UFC Vegas 78 Preview and Predictions
The UFC is returning to the Apex for UFC Vegas 78. The card has 13 fights with a handful of intriguing bouts. In comparison to other UFC events on the horizon, this card is much weaker. Thankfully, the top of the bill features some interesting fights.
Join Vendetta Sports Media as we preview and predict the main card. You can find our prediction records below.
James: 83-54-2
Garrett: 83-54-2
Jerry: 62-51-1
Anthony: 60-46-1
Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett — Middleweight Bout
James: I’ll be honest, the UFC Vegas 78 main card opener is not the most exciting fight to preview. The bout consists of middleweights Josh Fremd and Jamie Pickett. Neither of these fighters has found consistent success in the UFC. Fremd is 1-2 in the promotion, but he is trending in the proper direction after winning his last bout. Pickett, on the other hand, has lost three in a row and has a promotional record of 2-5. Typically, a fighter in Pickett’s position would have been cut. Although, the UFC is giving him another opportunity because his last fight was against Bo Nickal. That said, a loss at UFC Vegas 78 could spell the end of his UFC run.
Neither Fremd nor Pickett is anything to write home about. Both fighters have solid traits; Fremd is fairly well-balanced and has shown promise in both striking and grappling while Pickett is athletic with a few solid striking tools.
The majority difference in this fight is that Pickett makes more mistakes and has not seemed to be overly confident in recent fighters. That makes him a tough fighter to pick. I will take Fremd by second-round submission.
Garrett: Fremd via decision
Jerry: Fremd via submission
Anthony: Fremd via TKO
AJ Dobson vs. Tafon Nchukwi — Middleweight Bout
James: At UFC Vegas 78, Tafon Nchukwi will return to the middleweight division to fight AJ Dobson. Nchukwi has split time in the UFC between the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. The drop back down to middleweight comes after losing consecutive bouts at light heavyweight to push his UFC record to 2-3. Similarly, Dobson is riding a two-fight losing streak. The difference is that he has yet to get his hand raised in the promotion. Considering each fighter’s recent struggles, Nchukwi and Dobson are likely fighting for their spot in the UFC.
Nchukwi and Dobson both have solid striking skills. Nchukwi has a good kick game and successfully lands big hooks while Dobson is a quick striker that throws straight shots.
I lean with Nchukwi in this fight. The main reason for this is that he will hold an advantage in the clinch and will have better cardio. I will take Nchukwi by decision.
Garrett: Dobson via decision
Jerry: Dobson via decision
Anthony: Dobson via decision
Polyana Viana vs. Iasmin Lucindo — Women’s Strawweight Bout
James: The UFC Vegas 78 main card features a bout between women’s strawweight prospects Pollyana Viana and Iasmin Lucindo. Viana has flashed promise throughout her UFC career on her way to a 4-4 promotional record. Lucindo, who is just 21, has gone 1-1 in her UFC tenure, but she has impressed.
In her debut, despite losing, she proved to be UFC-caliber in an outstanding bout against Yazmin Jauregui. That held true in her second fight as had put a beat down on Brogan Walker. While Viana or Lucindo may not be massive names, the winner of this bout will be labeled as a top prospect with an impressive victory.
Viana is one of the best finishers in the women’s strawweight division. This is centered around her submission skills. Viana is great at attacking submission off her back which has led to three first-round submissions victories. Plus, she has a first-round knockout on her resume too. The issue with Viana is that she does not win minutes at a high rate. Essentially, she is finish or bust since she spends so much time hunting submissions off her back.
Lucindo has shown solid striking throughout her UFC run. She has really quick hands and will unload with massive combinations up her sleeve. On the regional scene, she showed some offensive wrestling and ground and pound as well, but we have not seen that at the UFC level yet.
The preview for this UFC Vegas 78 bout leans heavily in Lucindo’s favor. In my opinion, she finds a ton of success on her feet. I do not like Viana striking defense and believe Lucindo will land a lot of strikes in boxing range. Viana has may some offensive striking improvements, however. That could lead to an entertaining striking bout. Although, it is important to note that Viana can always pull off an upset with her submission upside. Still, I will take Lucindo by third-round knockout.
Garrett: Lucindo via TKO
Jerry: Viana via decision
Anthony: Lucindo via decision
No. 13 Khalil Roundtree vs. No. 14 (HW) Chris Daukaus — Light Heavyweight Bout
James: Chris Daukaus is making his light heavyweight debut at UFC Vegas 78. The man welcoming him to the division will be Khalil Rountree. Daukaus was able to find success at heavyweight as he started his UFC career with four consecutive wins in the division; however, his chin did not hold up against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Curtis Blaydes, or Derrick Lewis. That led to his drop in weight class. Meanwhile, Rountree is a fighter that looks great at his peak, but he often disappoints. That has led him to a 7-5 record with one no-contest. Thankfully, he has performed well as of late and has won three fights in a row.
Daukuas is a solid boxer. Although, it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the light heavyweight division. At heavyweight, he used his speed and footwork to outstrike opponents. That advantage will not carry down to light heavyweight.
Rountree is a violent striker. In striking exchanges, he can land technical shots or wild looping hooks. In either case, he lands with a ton of power. Once he gets fighters hurt, he violently finishes them with a multitude of dangerous strikes.
This UFC Vegas 78 bout is hard to preview as there are serious questions with each fighter. How does Daukaus translate to a new division? What version of Rountree shows up? Those questions present some unpredictability, but I lean toward Rountree. The main reason for that is because he has a ton of power. Considering Daukaus did not handle power well at heavyweight, I struggle to pick him against a serious power striker. I will take Rountree by first-round knockout.
Garrett: Rountree via TKO
Jerry: Rountree via KO/TKO
Anthony: Rountree via KO
Cub Swanson vs. Hakeem Dawodu — Featherweight Bout
James: In the UFC Vegas 78 co-main event, Cub Swanson will fight Hakeem Dawodu. Swanson is a MMA legend. Despite never becoming a UFC champion, he made a name for himself with impressive performances and exciting fights. In total, he has a 13-9 UFC record and went 5-3 in the WEC. Meanwhile, Hakeem Dawodu has been hunting the featherweight rankings for a large majority of his career. In his UFC tenure, he has looked great at times and struggled at others, netting him a 6-3 UFC record.
Swanson is an exciting striker that finds success with his quick hands. If he can land his combinations he finishes fighters as he can quickly overwhelm fighters with damage. The issue is that there are serious questions surrounding his durability at 39-years-old.
Dawodu likes to do work with his hands as well. The majority of his success comes in boxing, but he likes to mix in leg and body kicks as well. Furthermore, he is more than willing to attack all three levels. Dawodu’s striking style does allow for him to be hit as he sits in the pocket and gets over-aggressive.
This bout previews to be one of the most entertaining fights on UFC Vegas 78 as long as it lasts. I have to side with Dawodu in this fight, however. Dawodu hits hard, attacks various parts of the body and can go three rounds. I think that should result in a finish against an aging veteran. I will take Dawodu by second-round knockout.
Garrett: Dawodu via decision
Jerry: Dawodu via decision
Anthony: Dawodu via decision
No. 10 Vicente Luque vs. No. 9 (LW) Rafael dos Anjos — Welterweight Bout
James: In the UFC Vegas 78 main event, Vicente Luque will return to the octagon to fight Rafael dos Anjos. Luque has a great run in the UFC but has fallen on hard times as of late. ‘The Silent Assasin’ is riding a two-fight losing streak that saw him lose to Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammad. In the former, he was knocked out and suffered a brain hemorrhage. He is now looking to return to the win column after serving a year-long medical suspension. Meanwhile, dos Anjos is looking to get a win over a ranked welterweight. dos Anjos is a UFC legend that has gone 21-12 in the promotion. At 38-years-old, the former lightweight champion is looking to go on another run at welterweight.
Luque is a dangerous fighter with a ton of finishing skills. On the feet, he is a powerful striker with a lethal left hook and violent leg kicks. In striking exchanges, he is insanely durable and will come out on top of entertaining wars. On the ground, he has a great front choke series and multiple D’arce chokes on his resume.
dos Anjos is a well-rounded fighter with light skills in every realm. On the feet, dos Anjos is a southpaw with good straight shots and a solid body kick. In grappling, he can control the fight on the fence, land takedowns, and do good work from the top.
I am siding with dos Anjos in this fight. In the past, Luque has struggled against southpaws. In this fight, I think dos Anjos will cause problems with his body kicks and straight punches. Although, the size and power of Luque could cause the former lightweight issues. Still, I will take dos Anjos by decision.
Garrett: Luque via decision
Jerry: dos Anjos via decision
Anthony: Luque via TKO
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