TheWeasle — UFC 329 full-card predictions

Sees Costa's power, strength and finishing upside as the difference against Durden's wrestling-first game. He expects Costa to threaten guillotines enough to make the takedowns costly, then track Durden's limited defensive reactions and finish with ground-and-pound in round two.

“Ending the fight by TKO in the second round.”

Acknowledges Gandra's first-round power as the danger, but trusts Reese as the more skilled and technical fighter if he survives the early storm. He expects Reese to use body kicks and grappling as the fight extends, then submit Gandra with a rear-naked choke in round three.

“I'm going to go with the more skilled fighter.”

Explicitly notes the opponent change from Ethan Ewing to John Garza and treats Garza as a short-notice UFC debutant with real striking but a clear skill gap. He expects Basharat to out-jab him, blend wrestling with the striking, then use the grappling edge for a second-round rear-naked choke.

“down again and submits him with a rear naked choke. So, I'm going to go with Far Basharat, just being more wellrounded and using his grappling to win the fight.”

Respects Almeida's kickboxing experience but thinks Pinas is explosive enough, long enough and straight enough with his entries to beat Almeida to the target. He expects some competitive striking exchanges before Pinas' speed and accuracy produce a second-round knockout.

“I'm going to go Damian Pinas knocking out Caesar Almeida in the second round.”

Calls Wang Cong the more technical, faster and more powerful striker, with more variety than Cortez on the feet. He thinks Cortez needs takedowns to change the fight, but trusts Wang's takedown defense and output enough to win a decision.

“I'm going to go with Wong Tong winning this fight by a decision.”

Gives Kamaka a chance to land early boxing, but sees Riley's offensive pressure and power as the deciding traits once exchanges open up. He expects Riley to keep throwing through Kamaka's offense and overpower him for a second-round knockout.

“I think Luke Riley at the end of the day is going to overpower him in these exchanges, knocking him out in the second round.”

Does not trust Garbrandt's durability against Yanez's boxing. He expects Yanez to find Garbrandt early and finish him in the first round.

“I'm going to go with Adrien Yanez knocking out Cody Garbrandt in the first round.”

Treats the matchup as a showcase for Steveson's elite wrestling and athleticism against an opponent he thinks is badly overmatched. He expects Steveson to maul Ellison quickly and finish in round one.

“I'm going with Gable Steveson annihilating Alicia Ellison in the first round.”

Likes Whittaker's speed and timing at light heavyweight against Krylov's aggressive blitzes. He expects Krylov to overextend late, get countered, and be finished by ground-and-pound in round three.

“I'm going to go with Robert Whittaker by a third round TKO, winning his light heavyweight debut.”

Rates Kavanagh as a future champion-level talent and thinks his speed, kicks and punching entries will make Royval miss too often. He expects Kavanagh to pick Royval apart and eventually knock him out in the third round.

“I think Kavanagh is going to knock Royval out in the third round. Too many one-twos connecting throughout this fight for Kavanagh not to knock him out.”

Sees a high-level rematch where Bautista will land and test whether Sandhagen's chin has slipped, but still trusts Sandhagen's range tools. He expects Sandhagen's long-range work and jab to edge a 29-28 unanimous decision.

“I ultimately think Cory Sandhagen's range work is going to win in this fight on a decision. So, I'm going to go with Cory Sandhagen winning a 29-28 unanimous decision.”

Frames Saint Denis as the fighter more likely to force the pressure and damage in a wild, size-for-size lightweight clash. He gives Pimblett the cardio edge and a possible late rally, but expects Saint Denis to win the first two rounds and take a decision.

“I'm going with Benoit Saint Denis. Patty didn't have the power to earn Gachi's respect. So, I'm gonna go with Ben Saint Denis winning this fight by a decision.”

Gives McGregor a real early power-and-style path, especially at 170 pounds, but thinks five years away has made him too slow and rusty. He expects Holloway's speed, movement, body-head volume and activity to wear McGregor down for a third-round fence-side TKO.

“I'm gonna go with Max Holloway, TKO and Conor McGregor against the fence with a combination.”