The UFC is in Atlanta as featherweight champion Max Holloway goes for the interim lightweight belt tonight against No. 3 challenger Dustin Poirier. All fighters made weight so the time for talk is now over. We need a good show.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS (6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT)
RANDY COSTA (4-0-0) VS. BRANDON DAVIS (9-5-0)
Andrews: Davis needs a win and is welcoming Costa to the octagon. Costa has an impressive 100% finish rate but can he do it in the UFC? I think he overcomes the jitters and pulls it off.
Andrews Prediction: Randy Costa via TKO
POLIANA BOTELHO (7-2-0) VS. LAUREN MUELLER (5-1-0)
Andrews: Both fighters were submitted in their last fights but I like Botelho’s aggressiveness. I think she gets the knockout after some early trouble.
Andrews Prediction: Poliana Botelho via TKO
MONTEL JACKSON (7-1-0) VS. ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH (13-6-0)
Andrews: Jackson is a DWCS alum who likes to finish people. Soukhamthath likes to finish too but is smarter now since the O’Malley debacle. Too close to call, but I lean with the experience and Andre.
Andrews Prediction: Andre Soukhamthath via UD
BELAL MUHAMMAD (14-3-0) VS. CURTIS MILLENDER (17-4-0)
Andrews: Millender is coming off a tough submission loss so I expect him to bounce back and decision Muhammad with effective striking and footwork. Has to keep the fight standing.
Andrews Prediction: Curtis Millender via UD
BOSTON SALMON (6-1-0) VS. KHALID TAHA (12-2-0)
Andrews: Taha has a slight octagon experience edge, but it’s a tough call. I lean slightly with Taha.
Andrews Prediction: Khalid Taha via UD
MAX GRIFFIN (14-6-0) VS. ZELIM IMADAEV (8-0-0)
Andrews: Griffin has loads of experience, but Zelim is a beast with eight finishes making his debut. I normally side with experience, but I think Zelim takes Griffin out here.
Andrews Prediction: Zelim Imadaev via TKO
WILSON REIS (23-9-0) VS. ALEXANDRE PANTOJA (20-3-0)
Andrews: Pantoja has difficulty against stronger guys and Reis is just that. Have to go with Wilson.
Andrews Prediction: Wilson Reis via UD
JALIN TURNER (8-4-0) VS. MATT FREVOLA (6-1-1)
Andrews: As long as Turner avoids the big shots, he should get the decision. That’s a big if though.
Andrews Prediction: Jalin Turner via UD
MAIN CARD (10PM ET/7PM PT)
OVINCE ST. PREUX (23-12-0) VS. NIKITA KRYLOV (24-6-0)
Andrews: OSP is 36 now. Krylov will have him thinking about retirement.
Andrews Prediction: Nikita Krylov via TKO
ALAN JOUBAN (16-6-0) VS. DWIGHT GRANT (9-2-0)
Andrews: Jouban continues to chug along at 36 and I think his striking is crisper than Grant’s. IF he can avoid some big shots, he come out with the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Alan Jouban via UD
ERYK ANDERS (11-3-0) VS. KHALIL ROUNTREE (7-3-0)
Andrews: Both guys can end the fight with one strike but Anders is the bigger guy who needs the win more.
Andrews Prediction: Eryk Anders via TKO
KELVIN GASTELUM (15-3-0, 1NC) VS. ISRAEL ADESANYA (16-0-0)
Andrews: As long as Adesanya avoids the big shots, he should pile up some points on Kelvin. But he can’t once around for five rounds, so it will be a close decision win.
Andrews Prediction: Israel Adesanya via UD
MAIN EVENT
MAX HOLLOWAY (20-3-0) VS. #3 DUSTIN POIRIER (24-5-0)
Andrews: Holloway gets his revenge with a TKO win after some early trouble.
Andrews Prediction: Max Holloway via TKO
Enjoy the fights!
