Ross Williams runs through nine fights on the UFC 249 card in Jacksonville with predictions on each contest in the sport's return.
- Scroll down for full start time, TV details and fight card
The Floridian city of Jacksonville may not be the ‘fight island’ originally promised by eccentric president Dana White, but UFC fans will not mind one bit on Saturday night, as the octagon returns to our screens after a near month-long hiatus.
White has been bullish in his efforts to bring elite MMA to the masses during the Covid-19 outbreak, and he has delivered in kind this weekend.
Although reigning lightweight champion – and Conor McGregor conqueror – Khabib Nurmagomedov has fallen off the card, the re-arranged UFC 249 pay-per-view still looks like it could be one for the ages…
Uriah Hall vs Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza – Middleweight
To kick off the prelims, two veterans of the 185lb division face off in a battle that pits Hall’s dynamic and unorthodox striking against Jacare’s legendary ground control.
Although the ‘lights out’ offence of Uriah Hall is tough to ignore, the 35-year-old hasn’t beaten a major middleweight contender since he took the scalp of Gegard Mousasi way back in 2015.
Meanwhile, at five years Hall’s senior, Jacare is in do-or-die mode following a failed dip into the light-heavyweight division. If the much-loved Brazilian is ever going to wear UFC gold, a title run has to develop now or never.
Prediction: Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza via Unanimous Decision
Carla Esparza vs Michelle Waterson – Women’s Strawweight
Waterson took a loss last time out, but there is never any shame in conceding to Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Before that contest, Waterson was enjoying a streak of impressive decision victories, and well on her way to a title shot.
As for former champion Esparza, her last outing was a ‘fight of the night’ win over Alexa Grasso and if she replicates that performance, Waterson will have a difficult job on her hands, dealing with Esparza’s aggressive style. It’s a close one, but the pedigree of Esparza edges it for me.
Prediction: Carla Esparza via Majority Decision
Aleksei Oleinik vs Fabricio Werdum – Heavyweight
Aleksei Olenik is a tough customer, but after an incredible 72 fights, you have to wonder how much there is left in the tank. The Ukrainian likes to utilise the skills that once made him a world champion in the sport of combat sambo, but allowing a predator like Werdum so close to any of his limbs could be a recipe for disaster.
As Olenik tires, I fancy the former UFC champion to finish this one inside the distance, using the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he is truly a master of.
Prediction: Fabricio Werdum via Submission
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs Anthony Pettis – Welterweight
Future UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone – who was last seen taking an unceremonious beating from a returning Conor McGregor – headlines the prelims in a humdinger against Anthony Pettis.
Cerrone will be confident of overturning a three-fight slump, but Pettis didn’t earn his ‘Showtime’ nickname for nothing. Coming off a two-fight slide of his own, Pettis will be desperate to get back on the horse and I fancy him to get the job done here in a close one. This fight could headline a card all by itself, do not miss it.
Prediction: Anthony Pettis via Split Decision
Greg Hardy vs Yorgan de Castro – Heavyweight
One of the more controversial figures in MMA makes his ninth walk to the UFC octagon this weekend, in a fight that he should comfortably win.
Greg Hardy’s career path from disgraced NFL superstar to MMA contender has been tumultuous to say the least, but no one can deny that he’s shown promise in the cage. Hardy found the step-up to Alexander Volkov’s level too much last time out, but this bout should serve its purpose to get him back to winning ways.
Prediction: Greg Hardy via TKO
Jeremy Stephens vs Calvin Kattar – Featherweight
This 145lb match-up won’t get the attention of the remaining three bouts on the card, but do not be at all surprised if this turns out to be fight of the night.
Both fighters prefer to stay on their feet and trade leather, making for an exciting match-up, and the stakes are high for Stephens as he stares down the barrel of a fifth-straight fight without victory.
If ‘Lil Heathen’ lands a couple of his trademark big bombs, he could certainly pick up the win, but I like the more efficient striking of Kattar to get the job done in Jacksonville. In a close one like this, the smarter fighter usually takes it.
Prediction: Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision
Francis Ngannou vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Heavyweight
My advice? Don’t blink.
Two very similar fighters with terrifying punch power go head-to-head on Saturday in a fight that surely won’t require the timekeeper’s services for the full fifteen minutes.
A fast-pass to the world title picture awaits the winner and, although this really could be a matter of who lands clean first, I’ll put my faith in Ngannou to get the job done. Either way, this one gets wrapped up early.
Prediction: Francis Ngannou via TKO/KO
Henry Cejudo © vs Dominick Cruz – UFC Bantamweight Championship
A win for Dominick Cruz on Saturday would be storybook material. After four years out of the octagon, there are numerous doubts over Cruz’s ability to mix it at the elite level like he once did. However, the former champion’s fight IQ and talent is legendary, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that he went on an eight-year undefeated streak before his eventual loss to Cody Garbrandt in 2016.
In Cejudo though, he faces a two-weight world champion at the top of his game, who also boasts an Olympic gold medal for good measure. The reigning bantamweight king hasn’t tasted defeat since 2017 and he’ll be supremely confident he can add another legend’s name to his impressive resume.
Expect Cruz to have success against Cejudo early, much like Marlon Moraes did, but as the fight goes on, Henry’s wrestling and tenacity will likely wear the challenger down, opening the door for a finish to the fight, and possibly Cruz’s illustrious UFC career.
Prediction: Henry Cejudo via TKO
Tony Ferguson vs Justin Gaethje – Interim UFC Lightweight Championship
No Khabib? No problem.
This may not be the UFC 249 main event everyone wanted, but it is one heck of an alternative. Few members of the UFC roster can match the warrior-like mentality of Tony Ferguson, but Justin Gaethje is one that is certainly up to the task.
The former WSOF lightweight champion has made a career out of living and dying by the sword, but the nuances he has added to his game in the last two years have catapulted him onto the elite scene. Gaethje is a smarter and more technical fighter in 2020 than he once was, but make no mistake, he will still walk through the flames on Saturday night.
In Ferguson though, he faces the toughest task of his career. ‘El Cucuy’ is incomparable in his approach to MMA. His style is unique, unconventional and often downright weird, but it’s nothing if not effective. Ferguson is well aware that Saturday represents the final hurdle in the race to Nurmagomedov and, although Gaethje will provide a stern test for at least three or four rounds, I expect Tony to add to his phenomenal 12-fight win streak with a victory inside the distance.
Prediction: Tony Ferguson via Submission
UFC 249: Fight times, TV channel and cost
- Prelim fights: Around 11pm BST on Saturday, May 9
- Main card: Around 3am BST, Sunday, May 10
- Ferguson v Gaethje: Around 5am BST
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1, coverage starting at 1am
- Streaming: Available to subscribers via the BT Sport website or the app.
- Where: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville behind closed doors
- Odds: Click here for Sky Bet prices
Fight Card & Sky Bet Odds
Main card
- Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
- Henry Cejudo vs Dominick Cruz
- Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
- Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
Prelims
- Anthony Pettis vs. Donald Cerrone
- Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
- Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Early prelims
- Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
- Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PRICES FROM SKY BET
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