UFC 227: Dillashaw vs Garbrandt

UFC 227 Dillashaw vs Garbrandt: Okay UFC fight fans I have been slammed with work and was too busy with life as well to get an entire prediction together so here are my main card predictions for tonight’s blockbuster card.
 
UFC 227 Main Card (10 PM/ET):
Thiago Santos vs. Kevin Holland: A middleweight fight will grace the kick off of the main card. Santos is a banger and will look to stand and exchange. Holland is a young and confident fighter who thinks he will prove Santos is done and knock him from the ranks of the middleweight division. I believe Santos will smash his way through the confidence of his opponent and pick up a 2nd round TKO.
 
Polyana Viana vs. JJ Aldrich: The women of the strawweight division will both be looking to get their name into the top 15 of this division and begin their run for a title shot. Aldrich is a striking fighter who has been training with Rose Namajunas. She has shown improvement her last few fights and I believe she will show some in this one. Viana though is an extremely well-rounded fighter. She is the superior fighter in this fight and truthfully is probably title shot bound someday. Viana wins this one in round 1 by way of submission.
 
Cub Swanson vs. Renato Moicano: This fight is going to be a thrilling one in the featherweight division. Moicano is a submission specialist and will be outmatched on his feet, but will hold superior the ground game and be looking to get this one to the ground as much as needed to win this fight. Cub will dominate this fight if he can keep it standing and we will see Cub rebound his way into the top of the division. This fight will see some great striking as always from Cub and some shots to get the fight to the mat from Moicano but I believe Cub will fend them off and pick up a 3rd round TKO. Moicano will land 2 of his 9 takedown attempts but it won’t be enough to get the job done.
 
Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo: The Co-main event of the evening has the most important fight of both fighters careers. Cejudo worried me the first time these two fought for DJ and he has only improved since then. Cejudo showed Pettis a hard time and dominated 4 of the 5 rounds of that fight. Cejudo will still need to get this fight to the ground because his striking is still reckless and throws wide which DJ will capitalize on. He does have the power, but his best bet is to threaten with power and land a takedown. DJ is the greatest MMA fighter of all time and he will be still even if he loses this one. Nobody in UFC history will defend a belt 12-times. He has done it with perfect striking, great submission work, and great takedown defense.  I believe the champ will overcome the toughest test of his flyweight career and land a round 4 TKO finish to defend a 13th time.
 
TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt: The title fight that shouldn’t be happening is happening in the main event. TJ defended his belt when he won it but didn’t get an immediate rematch. Cody who beat two whole ranked fighters on his way to the belt did not successfully defend it one time yet got a rematch. The favoritism in the UFC is nuts as Marlon Moraes is without a doubt the man who deserved the title shot. Cody is a one trick pony, he can punch and hit hard. He has incredibly accurate striking with devastating power. His downfall last fight was that he brought his anger and emotion into the last fight and tired himself fast by throwing everything he had into every punch he threw. If Cody can keep this fight standing he will be on equal terms with TJ, but if TJ can get this one to the mat Cody will be overwhelmed and outmatched because his ground game is shaky. I personally believe in complete MMA fighters and the champion is exactly that. Dillashaw wins this one by way of 3rd round TKO.

• Matt Koontz