Mystic Mac is back, ladies and gentlemen. After an over 1,100 day layoff in between fights, Conor McGregor is making his return at UFC 246 to face off against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Two fan favorites cap off the main event, with a deceptively solid card behind it. We ended 2019 with a solid 4-1 performance, leaving our record last year at 15-10, but we want bigger things in 2020. So let’s get after breaking down this card.
Anthony Pettis x Diego Ferreria (Lightweight)
Talk about starting off the first pay-per-view of 2020 with a bang. Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Diego Ferreria promises to have fireworks a plenty for however long this fight lasts. For Anthony Pettis, he looks to shake off an up and down 2019 and a dominated defeat at the hands of a returning Nate Diaz. Always known for his wild striking skill, I expect Pettis to come out and look to put on a show. Luckily for him, he has someone opposite the octagon that will give him the chance to show his abilities with striking. Diego Ferreria, winner of his last 5, is always a risk-taker when it comes to submissions, but hosts nearly double the significant strikes per minute as Pettis (4.7 versus 2.8). I think the way Pettis lost his last fight to Diaz has lit a fire under him, and he wants to go out and show the world he is still elite at 155. He gets the nod here. Pettis via 3rd Round TKO
Brian Keller x Ode Osbourne (Bantamweight)
No shade to either fighter, because they are obviously incredibly skilled at what they do, seeing that they are in the UFC. But I see this fight, and can’t help but think of that Snoop Dogg GIF of him saying WHO?!. This fight shouldn’t be on the main card. You guys know how much I love Sodiq Yusuff, his fight with Andre Fili could’ve easily taken a main card spot. Or Maycee Barber and Roxanne Modafferi. You know, names people know, not someone who got smoked their last two fights in Keller or someone making their UFC debut. No analysis for this one, we are going with a coin toss. Keller has heads, Osbourne has tails. Osbourne via Unanimous Decision
Aleski Oleinik x Maurice Greene (Heavyweight)
Aleski Oleinik versus Maurice Greene is……well I’ll call it like I see it. It doesn’t push the needle. You have Oleinik, loser of his last 2 fights and 3 of his last 5, at age 42 who won’t be moving around all that well. Then you have Maurice Greene, who also lost his last fight by TKO nonetheless, but to his credit has beaten 3 nameless opponents so far in the UFC. UFC 246 will do incredible buy rate numbers because of Conor and Cowboy, but man this card leaves a lot to be desired. I said earlier it’s a deceptively good card, merely on the backs of Pettis and the ladies in the next fight. Let’s wrap this one up as well. No analysis here either, sorry fans. Heads for Oleinik, Tails for Greene. Greene via Unanimous Decision
Holly Holm x Raquel Pennington (Bantamweight)
Finally, after a two-fight break in between actual fighters people know, UFC 246 picks back up with its co-main event. Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington has the makings of a show-stealing bout. Holly Holm, coming off a devastating KO against the greatest mixed martial artist of all time Amanda Nunes, will always remain a threat at 135 because of her background in boxing and, you know, she dethroned the former GOAT in Ronda Rousey. Raquel Pennington comes off a razor-thin split decision win back in July where she looked sharp. Both women former title contenders, but who gets the nod to get back into the championship contention? I think Raquel Pennington gets this fight to the ground and controls the action throughout. Pennington via Split Decision
Conor McGregor x Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)
The time has come. The only fight at UFC 246 fans really care about. Conor Mcgregor makes his long-awaited return after suffering his fourth submission loss at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov back in October of 2018. Conor looks like a new man: showing humility and respect throughout the pressers, no trash talk and to his credit he looks good at 170. But I think it’s all an act. A heel (a bad guy) does not have such a dramatic turn to face (a good guy) this quickly after always being the heel in promotion for fights. Plus, we have the ultimate face in Donald Cerrone. Cerrone is no slouch don’t get it twisted. Holder of the most wins and the most finishes in UFC history. I think this fight goes down one of two ways: If this fight is stopped in the first two rounds, the fight goes to Conor. But if it his rounds 3-5, Cerrone takes it. Will Conor feel any ring rust? Can he survive on his back if he gets taken down? Will Cowboy look to take him down at all? My heart is telling me to take Cerrone….you know what? We are probably going to have a bat start record-wise to this year, so screw it. I’m going with my heart over my head with this one. Cerrone via 4th Round Submission
