Vancouver’s Rogers Arena will be the setting Saturday evening, as welterweights #3-ranked Demian Maia (23-6-0) and #4-ranked Carlos Condit (30-9-0) lock horns in the main event.
This is a contender eliminator, so an impressive win will likely launch the winner into the forefront of the welterweight title shot conversation.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
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Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
CTV TWO MAIN CARD (8PM ET/5PM PT)
JOE LAUZON (26-12-0) VS JIM MILLER (26-8-0, 1NC)
Andrews: Miller won the first bout, but Lauzon seems to have improved since then. He finished Diego Sanchez impressively. Miller have a relatively simple win over Takanora Gomi, after losing to Sanchez and Michael Chiesa. Plus Lauzon wants to even the score. I’m going with J-Lo here.
Andrews Prediction: Joe Lauzon via TKO.
#10 PAIGE VAN ZANT (6-2-0) VS BEC RAWLINGS (7-4-0)
Andrews: This should an entertaining scrap. Rawlings has power striking, but it will be interesting to see when she tries to take the fight to the ground. She watched Van Zant’s fight with Rose Namajunas. Paige on the other hand should be ready for the ground via improved takedown defence and should score enough points for a decision.
Andrews Prediction: Paige Van Zant via unanimous decision
ANTHONY PETTIS (18-5-0) VS CHARLES OLIVEIRA (21-5-0, 1NC)
Andrews: This is Pettis’ first 145 fight in the UFC. He’s lost three in a row, and faces another talented Brazilian in Oliveira, who can take him to the ground or match him on the feet. The sauce for Pettis has been found and I think Oliveria will use it to score a finish.
Andrews Prediction: Charles Oliveira ia TKO
MAIN EVENT
#3 DEMIAN MAIA (23-6-0) VS #4 CARLOS CONDIT (30-9-0)
Andrews: Everyone knows Maia is the master on the ground, but don’t forget that he’s also decent on the feet. In the past, Condit is fire on the feet, but has not been able to stop the takedown (Johny Hendricks, GSP). Can he stop Maia’s? Damian has five rounds to play with, and I think that favours him.
Andrews Prediction: Demian Maia via unanimous decision
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