UFC Vegas 94 Preview And Predictions

UFC Vegas 94 Preview And Predictions

It is time to preview UFC Vegas 94. Unfortunately, the event is the promotion’s worst fight night of the year thus far. The card lacks massive star power and does not feature much for impressive talent. This event will be for the true MMA sickos that watch every single event. If you are searching for a positive, this card features a lot of close fights. Hopefully, that means the fights end up being competitive.  

The UFC Vegas 94 bout order was altered after the writing of this post. The original co-main event between Brad Tavares and Jung Yong Park was canceled. Steve Garcia and Seung Woo Choi were elevated to the co-main position. The featured prelim between Jeong Yeong Lee and Hyder Amil was also elevated to the main card. A preview for that bout is not included in this post.

Join Vendetta Sports Media as we preview and predict the UFC Vegas 94 main card. You can find out prediction records below.

James: 72-57

Garrett: 75-54

Anthony: 76-53

Jerry: 66-52

Doo Ho Choi vs. Bill Algeo- Featherweight Bout 

James: The UFC Vegas 94 main card opens with a featherweight matchup between Doo Ho Choi and Bill Algeo. Choi has had a crazy MMA career. At one point, he was an exciting prospect. That culminated in a war against Cub Swanson, earning the pair a spot in the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. After that performance, he took time away before dropping a pair of fights. Choi was then sidelined for three years before returning to fight Kyle Nelson. That fight ended in a draw. In that time, Algeo consistently found his way to the UFC octagon and reached a 5-4 UFC record. 

It is difficult to judge Choi. The only recent fight on his resume is his fight against Nelson. That gives us 15 minutes of tape. Otherwise, we will have to base our opinions on the fights from 2019. Not to mention those fights took place before Choi struggled with injuries. In the Nelson fight, he showed he still has solid boxing. Choi landed his jab and straight on multiple occasions. In addition, he landed some nice body shots and leg kicks. The flaws in that bout were that he got hit clean, was taken down a few times, and his cardio did not look great. 

Algeo is a tough fighter that will his size, durability, and cardio to pick up wins. In his specific skills, he uses his length to throw long shots and kicks from the outside. In addition, he will throw knees and elbows inside. Traditionally, he takes damage early before pulling ahead late in fights; however, he was hurt early in his most recent loss. That provides concern because a decline in durability would greatly affect his career because he gets hit a lot. 

This UFC Vegas 94 bout is tough to predict. The main reason is that each fighter brings serious questions into this fight. It is tough to trust Choi’s inactivity and cardio. Meanwhile, Algeo is coming back from his first career knockout loss. The best outcome for Choi is that he lands a shot that hurts Algeo early and tests that chin. On the other side of things, Algeo needs to stay sharp from the outside and drag this fight late. I lean toward Choi landing the big shot. If Algeo’s durability has dropped, he eats too many clean shots to make it through the entire bout. I will take Choi by second-round knockout. 

Garrett: Algeo via decision

Jerry: Algeo decision

Anthony: Algeo KO/TKO

No. 14 Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva-Flyweight Bout 

James: UFC Vegas 94 pits flyweights Cody Durden and Bruno Silva against one another. This bout will impact the bottom of the flyweight rankings. Durden has been the fighter to work his way into the ranks with a 5-3-1 UFC run. Silva is looking to make his way into the ranks with a win. At the moment, he sits at 3-2-1 in the UFC. That doesn’t jump off the page, but he is riding a three-fight win streak. 

Durden is a grinder that works to make the fight tough. This is done with constant action. Durden attempts a lot of takedowns and attempts to wear down his opponents. This works because he has quality takedowns. On the feet, he is not an elite striker; however, he throws volume and does not let his opponent rest. This game plan works for Durden because he is tough, never quits, and fights through fatigue. 

Silva is an impressive striker who can finish opponents. In striking exchanges, he sets up shots with feints and stance switches. This allows him to land a lot of damaging punches. That part of his game is backed with kicks to the legs and body.

This UFC Vegas 94 bout previews as a close fight. This should be a dogfight that has Durden finding grappling success while Silva does damage in striking exchanges. In that type of fight, the judges may decide the winner based on their preference. In recent fights, we have seen judges lean toward scoring damage. That pushes me to favor Silva. Despite picking him to win a decision, he will also have more finish upside. I will take Silva by decision.

Garrett: Durden via decision

Jerry: Silva via KO/TKO

Anthony: Silva via KO/TKO

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Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky- Lightweight Bout 

James: At UFC Vegas 94, Kurt Holobaughh will fight Kaynan Kruschewsky. Holobaugh went 0-3 in his first UFC stint. On The Ultimate Fighter Season 31, he was cast as a veteran and worked back into the promotion. In his current UFC run, he is 1-1. Kruschewsky earned his UFC contract with a win on Dana White’s Contender Series. In his debut, he suffered a knockout loss. 

Holobaugh spends a large majority of his fight time in the pocket. The goal for Holobaugh is to crash the distance and exchange boxing combinations. This results in success because he will let his hands go in combination. The biggest issue preventing Holobaugh from accomplishing this game plan is his defensive grappling. At this point in his career, he gives up takedowns and struggles to get back to his feet. Although, he can use his BJJ to threaten submissions off his back. 

Kruschewsky is a massive lightweight. At six feet, he will have a length advantage. The catch is that he does not use his length. The jab is present in his game but he is not an expert in range management. Instead, he will get into firefights. This leaves him open to take shots. Despite not being an elite grappler, he will attempt takedowns and can land them. 

This UFC Vegas 94 bout preview changes depending on Kruschewsky’s game plan. If he boxes with Holobaugh. It will be a competitive striking match. If he offensively wrestles, he will have an advantage. I lean toward him attempting to strike. That pushes me toward the Holobaugh side. In striking exchanges, he throws in combinations, strikes with more volume, and digs to the body. It should also be noted that Kruschewsky is coming off a brutal knockout loss which is concerning. I will take Holobaugh by second-round knockout. 

Garrett: Kruschewsky via submission

Jerry: Holobaugh via decision

Anthony: Holobaugh via decision

Steve Garcia vs. Seung Woo Choi- Featherweight Bout 

James: UFC Vegas 94 features a featherweight bout between Steve Garcia and Sueng Woo Choi. Garcia is riding a three-fight win streak that has pushed his UFC record to 4-2. All three wins in that streak have been knockouts. Choi is 4-5 in the UFC. In his most recent fight, he picked up a win to break a three-fight losing streak. 

Garcia is a tough striker that works to pressure his opponent. It is not a complex striking approach, but it has worked. Garcia throws a lot of volume in the hopes of landing a shot that hurts his opponent. Once he lands he keeps his foot on the gas and hunts for a finish. 

Choi is also a striker, but he is much more patient. The issue is that this can result in not throwing enough output. When he does throw, he throws a lot of two-piece boxing combinations. The best example is his straight with the left hook behind it. In addition, he will kick from the outside. 

This UFC Vegas 94 bout is a close fight. The main reason for this is because the pair have similarities. Both fighters are six-foot-tall featherweights. Typically, they have large reach advantages. That is null in this matchup. In addition, both have suspect chins. That gives each fighter a chance to land a knockout. In the specific skills, I favor Choi’s patience over Garcia’s wildness. Plus, he can use his counters to land a big shot while Garcia throws a flurry. I will take Choi by second-round knockout. 

Garrett: Garcia via TKO

Jerry: Garcia via KO/TKO

Anthony: Garcia via decision

UFC Vegas 94 Best Bets

No. 3 Amanda Lemos vs. No. 5 Virna Jandiroba- Women’s Strawweight Bout 

James: The Vegas 94 main event features a women’s strawweight bout between Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba. This matchup features two fighters who have found success in recent outings. Lemos is 8-2 in the strawweight division with five finish wins. That run includes a loss to Weili Zhang in a title bout, but she has bounced back with a win over Mackenzie Dern. Jandiroba is 6-3 in the UFC and is riding a three-fight win streak. One important difference is that Lemos has five-round experience in the UFC. Jandiroba has only competed in five-round fights in Invicta FC. Those fights were against a much lower level of competition. 

Lemos is one of the most dangerous fighters in the strawweight division. In this division, her combination of power and submission upside is unique. The more potent of the two is her power. Lemos is a dangerous striker with a wide variety of weapons. The best are her straight punches and counters. On top of that, she has a good selection of kicks. As far as submissions go, she is not a BJJ ace, but her squeeze is ridiculous. If she locks in a rear-naked choke or guillotine, it can end the fight. The problem is that her overall grappling game is exploitable. Lemos can be taken down, struggle to get up, and put in dangerous positions. 

Jandiroba’s BJJ is undoubtedly her best skill. On the ground, she can work to strong positions and rack up control time. This also allows her to threaten submissions. If this aspect of her game is not working, she will struggle to find success. This is because her striking does not pose much of a threat. Jandiroba will look to land shots, but she struggles to find success because her hands are slow. As a result, Jandiroba’s takedowns are massively important. She is not a great wrestler, but she has to land takedowns to get to the ground and use her BJJ. 

The UFC Vegas 94 main event previews to be a slightly unpredictable fight. The main aspect that will determine the winner will be Jandiroba’s ability to get the takedown. If she can, she can rack up minutes of control. Otherwise, Lemos will have a ton of striking success. The speed difference will allow Lemos to land big shots. This can be done moving forward or countering Jandiroba. Ultimately, Jandiroba’s takedowns are slow, allowing Lemos to defend them, land uppercuts, or attempt guillotines. That, in addition to Lemos’ athleticism advantage, should allow her to land a knockout punch. It also helps that her power lasts five rounds. I will take Lemos by second-round knockout. 

Garrett: Jandiroba via submission

Jerry: Lemos via decision

Anthony: Lemos via decision

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