Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next event, UFC Kansas City on April 15.
After a successful card last week in Miami, the MMA world leader is back on the road and will make a stop in Missouri on Saturday night. This UFC Fight Night card will be headlined by a major matchup at featherweight when former division king Max Holloway returns and faces fast-rising Englishman Arnold Allen. A win for “Almighty” could net him a title opportunity later this year.
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The event from inside the T-Mobile Center also features a few fan-friendly scraps in Edson Barboza versus Billy Quarantillo and Brandon Royval against Matheus Nicolau. Plus, UFC great Clay Guida will be back in action on April 15.
With all of that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s event this weekend.
UFC predictions: 5 UFC Kansas City fighters getting Ws Saturday
Max Holloway (23-7) vs. Arnold Allen (19-1)
Allen is a very talented young fighter currently on a 12-fight win streak. However, at UFC Kansas City he will be taking a massive step up in competition when he battles division legend, Max Holloway. The big question beyond if Allen is ready for the best of the division is if “Blessed” is still relevant at the highest levels of the fight game.
While the Hawaiian is only 31, there is a huge amount of fight miles on his body after a career full of absolute wars. He has seemed to slow down in recent years and his fights are far more competitive than they used to be.
Has the competition caught up to Holloway? Is he slowing down? Or is he a great fighter that only champions can beat? All those questions will be answered on Saturday, and chances are we find out that he is still the best fighter in the weight class not named Alexander Volkanovski.
- UFC Kansas City: Holloway (-165) vs. Allen (+140)
- Prediction: Holloway by TKO, Round 4
Edson Barboza (22-11) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-17-4)
Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo is the favorite to be the UFC Kansas City fight of the night. Barboza’s mix of explosive strikes clashing with Quarantillo’s aggressive brawling style will likely deliver fireworks and a definitive finish.
If it were five years ago, the Brazilian would be a huge favorite, but he enters this fight as an underdog due to an obvious decline in performance, and “Billy Q’s” guts and drive is a serious force to combat. Expect Barboza to hurt his foe at some point in the fight, but the American will survive and eventually overwhelm the aging fighter.
- Odds: Barboza (+140) vs. Quarantillo (-155)
- UFC Prediction: Quarantillo by TKO, Round 3
Brandon Royval (14-6) vs. Matheus Nicolau (19-2-1)
Matheus Nicolau’s matchup with Brandon Royval is a major fight in the UFC’s flyweight division. Both are in striking distance of a title opportunity, and a win — especially a finish — would likely leapfrog them into a title opportunity later in the year.
The matchup is a pick ’em, but based on heart and resume. Royval has a slight edge despite the Brazilian’s current six-fight win streak. Expect this one to be highly entertaining as “Raw Dawg” scores the biggest win of his career with a submission win.
- Odds: Royval (+170) vs. Nicolau (-200)
- UFC Prediction: Royval by submission, Round 2
Clay Guida (38-22) vs. Rafa García (14-3)
Despite being 41 and having 60 fights on his resume, MMA great Clay Guida is still a relevant competitor in the UFC. And his matchup with Rafa Garcia at UFC Kansas City will be another chance to prove that he still has a lot left in the tank after 20 years in the sport.
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The bout is a favorable one for “The Carpenter” since Garcia is not a serious knockout threat. However, the Mexican has a very sound striking attack and will use that, along with a speed advantage, to outpoint Guida. Adding a legend to his hit list on Saturday.
- Odds: Guida (+230) vs. García (-275)
- UFC Prediction: Garcia by unanimous decision
Pedro Munhoz (19-7) vs. Chris Gutierrez (19-4-2)
Pedro Munhoz is in a must-win situation at UFC Kansas City. A loss may not lead to his release from the company, but maybe it could. A defeat to Chris Gutierrez would move his record to 1-5-1 (No-Contest) in his last seven, and that is not a good look. Granted, the losses have come to high-level talent, but he needs to show he is still a UFC-level fighter.
The Brazilian won’t have it easy with Gutierrez at a confidence peak coming off his career-ending win over Frankie Edgar last year. Plus his sizable number as the favorite in the fight shows how much belief oddsmakers have in him.
But there are some questions about his strength of schedule. That is why Munhoz will show he is still a level above and grind out a competitive decision win Saturday.
- Odds: Munhoz (+170) vs. Gutierrez (-200)
- UFC Prediction: Munhoz by unanimous decision