UFC Vegas 73 Preview and Predictions
The UFC’s action-packed schedule is set for another event for a well-needed week off. For this card, the promotion will be at its home arena, the UFC Apex, for UFC Vegas 73. Unfortunately, this card looks like an Apex card as it only features two ranked fights. Nonetheless, the Vendetta Sports Media preview team is here to preview and predict the UFC Vegas 73 main card. You can find our prediction records below.
James: 48-30-2
Garrett: 49-29-2
Jerry: 27-30-1
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Michael Johnson (Lightweight)
James: The UFC Vegas 73 main card will open with a lightweight bout between Carlos Diego Ferreira and Michael Johnson. Both fighters are established veterans at this point in their careers. Johnson has an extreme amount of UFC experience. With 27 promotional fighters under his belt, he has a record of 13-14.
While that is a poor record, Johnson has beaten tremendous fighters like Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson and Edson Barboza. Meanwhile, Ferreira is 8-5 in the UFC with each loss coming to elite competition. More recently, in their last three fights, Johnson is 2-1 while Ferreira is 0-3.
In this fight, Johnson will be the far better striker. On the feet, he has solid boxing and incredibly quick hands. Ferreira is the far better grappler, however. This is largely because of his outstanding submission skills. Another factor in this fight will be the durability and cardio of each fighter. In those realms, Johnson is far better. That will play a massive role in this fight. If Johnson can defend the early takedowns he will be able to pull ahead in the later rounds. From there, he will be able to let his hands go. I will take Johnson by third-round knockout.
Garrett: Ferreira by decision
Jerry: Ferreira by decision
Andre Fialho vs. Joaquin Buckley (Welterweight)
James: At UFC Vegas 73, Joaquin Buckley is dropping a weight class as he moves down to welterweight. Andre Fialho will be the man to welcome him to the division. This should be an entertaining scrap as Buckley and Fialho are both violent strikers. Despite entertaining fans, that style has led each fighter to mixed results. In the UFC, Buckley has gone 5-4 while Fialho has gone 2-3.
For Buckley, the move down to welterweight should help alleviate some of his struggles. At middleweight, he often struggled against longer strikers that can strike from the outside. That will be less of an issue at welterweight. Meanwhile, Fialho has struggled to fight from behind. In wins, he looks outstanding, but in losses, he struggles when opponents begin to land strikes of their own.
On a more positive note, Buckley is an incredibly powerful striker. When he can back his opponents up he can land massive power hooks. Fialho is not as powerful as Buckley, but he is far better at stringing boxing combinations together to finish fights.
I think the influential factor in this fight will be Buckley’s power. If he can pressure Fialho and land a few powerful strikes, he should get out to an early lead. That would force Fialho to fight from behind which he is not great at. I will take Buckley by second-round knockout.
Garrett: Buckley by decision
Jerry: Buckley by KO/TKO
Emily Ducote vs. Lupita Godinez (120lbs. Catchweight)
James: At UFC Vegas 73, Emily Ducote and Lupita Godinez are set to meet in a catchweight bout. The bout is being fought at a catchweight because Godinez is taking this fight on short notice. Typically, both fighters compete in the women’s strawweight division. In the UFC, Godinez is more experience with a 4-3 record while Ducote is 1-1.
Godniez is a wrestler with solid power punching. At her peak, she uses he power to back opponents up before attempting takedowns. Although, in recent fights, her wrestling has not been as good as you would expect. On the other hand, Ducote has solid striking that is centered around quick hooks on the inside. She can find success with leg kicks too.
In this fight, I would typically pick Godinez because of the wrestling upside, but she has not looked to use that skills as much as you would like. If it stays standing, I give Ducote a slight edge. I will take Ducote by decision.
Garrett: Ducote by submission
Jerry: Godinez by decision
Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)
James: In the co-main event of UFC Vegas 73, Edmen Shahbazyan will fight Anthony Hernandez. At one point in time, Shahbazyan was one of the top prospects in the welterweight division, but his career took a sharp downward spiral as he lost three fights in a row.
Fortunately for him, Shahbazyan was able to get back on track in his last fight as he picked up a win over Dalcha Lungiambula. Now, he is looking to create a win streak and improve upon his 5-3 promotional record. Hernandez will not be an easy opponent, however. In the UFC, Hernandez is 4-2, but he is riding hot as he has won three consecutive fights.
Shahbazyan gained recognition as a prospect because of his striking prowess. He has the ability to throw a variety of kicks to all three levels and can mix in powerful boxing on the inside. As for most strikers, his issues come in grappling — he does not have great takedown defense and is not great at getting up when taken down.
More concerning is the fact that heavy grappling pressure will make him fatigued. That is not good in a fight against Hernandez because Hernandez commits to grappling his opponents and has great cardio. In this fight, I think Hernandez grapplers early and often which will help him find a finish late in this fight. I will take Hernandez by third-round submission.
Garrett: Hernandez by TKO
Jerry: Shahbazyan by KO/TKO
No. 8 Mackenzie Dern vs. No. 14 Angela Hill (Women’s Strawweight)
James: In the main event of UFC Vegas 73, Mackenzie Dern will fight Angela Hill. This is an important fight for both women as the winner will be in a solid position to work up the women’s strawweight rankings while the loser runs the risk of being relegated to a gatekeeper position.
Hill is one of the most tenured fighters in the division with a 10-12 promotional record. That record is deceiving though. In her UFC run, Hill has fought elite competition while losing a handful of close decisions. Hill’s skills are much better than her record suggests. That is how she has been able to win consecutive bouts. Meanwhile, Dern is 7-3 in the UFC. In her last bout, she lost to Yan Xiaonan and is now looking to get in the win column.
Dern and Hill are polar opposite fighters. Dern’s game is centered around her outstanding BJJ. On the ground, she has elite submission skills and the ability to quickly find a finish. The struggles for Dern come on the feet. At this point, her striking is a work in progress. The technique is not outstanding, but she does have power in her hands.
The biggest issue is her wrestling. Simply put, Dern needs to improve her takedowns. It is way too common for her to struggle to land takedowns. If she was better at securing takedowns, she would have much more time to attempt submissions. Hill, on the other hand, is a great muay thai striker. On the feet, she throws a lot of volume strikes and mixes a variety of attacks. Hill can find success with her punches and kicks while working them in combinations together. Additionally, in the clinch, she throws hard knees.
This will largely come down to Hill’s grappling strategy. Firstly, she will need to defend takedowns for five rounds. If that fails, she will be left to decide if she wants to try and stand up or she can conservatively avoid submissions while remaining on the ground.
I am taking Dern in this fight, since it is a five-round fight, she will be given an extra two rounds to hunt submissions. Plus, if she is not immediately successful she is durable and will continue to fight. I will take Dern to win by submission in round No. 3.
Garrett: Dern by submission
Jerry: Dern by decision
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