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Picks for UFC 265 main card
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07.26.2021 | 4:23 PM ET
August 7th will host a stacked card of MMA wars featuring two title fights and two pivotal top contenders matchups that could earn someone a title shot I will give my picks and my extensive reasons why I make those picks. Feel free to tell me what you think! Let's start a conversation in the few weeks leading up to this potentially epic event.
Michael Chiesa vs Vicente luque
Here we have a very pivotal match for the future of the welterweight division, A division that has been gridlocked by lack of fighters wanting to fight each other and the fact that reigning champ Kamuru Usman is beating all the contenders to the point he has defeated everyone in the top 5 with an exception of Wonderboy Thonpson. The winner of this fight will be thrownFront and center into the title picture. Possibly setting up a fight with gilbert burns or Jorge Masvidal. Chiesa is riding high over a huge 5 round domination over neil magny in a main event back in January. Using his ground skills he outclassed Neil taking his back repeatedly. Vicente luque is a fierce force in the welterweight division. Hard to put away and is riding a win streak that includes wins over Niko Price and former welterweight kingpin Tyron woodly. After weathering the early storm vicente put Woodly away with a tight Darce Choke.
My thoughts
In this one I think chiesa will be dangerous on the ground and might out match Vicente down there. On the other hand Vicente is hard to put away and is a lethal striker, an attribute Chiesa has shown to lack. I see some back and forth but ultimately I think Vicente will be too much for Chiesa.
Luque KO round 3
Jose Aldo vs Pedro Munoz
What a fight the UFC has put together here! Though former 2 time featherweight Champion Jose Aldo has seen better days in the octagon he proved he still has some left in the tank after a hard fought 3 round decision victory over Marlon "Chito" vera. Aldo has amazing striking and a very underrated ground game. Last time out Pedro Munoz also proved he wasnt done yet with a hard fought 3 round victory against Jimmie Rivera in a Fight if the year contender. Pedro is great on the ground and has an everimproving strking game that has seen him KO highly touted striker and former Bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt.
My thoughts
I think this will be fight of the night. This will be a grinder but I see Pedro shooting takedowns and chopping at the leg if aldo, trying to replicate marlon Morales victory over Aldo. But Aldo is gane and I think it will be a tough 3 rounder.
I'm gonna say Pedro Munoz by decision and I predict that its dight of the night.
Amanda Nunes vs Juliana Pena
Amanda Nunes has been a dominate force in womans featherweight and Batamweight divisions respectively. If it wasnt enough that she won both belts by first round destructions she has had nothing but one sided defenses in both divisions. Coming off of one of her best proformences yet submitting megan Anders on with a mounted Triangle arm bar, Nunes is looking to defeat one of the few Bantamweight contenders she has yet to face off with. Juliana pena, when she is on her game she is wrecking ball. Once she gets full mount, she is hard to peel off. Coming off of a win over olympic wrestler and former title challenger, sarah Mcmann, Pena is looking to shock the world and be the first woman to pry a belt away from Amanda Nunes.
My thoughts
Pena is a good fighter and I think she holds her own here. No doubt though nunes will be much better on the feet but I see pena having success in the clinch and getting possible takedowns. Nunes is the best though and in the face of any adversity she always finds a way to defend and I think she does here as well.
Nunes by decision
Lewis vs Gane
In the oddest title landscape in heaveyweight division history we have a match between two hungry top contenders who want a shot at the baddest man on the planet, Francis Ngannou. Ciryl Gane has been an unsolvable puzzle with high level Mui tai kickboxing and an underrated ground game he has effortlessly compiled wins over former heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos and former Bellator Heaveyweight champ Alexander volkov. He will be facing one of the hardest hitters in MMA history. Coming off of a KO of the year contender over Curtis Blaydes, Derrick lewis is looking to make quick work of his foe and move onto the man he already holds a win over, Francis Ngannou.
My thoughts
I see ciryl Gane dominating this fight in the standup, keeping range and cutting Derick lewis off in the cage. I think Gane wins almost every second of this fight. Almost. When you leave a small opening for Lewis, he will tear your head off and plant you deep into the canvas and 25 min. Gives him enough time to do that in my Opinion.
Derrick Lewis by KO round 4
Thank you for reading! Let's talk what are your thoughts about these 4 main card bouts? Let me know in the bottom. Cheers!
Michael Chiesa vs Vicente luque
Here we have a very pivotal match for the future of the welterweight division, A division that has been gridlocked by lack of fighters wanting to fight each other and the fact that reigning champ Kamuru Usman is beating all the contenders to the point he has defeated everyone in the top 5 with an exception of Wonderboy Thonpson. The winner of this fight will be thrownFront and center into the title picture. Possibly setting up a fight with gilbert burns or Jorge Masvidal. Chiesa is riding high over a huge 5 round domination over neil magny in a main event back in January. Using his ground skills he outclassed Neil taking his back repeatedly. Vicente luque is a fierce force in the welterweight division. Hard to put away and is riding a win streak that includes wins over Niko Price and former welterweight kingpin Tyron woodly. After weathering the early storm vicente put Woodly away with a tight Darce Choke.
My thoughts
In this one I think chiesa will be dangerous on the ground and might out match Vicente down there. On the other hand Vicente is hard to put away and is a lethal striker, an attribute Chiesa has shown to lack. I see some back and forth but ultimately I think Vicente will be too much for Chiesa.
Luque KO round 3
Jose Aldo vs Pedro Munoz
What a fight the UFC has put together here! Though former 2 time featherweight Champion Jose Aldo has seen better days in the octagon he proved he still has some left in the tank after a hard fought 3 round decision victory over Marlon "Chito" vera. Aldo has amazing striking and a very underrated ground game. Last time out Pedro Munoz also proved he wasnt done yet with a hard fought 3 round victory against Jimmie Rivera in a Fight if the year contender. Pedro is great on the ground and has an everimproving strking game that has seen him KO highly touted striker and former Bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt.
My thoughts
I think this will be fight of the night. This will be a grinder but I see Pedro shooting takedowns and chopping at the leg if aldo, trying to replicate marlon Morales victory over Aldo. But Aldo is gane and I think it will be a tough 3 rounder.
I'm gonna say Pedro Munoz by decision and I predict that its dight of the night.
Amanda Nunes vs Juliana Pena
Amanda Nunes has been a dominate force in womans featherweight and Batamweight divisions respectively. If it wasnt enough that she won both belts by first round destructions she has had nothing but one sided defenses in both divisions. Coming off of one of her best proformences yet submitting megan Anders on with a mounted Triangle arm bar, Nunes is looking to defeat one of the few Bantamweight contenders she has yet to face off with. Juliana pena, when she is on her game she is wrecking ball. Once she gets full mount, she is hard to peel off. Coming off of a win over olympic wrestler and former title challenger, sarah Mcmann, Pena is looking to shock the world and be the first woman to pry a belt away from Amanda Nunes.
My thoughts
Pena is a good fighter and I think she holds her own here. No doubt though nunes will be much better on the feet but I see pena having success in the clinch and getting possible takedowns. Nunes is the best though and in the face of any adversity she always finds a way to defend and I think she does here as well.
Nunes by decision
Lewis vs Gane
In the oddest title landscape in heaveyweight division history we have a match between two hungry top contenders who want a shot at the baddest man on the planet, Francis Ngannou. Ciryl Gane has been an unsolvable puzzle with high level Mui tai kickboxing and an underrated ground game he has effortlessly compiled wins over former heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos and former Bellator Heaveyweight champ Alexander volkov. He will be facing one of the hardest hitters in MMA history. Coming off of a KO of the year contender over Curtis Blaydes, Derrick lewis is looking to make quick work of his foe and move onto the man he already holds a win over, Francis Ngannou.
My thoughts
I see ciryl Gane dominating this fight in the standup, keeping range and cutting Derick lewis off in the cage. I think Gane wins almost every second of this fight. Almost. When you leave a small opening for Lewis, he will tear your head off and plant you deep into the canvas and 25 min. Gives him enough time to do that in my Opinion.
Derrick Lewis by KO round 4
Thank you for reading! Let's talk what are your thoughts about these 4 main card bouts? Let me know in the bottom. Cheers!