Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next event, UFC Jacksonville, on June 24.
After a card last week at the Apex, the MMA world leader takes their violence circus back on the road for a UFC Fight Night card that sees the promotion return to Florida and ABC. The event on Saturday is headlined by a major matchup in our UFC featherweight rankings when former title challenger Josh Emmett battles the division’s fastest-rising star Ilia Topuria.
Related: UFC tonight – Get the fight card, watch times and odds for Saturday’s UFC event
UFC on ABC 5 from inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena also features the return of several Octagon veterans, including Neil Magny, Randy Brown, Gillian Robertson, Amanda Ribas, and Maycee Barber.
With that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s card on June 24.
UFC predictions: 5 UFC Jacksonville fighters getting Ws
Josh Emmett (18-3) vs. Ilia Topuria (13-0)
Without a doubt, Topuria is the next big thing at 145 pounds. The German, by way of Spain, has been very impressive inside the Octagon as he has maintained his unbeaten record after five UFC appearances. However, he gets — by far — his biggest test yet in the promotion.
Emmett is a battle-tested veteran who has fought many of the best featherweights of this generation and beat many of them. He is a strong wrestler who also brings serious power in his fists, yet, being a few months removed from his 38th birthday has to factor in.
Topuria is a huge favorite heading into the bout due to also being well-rounded, plus his youth (26 years old) should play a huge factor in this fight as he is able to outwork Emmett and get a finish late in the fight.
- UFC Jacksonville odds: Emmett (+285), Topuria (-345)
- Prediction: Topuria by submission, Round 4
Justin Tafa (6-3) vs. Austen Lane (12-3)
Two-time Dana White’s Contender Series fighter Ausen Lane makes his promotional debut at UFC Jacksonville. The former football star has big power and showcases it in every fight, including in his current six-fight win streak where he has finished five of those bouts by knockout. However, he meets an equal test in Justin Tafa on Saturday.
The big difference between the two is the level of competition they have faced, and Tafa has a huge advantage. Nevertheless, heavyweight is very unpredictable, especially at the lower levels of the division. With both having serious power but Lane being the better athlete, the UFC rookie scoring a big debut win isn’t a bad underdog bet this weekend.
- Odds: Tafa (-195), Lane (+165)
- Prediction: Lane by KO, Round 1
Neil Magny (27-10) vs. Philip Rowe (10-3)
Similar to Topuria vs. Emmett, Philip Rowe takes a big step up in competition when he faces UFC veteran Neil Magny at UFC Jacksonville. Magny has only fallen to high-level talent during his Octagon career and this will be the test to see if Rowe has that potential.
The Brooklyn native brings legitimate power and has shown it off in his three UFC fights. However, he does have some weaknesses on the mat. The question is, can Magny, 35, use his veteran guile to mix things up and expose Rowe’s inexperience and weaknesses? Our UFC predictions see the upstart fighter scoring the biggest win of his career at UFC on ABC 5.
- Odds: Magny (-175), Rowe (+150)
- UFC Prediction: Rowe by TKO, Round 1
Tabatha Ricci (8-1) vs. Gillian Robertson (12-7)
Gillian Robertson vs. Tabatha Ricci is a fun matchup of two talented female flyweights. This one is very clear-cut. The Canadian wants to get it on the mat so she can add another submission to her division record, while the Brazilian has an easy route to victory if she can keep it standing.
For as good as Robertson’s grappling is on the mat, she isn’t an unstoppable force like Khabib Nurmagomedov that always gets her foes down. This feels like a night where Ricci will be able to do enough to avoid the submission and land her fourth straight win inside the Octagon.
- Odds: Ricci (-130), Robertson (+110)
- UFC Prediction: Ricci by unanimous decision
Brendan Allen (21-5) vs. Bruno Silva (23-8)
Brendan Allen has the skill set to beat Bruno Silva at UFC on ABC 5. However, the Brazilian has the trump card of serious punching power that can change a fight at any moment. His 20 knockouts in 23 wins prove that. If Allen can’t get things to the mat, and fast, this feels like a favorable matchup for “Blindado.”
- Odds: Allen (-210), Silva (+180)
- UFC Prediction: Taira by unanimous decision