UFC Fight Night Paris: Picks & predictions for Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho

This is a fantastic matchup between two high-level fighters that are both in the prime of their careers. I won’t be at all surprised if Imavov is able to grind out a decision on the feet, but Borralho should be able to hold his own in the striking and also has an underutilized ground game to fall back on.

(Pick: Borralho)

Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy

I’ll be very interested to see how this fight plays out if Ruffy finds that he can’t just flatten Saint-Denis with one clean shot. “God of War” has shown some incredible durability since joining the UFC, but I still think Ruffy will have enough big moments to get the nod if things do make it to the judges’ scorecards.

(Pick: Ruffy)

Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig

Craig is very much in danger of being bounced from the UFC with another loss here. I don’t have much faith in his ability to bring Bukauskas to the mat, but I’d love to see the 37-year-old pull off one of the wild submissions that helped make him a fan favorite after he joined the UFC.

(Pick: Craig)

Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones

It’s tough to read too much into Jones’ win over Jeremy Stephens given Stephens’ age and the fact that he was returning to the UFC for a one-off fight above his usual division. I am glad to see “The Dragon” back in the UFC though, and I’ll pick him to get the better of Oki in what should be an entertaining scrap.

(Pick: Jones)

Axel Sola vs. Rhys McKee

I have some concerns about the fact that Sola is moving back up to welterweight for this fight, but I do think he should be able to handle McKee and add to his unbeaten record in the 27-year-old’s UFC debut.

(Pick: Sola)

William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchala

The UFC matchmakers have done Ruchala no favors with this debut matchup against Gomis, but I’ll side with the former KSW champion to take advantage of the spotlight and pull off the upset.

(Pick: Ruchala)

UFC Fight Night Paris Preliminary Card Predictions

Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija

Delija is an interesting addition to the UFC heavyweight division, but even an aging Tybura presents a frustrating matchup for most fighters that aren’t able to just get him out of there early with some sort of a big shot.

(Pick: Tybura)

Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Coming into this UFC Paris matchup following the first loss of his career, I expect Sy will try to regain some momentum by scoring a stoppage-win at the expense of Ribeiro.

(Pick: Sy)

Harry Hardwick vs. Kauê Fernandes

I wish Hardwick wasn’t making his debut up a weight class and on extremely short notice, but I’m still going to pick “Houdini” to score a big win in his first UFC outing.

(Pick: Hardwick)

Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters

This may well be the lankiest matchup that the UFC lightweight division has ever seen. Waters could score the minor upset if he’s able to catch Patterson with something clean, but I think “The Future” will look to bring things to the mat and win the fight there.

(Pick: Patterson)

Brad Tavares vs. Robert Bryczek

A debut loss to Ihor Poteiria has not aged well for Bryczek, and even with Tavares now at the tail end of his career I still think the American should be able to get his hand raised here.

(Pick: Tavares)

Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Andreas Gustafsson

Gustafsson scored a minor upset in his UFC debut against Khaos William in June, but I’m pretty surprised to see the Swede lined as a small favorite over a significantly

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