UFC 276 Preview and Predictions
Welcome to International Fight Week! Every year, the UFC celebrates this week by putting on the UFC Hall of Fame event as well as a stacked UFC card, and this year is no different. We have two titles on the line and the rest of the main card promises to deliver. For this UFC 276 preview, James Herrick is with me to break down this fantastic main card and give his predictions as well as mine. James also touched on the prelims for this event as well, if you would like to read that, click here. Let’s get right to it!
#9 Pedro Munhoz vs. #13 Sean O’Malley (Bantamweight)
James: The UFC 276 main card is starting with a bang. Sean O’Malley is finally getting a crack at a ranked opponent, and he takes on No. 9 Pedro Munhoz. This is a big step up in competition for O’Malley. “Suga” is an explosive striker that has worked his way up to 15-1 and seems destined to fight for the belt one day.
Munhoz is 19-7 but his seven losses have come to some of the best fighters in the world. This includes Aljamain Sterling, Jose Aldo, Dominick Cruz, and more. He has established himself as a well-rounded striker with great leg kicks.
Munhoz will be a tough challenge for O’Malley. First of all, O’Malley must prove that he can withstand and defend the leg kicks coming from Munhoz. Outside of that, O’Malley has a lot of advantages in this fight. Most notable will be O’Malley’s size and speed advantages. Munhoz also has some defensive flaws that should allow O’Malley to land a lot of heavy shots. However, he does have a really good chin. O’Malley should be able to stand on the outside and land massive shots, but I think Munhoz will be able to get through three rounds of punishment. I will take O’Malley by decision.
Garrett: The first ranked fight for “Suga” Sean O’Malley is no walk in the park. Pedro Munhoz is as tough as they come. Munhoz might be on a downturn in his career (losing four of his last 5) but a win at UFC 276 over a rising star could be just what the doctor ordered. If Munhoz can negate the reach advantage of O’Malley and make this fight dirty with clinches and takedowns, there is a way for him to grind this out on points.
However, I just can’t bet against O’Malley here. There are too many factors playing for him to bet any other way. I agree with James, if O’Malley has learned anything since the Marlon Vera fight, if he can defend the leg kicks, I believe he will be in good shape here. Munhoz has not been finished in his career and I think that impressive streak continues, so I will also take O’Malley by decision.
Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena (Welterweight)
James: Robbie Lawler and Bryan Barberena are both coming off wins over legends of the sport. Lawler was able to spoil the return of Nick Diaz, while Barberena got the nod over Matt Brown in a close contest. Lawler is the former champion that has hit a rough patch over the last couple of years, going 2-5 in his last seven. However, similarly to Munhoz, Lawler has lost several fights to elite competition. Barberena is currently on the best streak of his UFC career as he sits on two consecutive wins over Brown and Darian Weeks.
This fight should be close and competitive as the pair go to war. In that type of scenario, I have a hard time picking against Robbie Lawler. Lawler has proved time and time again that he has no quit in him. He also looked good against Diaz on the feet in their bout. I will take Lawler by decision.
Garrett: Sigh. I love me some Robbie Lawler. I have been on team “Ruthless” for many years now. Hell, my favorite fight of all time is him versus Rory MacDonald II. Lawler didn’t look half bad against Nick Diaz as well, so part of me wants to lean Lawler here in hopes that there is a career renaissance in the making.
In my head, I just think the momentum is with Barberena here. He showed in the Matt Brown fight he is more than willing to stand in the pocket and simply throw hands. My concern with Lawler is that chin. He is getting up there in age, and if Barberena can land a clean one, the lights might go out. I would LOVE to be wrong here don’t get it twisted … but I begrudgingly take Barberena by decision.
#4 Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira (Middleweight)
James: If things play out in their favor, Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira will be fighting to determine the No. 1 contender in the middleweight division. Alex Pereira is only 5-1 in MMA, but he has had an incredible kickboxing career where he got two wins over current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. One of those two wins left Adesanya unconscious after Pereira landed a massive hook. The UFC wants to see those two fights in an octagon.
Sean Strickland is a great boxer. He thrives in the pocket, and he beats his opponents down. He moves forward with heavy pressure as he lands repeatedly. The best way to describe his striking is crazy. His main goal is to hit his opponent and he does not care if he gets hit doing so.
The x-factor in this bout will be Strickland’s grappling. The only problem is he may opt to stand and trade with Pereira. In all honesty, I think he does. Strickland seems like the type of guy that looks for violence, I do not think grappling will be in the game plan. If that is accurate, Pereira is the far more advanced striker, and he carries a lot of power in his hands. Ultimately, this fight seems like a handpicked matchup for Pereira to help him work his way to a title. I will take Pereira by second-round knockout.
Garrett: This fight leaves me scratching my head, and I will explain later. Let’s start with Alex Pereira, though. Pereira has the distinction of holding a victory over currently Middleweight Champ Isreal Adesanya in kickboxing where he left him FLATTENED on the mat. Pereira might only be 5-1 in MMA but he has all the talent in the world to make it up the ranks. It feels like a win here for Pereira will catapult him over some big-name guys and jump the line for a title shot.
There is just one problem with that, and this is what leaves me scratching my head…are we underestimating Sean Strickland? I get the hype around Pereira and all but come on guys! Strickland is on the best run of his career having won five-straight, including a split decision war with Jack Hermansson in his last fight. The unique striking of Strickland with his pure wrestling skills makes him a hard man to figure out. Am I really one of the few taking Strickland here? I guess so. I will take the massive upset and pick Strickland by decision in a Fight of the Year candidate.
(C) Alexander Volkanovski vs. #1 Max Holloway (UFC Featherweight Championship)
James: Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway will be competing for the third time. Currently, Volkanovski leads the series by a score of two to zero. Both Volkanovski and Holloway have proven that they are far and wide the best fighters in the featherweight division. The pair have fought to two close decisions that were incredibly competitive. Since their first fight, they have each dominantly defeated two different contenders.
This fight will probably end in a razor-thin decision like their first two meetings. That is what happens when two all-time greats compete in the octagon. Picking either fighter is difficult, both fighters have skills that make me want to pick them. However, I think the leg kicks and wrestling of Volkanovski will make him a slight favorite. Holloway has struggled to defend leg kicks in the past and if Volkanovski can utilize that to his advantage he can slow Holloway down. This will help him land more strikes on the feet. At the same time, he can turn to his wrestling to help him win a close round. For those reasons, I see Volkanovski winning by decision.
Garrett: The UFC really testing me, putting two of my favorite fighters of all time together like this. Fandom aside, the UFC 276 co-main event could’ve easily headlined any PPV. Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway will be completing their trilogy on Saturday, with Volk up 2-0 on “Blessed” Holloway. I don’t really know what more analysis I can prove, seeing that the first two fights gave fans all they need to know on how they match up with one another.
I have been team Holloway since his Conor McGregor fight, and I have been of the thought that he is the GOAT for a number of years already, so I can’t bring myself to bet against him here. Volk has the game plan laid out for him: leg kicks and takedowns. Like James mentioned above, if a round is close the obvious choice is to shoot for that double leg and score the takedown and potentially steal the round. But the camp for Holloway has to know that. I might be going against my better judgment here, but I am standing by my guy. Give me Holloway by decision.
UFC 276 Main Event: (C) Isreal Adesanya vs. #2 Jared Cannonier (UFC Middleweight Championship)
James: Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier are set to share the stage in the main event of UFC 276. This will be the first non-rematch for Adesanya since his only loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 where he attempted to become a UFC double champ. Outside of that loss, Adesanya has been nearly perfect. He has taken out Robert Whittaker twice, Marvin Vettori twice, Paolo Costa, Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, Anderson Silva, and more. At UFC 276, “The Last Style Bender” will attempt to strengthen that resume with another title defense.
Jared Cannonier is getting this title shot off the back of a stretch that saw him win five of his last six. The one loss came in a decision loss to Robert Whittaker after Cannonier broke his arm in round one. Meanwhile, the wins were headlined by Derek Brunson and Anderson Silva.
It is not going to be easy for Cannonier to pick up a win in this one. Adesanya is a terrible matchup for him. The champ should be able to stay on the outside and piece Cannonier apart by landing straight shots and leg kicks. If the pair get into exchanges in the pocket, Adesanya is a great counter striker and can win in those scenarios. The best path to victory for Cannonier will be to get inside and land big shots in the clinch. He may be able to find success but attacking the body too. However, neither of those gameplans is his forte. I will take Adesanya by decision.
Garrett: Before I begin, I want to say this: I mean absolutely no disrespect to Jared Cannonier. I think he is a hell of a fighter who is on a career run, and his story is incredible. Some of his last fights have been nothing short of fantastic and watching him defeat some of the names on his resume has been incredible to watch. Kudos to him.
With that being said, there is simply no chance Cannonier gets his hand raised Saturday night. Israel Adesanya, for my money, might be the best fighter walking planet earth. His striking is second to none, his charisma and ability to sell a fight is reaching McGregor levels (even if he is a little childish at times), and his fight IQ leaves him steps ahead of his opponent before the fight even starts. I think the first round is a feeling-out process, but Adesanya hits the gas pedal in round two and gets a finish. I’ll take Adesanya by 3rd round TKO.
***
Click on our Linktree to view all of our incredible sponsors as well as our socials!
