This article is part of our Drake's Takes series.
Johnny Munoz (10-1-0) v. Jamey Simmons (7-3-0)
- Munoz is a strong grappler with limited boxing. He will use single straight shots to the head, and kicks to the head and body. He does not move his head much and will get hit down the middle. He is most comfortable on the mat and will look to chain takedowns and control his opponent every round. He can get takedowns in the center of the ring or against the cage in the clinch. He has great control, finishes on the mat and works great off his back when taken down himself.
- Simmons is also a guy who prefers to wrestle on the mat. He throws looping shots with a powerful right hand. He pressures forward looking to clinch his opponent against the cage. He fights with his hands low and gets hit from multiple angles because of it. He will attempt to chain takedowns and get the fight to the mat where he can look to lock up a submission.
DFS Perspective: I fully expect Munoz to dominate this matchup and win early. I do not think Simmons is UFC-ready, and Munoz should be better everywhere this goes. Munoz should chain enough takedowns/control time to score well in a decision as well.
My Pick: Munoz
Victoria Leonardo (8-4-0) v. Melissa Gatto (6-0-2)
- Leonardo is a pressure fighter with above-average striking. She uses a quick jab and combinations from range. Her footwork is decent, and she will bait opponents in and counter back. She will switch stances and throw kicks to the head and body. She works well in the clinch and looks for level changes to takedown and control. She will throw ground and pound in top control or look to take the back and lock up a submission.
- Gatto is finally making her UFC debut and is a dangerous fighter on the mat. Her striking leaves much to be desired. She last fought nearly three years ago, so where she is at with striking now is undetermined. Being on the mat is where she shines. She is always a submission threat, including off her back. Her defense before also needed some work, so hopefully she has improved behind the scenes.
DFS Perspective: If the fight stays on the feet, it will be Leonardo's to lose. Gatto will want this fight on the mat at all times and will never stop looking for a submission. If she can find an early sub, she can hit value. Leonardo would likely hit value with any type of win.
My Pick: Gatto
Miles Johns (11-1-0) v. Anderson Dos Santos (21-8-0)
- Johns is a great technical striker, using timely strikes rather than volume. He possesses little power in his hands and relies on defense to win decisions. He can be difficult to hit, and he has great takedown defense. He is a good wrestler but tends to only use it defensively. If he were to open his game a little more and shoot for takedowns, he could be far more successful. He manages his cardio well and has a great chin.
- Dos Santos is a decent striker with a motor that never stops. He continually moves and throws quick shots while looking for an opening to take his opponent down. Overall, he has not been very successful with them, but when he makes it to the mat he tends to do well. He controls well and can hunt for submission in a guard position or from the back. His cardio does become a bit problematic towards the third round, and his chin is questionable.
DFS Perspective: If Johns wins, I am not a fan of this fight. He has not scored well for DFS, and I do not see it changing here unless he were to finish in the first round. He does not throw enough volume, or get takedowns, to score well in a decision. Dos Santos could score well and nail value if he is able to get takedowns and control the fight or get an early finish. I think we see a bit of a slower-paced fight, resulting in a low-scoring decision.
My Pick: Johns
Manel Kape (15-6-0) v. Ode Osbourne (9-3-0, 1NC)
- Kape has underwhelmed in two fights with the UFC but is still a dangerous finisher. He uses his speed and excellent striking to pressure forward and lay into his opponent. He has great counter striking and holds his hands low to bait strikes. He carries big power in his hands and works well in the clinch. His offensive grappling is decent given his strength, but defensively he could use some work. He can be taken down and controlled/submitted.
- Osbourne is a rangy fighter with a great overall game. He is long for the division and uses a fast one-two. He is a high-volume, good-power combination striker who will also mix in kicks to the head and body. He has quick movement and can be difficult to hit. His submission game is excellent, and he works well off his back. When he shoots for takedowns, he has shown difficulties controlling and keeping them on the mat.
DFS Perspective: This should be a high-paced fight for as long as it lasts. I think this ends in a finish and scores well. Ode throws a lot of volume and if he wins in any fashion, he should smash value. Kape would likely need a finish, or multiple takedowns, to hit value.
My Pick: Osbourne
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (13-6-0) v. Jessica Penne (13-6-0)
- Kowalkiewicz is back, riding a four-fight losing streak and potentially on the chopping block. She is a good striker with quick foot movement. She uses quick jabs and combos to attack the head, and kicks to attack the head and body. She throws a high volume, but she has eaten even more over the last few fights. Aside from her last fight, she has great takedown defense. When taken down, she has great scrambling and can get back up quickly. Her clinch work is strong and where she will likely try to get this.
- Penne made a return to the ring after almost four years with a lucky win last time out. She is a veteran of the sport and a good striker. She will use her long range to strike from a distance. She uses jabs and quick combos mixed with kicks to the head and body. Her clinch game is strong and allows her to throw hard knees. She will occasionally look for takedowns and use her strong grappling to control opponents on the mat. She can be dangerous in top position, or hunt for submissions.
DFS Perspective: For DFS I am not a fan of this fight. It likely yields a low-scoring decision. If Penne can get some takedowns and control Karolina on the mat, she could come away with another upset win. If Karolina keeps it up and lights up volume, she could score decent, but likely be short of good value.
My Pick: Kowalkiewicz
Alonzo Menifield (10-2-0) v. Ed Herman (27-14-0, 1NC)
- Menifield is a dangerous first-round finisher with massive power. He is a pressure, in-your-face fighter. He will continually blitz with massive power shots looking to put his opponent away quickly. He has great head and foot movement, but when he lunges in with some shots, he can take a big hit. He has excellent takedown defense and prefers to keep the fight on the feet. After the first round, the odds slowly move against him as he tires out.
- Herman is a timeless veteran with a well-rounded game. He has decent striking with good foot movement. He will throw jabs, hooks, and mix in kicks to the head and body. He is good at changing levels and mixing in takedowns. His wrestling is above average, and he is great at controlling his opponents, or hunting for submissions.
DFS Perspective: I like Menifield to come out with a big finish here. He will be the better all-around fighter and has much more power. I think his forward pressure and blitz attacks will be too much for Herman, and he crushes value with an early win. If Herman can weather the early storm and drag this into the later rounds, his chances go up, as Menifield does not have the best cardio.
My Pick: Menifield
Vince Morales (9-6-0) v. Drako Rodriguez (7-2-0)
- Morales is potentially fighting his last in the UFC, having started off with only one win in four fights. He is a striker with decent power. His foot and head movement are excellent and helps him avoid big shots. He pressures in and keeps his hands low, causing him to get hit down the middle. He will kick and attack the legs and body. His takedown defense is decent. When taken down, he has shown good scrambling and ability to get back up.
- Rodriguez is considered a rising prospect with a well-rounded skillset. He is a boxer with solid counter punches and quick, powerful hands. He is dangerous in the pocket and blitzes in close exchanges looking to end the fight early. He will shoot for takedowns and hunt for submissions. He is more of a scrambler than a wrestler and finds crafty ways to submit his opponent. His scrambling also allows him to get up quickly, but his biggest kryptonite is a good wrestler.
DFS Perspective: Drako has a chance to get an early finish with his power, which would crush value. If Morales chooses to use his wrestling, he could have a good showing and get the upset. I think Drako has more avenues to win this fight, but without a finish here, it could be a low score.
My Pick: Rodriguez
Bobby Green (27-11-1) v. Rafael Fiziev (8-1-0)
- Green is a veteran and great all-around fighter. He has fast hands and good movement. He rolls off punches well and looks for counters. He has power in his jabs and combinations. He uses his movement and level changes to shoot for takedowns. He has plenty of success with them, and controls very well on the mat. He is an excellent grappler/wrestler and can use ground and pound in top control or hunt for a submission.
- Fiziev is a dangerous striker with massive power. He uses huge pressure and forward march to blitz his opponent with is power and end the fight early. He has great jabs and hooks, and will mix in leg kicks to change level. In the clinch, he becomes even more deadly and just lays the heat. He does not grapple often but occasionally will get a body lock and look for ground and pound. His takedown defense is elite, and his scrambling to get back up is just as good.
DFS Perspective: If Green were to win, he would break the slate, as it would likely be a decision with a lot of takedowns and control time. I am all Fiziev and do not think Green will have a fun fight. Fiziev is going to be the far better striker and much quicker. He likely finds an early hook to rock Green and then go to town.
My Pick: Fiziev
Song Yadong (16-5-1, 1NC) v. Casey Kenney (16-3-1)
- Yadong is a phenomenal and dangerous young striker. He will walk his opponents down with high pressure and throw multiple jabs and kicks. He will get his opponent backed up against the cage, moving in and out or range, throwing powerful hooks and combinations. His counters after slipping shots are elite, and he does an amazing job of controlling the ring. He has excellent offensive and defensive grappling. He uses his strength to control his opponents or posture up, throwing heavy ground and pound.
- Kenney is a big southpaw with tremendous power for the division and an amazing ground game. He has massive kicks to the legs, body and head. His jabs are strong, and he will mix in combination hooks attacking the head and body. He will sit back and counter punch and try to back his opponent up to the cage, where he can throw deadly knees and elbows in the clinch. He will level change and look for takedowns, getting the fight to the mat where he can really work. His grappling is strong, and he keeps control of his opponents. He can rain down heavy ground and pound or take the back and look for a submission.
DFS Perspective: This has Fight of the Night written all over it. I would say you likely need one or the other in just about every lineup. Yadong has big power and could end this quickly with a knockout. Kenney could pile up takedowns and control time and rack up a big-scoring decision or finish. Both guys where they are priced will smash value.
My Pick: Kenney
Tecia Torres (11-5-0) v. Angela Hill (13-9-0)
- Torres is a good striker who demonstrates a mix of karate, taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu throughout her fights. She has quick jabs and often walks forward with a flurry of strikes. Her movement is excellent, and she mixes in powerful kicks. She works great in the clinch, looking for trips to get the fight to the mat. Her control is fantastic, and she does not allow much scrambling to take place. She does not often search for submissions but keeps control long enough to steal the round.
- Hill is a great striker with big power and good movement. She no longer seems to fight much from range, and instead fights inside using power shots. She will throw a lot of heavy single shots and big kicks to the head and body. She works well at targeting all parts of the body and has good defensive head movement to avoid shots. Her grappling is much-improved. She works very well in the clinch throwing huge elbows. She has good trips and excellent ground and pound in top control. She has also gotten better working at scrambling off her back and getting back up.
DFS Perspective: I am not expecting a huge score from the match, as it likely goes to decision. Torres will have a big advantage on the ground/clinch and will look to control Hill for the length of the round. She will also look to use her hard kicks to slow Hill down. Hill will look to pressure inside and use her power to hurt Torres early.
My Pick: Torres
Michael Chiesa (18-4-0) v. Vicente Luque (20-7-1)
- Chiesa is a wizard on the mat and looking for the biggest win of his career. His striking is decent. He will use pressure to back his opponent up and throw furious combos and elbows while they worry about the potential takedown. He is elite at shooting for takedowns or getting body locks against the cage. He uses his strength to overwhelm and lay loads of pressure with his top control. He is excellent at keeping control on the mat and will look to take the back when opponents attempt to get up.
- Luque is an excellent technical striker with incredible power. He throws a straight jab to a varied combination. He fights loose and has quick hands. He will pressure forward and throw flying knees. He attacks the body with hooks and is elite at changing angles. When he gets into the pocket, he will brawl and throw flurries of punches. His grappling is also a plus skill, featuring good takedown defense and takedowns against the cage. He has a powerful ground and pound and can hunt for submissions in various ways.
DFS Perspective: I like both fighters here, as the winner should score well. If Luque wins, it is likely by an early knockout, putting up a big score. If Chiesa wins, its is likely by decision with loads of takedowns and control time. Chiesa is very good at planning and then following that plan in his fights. He makes a great dog play. This should be a highly entertaining fight and probably my favorite on the card.
My Pick: Chiesa
Jose Aldo (28-7-0) v. Pedro Munhoz (19-5-0, 1NC)
- Aldo is an elite Muay Thai technical striker with fantastic defense. He carries big power in his hands and throws a lot of hooks to the head. He mixes in nasty leg kicks and combinations to the head and body. His body shots can be devastating and cause a lot of damage early. He has great movement and fast hands. His black belt in jiu-jitsu is hardly used, as he prefers to keep the fight upright. His takedown defense is among the best, and his scrambling is top tier.
- Munhoz is a great striker with a black belt in BJJ as well. He walks his opponents down with constant pressure, throwing jabs and powerful hooks. He has deadly kicks that he throws to all parts of the body and often hurts his opponent early. He works well in the pocket with heavy combinations and counters. He is a hittable fighter and does not move his head much. He does not shoot often for takedowns, but when he does, he is a crafty submission specialist. His takedown defense in the open and against the cage is elite, and he is very difficult to hold onto.
DFS Perspective: This is a good fight between two veterans. I think it probably goes to a decision, which could end up being lower scoring. Aldo is the more technical striker, but Munhoz likely throws more volume. I expect this to primarily play out on the feet, with Munhoz edging out a close decision. If Munhoz decides to take this the mat and mix in takedowns, he could score well at his price point.
My Pick: Munhoz
Derrick Lewis (25-7-0, 1NC) v. Ciryl Gane (9-0-0)
- Lewis is a boxer with exemplary power and decent grappling. There are definitely not many people who have as much power as this guy does. He attacks with pressure and powerful combinations. He tends to blitz and throw a lot of jabs and hooks. He has a great counter punch that he hides well. He is dangerous in the pocket and will throw kicks to throw off his opponent. He does a lot of damage in the clinch. He can shoot for takedowns or grab body locks. On the ground, he will get in top control and lay on massive ground and pound. When taken down himself, he has shown a great ability to scramble back up but struggles off his back.
- Gane is an elite fighter with an incredible fight IQ. He is a unique heavyweight with incredible movement. He has great striking and switches stances to mix up combos keeping his opponent guessing. He is quick on the feet making him difficult to hit. He can pressure forward to back his opponent and counter anything they throw before assaulting them with knees or spinning backfists. Gane is strong in the clinch and has shown the ability to go for takedowns. He will catch kicks, take them down, and then gain top control for ground and pound, or look for a sub.
DFS Perspective: I am all Gane all the way. Lewis has a chance, like against anyone, due to his ridiculous power. I believe that is his only path to victory here. Gane is extremely hard to hit, and I do not see Lewis being able to land the big one. I expect Gane to make this a slightly boring match where he controls Lewis most of the match and takes his W to the title fight.
My Pick: Gane
