Felipe Franco has early power and an early wrestling/grappling edge. I don’t think he can put it together for a full 15 minutes, though, and I like Levi Rodrigues to be the better striker with the higher pace and better cardio. All five of Rodrigues' MMA wins have come by KO/TKO. Give me Rodrigues to survive early and get another knockout in Rounds 2 or 3.

This should be a fun fight. Tommy McMillen is a high-volume striker, and he can bring a pace that is hard to keep up with. Alberto Montes might have the power edge, and he could finish with an early sub. The longer this fight goes though, the more it shifts into McMillen’s favor. I like McMillen to get a late stoppage.

Jared Cannonier still has big power, but at 42, I think he would only have a KO shot. Christian Leroy Duncan is the better overall striker, and he will have a speed and possible power edge in this matchup. I like CLD to win by decision if he doesn’t get a KO along the way.

I do think Kamaru Usman will have wrestling success in this fight, but I don’t think he can do it for 25 minutes. Dricus Du Plessis is going to have a big size and power advantage, and I like him to be the better overall striker. I’d like Usman’s chances more in 3 rounds, but I think DDP catches him at some point and gets a TKO.

This is a rematch from Mario Bautista’s UFC debut back in 2019, where he was submitted in round 1 by Cory Sandhagen. Bautista has made a ton of improvements since the loss, and he is very skilled anywhere the fight goes. I just think Sandhagen is still a more effective striker and grappler. That should be enough for him to win two or three rounds and defeat Bautista for the second time.

Cesar Almeida is a skilled kickboxer, but he needs to keep this fight standing and not go power-for-power with Damian Pinas. Pinas has big one-shot power on the feet, and he will also have the wrestling edge here. Plus, Pinas is 14 years younger. I would worry if this fight gets extended, but give me Pinas to get another early KO.

This should be a fun fight, but I do like Benoit Saint Denis to prevail. I think BSD is the better and more dangerous striker, and I also give him the wrestling edge. Paddy Pimblett is the more dangerous submission artist, but I don’t see him dictating where the fight takes place. Give me BSD at -142.

Conor McGregor is back! He is one of my all-time favorite fighters, and he is going to have more one-shot KO power early in this fight. I just don’t see how he can hang with Max Holloway’s volume, and I don’t think McGregor has a 25-minute gas tank anymore against top fighters. I think his path to victory is an early KO. I will take Holloway to avoid the big shots and gas out McGregor to get a late TKO win.