UFC Fight Night 63: Lamas v. Mendes Predictions

After a week off, the UFC takes it's show to Virginia.  Fight cards on Fox Sports 1 have had a tendency to disappoint (see Maia v. LaFlare).  This card has some promise though, with plenty of fighters in the main card willing to bang or at the very least push the action.  At the end of the day you can't ask for more than that in a card you don't have to pay money to watch.



Ricardo Lamas vs. Chad Mendes

Let me throw a stat to you guys about the fighters in this main event.  While  Lamas and Mendes have run through the  featherweight division to the tune of 22 combined victories, neither of these men can't get past the man that's currently at the top of the 145 division, Mr. Aldo.  So there's no doubt to the bad ass-ness of these two dudes.  While Lamas has improved a lot since, Mendes has the upper-hand when it comes to striking and wrestling.  Lamas will be a game opponent, but Mendes will ride top control and superior boxing to stoppage.  Mendes by 2nd round TKO.

Mendes: All of us
Lamas:

Al Iaquinta vs. Jorge Masvidal

Nothing better than irrational hatred and if you heard our latest podcast you heard a top-five rant from Kid Presentable on how much Iaquinta grinds his gears.  It's almost like Al stole his lady or something.  Iaquinta has really come on strong in his last three fights, looking better and more impressive with each victory.  Iaquinta possesses the power advantage and has the takedown defense to keep this fight standing against Masvidal.  This fight will be close, but I see the Long Island native pulling out the decision.  Iaquinta by unanimous decision.

Iaquinta: Gooms, Doctor Law
Masvidal: Kid P, DJ Mark

Michael Chiesa vs. Mitch Clarke

Let's be real.  Michael Chiesa is one those TUF winners who is skilled enough to get on a two or three fight winning streak and then likely lose to a mid-tier fighter.  With that said here enters Mitch Clarke, who Chiesa should have success over wherever this fight should go.  Considering the manner in which Chiesa lost his last match, he'll be extremely motivated to make a statement in this fight which may open him up to counters, but his constant pressure leads to a finish in the third.  Chiesa by 3rd round submission. 

Chiesa: All of us
Clarke:

Milana Dudieva vs. Juliana Pena

This fight marks the return of the first female TUF winner.  Pena impressed all with her performance during her time on TUF, displaying unrelenting grit and hutzpah which powered her to TUF title.  Not sure if it's because of the weakness of the division, but even with over a year off she can easily be considered one of the top ten women's bantamweights just based on what we saw before the injury.  Dudieva did not look impressive at all in her UFC debut over the summer.  If Pena is 100% recovered from her major knee injury then she should run through Dudieva, but if not then this fight will be a prolonged affair.  I'm banking her rehab went well.  Pena by 2nd round submission.

Pena: All of us
Dudieva:

Clay Guida vs. Robbie Peralta

Clay Guida doesn't lose to no names.  Guida by unanimous decision.

Guida: All of us
Peralta:

Diego Ferreira vs. Dustin Poirier

When you've been a featherweight whose has had questionable defense and being a bit chinny, moving up ten pounds to fight bigger guys seems like a puzzling move.  To compound this puzzling move he'll also be fighting Ferreira who is a pretty good grappler and can be a wild son of a bitch with power.  The math isn't adding up for a positive lightweight debut.  Ferreira by 1st round TKO.

Ferreira: Gooms, Kid P, Doctor Law
Poirier: DJ Mark