UFC Jacksonville Preview and Predictions
The UFC is heading to Jacksonville with a fan-friendly card. The prelims have quite a few intriguing bouts while the main card features several fights that promise violence. The main event features a cross rodes bout between Josh Emmett and Ilia Topuria. The card features a ton to look forward to. But first, the Vendetta Sports Media preview team is here to preview and predict each fight on the main card of UFC Jacksonville. You can find out prediction records below.
James: 61-39-2
Garrett: 62-38-2
Jerry: 43-38-1
Anthony: 45-29-1
No. 13 Brenden Allen vs. Bruno Silva — Middleweight Bout
James: UFC Jacksonville will kick off with a middleweight bout between Brenden Allen and Bruno Silva. Allen, 27, has already shown a ton of talent during his UFC tenure as he has gone 9-2 in the promotion. Silva, 33, is 4-2 in the UFC. The issue is that he seems fairly inconsistent at this point in his career. Previously, he has either looked great or awful. It is rare he is in between those extremes.
Allen is a sensation grappler. If you need evidence, he outclassed Andre Muniz, a sensational grappler, on the mat. On the ground, he is great at controlling position and passing guard until he lands a submission. That does not mean he is a chump on the feet. Allen has good kicks and solid boxing which helps round out his game.
Silva is a powerful puncher that can do damage on the inside. At a distance, he can control fights with his jab and straight while finishing fights with hooks on the inside. That power translates to ground-and-pound which he uses he punishes fighters when on top.
In this fight, I think Allen can take advantage of a massive grappling disparity. That is not to say Silva is a subpar grappler. I was just highly impressed with Allen’s recent grappling performances. The knockout window for Silva will be present. I do not like how often Allen is hit with counter-strikes, and if he plays his cards right, he will grapple which will minimize that risk. I will take Allen by second-round submission.
Garrett: Allen vis submission
Jerry: Allen via submission
Anthony: Allen via submission
David Onama vs. Gabriel Santos — Featherweight Bout
James: This bout between David Omana and Gabriel Santos previews to be one of the best fights at UFC Jacksonville. The matchmakers clearly wanted violence in the middle of the main card and they found some with this fight.
The talent at hand is evident too. Onama, 29, is 2-2 in the UFC, which is a pretty average record, but he has shown some impressive tools while getting into entertaining bouts. Santos, 26, is not nearly as far into his UFC career as this will be his second fight in the promotion. In his UFC debut, despite losing, he looked good against Lerone Murphy who is one of the best prospects in the UFC.
Onama is a powerful striker with a quick jab and a stringing right hand. I also like his ability to land some shots in the clinch. Santos can strike as well. On the inside, he likes to try and land counters or throw knees. On the outside, he mixes in kicks while striking in some boxing. That said, while he is not an elite grappler, he is great at timing his takedowns and landing them at opportunistic moments.
This fight should be close. On the feet, Onama should be able to establish his jab while landing counterpunches. Santos will have the ability to mix in solid strikes of his own, but he can gain momentum when he lands takedowns. Barring a massive knockout from Onama, I think Santos wins this fight. I think his toughness and grappling will help him win the latter portion of the fight. I will take Santos by decision.
Garrett: Onama via KO
Jerry: Onama via KO/TKO
Anthony: Onama via KO/TKO
Austen Lane vs. Justin Tafa — Heavyweight Bout
James: I’ll be frank, I do not understand how Austen Lane and Justin Tafa found themselves on the main card. This fight previews to be the unranked heavyweight fight on UFC Jacksonville.
On a positive note, this fight previews to be a clash of heavyweights that love to hunt knockouts. I imagine the UFC is suspecting that will impress fans, but there are still better fights on the prelims. Nonetheless, this bout features two interesting heavyweight prospects. Tafa has progressed within the UFC. Out of his 6-3 career record, he has gone 3-3 in the UFC. On the flip side, Lane is making his UFC debut after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.
This fight will probably end with a knockout. Tafa and Lane are each heavyweight strikers that rarely go the distance. I doubt that will change in this fight. Tafa prefers to get his damage done with counter strikers while Lane prefers to use his length. That favors Tafa. If Lane pressures, I think Tafa will land a massive counterstrike. I will take Tafa by first-round knockout.
Garrett: Lane via TKO
Jerry: Tafa via KO/TKO
Anthony: Tafa via KO/TKO
No. 11 (Strawweight) Amanda Ribas vs. No. 11 Maycee Barber — Women’s Flyweight Bout
James: In the co-main event of UFC Jacksonville, Amanda Ribas will fight Maycee Barber in a women’s flyweight bout. Ribas and Barber are each young fighters that sit on the right side of 30. Ribas, 6-2 in the UFC, is further along in her career progression. At this point, she has proven to be a
high-quality fighter that can compete with the top female talent in the UFC. Meanwhile, Barber is 7-2. Despite having an extra UFC fight under her belt, she is still making improvements and has yet to hit her ceiling.
Ribas is a very well-rounded fighter. On the feet, she is quick and has solid movement. She has shown the ability to establish a jab and put punches behind it while mixing in kicks. The only issue in that realm is that she does not have great defense. On the ground, she has solid BJJ and controls position from the top.
Barber is a physical fighter that can control fighters up against the fence and land clinch strikes. In terms of distance striking, her boxing has been improving and she has started to land powerful hooks with more regularity. Plus, she likes to throw a lot of kicks.
One important note is that Barber will be much bigger and more physical than Ribas. Thus far into her career, Ribas has spent time in the women’s strawweight and flyweight divisions. At 125 pounds, she is quite small.
I like Barber in this fight. I think the size difference will help her in the clinch and make her strikes more damaging. My biggest concern is that Ribas can take Barber down and control her, but I think the size difference can help Barber defend takedowns. I will take Barber by decision.
Garrett: Barber via decision
Jerry: Ribas via decision
Anthony: Barber via decision
No. 5 Josh Emmett vs. No. 9 Ilia Topuria — Lightweight Bout
James: In the main event of UFC Jacksonville, ranked featherweights Josh Emmett and Ilia Topuria will throw down in a fan-friendly fight. Emmett, 38, is looking to bounce back after a loss to Yair Rodriguez in an interim title fight. Topuria, 26, is in a polar opposite position in his career as he looks to climb into the upper echelon of the featherweight division.
Emmett is one of the most powerful punchers in MMA. If he lands a clean hook or overhand, he will usually get a knockdown. Emmett can utilize that power threat to make opponents hesitant and help him get his offense following. To top off his skill set, he is a strong offensive wrestler and can rack up control time in the position.
Topuria is an electric young fighter that has eye-popping skills. On the feet, he has great boxing combinations and power. One of the most impressive aspects of this is his ability to throw combinations that mix head and body shots. On the ground, he has underrated BJJ and can compete will elite grapplers. At UFC 282, he put his grappling skills on display against Bryce Mitchell.
The preview for the UFC Jacksonville main event leans heavily in Topuria’s favor. I do not see where Emmett will be a better fighter. Topuria is a quicker and more technical striker. In grappling, he can defend takedowns and find his way to the top position.
At worst, he can threaten submissions off his back. Emmett will always be live to land a knockout shot. I just can not predict that he manages to find a knockout shot against a quality fighter that is younger and quicker. I will take Topuria by third-round knockout.
Garrett: Topuira via submission
Jerry: Topuria via KO/TKO
Anthony: Topuria via decision
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