UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Allen Predictions
The UFC is returning to Kansas City, Mo., for the first time in nearly four years with a great main event that headlines the card. Former UFC Featherweight Champion and No. 2 ranked contender Max Holloway will take on the No. 4 ranked contender Arnold Allen. This Featherweight main event is significant for both men and has title implications.
This card has a great co-main event as well as Edson Barboza and Billy Quarantillo will battle it out at 145 lbs. Dustin Jacoby will also compete on the main card alongside Pedro Munhoz, Clay Guida and others. The main card is filled with fantastic fights and incredible talent. These are my predictions for the five main card fights.
Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
The former Featherweight champion wants to get back into the win column over a formidable opponent in Arnold Allen. Holloway is coming off a brutal loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 276. It was a one-sided affair and had many fight fans in shock with how the fight went. That was the most damage Holloway had absorbed ever in his career, and he did the right thing by taking appropriate time off to heal and rest. He is back in the main event against Allen, who is on a ten-fight winning streak. Allen is a devastating striker who has knockout power in both hands. He is coming off a win against Calvin Kattar that unfortunately had to be stopped due to a knee injury to Kattar. The previous victory was over Dan Hooker via TKO when he landed 49 significant strikes halfway through the first round.
A stat to keep in mind for this terrific main event is Holloway going against southpaw fighters, like Allen, is 0-3 in his career. Those three losses were to Conor McGregor and twice to Dustin Poirier. So the most significant adjustment for Holloway will be setting up traps against an aggressive southpaw fighter to get the victory. Allen has been on a tear but has not fought anyone quite like Holloway in his young career.
Pick: Max Holloway
Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo
The co-main event has all the makings to be the fight of the night and for both men to earn that $50,000 bonus at the end of the night. One of the most devastating strikers the UFC has ever had makes his return as Edson Barboza takes on Billy Quarantillo. Since 2020, Barboza has a 2-3 record in the Featherweight division, but the split decision loss to Dan Ige could have gone either way. The Brazilian's knockout victory over Shane Burgos was his first since defeating Dan Hooker in 2018, and was his standout performance in the division. In contrast, Quarantillo just defeated Alexander Hernandez in his lone match of 2022 by TKO in the second round. After being on the losing end of a classic back-and-forth fight against Burgos, in which they landed a combined 357 significant strikes, Quarantillo put up a tremendous comeback performance. Quarantillo has an overall record of 5-2 in the UFC and looks to get his sixth win in the organization.
The most significant difference in this fight will be the five-inch reach advantage Barboza has against Quarantillo. Barboza is already a dangerous striker, and having a five-inch reach advantage doesn't help Quarantillo's case in winning this fight.
Pick: Edson Barboza
Dustin Jacoby vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Dustin Jacoby will try to get back on track after losing to Khalil Rountree by a razor-thin split decision in October of 2022. He had previously won six of seven fights, including a split draw, during his second run in the UFC. Since getting signed after appearing on Dana White's Contender Series in 2020, Jacoby has had three first-round finishes and is known as one of the best kickboxers in the Light Heavyweight division. Conversely, Azamat Murzakanov has an undefeated record of 12-0 and is a lethal finisher. He has a 2-0 record in the UFC, as he made an impression on DWCS in 2021 by finishing Matheus Scheffel. Since then, he has also defeated Tafon Nchukwi and Devin Clark in the UFC.
Jacoby will be six inches taller and have a seven-inch reach advantage against Murzakanov. The kickboxer will utilize these physical advantages to his benefit as the more experienced fighter in this bout.
Pick: Dustin Jacoby
Tanner Boser vs. Ion Cutelaba
This weekend in Kansas City, Tanner Boser will compete for the first time at Light Heavyweight when he takes on veteran Ion Cutelaba. Boser hasn't competed at Light Heavyweight in nearly a decade, but he's been hinting at it in his last several fights. Watching how the former heavyweight looks and performs after moving down a division will be intriguing. Boser must rely on his experience and knockout power the night of the fight.
Cutelaba enters the fight to put an end to a three-fight losing streak. The "Hulk" has only won once in his last seven fights, going 1-5-1 during that time. Cutelaba has been susceptible to being knocked out as of late, and it only plays to the advantage of Boser.
Pick: Tanner Boser
Pedro Munhoz vs. Chris Gutiérrez
The Bantamweight division is arguably the best in the UFC. This fight between Pedro Munhoz and Chris Gutiérrez only proves how much depth the division has with these talented fighters. Munhoz is making his return to the octagon after his "No Contest" fight against Sean O'Malley. Munhoz has lost four of his last five fights, despite the fact that they had all been against former champions. In the blue corner, Gutierrez had a highlight-reel performance against Frankie Edgar with a first-round knockout in November of 2022. After defeating Danaa Batgerel with a spinning backfist, he earned two incredible knockout wins. He has won all eight of his fights, with one resulting in a draw. Gutiérrez hasn't dropped a fight since Raoni Barcelos submitted him in his first appearance in the UFC in 2018. Munhoz is a tough opponent for anyone, but he tends to get hit too often, and Gutiérrez will take advantage of this the night of the fight.
Pick: Chris Gutiérrez
Clay Guida vs. Rafa García
Clay Guida, who made his professional debut over 20 years ago, is still winning fights today and will want to make it two straight wins when he takes on Rafa Garcia. Guida outperformed Scott Holtzman in December of 2022, winning via split decision. It would be Guida's first winning streak since 2017 if he were to win against Garcia, but it will be no easy task. Garcia rebounded from a rough start in which he lost two decisions and then prevailed in winning three of his next four fights, with his lone defeat being via decision to Drakkar Klose. This will be a classic fight between two takedown-heavy fighters as they both average over three takedowns per 15 minutes. That said, the veteran will utilize his experience in this fight.
Pick: Clay Guida
