UFC Edmonton predictions for Buckley vs. Malott

Lightweight bout: Kyle Nelson vs. Cristian Perez

Canada’s Nelson has KO power but a weak chin, and that is going to be a problem here against Perez, who has power but is more durable as the younger fighter in this matchup.

Take Perez to knock Nelson out and likely send him packing from the UFC.

Pick: Cristian Perez via TKO

Middleweight bout: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Kyle Daukaus

Quebec’s Barriault and American Daukaus are two middleweights who are known for standing in the center of the Octagon and trading until someone falls, and that’s exactly what I see happening here in a fight.

I would be shocked if it went three full rounds, so go with Daukaus to clip Barriault and finish him in the first round.

Pick: Kyle Daukaus via TKO

Bantamweight bout: Louis Jourdain vs. Timmy Cuamba

Quebec’s Jourdain finally makes his UFC debut after getting a contract a year ago when he takes on America’s Cuamba, who has had a very up-and-down run in the UFC.

Jourdain is the prospect with the higher ceiling, and I think he wins this fight by submission.

Pick: Louis Jourdain via submission

Lightweight bout: Mandel Nallo vs. Nate Landwehr

Canada’s Nallo hits hard and has a weak chin, which is the same you can say about the veteran American Landwehr in a fight that is not going the distance.

Although Landwehr has a puncher’s chance, I like Nallo to catch him early and KO him in the first round to collect his first UFC victory.

Pick: Mandel Nallo via TKO

UFC Edmonton Preliminary Card Preview & Picks

Heavyweight bout: Tanner Boser vs. Jhonata Diniz

Albert’s Boser will have the hometown crowd cheering for him here to defeat Brazil’s Diniz, but his chin will likely let him down once again as I see Diniz knocking Boser out.

Pick: Jhonata Diniz via TKO

Middleweight bout: Julien Leblanc vs. Nick Galanti

Leblanc is one of the weakest Canadian fighters on the roster, and he has a brutal matchup here against Galanti, who is the biggest favorite on the card for a reason.

Look for Galanti to take Leblanc down and submit him in the first round to mark a successful UFC debut for the American fighter.

Pick: Nick Galanti via submission

Heavyweight bout: Javad Mahjoub vs. Joel Faglier

Iranian-born Canadian resident Mahjoub makes his UFC debut here against American Faglier, who is also fighting inside the Octagon for the first time.

I was impressed by what I saw from Faglier on his fight tape from the regional circuit, and I like him to come in here and take out the Canadian with a knockout win.

Pick: Joel Faglier via TKO

Women’s flyweight bout: Katlyn Cerminara vs. Mackenzie Stiller

One of the most straightforward fights to pick on the entire card sees Cerminara make her return after two years away due to having a child against UFC newcomer Stiller.

Cerminara is the bigger, more experienced, and overall superior MMA fighter, and I have no doubt she wins a decision here in the only fight on the card that does not feature a Canadian fighter.

Pick: Katlyn Cerminara via decision

Bantamweight bout: Chad Anheliger vs. Steven Koslow

Alberta’s Anheliger is 39 years old and clearly on the decline, but Koslow is someone I just can’t pick given he hasn’t fought in four years, which is a crazy-long layoff in MMA.

Give me Anheliger to give the Canadian crowd something to cheer about with a knockout win in the latter rounds once Koslow gasses out from failing to get a submission early on.

Pick: Chad Anheliger via TKO

Women’s bantamweight bout: Melissa Croden vs. Chelsea Chandler

Canada’s own Croden will look to get another win in the UFC against Chandler, and she should do just that.

Croden is the bigger, stronger fighter and has finishing ability, and I like her to take Chandler down to the mat and finish her with a TKO via ground-and-pound.

Pick: Melissa Croden via TKO

Bantamweight bout: Cody Chovancek vs. SuYoung Yoo

Chovancek was a standout on Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series last year, but the Ontario native hasn’t fought in the UFC until now due to injuries.

Still, despite the one-year layoff, I like Chovancek to enter the Octagon and get a win over Yoo by knockout to kick off the UFC Edmonton card with a Canadian getting their hand raised.

Pick: Cody Chovancek via TKO