UFC 226 Predictions
Two UFC champions battle each other tonight in the main event of UFC 226. Here’s our picks for tonight’s big card.
24401 Daniel Cormier vs. 24402 Stipe Miocic
The main event features Miocic (19-2), the heavyweight champ, defending his belt against Cormier (20-1) the light heavyweight champion. According to the latest oddsmakers, Miocic is the favorite to win, as he has -205 odds to prevail. Cormier is listed with a money line of +175 to win. Cormier has only lost to Jon Jones, who may be the best fighter in UFC history. Miocic has some great power, but he is a smaller heavyweight, which should allow Cormier to be fine moving up in weight. Cormier is a former heavyweight that never lost in the division. He has tremendous grappling skills and pushes a very challenging pace. I think that will be the difference. I expect Miocic to struggle with his gas tank in the later round and Cormier grinds out the win. UFC 226 Prediction: Daniel Cormier +175
24409 Derrick Lewis vs. 24410 Francis Ngannou
This is a battle of two top heavyweights. Oddsmakers see Ngannou as the favorite, as he is getting odds of -355 to win. Lewis is listed with a money line of +290 to win the fight. Ngannou (11-2) is coming off a title loss to Miocic, but he had four straight first-round KO wins prior to that. Lewis (19-5) has some great power as well, but isn’t as technically skilled as Ngannou. The man to land the first big punch is likely to win. I think Ngannou has the better chance to do it. His technical skills should allow him to land. UFC 226 Prediction: Francis Ngannou -355
24413 Anthony Pettis vs. 24414 Michael Chiesa
This is a lightweight bout where oddsmakers see Chiesa as the favorite. He is getting -155 odds to win, while Pettis is listed with a money line of +135. Chiesa (14-3) missed weight by a couple of pounds, but I don’t think that will impact him today. He didn’t look strained to try and finish the weight cut. He is a grappler that hasn’t fought in over a year, but I think he will be able to get Pettis to the ground and grind out a win. Pettis (20-7) is a very dangerous striker, but he has become a one-trick pony that isn’t really evolving his game. If Chiesa can avoid the big kicks, he should be just fine. UFC 226 Prediction: Michael Chiesa -155