The UFC is back in the Apex after an amazing UFC 280 Card in Abu Dhabi last weekend. Will UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen deliver too?
This weekend’s UFC Fight Night is headlined by Calvin Kattar, a tough, gritty and hard-hitting Massachusett and surging Featherweight Brit, Arnold Allen. Coming into the match-up Calvin is ranked #5 in the division and Arnold sits just one position below at #6. Since joining the UFC in 2016, Englishman Allen has gone 9-0 under the banner and flexes an impressive overall record of 18-1. Kattar joined the UFC a year later in 2017. His record under the UFC banner is 7 wins and 4 defeats. Although he does arguably have a much harder resume in the octagon. Fighting the likes of Max Holloway and Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Also featured on the UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen is a Welterweight clash between the always-entertaining Max Griffin and Tim Means. Who are both rarely in a dull fight. Descending the card is a Heavyweight scrap featuring Jared Vanderaa and Waldo Cortes-Acosta. It’ll be a surprise for all fight fans if this one sees the judges needed. Next up is a pair of Middleweights, Josh Fremd and Tresean Gore. Both fighters will be looking for their first win inside the UFC, which should bring out the best in both men in this high-pressure scenario. Finally, opening up the card will be a Light-Heavyweight match between Dustin Jacoby and Khalil Roundtree Jr. Outside of the Main Event, this has to be the best fight on the card. Expect violence, top-class violence in this one. A must-watch!
UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen: Main Card Predictions
UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen
Arnold Allen
I remember when this fight got announced and thinking, wow what an interesting matchup. A fight that makes sense, at the right time, with two fighters hitting their peaks. Can only make a good fight, right? Starting out with my fellow countryman Arnold ‘Almighty’ Allen. ‘Almighty’ enters the cage on Saturday night with an 11-fight win streak, with his last outing coming against Dan Hooker. Welcoming Dan back to the Featherweight division after 5 years out, Allen dominated the fight from the first second. Scoring a first-round TKO and Performance of the Night bonus to match. This was Allen’s 10th career finish but only second under the UFC.
Previously Arnold had fought names such as Gilbert Melendez, Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff, earning unanimous decisions in each fight. I think this shows Allen can hang with the top-ranked names. He can fight intelligently over three rounds, comfortably if he needs to. Something to note is that this will be Allen’s first Main Event and also his first scheduled five-round fight.
Calvin Kattar
Now over to Massachusett Calvin Kattar. Calvin, like Allen, is very well-rounded. He’s shown he can hang anywhere in a fight. Four of his last six wins have come via either a TKO or KO. He’s also ground out decisions to victory. The only major difference between his and Allen’s latest fights is that Kattar has fought over five rounds. As with Allen, his only three. The difference between 15 minutes and 25 minutes in a fight, is quite something. Even when it got bad for Calvin (the Max Holloway fight comes to mind), he’s shown the gas tank is there for the full course.
His last four fights have been five-round Main Events. 100 minutes of fighting. 75 minutes of Fight of the Night performances. The downside to those 75 minutes is he lost two of the three fights. His last fight saw him on the wrong side of a split decision over Josh Emmett. Personally, I had Kattar winning in a razor-close fight. But will this affect his confidence? Will Allen’s 11-fight win streak give him a confidence edge?
My Prediction
I think most fight fans are having a tough time calling this fight. Do you go with the more experienced Kattar or do you go for the young hungry Allen? Both are so well-rounded and aggressive. My initial gut feeling is that Kattar and Allen will have a round to each other’s timing and range. Both having success at points through round one. One might look to engage in a clinch against the fence or attempt a takedown to win the round. Rounds 2-3 will be similar but more output from both. I think whoever grabs these rounds win the fight.
My opinion is that Kattar takes these. His experience and height and reach advantage (although small) will win crucial exchanges. My thinking is the most likely result we see is Kattar via unanimous decision. However! I am going to officially say Kattar stops Allen in round five. A statement made would earn the victor title talks. Both men know that. Both men will want that.
Staff picking Kattar: Jed Leon, Patrick McCorry
Staff picking Allen: Lewis Simpson, Ella Earle, Chris Thomas, Lewis Hart, LouTube, James Rees, Lewis Glover, Tommy Ford, Jack Calder, Shaun Clarke
Welterweight: Max Griffin vs Tim Means
Max Griffin
Thirteen-fight UFC vet Max Griffin will look to rack up a winning streak again after his three-fight win streak was ended by a split decision loss to #13 ranked Neil Magny.
Griffin, who is always ready to bring the heat into the cage recently scored wins against former title challenger and interim champion Carlos Condit and a Performance of the Night knockout over Song Kenan. Three of his last four losses have been via split decision. Something Griffin will definitely have in his head going into the fight this Saturday. It also proves Griffin is always in the fight to the last moment.
Tim Means
Saturday will mark Means’ 48 professional fight and 26th inside the UFC. If we can call Max Griffin a vet, I guess that makes Means a super vet. He’s pretty much seen it all inside the octagon. Until a recent submission loss to Middleweight and Welterweight “big mouth” Kevin Holland, Tim Means was too (like Max Griffin) on a three-fight winning streak. Finishing 24 of his 32 wins, Means is always a fighter to watch.
My Prediction
Although Means is 3 or 4 inches taller than Griffin (depending on what outlet you look at) it is actually Griffin who will have the reach advantage in this fight. Both men are also fighting father time in the cage. Means 38 and Griffin 36. A win here means a lot on the trajectory of either man’s career. I think in this fight we see a stoppage. Means has looked good of late and age is just a number sure. I do see Max getting it done though. I think he shows more explosiveness in his shots. Tim can butcher you and hurt progressively over the fight but I see Max closing in, landing a big overhand or hook to shut the lights out. Max Griffin via TKO in round 1.
Staff picking Max Griffin: Jed Leon, Lewis Hart, Chris Thomas, Patrick McCorry, Lewis Simpson, James Rees, Lewis Glover
Staff picking Tim Means: LouTube, Ella Earle, Tommy Ford, Jack Calder, Shaun Clarke
Heavyweight: Jared Vanderaa vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Jared Vanderaa
Jared is a typical Heavyweight. And by that I mean you blink and you may miss someone’s eyes rolling back in their head laying on the UFC canvas. Being 6ft 4″ ad 265lbs will have its benefits, but will also have its drawbacks. Power will come naturally to the brute heavyweight but in return, we usually see a slower fighter. Jared has been a rather active fighter lately. This will be his fifth fight in just a little over 12 months. Unfortunately for Jared, being a company man hasn’t paid off. He’s lost 4 of the 4 fights he’s stepped into this last year. Being finished in three of those matchups. Jared hits hard. He’s a BJJ black belt and in the Heavyweight division, truly, anything can happen but his job is on the line this weekend! Unless he gets the Sam Alvey treatment…
Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Representing the Dominican Republic this weekend is the undefeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Waldo is fresh off a win on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he finished his opponent in round 1. Prior to his mixed arts career, Waldo also dabbled in boxing. Surely something he’ll look to implement against Vanderaa. When he makes the walk this weekend he’ll be making his UFC debut. Jared has fought for this UFC 4 times this year already. Will experience pay dividends in this fight?
My Prediction
Heavyweight fights always excite me when I see them on a card. As the commentary team call out the tale of the tape and you read the ridiculous numbers of their height and weight. You know it’s going down. Maybe because I’m 5ft 8″ and can barely do a pushup, these stats impress me more. However, I think this fight will give us exactly that. Big boys, slugging it out until one is separated from consciousness.
I am a fan of Jared, my bias wants him to win. His back is truly against the wall. However, my “knowledge” and analysis of MMA are making me pick Waldo. In true Heavyweight fashion, I think we see Waldo catching Jared early. KO in round 1.
Staff picking Vanderaa:
Staff picking Cortes-Acosta: Lewis Simpson, Jed Leon, Lewis Glover, James Rees, Patrick McCorry, LouTube, Ella Earle, Lewis Hart, Chris Thomas, Tommy Ford, Jack Calder, Shaun Clarke
Middleweight: Josh Fremd vs Tresean Gore
Josh Fremd
Fremd enters the cage Saturday night with 7 finishes out of his 9 wins. He made his UFC debut in April where he dropped a decision loss against an experienced Anthony Hernandez. Before entering the UFC he fought for organisations such as LFA and Bellator. Training at Factory X in Colorado and training with the likes of other UFC fighters Jonathan Martinez and Dustin Jacoby will surely give Fremd a big confidence boost!
Tresean Gore
Tresean walked into The Ultimate Fighter show with a perfect 3-0 record. He then won both pro exhibition bouts on the show earning himself a shot at the TUF final and the name “The Ultimate Fighter”. Unfortunately for Gore, the stars would not align as he would lose via a unanimous decision to now-hype-train fighter Bryan Battle. In July, Tresean would seek to find that illusive UFC win but would meet referee Mike Beltran saving him from further punishment. Now 3-2 in his pro record, Gore is in much need of a win.
My Prediction
It was hard to find good tape to study for these fighters. From what I have seen, my analysis will lean towards Fremd. He also stands four inches taller than Gore and has a bigger reach and leg reach than him too. One thing I love about MMA is that when a fighter has his back to the wall and technical things can be thrown out the window. You can never count out a man or woman’s heart when their dreams are on the line. I think the odds will see Fremd earn a decision win, but I am going to go against the grain and pick Tresean Gore to knock out Josh in round 2.
Staff picking Fremd: Tommy Ford Josh Calder, Lewis Glover, Ella Earle, Lewis Hart, Chris Thomas, Lewis Simpson, Shaun Clarke
Staff picking Gore: Jed Leon, James Rees, Patrick McCorry, LouTube,
Light Heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby vs Khalil Roundtree Jr.
Dustin Jacoby
Dustin’s experience and win streak entering this fight is impressive. He’s currently 18-5-1, undefeated in his last nine fights. He had a stint in the UFC early in his career, fought for WSOF, Bellator and earned another UFC contract after his win on Dana White’s Contender Series. You know Dustin can perform when the lights are on, on the big stage. But is Khalil a step up, unlike anyone he’s fought before?
Khalil Roundtree Jr.
Khalil like this his opponent this weekend has good experience entering the cage. An extensive amateur career, The Ultimate Fighter finalist and he’s even knocked out Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki. In his last UFC fight, Khalil earned a Performance of the Night award for his body kick and punches TKO over Karl Robertson. The fight was fought at the UFC Apex and you could literally hear the kick echo around the empty crowd. If you haven’t seen the highlight. Do yourself a favour and watch.
My Prediction
A hard pick for me. Do I pick the more experience, Dustin? Or do I pick the savage finisher, Khalil? During the fight, I think we see a tentative start. Both men will know what each other is capable of. I think it’ll be decided on who lands that big punch or combination first. Either way, I think we see a finish in the second round and the fighter walking away with their arm raised will be the savage Khalil. Round 2, TKO.
Staff picking Jacoby: Lewis Hart, Ella Earle, Lewis Glover, Shaun Clarke
Staff picking Roundtree Jr.: Jed Leon, Lewis Simpson, Chris Thomas, LouTube, Patrick McCorry, James Rees, Jack Calder, Tommy Ford
There you have it, ladies and gents. Our UFC Fight Night Kattar vs Allen picks.
Who are you picking this weekend?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
