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UFC 271 will take place tonight at Toyota Center in Houston.
The main event is the highly anticipated fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. The card, though, is much more than just that middleweight title fight.
NBC Sports EDGE UFC writers Steven Ricciardi and Ike Feldman break down six fights on the card. They agree on three of the fights but disagree on the other three…including the main event.
Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa
Feldman: I think Steven and I are in concert here, as we know the “Black Beast” will not fool us again as he gets another shot at giving his hometown of Houston an opportunity to jump out of their seats with a highlight reel knockout! Simply put, I have Lewis using his slight edge in offensive weaponry and his more extensive cage experience in this fight against a dangerous and very confident Tai Tuivasa. Lewis wins this fight.
Ricciardi: Agreed. Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa are going to stand and bang. I expect violence in this fight. Derrick Lewis connects and finishes Tai with strikes early. Derrick Lewis will win via KO/TKO in Round 1.
Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson
Ricciardi: Jared Cannonier is a better striker with more power. Brunson is going to look to clinch and wrestle. Cannonier should stay on his feet and win with strikes. He will hurt Brunson on the feet. Jared Cannonier will win via KO/TKO in Round 2.
Feldman: Steve has obviously not gotten the memo that since “Blonde Brunson” has arrived on the scene following his UFC 230 loss to Israel Adesanya, he has been on a five-fight tear! Amazingly, at 38, Brunson has reinvented himself beautifully by stringing together his striking and his supreme grappling. Cannonier has no doubt been drilling his anti-wrestling for this camp, but I see it will shock him how advanced Brunson is in the grappling department once he gets ahold of him.
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Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano
Feldman: It is put up or shut up time for Alex Hernandez, who has been in big fights with formidable competition, and now, he is in a must-win scenario against the tough Renato Moicano. Hernandez has exhausted so many options to get to this point, changing styles, his mental approach and changing teams. He has the talent and the work ethic to be great, but it is about his mental growth and maturity that is making me lean towards him over Moicano here. I believe that if Hernandez is firing on all cylinders both mentally and physically, he should be able to handily control the fight in the clinch and in the grappling exchanges.
Ricciardi: Renato Moicano is the better striker and better grappler. Alex Hernandez is going to look fast in Round One and keep it close. Moicano can use a grappling-based game plan or turn up the striking in Round 2. He has options and either of those options should lead to a Moicano victory.
Bobby Green vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Ricciardi: The Bobby Green shoulder roll keeps him safe here. Bobby will use his striking skills to get ahead in the early part of the round and I hope to see some clinch and wrestling to secure those rounds.
Feldman: I agree with Steven on this one. This is a big spot for Bobby Green as he is on his first pay-per-view main card in over five years (UFC 199), and he would be wise to continue letting his hands fly. He is coming off a stunning performance against Al Iaquinta and a very close loss to the fast-rising and extremely dangerous Rafael Fiziev. I expect Green to out-strike and manipulate the fight on the feet as he chooses against a worthy Nasrat Haqparast.
Kyler Phillips vs. Marcelo Rojo
Feldman: One of the most entertaining fighters in this new generation is Kyler Phillips. He is game for a slugfest on any occasion, but if he wants to ascend up a super-competitive bantamweight division, he is going to have to stay focused, remain technical, and conserve his gas tank when needed. He embarrassed himself in his last fight when he was absolutely destroying Raulian Paiva and then suddenly the wheels fell off. Against Marcelo Rojo, Phillips must stay the course and not see red if he is on the receiving end of a solid shot. I got Phillips to be a little slow and steady but quickly find his rhythm and seal a victory.
Ricciardi: No need wasting much time breaking down this fight. Kyler Phillips has the advantage anywhere this fight goes. He will have a chance to get the finish on the ground when it gets there. Phillips plays it safe and gets this win via decision.
Robert Whitaker vs. Israel Adesanya
Ricciardi: This is going to be a chess match by MMA standards. Adesanya owns a 7-inch reach advantage. Whittaker needs to figure out a way to score vs Adesanya. Whittaker had success in the first fight when he rushed in to strike and used his leg kicks. Adesanya’s reach was the equalizer. He was able to lean back and throw the counter hooks with power. If Whittaker stays out of the pocket and stops chasing Adesanya this fight will be a technical striking match that favors Adesanya.
Feldman: Every single person I have interacted with on Twitter, in interviews, at MMA gyms, the mailman, whoever, they are all picking Israel Adesanya here to rinse and repeat what he did at UFC 243. However, almost everyone is ignoring the fact that Whittaker has publicly admitted that the pressure of fighting a fellow Oceanic combatant in front of 56,000 screaming Aussies got to him. Since then, the former champ has knocked off three top contenders. He is ready for and deserving of this shot at UFC Gold. I believe that Whittaker has reinforced his mental vault since losing to Adesanya and will put on one of his best performances to get his hand raised after a five-round chess match. Expect the trilogy fight later this year.
Enjoy the fights and enjoy the sweat.
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