UFC Predictions: UFC Fight Night: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira
The UFC returns to Las Vegas this weekend for another Fight Night event. On paper, at least, there could be some exciting fights on tap.
UFC Fight Night: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira features a high-level bantamweight main event, as well as a number of other intriguing bouts in various divisions. There aren’t overly high stakes here admittedly, but for the most part, this event could turn out to be fun to watch.
Here are the predicted outcomes for UFC Fight Night: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira.
#1. UFC bantamweight division: Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira
This bantamweight fight is an odd one to discuss in that while it’s a super-high level bout between two of the division’s best fighters, when you take into account their styles, it doesn’t actually promise to produce too many fireworks.
Despite this, there is the chance that the winner could go onto fight the victor of the upcoming Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes rematch for the UFC bantamweight title.
That’s because right now, Holly Holm is ranked only behind those two women in the division, while Ketlen Vieira is only slightly below her at No.6. If Holm were to win, then, the promotion could easily justify giving her a title shot, particularly if Pena still holds the title.
For Vieira, meanwhile, Holm would be the best win she could get in the division outside of the top two, and as she’s not fought for the title yet, it’d be an easy sell to name her the number one contender.
Ketlen Vieira was emotional after her win over Miesha Tate and said kept saying "I'm sorry" 🥺 #UFCVegas43 https://t.co/mpTa5xbGdD
So who will win? The truth is that while Vieira would be the fresher title contender, ‘Fenomeno’ doesn’t seem to match up all that well with the former champion, at least on paper.
Sure, if the Brazilian can get ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ to the ground, then there’s definitely the chance she could win. Holm’s ground defense, particularly when it comes to submissions, has never really been tested. Vieira is a very capable grappler, as we saw when she defeated Sara McMann and Cat Zingano.
However, getting Holm to the ground is another thing entirely. Despite being an older fighter now at the age of 40, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ is still a standout athlete with absolutely tremendous takedown defense. She’s been taken down just six times in her entire UFC career, and only Miesha Tate really had success on the mat with her.
On the feet, meanwhile, while her head kick knockout of Ronda Rousey was a bit of a red herring - she doesn’t tend to knock many foes out and has been the distance in five of her seven octagon wins - Holm is brilliant. She’s able to sit behind her longer strikes and pick opponents off without taking much damage herself.
Five years ago today, @HollyHolm shocked the world by knocking out Ronda Rousey with a picture-perfect head kick at UFC 193 ⚡️🌏
Holm was a big underdog against Rousey, who had never lost to that point in her career. https://t.co/hE6iDqDmCQ
Given that Vieira was firmly outstruck by Irene Aldana in their fight, and Holm picked Aldana apart relatively easily in her most recent bout, red flags should definitely be waving for the Brazilian.
MMA math doesn’t always work, but in this case, it feels like a horrible style clash for Vieira.
The Pick: Holm via decision