The UFC is coming back to Melbourne Australia this Saturday for the first time since UFC 193 Rousey vs. Holm and they are bringing a top 10 Middleweight battle with them. The main event pits 2 of the heaviest hitters in the Middleweight division Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker (17-4 #7 Ranked Middleweight) battling Derek Brunson (16-3 #8 Ranked Middleweight). The card is filled with UFC debuts and a lot of home grown fighters. The UFC is continuing to put on shows all around the globe and the return to Australia should yield a good crowd for the UFC as it usually does. Expect a really good night of fights leading up to action-packed main event.
Seohee Ham takes on Danielle Taylor
We are going to jump right into the main card with South Korea’s Seohee Ham (16-7) taking on Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor (7-2). These two women are up and comers in the Women’s Strawweight division. Ham holds a significant experience advantage over Taylor with more wins than Taylor has fights. However, experience isn’t always the best way to determine matchup in the UFC. With both fighters coming off loses in their recent fights expect both of them to be fully prepared and looking to get back on track. Ham is a decision machine with 14 decisions in her 16 career wins. Taylor has the power in her hands that can potentially end this fight on the feet. Taylor will need to keep her opponent on the outside and at a distance to prevent the grappling and clinch game of Ham. If Taylor can do that and land some punches this may be a short night. Prediction: Danielle Taylor: via TKO
Up next we head to the Light Heavyweight division where Khalil Rountree (5-1) will welcome Tyson Pedro (4-1) to the UFC for the first time. Rountree, who was the runner up in The Ultimate Fighter Season 23, is coming off his first career loss in the finale, will be looking to get back in the win column. Tyson Pedro is a newcomer to the UFC who in his 4 career wins has 3 submissions and a knockout. It will be interesting to see how Tyson Pedro fairs in his first foray in the big show of the UFC in front of his home countrymen. Expect Rountree to look to let his hands go early and often. The UFC jitters may get to Pedro as this will be a huge step up for him hopefully he will be able to get through any nervousness that may come over him. Hopefully this fight can deliver some solid entertainment. Prediction: Khalil Rountree via Decision
Another UFC newcomer Alex Volkanovski (13-1 will make his UFC debut against Japan’s Yusuke Kasuya (9-2-2). Kasuya is coming off a loss in his Octagon debut, but he is a dangerous fighter on the mat holding 8 career submission victories. Volkanovski has not lost a fight since 2013 and has won 10 straight with 9 of those victories either coming via knockout or submission. Heavy hands for Volkanovski may make the difference in this one, and considering his 8 career knockouts this fight could go that same route. The Australian native will be making his UFC debut in front of a hometown crowd and that may energize him past the first time UFC nerves. For an interesting stylistic matchup between these two it is very possible this could be a fight of the night candidate. Prediction: Alex Volkanovski via TKO
One of the most popular Australian UFC fighters Kyle Noke(22-9-1) is set to return to the Octagon on Saturday taking on Russian Omari “Wolverine” Akhmedov (16-3). Noke is one of the most well-known Australian-born UFC Fighters and arguably one of the most successful. A veteran of The Ultimate Fighter season 11 Noke is on a 2 fight losing streak. Taking on Akhmedov, who is also coming off 2 losses, is a dangerous proposition. Both fighters have to be coming in to this fight knowing a loss could mean the axe from the UFC brass. Akhmedov has been knocked out in his previous 2 fights and Noke will have to look to exploit that opening if it is provided to him. Noke is a very well rounded fighter who has 8 knockouts and 8 submissions to his name. Expect nothing to be held back in this fight between two guys that may be on the chopping block. Prediction: Kyle Noke via TKO
The Co-Main event of the evening pits Jake “The Celtic Kid” Matthews (11-2) and Andrews Holbrook (11-1). The 22-year-old Matthews is a very promising prospect in the lightweight division. Despite dropping his last fight at the Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale he is 4-2 in the UFC. Holbrook is 1-1 in the UFC and is coming off a loss also at the Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale. Holbrook suffered his first loss via knockout and his standup is clearly where he has a disadvantage. Winning 9 of his 11 victories via submission Holbrook will most certainly look to use his grappling background to try and take this fight to where he wants it. Matthews is the hometown favorite and it has to be believed that the crowd will be raucous for their fellow Aussie. Look for Matthews to keep this fight standing and use his advantage in that area. If Matthews can keep it standing he could make this a short night. Prediction: Jake Matthews via TKO
The main event of the evening brings together two top ten Middleweights who are looking to propel themselves into the title picture as Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker (17-4 #7 Ranked Middleweight) will go up against Derek Brunson (16-3 #8 Ranked Middleweight). Both fighters are coming in on 5 fight winning streaks and are shooting towards the top of the Middleweight Rankings. Brunson has finished his last 4 opponents via knockout or technical knockout while Whittaker has 2 knockouts in his last 5 wins. These two are going to throw hands and there’s just no question about it. This fight is huge for both of these contenders in that ultimate goal for the Middleweight Title. Whittaker, the New Zealand native, may get the crowd behind him, but he will be in for a pure battle versus Brunson. It is hard to argue though with Brunson’s power in the 185lb division. This is a fight that no one expects to go the distance and could end shorter rather than later. Prediction: Derek Brunson via TKO
The UFC may not have a stacked card with household names, but this main card has a ton of interesting fights. We see UFC debuts and fighters potentially fighting for their roster spots throughout the card. A Middleweight banger between top 10 contenders rounds out the night. This card on FS1 will be a great cap to the Thanksgiving Weekend and a precursor to next week’s Flyweight Title Match between Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (24-2-1 Flyweight Champion) and whoever emerges victorious from the Ultimate Fighter 24 to challenge him for the belt. The UFC continues to put out these cards and there will certainly be a lot of Middleweight division fans with an eye on these two contenders Saturday Night.
