UFC 215: Nunes vs Shevchenko 2 - Preview & Predictions
UFC 215 is finally here, and just when you thought the fight world is back to normal in a post-May/Mac world, the hurt business surprises you yet again. The injury bug strikes again!
This week’s UFC PPV has a more than decent card filled with excellent combatants, however, the card has been robbed of quite a bit of its allure, so to speak, given the cancellation of its original main event matchup -- Demetrius Johnson vs Ray Borg -- owing to the latter falling ill.
Also Read: UFC 215 Edmonton Press Conference
Nevertheless, UFC 215 gets the same headliner that UFC 213 promised us, i.e. Amanda Nunes vs Valentina Shevchenko -- The Rematch!
Also on the card is perennial Welterweight contender Neil Magny, taking on former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Meanwhile, ‘Li’l Heathen’ opens up the pay-per-view main card opposite the returning ‘El Nino’. Besides, the undercard boasts a few important fights as well. So, without further ado, here’s our preview for UFC 215.
Indian fans can watch UFC 215 on September 10th Sunday, 7:30 am, only on Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD.
# Main Card
#1 Amanda Nunes vs Valentina Shevchenko
Amanda Nunes cuts a ton of weight and often outweighs her foes when the cage door closes on fight-night. While that definitely helps her in the strength and power department. But if she fails to demolish her opponent within the first couple of rounds, Nunes is essentially a sitting duck.
Her fight against Cat Zingano exposed that chink in her armour, as did Nunes’ first fight against UFC 215 foe, Valentina Shevchenko.
Nunes vs Shevchenko is a considerably straightforward fight from a technical perspective, given that both are well-rounded. The only significant disparity between the two is the fact that Val is much smaller than Amanda.
That said, if Amanda fails to overwhelm and finish (submit/TKO) the smaller ‘Bullet’, Valentina will establish her rhythm and coast to a decision win. However, I don’t see that happening as Nunes is the bigger fighter here, and while the skill disparity isn’t much, ‘Size’ does matter.
Prediction: Amanda Nunes def. Valentina Shevchenko via TKO
#2 Neil Magny vs Rafael Dos Anjos
Neil Magny suffered a bad loss to Lorenz Larkin -- one that exposed several defensive flaws in his striking. And that is a bad, bad chink to display when going up against someone as aggressive as RDA.
I see Magny keeping Dos Anjos at the end of his strikes for the first half of the matchup, with RDA eventually finding his range and picking apart the lanky Magny.
The fight will likely end in a late-TKO or decision victory for Dos Anjos.
Prediction: Rafael Dos Anjos def. Neil Magny via Decision
#3 Henry Cejudo vs Wilson Reis
Henry Cejudo is the better fighter in this matchup, and come fight-night, it’ll show
I see Cejudo dominating Reis in the grappling exchanges, and while the latter may have his moments on the feet, the Olympian will shut down Reis, for a clean sweep on the judges' scorecards.
Prediction: Henry Cejudo def. Wilson Reis via Decision
#4 Ilir Latifi vs Tyson Pedro
Ilir Latifi is one of the most entertaining fighters in MMA today. He’s an explosive wrestler and a risk-taking striker.
However, he’s also one of the most defensively-flawed combatants to have ever competed at this level of the sport. Against Pedro, that’ll hurt him.
Pedro is powerful on his feet as well as the mat, and I see him rocking Latifi in the standup, and following him to mat for a Submission finish.
Prediction: Tyson Pedro def Ilir Latifi via Submission
#5 Jeremy Stephens vs Gilbert Melendez
What a fight this is going to turn out to be!
Melendez is returning from a steroid suspension, whereas Stephens has remained active throughout.
I see Jeremy landing hard and often on Gilbert, and either scoring an early finish or winning a clear-cut decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Prediction: Jeremy Stephens def. Gilbert Melendez via Decision