UFC 334 - MSG/NYC - Gane/Hokit and Harrison/Nunes Title Fights

[Clav]

Pretty big card incoming this weekend in NYC for the promotion's annual visit to the City that Never Sleeps. 5PM ET prelims so the Main Card begins at 9PM ET, which leads us to Co-Main and Main Event around 1030 or 11 PM.

Intrigued with the matchups, though I'm leaning for certain outcomes. The matchups are pretty good I have to say. + two Title Fights on the line. Enjoy!

Main Event - HW Title
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit
265 lbs
-Not a fan of either fighter really, but Gane does have major advantages on the feet. I'd rather he be HW Champ than Hokit because I don't like Hokit's schtick he does on the microphone. It's cringey. Gane also kind of has a rep for fouls and I'm not a fan of how the Aspinall fight went. Nor did I think all his shots were legal on Pereira, those back of head hits left a sour taste in my mouth.

Hokit has risen quickly from unranked and he's obviously skilled wrestler and can take dmg, trade on the feet, seems to have indomitable will to go forward. Feels like he'll walk into something he can't get up from in this fight, but he can win. He can win by making Gane tire out, avoiding or negating damage (or just ignore the pain, **** it) and getting this fight to the ground. Gane is still susceptible to heavy wrestling pressure and he can get Sub'd so that's the path. If it's purely on the feet Hokit will have issues with the speed and range.

Look out for up kicks to Hokit's core, push kicks, teeps, and general leg hits early. For that reason I'm going KO2 Gane. Would rather not have Hokit on the microphone, so hope I'm right, even if it

Co-Main Event - Women's BW Title
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes
135 lbs
-Awesome co-main and should be a WMMA fight for the ages, I hope so! Harrison has had 3 fights in the UFC - Sub of Holm, DEC of Vieira, and Sub of Pena. It's pretty clear that Kayla's best way to win the fight is to get it to the ground, control, attack subs or push to top position. She's probably not going to look as good on the feet with a more powerful puncher facing her. Probably not. Is Nunes still a good striker though ? A KO fighter ? I'm not sure.

Nunes hasn't fought in 3 years, where she won DEC over Aldana and she hasn't KO'd someone in some time (Holm, 2019). So that's not showing me that she will actually KO someone. I think Harrison has a legit chance to win a fighter coming off such a long time out. However, Nunes has some legit credintials and should be pretty focused to win. IT might devolve into a control match but I do hope there are some big moments. Picking Nunes SUB ??




Featured Bout
Caio Borralho vs. Y. Belgaroui
185 lbs
-Fascinating fight which I am predicting as FOTN before the card. Both super game opponents but I'm curious if the power of either shines through and legit hurts the other. Picking Borralho DEC. Could be a KO though, just have a feeling it will be more point-fighting than we gas up matchups like this.

Uros Medic vs. Kevin Holland
170 lbs
-Medic recently won a big time in Serbia as the headliner. Holland is collecting checks and not interested in much else. I think this is easily a KO for Medic.

Main Card Opener
Luis Gurule vs. Bilal Hasan
125 lbs
-Hasan has looked super dangerous from DWCS and his one fight in UFC. Gurule is kind of a punching bag but durable, this could test Hasan in later rounds but I figure it won't get there.

Prelims
Featured Prelim Bout [Thompson retirement fight]
S. Thompson vs. Charles Radtke
170 lbs
-Wonderboy is ending his career with this fight and I think he stands a pretty good chance to win if he keeps it on the feet. Radtke will want to wrassle and control, tire Thompson out. Great career though!

Drew Dober vs. Chris Duncan
155 lbs
-Could be a KO incoming, but I'm picking Dober DEC because I don't know ball.

Jim Miller vs. T. McKinney
155 lbs
-"A-10"'s annual big time fight card appearance. I'm picking him to beat the younger guy via Submission because he's just rough to deal with. McKinney lost via Submission to Chris Duncan and I think Jim Miller is way more dangerous there. This is an underdog pick.

Donte Johnson vs. César Almeida
185 lbs
-Can go either way, both are strikers. Picking the underdog Almeida here for some reason lol

M. Costa vs. Jared Gordon
155 lbs
-Costa picked up a loss to Arnold Allen in a pretty solid fight earlier this year, so I think he'll be hungry to beat the older guy. Picking KO Costa.

Macy Chiasson vs. Bia Mesquita
135 lbs
-Chiasson has been a pretty game opponent during her UFC run so she needs to control the fight and get going on output, Mesquita is gonna try to get it to ground game and control.

Alatengheili vs. Juan Díaz
135 lbs
-Diaz is dangerous, could be a rough night for his opponent.

First Blood
Evan Elder vs. Samuel Sanches
155 lbs
-Elder on a 3-fight winning streak, but Sanches is coming off DWCS with a spiffy KO himself and makes his debut. Picking Sanches KO