This Saturday, live from the world’s most famous arena: Madison Square Garden, is UFC 244. The main event pits two fan favorites Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz for the BMF title. I have been looking forward to this card since they started building it, and even writing this post gives me goosebumps. We are 9-6 so far, let’s keep that train going!
Kevin Lee x Gregor Gillespie (Lightweight)
Talk about starting off a card with an absolute banger. Kevin Lee versus Gregor Gillespie could main event a UFC Fight Night easily, or on any given PPV be a middle card of a co-main event. And to get it right out of the gate? We fight fans are blessed. Kevin Lee, who recently moved his training to Tristar up in Canada, is looking to make waves back in 155 after an unsuccessful move up to 170 earlier this year. Lee has all the makings of a star: good talker, shows plenty of potential while being just 27 years young, but the matchmakers did him no favors in his return to lightweight. Gregor Gillespie has finished each of his last 5 fights and is white-hot coming into this fight. Both men love to wrestle or wil settle to bang, but Gillespie is a former 4-time Division I All-American wrestler and I think he overwhelms Lee here. Expect UFC 244 to be a showcase for Gillespie. Gillespie-Submission
Derrick Lewis x Blagoy Ivanov (Heavyweight)
Again, to have a fight of this caliber as the second fight on a card is outrageous, and I mean that in the best way possible. Crowd favorite Derrick Lewis goes up against Blagoy Ivanov in a fight that will either go one of two ways: This will either be a slugfest that can steal fight of the night, or a complete snoozefest a la Lewis and Ngannou. I’m going with the latter, on the fact that Ivanov is a renowned sambo fighter, meaning he loves to grapple and work takedowns and his ground game. Ivanov will get Lewis down early in the first and completely drain the Black Beasts energy, and pound on him for three rounds. It won’t be a pretty fight for fight fans to watch, but an ugly win is still a win, especially under the bright lights of an MSG PPV. Ivanov-UD
Stephen Thompson x Vicente Luque (Welterweight)
What has happened to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson? Just a few short years ago, he had wins over Robert Whittaker, Johny Hendricks and had back to back title fights against arguably one of the best welterweights of all time in Tyron Woodley. He has lost his last to fights, devastating KO from Anthony Pettis and a decision against Darren Till. Maybe father time is catching up with him, seeing that Thompson is 37 years old going into this fight. He won’t have an easy time this weekend either going up against Vicente Luque. Luque has won his last 6 fights in the octagon and is looking to climb the ranks at 170, hoping to see a title eliminator sometime in 2020. I have mixed feelings about this one, and I went back and forth. Big fan of Wonderboy’s style of fighting, the way he uses his kickboxing background to keep opponents at bay. But on the other hand, Luque has been on fire lately and is a determined man, feeling overlooked in the rankings. That makes for a dangerous fighter. I think Thompson has one last run in him at 170, and expect an inspired performance here. Thompson-UD
Kelvin Gastelum x Darren Till (Middleweight)
This was by far the easiest fight to pick on this card. Did no one watch Kelvin Gastelum’s last fight? The man went to war and nearly came out a champion, in a fight that will probably win Fight of the Year. He has looked very sharp since moving up to 185 after his weight cutting issues at 170, which is a place Darren Till finds himself. The cut down to the 170 limit was beginning to be too much for The Gorilla, and his camp made the decision to go up a weight class. But if we are being honest here, he doesn’t stand a chance. Till is one dimensional, does not possess top-flight takedown defense and those holes will be exploited Saturday. The pressure Gastelum brings in a fight will be far too much for Till to handle. If they see Darren Till as a future star, they should’ve given him a much easier fight for his debut at Welterweight. UFC 244 will be a long night for Till. Gastelum- TKO
Jorge Masvidal x Nate Diaz (Welterweight/BMF Title)
When I say that I have been looking forward to this fight with as much excitement as I have felt for any fight in a long time, that would still probably be an understatement. However, this fight is a weird one. The creation of this BMF Title seems odd to me, very gimmicky almost out of something youd see in a WWE storyline. Speaking of which, having Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson there to present the title seems weird as well. Don’t get me wrong, this will be one hell of a fight. But lowkey im excited for this circus to be over? Less Masvidal in the media, parading around on cloud 9 on his “Super Necessary” tour having his face all over everything. He definitely deserves all the attention after his 5-second flying knee KO win over Ben Askren, but sometimes we tend to overdo it. All being said, Jorge Masvidal is one bad dude.
But don’t get it twisted, so is Nate Diaz. I picked against him last time at UFC 243 when he fought Anthony Pettis, citing the long layoff being too much for him to overcome. God, could I have been more wrong. It appeared as if he had never left, dominating the fight for 15 full minutes and walking out with a Unanimous Decision victory over a former World Champion. Both men will look to stand and scrap, and like I said I went against Nate Diaz last time, and I was made a fool. I hope lightning doesn’t strike twice for me, because I am picking against him here again as well. I think Masvidal has reached his “Final Form” let’s say, reaching his full potential, and showing why he is next in line for the Welterweight crown. UFC 244 will show that Jorge Masvidal is the baddest dude around. Masvidal- Split Decision
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