Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next event, UFC 291 on Saturday night.
For the second time in July, the MMA world leader will return to pay-per-view for a major card, this time in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event will be headlined by one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history when lightweight greats Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje battle for a second time.
The winner of the bout will not only be the new BMF champion but will also likely be next in line for a title bout early next year.
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The card inside the Vivint Arena will also see the return of several Octagon stars, including Stephen Thompson, Kevin Holland, Derrick Lewis, and former 155-pound champion Tony Ferguson. With all of that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s event on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
UFC predictions: 5 UFC 291 fighters getting Ws Saturday
Dustin Poirier (29-7) vs. Justin Gaethje (24-4)
Poirier and Gaethje’s 2018 bout was one of the best the legendary lightweight division has ever seen. The pair took months of their careers when they tore into each other over four violent rounds. In the end, the Louisiana native was too much for the former World Series of Fighting champion and earned an impressive technical knockout in round four.
Both men are much improved and have created Hall-of-Fame resumes since that fight. In the past, “The Highlight” has proven if he can come up with a more technical attack, he can be one of the biggest challenges in the division. Expect that on Saturday night.
Poirier will put a beating on Gaethje again, but this time around the former interim champ will give worse than he gets and score a surprise revenge knockout late in the fight.
- UFC 291 odds: Poirier (-150), Gaethje (+130)
- Prediction: Gaethje by TKO, Round 4
Jan Błachowicz (29-9-1) vs. Alex Pereira (7-2)
Former middleweight king Alex Pereira will make his light heavyweight debut on Saturday night and he will get a seriously tough test in former champion Jan Blachowicz. On paper, the Polish star has the wrestling to expose the Brazilian and get the W. However that will be far easier said than done on fight night.
Both fighters are in the back end of their careers, but “Polish Power” has a lot of miles on his body at 40 and has gotten noticeably slower in recent years. Pereira is only a few years younger, however, he should be faster and stronger than usual after a far easier weight cut at 205.
“Poatan” will have to weather some takedowns early by will eventually catch Blachowicz coming in for a highlight reel finish at UFC 291.
- Odds: Błachowicz (-110), Pereira (-110)
- UFC Prediction: Pereira by KO, Round 2
Michael Chiesa (16-6) vs. Kevin Holland (24-9)
Michael Chiesa is a very talented grappler but striking has never been his strength. That is why his matchup with Kevin Holland at UFC 291 feels like a major uphill challenge. While “Trailblazer” has notable wrestling deficiencies, he actually is a good submission grappler in his own right.
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Chiesa isn’t a dominant wrestler and is a smaller welterweight while Holland is large for the division. If “Maverick” can get his opponent to the mat, Holland has the ability to get back to the feet and badly exploit the striking advantages he has in this matchup.
- Odds: Chiesa (+120) Holland (-140)
- UFC Prediction: Holland by TKO, Round 2
Tony Ferguson (28-5) vs. Bobby Green (29-14-1)
It is hard to imagine that Tony Ferguson will remain on the UFC roster if he suffers a sixth straight loss on Saturday night. Especially if lightweight veteran Bobby Green were to score a knockout win over the former champion. This really is a make-or-break moment for the 39-year-old. However, it just seems unlikely that he will be able to turn back the clock and pull out a victory.
Green is a step down from the elite competition “El Cucuy” has been facing in his last five but he is still a handful. While he doesn’t have one-punch KO power, he is a competitor that can quickly accumulate damage on foes as the bout carries on. If Ferguson can’t get this to the mat and dominate with his grappling, “King” will eventually pick him apart and finish him in the final round.
- Odds: Ferguson (+290), Green (-350)
- UFC Prediction: Green by TKO, Round 3
Derrick Lewis (26-11) vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima (21-8-1)
This is a big fight for Derrick Lewis at UFC 291. The former two-time title challenger has lost four of his last five and three straight. In all of those bouts “Black Beast” was finished. However, all of his previous foes were elite-level and ranked competition. He does take a solid step down in threat versus Marcos Rogerio de Lima on Saturday night. Yet that doesn’t mean it will be easy.
The Brazilian has good grappling skills which has always been a weakness for the American. It is worth noting that Lewis is coming into the bout looking by far in the best shape of his career — four-pack and all– but considering his recent and previous health issues, it just feels like he is in a sudden career decline and will have trouble with any top-15 level fight. de Lima is that and will likely score a submission win over the popular fighter at UFC 291.
- Odds: Lewis (+175), Rogério de Lima (-205)
- UFC Prediction: de Lima by submission, Round 2
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