UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm (Preview & Predictions)
UFC 219 is here and looks to close out an eventful calendar year in style for the UFC.
Arguably the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world today, Cris Cyborg defends her UC Featherweight Championship against fellow combat sports legend Holly Holm. Meanwhile, a top-3 contender in the muddy Lightweight waters will emerge as Khabib Nurmagomedov competes against Edson Barboza.
Several other intriguing matchups on the UFC 219 card shall take place at the T-Mobile Arena, the Preview & Predictions of which have been detailed below—
*Indian fans can watch UFC 219 at 8:30 am Sunday, December 31st, Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN & SONY ESPN HD*
Main Card (PPV)
#1 Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm
The buildup to this matchup has been eerily similar to that of Holly’s Holm’s clash with Ronda Rousey which led to one of the greatest upsets of all time.
However, one ought to note that unlike Rousey—who at the time of her fight with Holm was juggling several Hollywood commitments with her MMA career—Cris Cyborg is completely focused on the task at hand. Nevertheless, Cyborg’s aggressive striking style plays right into Holm’s patient, defensive, counter-striking style.
Cyborg enjoys an advantage in the power department as well as the grappling sphere, however, Holm should be the more technical striker of the two; and fans can expect the latter to weather the early storm before gradually out-pointing Cyborg until a late-head kick secures Holly yet another monumental upset.
Make no mistake about it, Cyborg can end this fight with one well-timed strike, or by way of a flash submission on the mat, but when fighting someone as composed and calculated as Holm, going for the kill at all times is key. That, in turn, is easier said than done, as Holm is likely to play matador to her foe’s bull; en route to a barrage of surgical counter-punches, with a head kick as an exclamation point.
Prediction: Holly Holm def. Cris Cyborg via TKO