by Henry Cejudo vs Dominick Cruz
Summary – Dominick Cruz is loved but also hated by many MMA fans. He seems to come and go as he pleases and gets a title shot for simply showing up. Cruz is 22-2 in his MMA career and despite how you may feel about him, there is no taking it away from him either.
The man has defied the term “Ring Rust” as he has multiple times come back from years away to win titles over the biggest names in the division. Most recently doing this in 2016 against T.J Dillishaw after 2 plus years away. He had a gap from 2011 – 2014 where he didn’t fight at all. Rust simply doesn’t affect him. He hasn’t fought since losing his UFC Bantamweight title to Cody Garbrandt in December of 2016.
The current UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion is the man responsible for chasing “Mighty Mouse” from the UFC. Cejudo has been on an absolute tear since stunning back to back losses in 2016, he hasn’t tasted defeat since.
He has big wins over Sergio Pettis, Demetrious Johnson for the UFC Flyweight Championship and Marlon Moraes for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Not to mention a 32 second KO over TJ Dillishaw. If you don’t believe that Cejudo is the real thing, then you haven’t been paying attention.
Pick – Cejudo by Dec
Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje
Summary – Tony Ferguson is one of the most underrated and also driven MMA fighters on the planet. It is an injustice that he doesn’t get nearly the respect he deserves. A quick finish on Saturday over Justin Gaethje can help change all of that.
Since winning The Ultimate Fighter all the way back in June of 2011, Ferguson has been on a roll. He has gone 15-1. Not only is he active, but he is dangerous and seems to have a nonstop motor. He is best on the ground but has also shown knockout power as well. In those 15 wins he has 3 knockouts but 6 incredible submissions during that stretch as well, for a total of 9 finishes.
His last three fights have all ended with convincing finishes over Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis and Kevin Lee. He also has big wins over RDA, Edson Barboza, Josh Thomson and several others. He has been fighting pro since 2008 and never held World Championship Gold, now is the time.
In order for Ferguson to do it however, it will have to come at a hefty price as Gaethje can put your lights out before you know what’s happening. The guys is a straight up warrior with 17 KO’s in his 21 career victories. Including KO’s in all four of his UFC wins over Cerrone, Edson Barboza, James Vick and Michael Johnson.
I’ll say it again, he is a warrior who will stand and trade with you. I do not see him getting KO’d by Ferguson like he did by Eddie Alvarez & Dustin Poirier in his only two career losses. I do see him doing his best to keep it on the feet as long as possible. If Tony Ferguson tries to stand and trade with him, Gaethje will put him to sleep.
Pick – Ferguson by Decision
