The MMA Guru — UFC Freedom 250 predictions

Lopes ("Diego Lopez") is better and made a career of catching pressure fighters coming in, so he survives Garcia's early rush and finishes him with ground-and-pound in the first round.

“Steve Garcia getting this one done. I'm going with Diego Lopez by late or mid”

Daukaus ("Kyle Dorcas") is dangerous on the feet, breaks Nickal down with strikes and clinch work, and eventually catches him in a D'Arce ("dash") choke off a lazy takedown.

“So, I'm actually going to go with Kyle Daukas.”

Chandler no longer has the strength game to control Ruffy ("Mauricio Huffy"), who finishes him violently on the feet.

“I'm going against Michael Chandler. Um, I'm taking Mauricio Huffy by brutal, disgusting, despicable palms up, slime out KO in the first round.”

Hokit ("Josh Hockett") puts a crazy pace on a fading, quit-prone Lewis, dominating top position and ground-and-pound for a first-round TKO crumble.

“I would have entertained the idea of a Derek Lewis upset KO, but I really think Josh Hockett has got this one in”

Zahabi ("Amy/Amian Zahabi") lacks the sudden power or grappling to threaten O'Malley ("Shaun Ali/Omali"), who will be too there-to-be-hit and get clipped for a vintage highlight KO in the first or second round.

“can't be biased. No, I'm joking. I'm going with Sean O'Malley. He's going to”

Gane ("Gan") stings him early and may win a round, but Pereira's superior striking technique and accumulating low kicks/body shots wear Gane down until he crumbles to the cage pressure.

“So, I'm going to go with Alex Pereira round three TKO.”

Doesn't buy that Gaethje still has the one-shot power to put Topuria away. Sees Topuria hurt him, start the attack, and finish inside two.

“I think in the second round when Gaethje starts to feel like, okay, now's my time. That's when he's out cold. Ilia Topuria catches him.”