Saturday’s Fight Night represents a chance for redemption for some
The UFC comes to Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada this Sunday night, with many of its fighters in desperation mode. The perfect condition for an exciting night of fights.
Derrick Lewis vs. Travis Browne (Heavyweight)
In the main event, two dangerous heavyweights are in action, as No.7 ranked Derrick ‘The Black Beast’ Lewis faces No.8 ranked Travis ‘Hapa’ Browne. This will be a second consecutive headliner for Lewis, who currently boasts a five-fight win streak.
However, Lewis himself admitted his recent TKO victory over Shamil Abdurakhimov last December was one of his worst performances.
Meanwhile Browne is at a career low-point, having gone 2-4 in his last six fights. In fairness, his level of competition has been far superior to Lewis’, having faced former champions Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez in his last two outings, respectively. This fight is a chance to get back on track.
Browne looked very tentative against Werdum and will have to loosen up in order to halt Lewis’ streak. Lewis isn’t exactly renowned for his cardio, so Browne may look to outwrestle him and take the fight to the later rounds.
The Hawaiian has all the tools to handily beat Lewis, but, as ever, the issue is whether he will use them. He recently announced that Edmond Tarverdyan will not corner him for this fight, so we can hope to see a much improved Travis Browne.
Moreover, he probably won’t have to worry about Lewis opening with a flying side kick, a la Werdum, as amazing as that would be.
Prediction: Browne via TKO
Johny Hendricks vs. Hector Lombard (Middleweight)
Saturday’s co-main event is a fun matchup between two fighters who are similar in many respects. Both Hendricks and Lombard are former welterweights, who stand at 5’9″, fight southpaw and most importantly, are at the lowest points of their respective careers.
This, Hendricks’ middleweight debut, has a ‘loser leaves town’ feel to it, as both men appear close to retirement and desperately need a win. The former welterweight champion has looked awful in his recent three-fight losing streak, most recently losing by decision to Neil Magny, after missing weight.
Although Lombard has been stopped in his last two fights, he has looked incredibly dangerous in both: he was seconds away from finishing both Dan Henderson and Neil Magny.
Hendricks will need to avoid Lombard’s ferocious power, and, as such, will look to shoot on the Cuban judoka, meaning takedown defence could be key. Before all of that, Johny could face another battle against his greatest foe – the scales.
Prediction: Lombard via decision
Sam Sicilia vs. Gavin Tucker (Featherweight)
Long-time UFC featherweight Sam Sicilia is renowned for putting on exciting displays, possessing one of the hardest right hands in the division. However, he is 5-6 in the UFC, failing to ever string together more than a two-fight win steak, and was recently outclassed by Gabriel Benitez and Doo Ho Choi. Sicilia will be feeling the pressure to return to winning ways.
His opponent is UFC debutant and Halifax resident Gavin Tucker, who holds a 9-0 professional record, finishing his last eight. Like Sicilia, Tucker has the ability to end the fight with strikes, though the safer option will be to employ his slick submission game instead.
Sicilia’s firework of a right hand will likely be too much for the UFC newcomer.
Prediction: Sicilia via TKO
Elias Theodorou vs. Cezar Ferreira (Middleweight)
Canadian Elias Theodorou will be making his first UFC appearance since June 2016, as he squares off against TUF: Brazil season 1 winner, Cezar ‘Mutante’ Ferreira.
Unlike the man himself, Theodorou’s last outing was not pretty: a very dull decision victory over Sam Alvey. He will need a much more impressive display to warrant a ranked opponent next.
Theodorou is 5-1 inside the octagon and will be confident in his ability to put away Ferreira, whose chin is suspect. The Brazilian is riding a three-fight win streak, recently submitting prospect Jack Hermansson.
Prediction: Theodorou via decision
Sara McMann vs. Gina Mazany (Women’s Bantamweight)
No. 7 ranked bantamweight Sara McMann will enter as the clear favourite over UFC debutant Gina Mazany. McMann was originally scheduled to face Liz Carmouche, who was forced out due to injury.
Subsequently, we now have what could be a serious mismatch on our hands. McMann’s Olympic level wrestling could see her rag doll Mazany to the ground, where she will look to end the fight.
However, former TUF contestant Mazany (4-0) is yet to taste defeat professionally and will be eager to seize this huge opportunity against one of the division’s top contenders.
Prediction: McMann via submission
Alessandro Ricci vs. Paul Felder (Lightweight)
In the opening fight of the main card, lightweights Alex Ricci and Paul ‘The Irish Dragon’ Felder look to make an impression in the UFC’s most talented division. Felder is fighting as a replacement for the injured Alvaro Herrera.
Ricci is making his second UFC appearance after a decision loss last August, whereas Felder is coming of a September TKO defeat after being stopped by the doctor, with help from Francisco Trinaldo.
Ricci is a decision machine, failing to finish a fight since March 2012 and with all nine of his last fights going to decision. Neither man has been knocked out or submitted in their professional careers, so expect this one to go to the judges’ scorecards, too.
Prediction: Felder via decision
