlikely to be able to counter in volume as he did in their first affair. Onama is a slick, powerful puncher and has shown exceptional conditioning and durability against an elite prospect in Mason Jones.
Garrett Armfield (8-2)
Over the COVID lockdown, we saw a lot of late-notice fighters making a splash in their UFC debuts and forging decent career paths. Armfield has already survived the power of David Onama before, granted, a much rougher, draft version of the technical striker today. There’s a lot to like about Armfield’s decision-making on the feet, but there is no shaking the feeling that he will be finished by his former foe.
Predicted Result: Onama TKO Round 1
A rematch of an amateur match-up in the KC Fighting Alliance 27, in which David Onama secured a unanimous decision. It’s unlikely that Armfield will be able to counter in volume as he did in their first affair. Three years on, Onama is a far more refined striker and will finish Armfield if he hurts his former dance partner early.
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Karl Roberson
Light Heavyweight (205)
Kennedy Nzechukwu (9-3)
Nzechukwu appeared to have fooled a few folks with his brief three-fight streak during 2019-2021. Timid at the start of every fight, Nzechukwu has never looked comfortable dealing with incoming damage. Fresh off dropping a decision to Nick Negumereanu, it’s a long path back for the Nigerian. Nzechukwu carries plus power and is a fluid, natural striker once he has settled – but it is a mental block that may never be overcome.
Karl Roberson (9-5)
Roberson’s recent bloat-up and return to Light Heavyweight was disastrous. Smashed to pieces by Khalil Rountree, there was a potential cutting looming. A jack of all trades, Roberson’s functioning kickboxing is unlikely to offer much against far more physically imposing 205lbers. Grappling has to be the central focus of Baby K’s game, yet Roberson has never been a relentless (or massively successful) wrestler.
Predicted Result: Nzechukwu TKO Round 2
A jack of all trades, Roberson’s functioning kickboxing is unlikely to offer much against far more physically imposing 205lbers. Grappling likely has to be the central focus of Baby K’s game, yet Roberson has never been a relentless (or massively successful) wrestler. Nzechukwu’s issues are all mental, unwilling to open up in the face of incoming damage. Against one of the smaller Light Heavyweights, the Nigerian’s power will make a difference.
Ronnie Lawrence vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Bantamweight (135)
Ronnie Lawrence (8-1)
This has all the trimmings of an entertaining bout. Lawrence doesn’t have much of a highlight reel to boast about, yet The Heat is a thoroughly solid fighter. Lawrence’s boxing still lacks many fundamentals, but the American’s slick array of kicks is usually enough of a threat. A pressure wrestling base may well break Saidyokub Kakhrahmonov, as the Uzbeki prospect has been outwrestled in the past.
Saidyokub Kakhrahmonov (9-2)
A far more entertaining prospect for the UFC to push, Saidyokub Kakhrahmonov secured a late guillotine choke finish over Trevin Jones upon his debut. The Uzbeki slugger is capable of heavy flurries in the pocket. Slick single-legs off extended combinations are a bright spark of Kakhramonov’s game. Jones did control Kakhrahmonov on the mat for significant periods, but it matters for nought if you can pull out a last-gasp finish.
Predicted Result: Lawrence Decision
This has all the trimmings of an entertaining bout. Lawrence’s boxing still lacks many fundamentals, but the American’s slick array of kicks is usually enough of a threat. A pressure wrestling base may well break Saidyokub Kakhrahmonov considering Trevin Jones controlled the Uzbeki prospect has been outwrestled in the past. Lawrence can take a pasting on his way to the takedown, however.
TIPPING JAR
Pintsized Interests is just a baby finding its first steps in the big, bad world of sports journalism. If you enjoy the content that is regularly uploaded then please consider donating via the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go towards ensuring the survival of Pintsized Interests in the long-term.