Co-Main Event: Nate Diaz (21-13) Vs Mike “Platinum” Perry (14-8), 5 Rounds At Welterweight
This fight is a must-see on the main card. Diaz and Perry are two of the more recognizable names in the MMA community, known for their brash personalities and fan-favorite styles. “Platinum” loves to brawl and will be looking to push the action immediately. He has the chin, mental toughness, and power to thrive in exchanges and will need to spend most of this fight in close to negate the reach of his opponent.
Diaz is known for great cardio and volume boxing that overwhelms fighters. Do not expect either guy to back up, and prepare to see lots of blood as they continually trade punches back and forth. Diaz has a clear advantage in grappling as a ju-jitsu black belt and should try to look for an opening to utilize it. Perry will make this the fight of the night with some big moments, but the relentless attack of Diaz will break him down by the last round and leave him at the mercy of a choke on the ground. Prediction: Diaz by Fifth-Round Submission
Main Event: Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey (12-2) Vs Gina “Conviction” Carano (7-1), 5 Rounds At Women’s Featherweight
The main event features a dream matchup between two pioneers in women’s MMA. Both women were dominant in their primes and are looking for triumphant returns after extremely lengthy layoffs (Rousey’s last fight was in 2016, Carano’s in 2009!). It will be a classic grappler vs striker matchup, with Rousey looking to lock in her signature armbar every opportunity she can get. As the heavy underdog, Carano’s best chance will be to keep it standing, where she has a clear advantage with her Muay Thai technique and kickboxing background. At her best, Carano had the athleticism and defense to avoid trouble, but has time taken that away?
Octagon rust could play a role the longer the fight goes, as they test each other’s cardio and toughness. Both women have been in the spotlight their entire careers, so expect them to show up in great shape and extremely confident. Ultimately, Rousey will prove to be too much with the grappling advantage. At peak form, her fights never went past the first round and almost always ended in submission via the armbar. Expect to see a vintage performance from the former Olympic bronze medalist in judo, pressing forward and getting Carano down early. From there, it is only a matter of time. Prediction: Rousey By First-Round Armbar
