The UFC closes out a stretch of 7 cards in 6 weeks with 2 title fight rematches atop a card coming live from Los Angeles Saturday night. The UFC has had a busy summer, and this closes out their stretch run that ran all throughout July. It closes with a main card that features 2 title fight rematches, including a rivalry that is boiling over. That rivalry is in the main event Saturday and it features a Bantamweight title rematch between TJ Dillashaw (16-3 Bantamweight Champion) and his former teammate and UFC Champion Cody “No Love” Garbrandt (11-1 #1 Ranked Bantamweight). In the Co-Main event, we get the return of the greatest Flyweight of all time Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (27-2-1 Flyweight Champion) and former title challenger Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (12-2 #1 Ranked Flyweight). The card outside of that has some intriguing matchups on FX. This should be a fun night of fights for the UFC so let’s break down all 12 matchups.
We start the night on Fight Pass at Bantamweight as Marlon “Chito” Vera (10-5-1) takes on Wuliji “Beast Master” Buren (10-5). Marlon Vera suffered his 2nd straight loss his last time out dropping a 3-round decision to Douglas “D Silva” Silva de Andrade (25-2 1 NC #15 Ranked Bantamweight) back in February. Prior to the 2 straight losses, Vera had run up a 3-fight win streak in the UFC. Vera is a very talented fighter but seems to get himself into trouble during fights too often. Vera has submitted 6 opponents and knocked out 2. He will need to be smarter in this fight and read the situation in the cage better if he hopes to get back in the win column. Wuliji Buren made his UFC debut back in November of 2017 where he dropped a decision to Rolando “Dy Incredible” Dy (9-6-1 1NC). Buren had entered the UFC on a 2-fight win streak. He has 4 submissions to his name and showed that he is willing to stand and throw in that matchup with Dy. Buren now knows what the UFC feels like and gets his shot at his first UFC win Saturday night. Prediction: Marlon Vera via Decision.
We head over to Strawweight as Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor (9-3) steps in to take on Weili “Magnum” Zhang (16-1). Danielle Taylor had a 2-fight win streak snapped her last time out against JJ Aldrich (6-2). Taylor always seems to get involved in decision fights in the UFC. She has had 4 career UFC fights and all 4 have gone to the judges. She has split those 2-2 and has shown she can stand with pretty much anyone. Taylor will need to use her kickboxing to her advantage to close the distance and make this fight ugly early. If she can lean on her UFC experience she has a chance to get another win. Weili Zhang heads to the UFC on a 16-fight win streak. After dropping a 2-round decision in her MMA debut Zhang has finished 16 straight fighters during her streak. The former Kunlun Fight MMA Strawweight Champion will be looking to make an immediate impact. If she can come in and continue her finishing ways she will move up the ranks very quickly at 115lbs. Prediction: Weili Zhang via TKO.
We close out the Fight Pass prelims at Flyweight as Alex Perez (20-4) is set to take on Jose “Shorty” Torres (8-0). After getting into the UFC via the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series Alex Perez has made the most of his opportunity. He has run of 2 victories in both of his UFC fights. He looks to get his second win of 2018 on Saturday Night. Perez has won on the scorecards 11 times in his career while submitting 6 and knocking out 3. Perez is very talented, and he can keep the pressure on his opponents throughout the fights. He will need to use that and his takedown ability to control this fight. Jose Torres scored a TKO win in his UFC debut when his opponent Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks (13-2) knocked himself out on a slam attempt. Torres has finished 6 of his 8 opponents. He was getting taken down and controlled in close in the debut until the slam ended the matchup. The former Titan FC Flyweight Champion now heads into his sophomore UFC effort and will be looking to try and build on his first UFC win. This is going to be a very fun fight to close out the Fight Pass prelims. Prediction: Alex Perez via Decision.
We head over to FX for the prelims as Matt Sayles (6-1) is set to take on Sheymon Moraes (9-1). A quick turnaround after securing a UFC contract on Week 2 of this Summer’s Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series Matt Sayles steps into the cage in Lose Angeles. Sayles scored a 1st round knockout in the week, 2 headliner. That was Sayles 2nd straight win following his first career loss. All 6 of Sayles wins have come via TKO, and he will look to add to that on Saturday night. The quick turnaround for Sayles means he should still be in pretty good shape as he gets ready for the biggest fight of his career. He is going to need to control the nerves as he enters the Octagon, because the big show is much different than the Contender series, especially on a highly anticipated card like this. A disappointing loss in his UFC debut to Zabit Magomedsharipov (15-1 #15 Ranked Featherweight) for Sheymon Moraes must put that in the past headed into Saturday. Moraes had won 2 straight under the World Series of Fighting banner prior to entering the UFC. Moraes has 5 knockouts and 4 decisions on his record. He is going to look and stand and trade in this one early for sure. This is a great fight to kick off the FX prelims and should have some fireworks. Prediction: Sheymon Moraes via TKO.
We head to Bantamweight next as Ricardo Ramos (11-1) takes on Kyung “Mr. Perfect” Ho Kang (13-7 1NC). A highlight reel knockout for Ricardo Ramos leads him into Saturday night on a 2 fight UFC win streak and a 3-fight win streak overall. Ramos is a very talented 23-year-old who will be looking to continue the success he has found. Ramos has 3 knockouts and 6 submissions to his name. he will need to show that same heart he showed in his last matchup that got him the win. Ramos is up against a serious veteran, but if he shows the power like in his last matchup a win is certainly possible. Kyung Ho Kang returned from a nearly 4-year layoff early in January with a first-round submission win. That gives him 3 straight wins in the UFC dating back to 2014. Kang is a submission expert with 10 career wins by submission. If the fight goes to the ground, he will be more than comfortable trying to get the win from there. This is a fight that has performance bonus for somebody written all over it. Prediction: Ricardo Ramos via TKO.
We stay at 135lbs as Ricky Simon (10-1) is set to take on Montel “Quik” Jackson (6-0). Ricky Simon scored a win, albeit controversial, over Merab Dvalishvili (7-3) in his UFC debut. The season 1 of The Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series alum won via a technical submission despite the bell ringing. The fight ended very weird and has been disputed since. Either way, Simon showed some serious heart in that fight, being taken down multiple times and still closing the fight out at the absolute last second. Simon has 5 career knockouts and 2 career submission wins. Simon is going to try and keep this one standing for sure. Simon will have the experience advantage in this one, and he will need to use that. On June 12 Montel Jackson was a TKO winner on Episode 1 of The Contender Series for Season 2. Now less than 2 months later he is set to make his UFC debut. He did not receive a contract that night for his performance, but he still gets his shot as a replacement here. Jackson is going to want to keep this fight standing with 2 knockouts in his short career. He will have to overcome the butterflies that come with a UFC debut and keep it on the feet. Prediction: Ricky Simon via Submission.
A Top 15 Bantamweight matchup closes out the prelims as Pedro “The Young Punisher” Munhoz (15-3 1NC #9 Ranked Bantamweight) will take on Brett “The Pikey” Johns (15-1 #14 Ranked Bantamweight). Pedro Munhoz had his 4-fight win streak snapped via split decision loss to John “The Magician” Dodson (21-9 #7 Ranked Bantamweight) back in March. He now rebounds looking to get back to the form that saw him as a rising contender at 135lbs. Munhoz loves to get the fight to the ground and control the position while working for a submission. He has 9 career submissions and will go for the level change early and often. If he can get Johns down and use his top control he has a great shot to get back in the win column. For Brett Johns, it is time to rebound from his first career loss which was a decision loss to Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling (14-3 #8 Ranked Bantamweight). Johns had won all 3 of his UFC appearances prior to that. Johns in a talented grappler with 5 career submissions. He is a guy who can be a rising start coming from the UK if he can get back to stringing wins together. Johns will be more than comfortable on the ground if it goes there. This is an intriguing matchup that closes out the prelims on FX. Prediction: Brett Johns via Decision.
We kick off the main card with Thiago “de Lima Marita” Santos (17-5 #13 Ranked Middleweight) taking on Dana White Tuesday night Contender Series Alum Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (13-3). Thiago Santos suffered a disappointing loss to David Branch (21-4 #7 Ranked Middleweight) that snapped a 4-fight win streak. Santos is a knockout artist with 12 career knockouts to his name that win streak was all via TKO. Santos throws absolute hammers on the feet and mixes in a healthy dose of heavy kicks. A 9-5 UFC record certainly gives him the experience factor in this matchup. Kevin Holland is another guy with a quick turnaround, having just signed with the UFC following a win on Week 1 of Season 2 of The Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series in June. That was Hollands 4th win in a row, and he needs to make sure that he comes in controlling all the emotions that come with a UFC debut. Holland has 6 career knockouts and 5 career submissions. The experience factor is going to play a huge role in this fight, and if Holland can overcome that he can score a giant win in his UFC debut. Prediction: Thiago Santos via TKO.
We head to 115lbs next as Polyana “Dama de Ferro” Viana (10-1) is set to take on JJ Aldrich (6-2). Polyana Viana made quick work of Maia Stevenson (6-5) in her UFC debut finishing it with a first round rear naked choke. That gives Viana 6 straight wins, and all have been finishes. Actually, the only fight that she didn’t finish in her career was her only professional loss back in 2014. Viana can beat you anywhere with 4 knockouts and 6 submissions on her record. If she can get this fight to the ground with her takedowns this could be another quick night for Viana. For JJ Aldrich she ran out her 2nd straight win with a decision win over Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor (9-3) back in January. The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 Alum has looked better and better each time out there. She uses her wrestling and grappling to control the positions in the matchup and grind out wins. The biggest problem is going to be dealing with the pressure of Viana in this one. This is going to be a fun matchup for sure at 115lbs. Prediction: Polyana Viana via Submission.
A Top 10 Featherweight matchup is next as longtime UFC veteran Cub Swanson (25-8 #5 Ranked Featherweight) takes on Renato Moicano (12-1-1 #10 Ranked Featherweight). Cub Swanson has been around the MMA world for a very long time. He is currently at a crossroads suffering back to back losses to Brian “T-City” Ortega (14-0 1NC #1 Ranked Featherweight) and Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (21-6-1 #3 Ranked Featherweight). Swanson continues to try and search for the elusive title shot that he has been so close to for years in the UFC. He always seems to come up 1 fight short each time. The 14-year MMA veteran is now in his mid-30’s and still puts on some of the most exciting fights out there. Swanson is looking to add to his 11 knockouts in this one. He has the edge in experience in this matchup and always seems to step up when he is counted out. Renato Moicano got back in the win column in April scoring a decision win over Calvin Katter (18-3). Moicano bounced back well in that fight following his first career loss. He has a ton of talent on the mat, but his standup is going to have to be a factor if he expects to win this one. Moicano has 5 career submissions, so if this fight gets to the ground he could score the upset. Prediction: Cub Swanson via Decision.
We head to the Co-Main event as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (27-2-1 Flyweight Champion) and former title challenger Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (12-2 #1 Ranked Flyweight). Listen let’s be honest Demetrious Johnson is the best Flyweight of all time, and arguably one of the best fighters of all time. He has cleaned house at 125lbs over and over again. He now takes on another challenge against a guy he has already beat. Johnson just seems to get better and better. His 5th round submission over Ray “The Tazmexican Devil” Borg (11-3 #4 Ranked Flyweight) was one of the most beautiful submissions you are ever going to see. DJ is just flat out the best 125lber on the planet and it’s hard to question. He takes fights over immediately and controls them from start to finish. He can beat you anywhere whether it is on the feet or on the mat, which is what makes him one of the most dangerous champions out there. If he can secure the victory here, it is time for him to go after a Champion vs. Champion super fight, it just has to happen. Henry Cejudo originally lost to Johnson back in 2016. He then dropped another matchup to Joseph Benavidez (25-5 #3 Ranked Flyweight. He has rebounded since then with a knockout win over Wilson Reis (22-9 #7 Ranked Flyweight) and a dominant decision win over Sergio Pettis (17-3 #2 Ranked Flyweight). Cejudo is an Olympic wrestler, who has appeared to sure up his striking. If Cejudo can use his striking to open up his ground game this could be the recipe for one of the biggest upsets of all time. Prediction: Demetrious Johnson via TKO.
One of the most heated rivalries in the UFC in some time closes the show as TJ Dillashaw (16-3 Bantamweight Champion) and his former teammate and UFC Champion Cody “No Love” Garbrandt (11-1 #1 Ranked Bantamweight) meet up. TJ Dillashaw showed the heart of a champion in their first matchup. He was hurt early in the fight but was able to recover and come back to score the TKO victory in the 2nd round. Dillashaw regained his belt that he lost in a split decision in 2016. Dillashaw has looked so impressive in his last 3 fights that it was not surprising when he lobbied to take on Demetrious Johnson in a super fight following his last fight. Dillashaw uses his wrestling and striking so well to dominate his matchups. His unorthodox striking and constant movement make it hard for anyone to stand and strike with him. If he can keep his emotions in check and take his time Dillashaw will retain his title. For Cody Garbrandt the disappointment of almost having the fight stopped in round 1 to dropping his title via TKO to his hated rival had to weigh heavy on him. He now enters the cage Saturday with a chance at redemption and a shot to set up a potential huge trilogy fight. Garbrandt was so impressive when he won the title from Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz (22-2 #2 Ranked Bantamweight) in December of 2016 that the result against Dillashaw was almost shocking. Garbrandt can score a knockout at any point and has 9 on his resume. He needs to stay composed and get back to what got him to the title in the first place. This is the Fight of the Night and there is no question about it. Prediction: Cody Garbrandt via TKO
UFC 227 has so many solid fights on it. The top 2 fights are obviously what everyone will talk about, but like many cards recently the undercards fly under the radar and over deliver. The rematch in the main event is easily the most anticipated fight on the card, but what can happen storyline wise following the co-main and main event could set the UFC up for a ton of success in the very near future. If Demetrious Johnson wins it immediately sets up a super fight no matter who wins in the main event. The UFC has 2 straight weekends off following this card, so here’s hoping it goes off with a bang to close out their very packed Summer.
