UFC 269

Geoff Neal edges Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 269

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On the main card of UFC 269, we saw a showdown in the welterweight division. Two top contenders faced off as Argentina’s Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-4) took on Geoff Neal (13-4).

Both of these men find themselves in a similar spot at UFC 269. At one point, both looked like they were on the path to becoming UFC champion. However, they’ve both been derailed.

Ponzinibbio has been hindered by injuries and a knockout loss to Li Jingliang. However, he did bounce back earlier this year with a win over Miguel Baeza.

Geoff Neal on the other hand has lost his last two UFC fights. Prior to those two losses, he had won five straight which included wins over Belal Muhammad and Niko Price.

Both men were looking to make a statement and show why they are still top contenders.

UFC 269 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 269 welterweight contest kicked off with a touch of the gloves. Ponzinibbio immediately takes the center and he’s looking to pressure Neal. Neal circles on the outside as he tries to gauge the range.

Neal comes forward with double jab but both fall short. Two powerful leg kicks land for Neal. Neal looks for a head kick that just misses. Nice 1-2 down the middle from Ponzinibbio. Left straight lands for Neal.

Nice low kick lands for Ponzinibbio and Neal counters with a high kick. Lots of pressure here from Neal and he lands a combination. Nice jab lands from Ponzinibbio. Two shots land from Ponzinibbio but Neal counters with his own combination.

Two good lead right hooks for Neal and Ponzinibbio is cut. Lots of pressure for Neal and he lands another good combination. Ponzinibbio tries to fire back but Neal is not there to be found. More pressure from Ponzinibbio and he’s trying to make this a brawl.

However, Neal circles on the outside. Lots of forward pressure from Ponzinibbio and he lands a couple of solid kicks. The round comes to a close and it was a close one but I lean Neal at UFC 269.

Round 2

Ponzinibbio was really finding his rhythm at the end of the first at UFC 269 so it’ll be interesting to watch him here in the second. Ponzinibbio immediately goes back to the pressure to start the second. Nice lead left hook lands for Ponzinibbio.

Low kick from Ponzinibbio. Neal tries to slip and counter but just misses. Both men step in and trade big shots. Ponzinibbio throws a big leg kick but Neal checks it perfectly and that might’ve hurt Ponzinibbio. However, Ponzinibbio resets and he looks okay.

Nice lead left for Neal. Body kick lands for Geoff Neal and he throws a left behind it. Out of no where, Ponzinibbio tries for a takedown. However, Neal defends well and keeps the fight standing. Neal starting to move forward a little ore.

Straight left from Neal and Ponzinibbio lands one of his own. Nice combination from Ponzinibbio backs Neal up against the fence. Neal circles out and he lands a nice right straight. Both men step forward and land good shots.

Back to back 1-2’s for Ponzinibbio. Neal lands a nice shot and Ponzinibbio complains of an eye poke. However, the ref says it’s clean. The round comes to a close and Ponzinibbio looked better in the second. Might be 1-1 after two at UFC 269.

Round 3

Entering the final round at UFC 269 and whoever wins this round will likely win the fight. Ponzinibbio takes the center to start the final round. Neal continues to circle on the outside. Nice shot from Ponzinibbio and Neal lands a counter left.

Check right hook from Neal and Ponzinibbio goes down briefly. Neal rushes and lands another good shot. However, Ponzinibbio recovers well and he circles out. Low kick lands for Ponzinibbio. Double jabs from Ponzinibbio who is starting to collect points here.

Good combination from Ponzinibbio who has now retaken momentum. However, Neal starts moving forward. Another good check right hook from Neal. Ponzinibbio lands a stiff shot right down the middle.

Both men are looking tired here in the final frame. Pressure from Ponzinibbio and he lands a stiff right hand. Neal counters but Ponzinibbio then lands a good combination. Another combination from Ponzinibbio.

Solid left from Neal but he eats a big kick from Ponzinibbio for his troubles. Ponzinibbio pulling away here in the final round. Big shots from Ponzinibbio. However, Neal takes momentum back a little with a few big shots of his own.

Huge combination from Neal lands and Ponzinibbio looks a little wobbled. Another big combination from Neal. Neal has Ponzinibbio hurt here in the final frame. Ponzinibbio still throwing but Neal lands. Close final round and honestly either could win at UFC 269.

Geoff Neal def. Santiago Ponzinibbio by Split Decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)

Kai Kara-France knocks out Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269

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kai kara france

On the main card of UFC 269 we saw the highly anticipated flyweight debut of Cody Garbrandt (12-4). The former bantamweight champion dropped down to 125 pounds to take on Kai Kara-France (22-9).

Originally, the former UFC champion was planning on making the drop to flyweight last year. However, after coming down with Covid and having a bicep injury, he decided to stay at bantamweight for one more fight.

That fight came against Rob Font earlier this year. Garbrandt lost that fight and afterwards he decided it was time for him to finally make the switch to 125.

He jumped right in there with one of the more exciting flyweights in the UFC in Kai Kara-France. Overall, Kara-France is 5-2 since making his debut with the UFC.

His two losses came against the current champion Brandon Moreno and top contender Brandon Royval. The last time we saw Kara-France was against Rogerio Bontorin where he won by decision.

UFC 269 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 269 flyweight contest started with a swift low kick from Garbrandt. The size difference is pretty big here in the opening seconds. Both men trade jabs in the center. Garbrandt circles on the outside and he lands another leg kick.

Kara-France ups the pressure here trying to cut Garbrandt off. Garbrandt continues to circles trying to gauge the range. Low kick from Kara-France and he tries to throw a 1-2 behind it. Another low kick from Kara-France. 

Kara-France comes in and Garbrandt just misses with a big counter. Nice jab from Kara-France and he throws a leg kick behind it. Huge right hand from Kara-France drops Garbrandt. Garbrandt jumps right back up but gets dropped again. 

Kara-France is all over him but Garbrandt waves him on. These two reset and they’re back to striking. Garbrandt still looks shaky and Kara-France drops him again. This fight is over and Kai Kara-France spoils the flyweight debut of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269. 

Kai Kara-France def. Cody Garbrandt by KO – Round 1

Sean O’Malley stops Raulian Paiva at UFC 269

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Sean O'Malley

Kicking off the PPV main card at UFC 269 was a battle between two dynamic strikers in the bantamweight division. The Suga Show returned as Sean O’Malley (14-1) took on Brazilian standout Raulian Paiva (21-3).

Raulian Paiva made his UFC debut at 17-1 and he did it in the flyweight division. However, he got off to a rough start.

Paiva lost his first two fights and ultimately moved up in weight. He’s now on a three-fight winning streak which includes a win over O’Malley’s teammate in Kyler Phillips.

That said, Paiva had a tall mountain to climb at UFC 269. Sean O’Malley is one of the more dynamic fighters in all the UFC. He’s incredibly talented wherever the fight takes place, but he shines in the stand up.

O’Malley is huge for the weight class and he’s going to have a big size advantage on Saturday night. After suffering his first loss to Chito Vera last year, O’Malley has bounced back with two solid wins this year.

UFC 269 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 269 bantamweight started with immediate pressure from O’Malley. The striking starts with a body kick from O’Malley. Paiva tries to catch a kick and take O’Malley down but O’Malley defends well.

Now it’s Paiva pressure as O’Malley circles the outside. Good jab from O’Malley. O’Malley looks for a body kick and Paiva lands one of his own. Paiva looking to get more aggressive here and he lands a nice low kick.

Paiva catches O’Malley with a nice right straight. Low kick behind it causes O’Malley to switch stances. Halfway through the round and Paiva continues with the pressure. Big left straight lands for O’Malley but Paiva doesn’t seem bothered.

Another good low kick lands for Paiva. Lots of feints from O’Malley. O’Malley tripes up on the jab to get some space after eating a low kick from Paiva. O’Malley steps in but it’s Paiva that throws. However, nothing solid lands.

Paiva pushes forward with a combination. O’Malley lands a flush right hand and Paiva is hurt badly. O’Malley all over him and Paiva is out on his feet. The referee is giving Paiva every opportunity but O’Malley finishes the fight. Huge performance at UFC 269 from The Suga Show.

Sean O’Malley def. Raulian Paiva by TKO – Round 1

Josh Emmett edges Dan Ige at UFC 269

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In the featured prelim of UFC 269, we saw a highly anticipated matchup between two finishers at 145 pounds. Josh Emmett (16-2) made his highly anticipated return as he took on Dan Ige (15-4).

Had it not been for injuries, Josh Emmett could have fought for a UFC title by now. He’s that special and talented. The last time we saw him was against Shane Burgos last year.

Despite tearing virtually every ligament in his knee in the opening round, Emmett gutted it out and got the decision win. Many were looking forward to this return at UFC 269.

Dan Ige is trying to establish himself as one of the best featherweights in the UFC. After winning six straight, Ige got a main event last year against Calvin Kattar.

He lost that fight but bounced back with a quick knockout over Gavin Tucker. In his last fight, he lost to The Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung.

UFC 269 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 269 featherweight contest kicked off with a touch of the gloves. Emmett immediately takes the center and Ige opens with a jab. Good low kick lands for Ige who has now taken the center.

Looks like Emmett is just feeling things out in the opening minute. Then out of no where, a massive right hand from Emmett drops Ige. Emmett pounces, however, Ige defends well and then he ends up briefly on the back of Emmett.

Emmett reverses the position and stands the fight back up. Ige still is looking a little hurt, however, he’s pressing forward. Nice combination from Ige and he lands a low kick behind it. Emmett is looking for one big shot here as Ige is throwing combos.

Two straight big jabs from Ige find their mark. Another good jab from Ige and the nose of Emmett is starting to show some damage. Solid combination from Ige who is really starting to look good in the final part of this round.

Emmett pushes forward but nothing lands. Both men land big shots in the final seconds of the round. Ige definitely looked good in spots, but the first goes to Josh Emmett at UFC 269.

Round 2

Entering the second at UFC 269 and Ige looked to get a little momentum there at the end of the first. The second round starts with a massive right hand from Emmett which immediately stiffens up Ige a big.

Powerful low kick from Emmett. Ige moves forward and lands a really nice combination. Another good combination from Ige who finishes with a nice shot to the body. Good body shot from Emmett.

Ige shoots for a takedown, however, Emmett defends well and lands a couple of really nice shots. However, Ige rocks him with a nice left and Emmett’s legs wobble. Ige pushing forward as Emmett looks to regain his footing.

Ige shoots for a takedown, however, Emmett again defends well and they’re back to striking. Two straight stiff jabs from Ige. Both men trade big jabs. Wind up right hand and a body kick land for Dan Ige.

Huge left hook and a jab behind it for Ige. Ige looks sensational here in the second round. 1-2 down the middle for Dan Ige. Emmett loads up but nothing lands. Ige lands a beautiful counter on Emmett.

Emmett trying to push forward, but he’s not landing much here. Nice lead uppercut from Dan Ige. The second round comes to a close at UFC 269 and it should be Ige’s round.

Round 3

Entering the final round at UFC 269 and it should be 1-1 entering the final frame. Emmett opens the final frame aggressive but he’s whiffing on his shots. Ige lands a couple of nice shots up the middle to start his striking.

Emmett trying to throw more combinations here in the final round and he lands a nice one. However, Ige pops his head back with another nice jab. Another jab from Ige. Lead left hook from Ige.

Emmett lands a couple of bombs and Ige looks hurt for a moment. However, he lands a knee and backs Emmett up. Double jab lands for Dan Ige. Another stiff jab from Ige and Emmett is breathing with his mouth open.

Ige throws a big power shot and Emmett throws back but neither man lands. Short left hook lands for Emmett and Ige lands a body kick. Emmett looks much better in the third as he throws his own jab. Ige is not as active as we enter the final minute.

Ige tries for a takedown, however, Emmett defends well. Emmett lands a shot, but Ige is back on the pressure.Nice short left from Emmett but Ige steps in and lands a nice combination. Both men throw heavy in the final seconds and the round comes to a close. Razor close third round that could go to either man at UFC 269.

Josh Emmett def. Dan Ige by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Dominick Cruz defeats Pedro Munhoz at UFC 269

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Dominick Cruz

On the prelims of UFC 269, we saw a tremendous matchup in the bantamweight division. Former champion Dominick Cruz (23-3) took on contender Pedro Munhoz (19-6, 1 NC).

Dominick Cruz is considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight in UFC history. He was the first bantamweight champion for the promotion and he had a tremendous run at the top of the division.

However, injuries really derailed the career of Cruz. For example, he’s only fought six times in the last ten years. The last time we saw him was at UFC 259 when he won a close decision over young contender Casey Kenney.

Back in 2019, it appeared that Pedro Munhoz was on the cusp of a UFC title shot. He had won three in a row which included a knockout win over former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt.

That win got him a fight with Aljamain Sterling which he ultimately dropped by decision. Starting with that fight, Munhoz is just 1-3 in his last four fights. His last fight was a decision loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 265 in August.

UFC 269 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 269 bantamweight contest kicked off with a touch of the gloves. Cruz immediately starts moving back and forth and opens with a kick. Munhoz tries for a head kick of his own but doesn’t land.

Good low kick lands for Munhoz. Munhoz misses with a big head kick and Cruz pops him with a 1-2. Another nice straight shot from Cruz. Cruz catches Munhoz clean with a nice left hand. Munhoz hits another leg kick and Cruz tries for a takedown.

Pedro Munhoz defends and they’re back to striking. Good low kick and a combination behind it from Cruz. Munhoz pushes forward trying to land back but nothing lands. Another 1-2 for Cruz.

Huge left hand for Munhoz and down goes Cruz. Cruz is out on his feet as he gets back up. Munhoz drops him again and Cruz dives on a leg. It appears that Cruz is going to survive after using his defensive wrestling.

Munhoz lets Cruz back up and they’re back to striking. Cruz lands nicely but Munhoz is stalking him here in the final minute. Good knee to the body and a combination from Cruz. Beautiful jab from Munhoz.

It’s remarkable how much Cruz has recovered here. Another jab from Munhoz but Cruz lands a big combination that backs him up. Big shots from Cruz as the round ends. Cruz did well, but Munhoz takes the first at UFC 269.

Round 2

Entering the second round at UFC 269 and it looks like Cruz was able to get momentum near the end of the first. He starts the second with another good combination after catching a low kick from Munhoz. Solid 1-2 for Cruz lands.

Another good 1-2 for Cruz who appears to be back on stable ground here in the second. Munhoz lands a nice body kick. Head kick attempt from Munhoz just misses. Good jab from Cruz. He follows that up with a nice 1-2.

Munhoz gets popped with another 1-2 and then he tries to answer with a combination. Munhoz shoots for a takedown and Cruz defends easily. Both men exchange jabs in the center. Nice lead left for Cruz.

1-2 for Cruz and Munhoz counters with a double jab. Cruz pushing forward here and throws a leg kick. Munhoz lands a jab but that triggers a combination from Cruz that cuts him open. Another good combination from Cruz lands.

Beautiful striking on display from the former UFC champion in the second. Another good combination and Cruz is pulling away with this round. Massive combination from Cruz and Munhoz looked hurt for a second. The round comes to a close and a dominant one for Cruz.

Round 3

Entering the final round and whoever wins this round likely wins this fight at UFC 269. They touch gloves and here we go. Munhoz lands some solid shots and he’s heavy on the pressure here in the final round.

1-2 for Cruz and Munhoz pushes forward to counter. Munhoz much more aggressive here in the final round. Good combination from Cruz backs Munhoz off the pressure. Another nice 1-2 lands for Cruz and he’s keeping Munhoz at range here.

Good jab from Cruz but Munhoz catches him flush with a huge right hand. However, Cruz resets and lands another good combination. Munhoz chasing here and lands a jab. Good knee to the body from Cruz but Munhoz is on him here with the pressure.

Massive 1-2 from Cruz stops the pressure from Munhoz. Nice jab rom Munhoz however, Cruz counters with a big shot. Another 1-2 from Cruz and Munhoz lands a straight shot right after. Lead right hand from Cruz.

Cruz lands a big combination that Munhoz just eats. Low kick from Cruz. Munhoz pushes Cruz against the fence and tries to land something big but the former UFC champion makes him miss.

Big body kick from Munhoz. However, a nice body shot counter from Cruz. Both men trade jabs in the center. Good combination from Cruz. Munhoz steps is up but Cruz hits him flush as the round comes to a close. Should be 29-28 Dominick Cruz at UFC 269.

 Dominick Cruz def. Pedro Munhoz by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 269 Preview: Amanda Nunes – Julianna Pena

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In the co-main event of UFC 269, the greatest female fighter of all time makes her bantamweight return. Amanda Nunes (21-4) will defend her bantamweight crown for the first time in two years when she takes on Julianna Pena (10-4).

What can’t you say about Amanda Nunes? She’s the greatest female fighter of all time and she has an unreal resume. She’s defeated Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, and more.

Her last two UFC fights were defenses of her featherweight title. The fights were so one-sided that you felt like they just weren’t even fair. We haven’t seen Nunes at 135 since her successful title defense over Germaine de Randamie.

Welcoming Nunes back to 135 is Julianna Pena. Julianna Pena might be the only person in the world who believes that she will win at UFC 269. However, that’s the kind of confidence you need when you fight Amanda Nunes.

Most of the time, Nunes has you beat before you even step into the cage. The perfect example is Megan Anderson. However, Julianna Pena is not going to be intimidated. She fights with a lot of pressure and believes she will win at UFC 269.

In her last fight against Sara McMann, we saw Pena come back from adversity. It was a close fight, but she dug down deep to get a finish. That ability to dig deep is going to be key against Amanda Nunes.

UFC 269 Prediction

As mentioned, Julianna Pena is not going to be intimidated at UFC 269. I don’t expect her to be afraid of Amanda Nunes, but that lack of fear might make this a very quick night at the office for the champion.

Julianna Pena has no chance of winning this fight at range. If she attempts to fight from kickboxing range, this fight is going to be over within two minutes. Pena has to come right out and pressure Nunes quickly to try and get the fight to the mat.

Pena’s only chance is to either tire Nunes or take her down. I don’t see either happening. In reality, this fight at UFC 269 is not getting out of the first round and if it does, I’ll be stunned.

I think that Amanda Nunes wants to send a message and remind everyone why she’s the goat. Silencing Julianna Pena would just be the icing on the cake for the champ.

Prediction: Amanda Nunes by TKO – Round 1

UFC 269 Preview: Charles Oliveira – Dustin Poirier

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In the main event of UFC 269 we will see a highly anticipated matchup for the lightweight title. The champion Charles Oliveira (31-8) will be looking to successfully defend his title for the first time when he takes on ‘The Diamond’ Dustin Poirier (28-6, 1 NC).

Poirier is finally going to get another crack at the undisputed lightweight title. After capturing the interim title, Poirier got a shot at the UFC‘s undisputed title back in 2019 against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Poirier was submitted in that fight.

However, since then, he hasn’t lost. This year alone, Poirier has defeated former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor twice. Now, he’s looking to ride that momentum and capture undisputed gold.

That said, he has a very tall order tomorrow night. Charles Oliveira might be the most complete lightweight in the UFC and it should be no shock to anyone that he’s become lightweight champion.

With Oliveira, it was never a question regarding talent. On pure talent and skill, you can easily make the argument that he’s near the very top of the UFC. However, he always struggled to put everything together.

You cannot say that anymore. Oliveira has gone on an incredible run and that run culminated at UFC 262 when he stopped Michael Chandler to become undisputed lightweight champion.

UFC 269 Prediction

This is one of those fights where you truly don’t want either man to lose. Two of the best fighters in the UFC and two of the best individuals you will come across in the promotion. However, someone has to lose, and someone will tomorrow night.

The striking is going to be very interesting to watch. Dustin Poirier has some of the best boxing in the UFC. Charles Oliveira has some of the best pure Muay Thai in the UFC. If this fight is at range, Oliveira has a huge advantage.

However, I don’t think Poirier will keep this at distance. Poirier is best when he goes downhill, and I expect that from him tomorrow. Expect a lot of pressure from The Diamond as he tries to break Oliveira.

One thing to watch out for is the takedowns of Oliveira. Oliveira has perfect timing on his takedowns and if Poirier presses too hard, he might get taken down which is not where you want to be with Charles Oliveira.

I keep going back and forth for this UFC 269 prediction. On technique alone, Oliveira is the better fighter in my opinion. However, when it comes to being just a pure dog inside the octagon, there’s none tougher than Poirier.

I’m expecting fireworks but in the end, I think the kid from Lafayette is going to become undisputed lightweight champion. Poirier’s pressure finally gets to Oliveira and he becomes UFC champion in the fourth.

Prediction: Dustin Poirier by TKO – Round 4

UFC 269 Preview: Cody Garbrandt – Kai Kara-France

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On the main card of UFC 269 we will see the highly anticipated flyweight debut of Cody Garbrandt (12-4). The former bantamweight champion drops down to 125 pounds to take on Kai Kara-France (22-9).

Originally, the former UFC champion was planning on making the drop to flyweight last year. However, after coming down with Covid and having a bicep injury, he decided to stay at bantamweight for one more fight.

That fight came against Rob Font earlier this year. Garbrandt lost that fight and afterwards he decided it was time for him to finally make the switch to 125.

He jumps right in there with one of the more exciting flyweights in the UFC in Kai Kara-France. Overall, Kara-France is 5-2 since making his debut with the UFC.

His two losses came against the current champion Brandon Moreno and top contender Brandon Royval. The last time we saw Kara-France was against Rogerio Bontorin where he won by decision.

UFC 269 Prediction

This is such a fun fight and one where you truly will not want to look away. Conventional wisdom would say that Cody Garbrandt should have a big advantage when it comes to the power in this fight.

While he definitely will hold an advantage there, he will lose one of his key advantages. In the past, Garbrandt has thrived when he showed off his tremendous hand speed. That speed and power combination made him elite.

It will be interesting to see how that speed translates down at 125. I expect Kara-France to have the speed advantage at UFC 269 which could be a big problem for ‘No Love’.

I’ve gone back and forth with my prediction, and honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked by anything in this fight. Well, I would be shocked if we see the judges.

I expect someone to get finished in this one. I worry about Garbrandt’s chin at UFC 269. He struggled with his chin at 135 and usually cutting extra weight hinders your chin.

All that being said, I really like Garbrandt in this matchup. I see him landing a massive counter and getting the second round finish here.

Prediction: Cody Garbrandt by TKO – Round 2

UFC 269 Preview: Sean O’Malley – Raulian Paiva

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Sean O'Malley

Kicking off the PPV main card at UFC 269 is a battle between two dynamic strikers in the bantamweight division. The Suga Show is back as Sean O’Malley (14-1) takes on Brazilian standout Raulian Paiva (21-3).

This is a massive opportunity for Raulian Paiva to really put himself on the map at 135 pounds. Paiva made his UFC debut at 17-1 and he did it in the flyweight division. However, he got off to a rough start.

Paiva lost his first two fights and ultimately moved up in weight. He’s now on a three-fight winning streak which includes a win over O’Malley’s teammate in Kyler Phillips.

That said, Paiva has a tall mountain to climb at UFC 269. Sean O’Malley is one of the more dynamic fighters in all the UFC. He’s incredibly talented wherever the fight takes place, but he shines in the stand up.

O’Malley is huge for the weight class and he’s going to have a big size advantage on Saturday night. After suffering his first loss to Chito Vera last year, O’Malley has bounced back with two solid wins this year.

UFC 269 Preview

This is such a great fight to kick off the PPV main card because you have two guys who will stand in there and strike. These two will put on a show at UFC 269.

For Paiva, it’s going to be key to try and use his speed to his advantage. As mentioned, he’s going to be the smaller man in the cage so he’s going to need to be scappy.

On the flip side, O’Malley needs to keep the fight at range where he will have a big advantage. I’m expecting a kick-heavy attack from The Suga Show on Saturday night.

Ultimately, I’m finding a hard time seeing Paiva winning this fight. While I think he will put up a good fight, I think O’Malley catches him clean and puts him away in the second round.

Prediction: Sean O’Malley by TKO – Round 2

UFC 269 Main Card Predictions: Part 1

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Sean O'Malley

It. Is. TIME! UFC 269 is finally taking place this Saturday and has a main card that’s stacked to the brim with bright talent, unreal explosiveness, and plenty of championship ambition.

Though title legacies are at stake for some, others are merely looking to secure a much-needed victory to put them one step closer to being within reach of that dream.

To kick off the main card, UFC starlet Sean O’Malley will be taking on debatably his toughest opponent to date in the much-improved Raulian Paiva. With each bantamweight still on the outside looking in, both will do everything they can to come away victorious.

Following this battle, the fans will get to witness the flyweight debut of Cody Garbrandt as he takes on one of the most dangerous Top 10 contenders in the division in Kai Kara-France.

From excitement to exhilaration to thrill, these first two fights alone have the means to ignite the event with a roar and send this crowd into a frenzy. On that note, here are the predictions for the first two main card bouts of UFC 269.

5. Sean O’Malley vs Raulian Paiva

“Sugar” Sean O’Malley:

Sean O’Malley is the real deal. At only age 27, O’Malley has transformed into one elite striker and has decorated his young UFC career with already four vicious knockouts.

After logging in three fights in 2020 that consisted of a nasty walk-off knockout on Eddie Wineland, O’Malley has made the most of 2021 as well, brutally knocking out both Thomas Almeida and Kris Moutinho prior to setting up his third matchup of the year against Paiva on Saturday.

What makes O’Malley so challenging to go up against is the vision, agility, and creativity he implements with his striking. Bringing a pristine sense of awareness and bouncy touch with his feet that allows him to evade punches and counters with ease, O’Malley frequently incorporates clever feints and movements to throw off his opponents and expose openings he can take advantage of.

Coming off of two ruthless KO/TKO victories this year, O’Malley will aim to get his third on Saturday night and place himself within the Top 15 rankings of one stacked bantamweight division.

Raulian Paiva:

Though Raulian Paiva began his UFC career just about three and a half years ago, the 26-year-old Brazilian has been professionally active in mixed martial arts for well over eight years and has transformed into a bright talent.

Since O’Malley’s sole loss to Marlon Vera last year, Paiva could very well be the most challenging opponent he’s faced so far. From his nasty leg kicks to his lulling hand motions to his persistent pressure, Paiva matches up a lot better with O’Malley than people might give him credit for and could cause a handful of problems.

Initially starting his UFC career as a Flyweight where he logged in four fights, Paiva just recently moved up to 135 and took down Kyler Phillips in a very close majority decision ruling in his bantamweight debut this past July.

Although O’Malley is easily one of the toughest opponents he’s ever faced, Paiva has everything he needs to deal a lot of damage on Saturday and is well-equipped with a wide range of skills that can lead him to victory.

Winner: Sean O’Malley

In all fairness to Paiva’s skillset (which includes a black belt in BJJ), he will need to execute a near-flawless performance if he has any hopes of walking out of the octagon with a win. Even in his last showdown against Phillips, Paiva left himself exposed all too often, getting knocked down and beaten up throughout the course of the fight.

O’Malley, on the other hand, has proven to be extremely difficult to defeat, with three out of his last four opponents suffering crushing knockouts. From the time he set foot into the UFC, none of O’Malley’s opponents have been able to deal much damage against him. In fact, if it wasn’t for the drop foot injury he suffered against Vera, O’Malley could very well be still undefeated.

Though this fight has everything to last all three rounds, expect O’Malley to leave UFC 269 victorious.

4. Kai Kara-France vs Cody Garbrandt

Kai “Don’t Blink” Kara-France:

At the age of 28, Kai Kara-France has developed into one exceptional talent in this men’s flyweight division. Logging in his first UFC fight just over three years ago, Kara-France came in with a bang, defeating his first three opponents by decision, which included the likes of Raulian Paiva and Mark De La Rosa.

That said, Kara-France has come across his share of shortcomings these last two years. In his third fight of 2019, Kara-France suffered his first UFC loss by unanimous decision against the current Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno before enduring his second loss at the hands of Brandon Royval via submission nearly a year later.

However, Kara-France has bounced back since his second loss and delivered an incredible comeback knockout against Rogerio Bontorin earlier this year. Despite grappling for his life as Bontorin was gradually closing in on a submission hold, Kara-France was able to break out, get back onto his feet, and deliver three mighty blows that sent Bontorin stumbling down to the mat for the KO/TKO win.

Whether he’s coming off a win or a loss, the New Zealand native is a constant threat and brings a calculated approach to his striking game. Even on the mat, Kara-France is as slithery as can be and is very difficult to contain. Though Garbrandt is the favorite coming into this fight, Kara-France has everything he needs to secure a victory in this much-anticipated showdown.

Cody “No Love” Garbrandt:

Cody Garbrandt is a seasoned UFC veteran with a whole lot left to show for. Coming onto the scene in 2015, Garbrandt won his first five fights, four of which consisted of knockout finishes.

This incredible winning streak landed him a title shot against Dominick Cruz, who was the bantamweight champion at the time. In his first five-round bout of his mixed martial arts career, Garbrandt managed to pull off a unanimous decision upset to become the new Bantamweight champion of the world.

However, since his sole title victory against Cruz in December of 2016, Garbrandt’s career took a stark turn for the worse. After losing the belt via knockout to his arch-rival T.J. Dillashaw a year later in 2017, Garbrandt lost the immediate title rematch in 2018 by knockout once again. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, Garbrandt suffered yet another KO/TKO in March of 2019, this time at the hands of Pedro Munhoz.

Although Garbrandt was able to collect one epic highlight-worthy knockout against Raphael Assuncao in 2020, he lost again earlier this year to Rob Font. Despite mustering three takedowns in under two rounds, Garbrandt struggled to keep Font on the ground and was thoroughly picked apart with nasty jabs and pounding strikes over the course of the fight.

After losing four of his last five matchups at 135, Garbrandt decided to switch over to the flyweight division and will start his journey there with a tough clash against Kara-France. But even at 125, Garbrandt possesses mighty power. And if he finds even the smallest opening, Garbrandt can end this showdown in a blink of an eye.

Winner: Kai Kara-France

What makes this clash so exciting is that it has the makings of a real slugfest. From Garbrandt’s volume and power to Kara-France’s precision and combos, both of these mixed martial artists have grown into elite strikers over time and have demonstrated just how dangerous they can be.

However, whether it goes the distance or not, expect Kara-France to come away with the victory, and for good reason. With his deceptive touch to set up nasty strikes and his astute sense awareness that allows him to niftily avoid hefty shots, Kara-France counterbalances Garbrandt’s striking tenacity quite well and just so happens to be one of the best kickboxers in the division.

On the other hand, Garbrandt does bring undeniable power but has struggled with connecting the knockout blows he’s been notorious for over his career. To add to it, Garbrandt has a tendency to be overly aggressive with his attacking sprees that, at times, not only lands him in hot water but also eats at his energy in the long run. Despite looking sharp against Font this past spring, Garbrandt had no answer to the striking volume and ferocity Font put forth and could face a similar result with Kara-France.

With all due respect to Garbrandt, he does have a chance at landing a knockout punch and is listed as the favorite after all. But considering how smart and tough Kara-France really is, he has the better chance of winning this matchup and will seek to take Garbrandt into deep waters come Saturday.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 Tomorrow!