This Weekends Fights and Analysis

This week, the octagon action is red-hot with UFC's Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green face-off. Plus, Bellator 300 brings THREE title fights, including the undefeated and highly rated Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Brent Primus clash.

In ONE Championship, Thanh Le battles Ilya Freymanov with two titles on the line. Join us as we dive into these epic matchups and provide our witty analysis.

Get set for an action-packed weekend of martial arts!

UFC fight night - Dawson vs Green🥊🔥

Let's kick things off with the Prelims, where we've got a Bantamweight showdown that's more exciting than a squirrel on a sugar rush! Mateus Mendonca (10-1) is set to go toe-to-toe with Nate Maness (14-3). Mateus Mendonca, the DWCS standout, has been making waves, with his only UFC loss coming against the undefeated Javid Basharat (14-0), who's been tearing through opponents since his 2021 debut. But hold your horses; Nate Maness isn't a walk in the park either. He was riding a three-fight UFC win streak until he went the distance with the 11th-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov last summer. Our team here at the Cage Chronicle's envisions this one going in favor of Mateus Mendonca, but by decision – get ready for a decision-packed showdown!

Now, let's turn our attention to the main card where we've got the co-main event, Joe Pyfer (11-2) faces off against Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-5) in a middleweight showdown that's set to be hotter than a jalapeño in a sauna. Both of these fighters bring some serious KO power to the table, with all 12 of Alhassan's wins ending in a KO. Even Dana White himself couldn't resist praising Pyfer by saying:

In our crystal ball of MMA predictions, we see Alhassan charging out of the gate against Pyfer like a bull with a caffeine addiction! However, we're a bit concerned about Alhassan's gas tank - it might have more leaks than a sieve at a water balloon fight. If Pyfer can dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge his way through the early Alhassan onslaught, we think he might just deliver the knockout punch in the third round. So, grab some popcorn and get ready for the showdown!

Now, onto our Main Event starring Bobby Green (30-14-1) and Grant Dawson (20-1-1). Bobby Green, the seasoned MMA sage, has more trips to the octagon than some people have to the grocery store. But here's the twist - Dawson's skill set is like kryptonite to Green's seasoned style. This being a 5-round fight, it's kind of like a marathon versus a sprint. Dawson's been known to hit the oxygen wall, so he'll probably aim to send Green to dreamland within the first three rounds. Our Cage Chronicle's clairvoyants predict a Round 3 submission victory for Grant Dawson.

Bellator 300 🤼‍♂️🏆

This event is absolutely stacked with title fights, but there's one bout outside the main card that's got our MMA antennas tingling with excitement. We're talking about the electrifying catchweight clash between Dmytrii Hrytsenko (8-0) and Justin Montalvo (5-1).

Hrytsenko, a Ukrainian MMA prospect, hails from the famed Germes gym in Kiev, which has produced talents like Bellator welterweight champ Yaroslav Amosov. In his last Bellator outing in Dublin, Hrytsenko put on a striking clinic that left fans in awe. However, Montalvo, the American powerhouse, won't go down without a fight. He was undefeated until his last Bellator bout where he suffered a first-round KO. To win, Montalvo will need to take Hrytsenko down and apply pressure from the get-go. On the other hand, Hrytsenko will aim to use his range to keep Montalvo at bay and set up his strikes. Our prediction? Hrytsenko takes it in the second round with a KO!

Now, let's shift our attention to the main event where we've got Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0) and Brent Primus (12-3) battling it out for the Bellator lightweight title. Nurmagomedov, hailing from the renowned AKA gym in San Diego, boasts an impressive record and has been making waves in Bellator. His skill set includes both submission prowess and striking finesse, making him a formidable opponent. However, standing across the cage from him is the seasoned Brent Primus, who's been a Bellator mainstay since 2013. While Usman Nurmagomedov is the clear favorite with his well-rounded skills, Primus needs to make it an ugly fight from the start if he wants to snatch the lightweight belt. We predict Nurmagomedov retains his title with a second-round submission.

Now, onto another title fight and the co-main event featuring one of women's MMA's biggest names, Cris Cyborg (26-2), against Cat Zingano. Since leaving the UFC in 2018, Cyborg has been on a tear, winning the Bellator women's featherweight world title and successfully defending it. Zingano, on the other hand, has been undefeated since joining Bellator in 2020 and aims to extend her winning streak. To win, Zingano must utilize her wrestling and submission skills to control Cyborg, while Cyborg will rely on her elite striking and gas tank to pick her shots and avoid takedowns. Expect plenty of clinch work in this fight, as both fighters excel in this area. Our prediction? Cyborg retains her title with a decision victory.

Finally, for the third title fight on this stacked Bellator 300 card, we have Liz Carmouche (19-7) taking on Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (13-2). Carmouche remains undefeated inside the Bellator cage, with two consecutive title defenses under her belt. Macfarlane, on the other hand, holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses of the women’s 125-pound title. This is a tough one to call as both fighters are familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses as they both train at the same gym. Our prediction? Current champ Liz Carmouche gets it done with a fourth-round submission victory.

ONE Championship🥊🏆

The ONE Championship event kicks off with an electrifying showdown between grappling sensation Mikey Musumeci and MMA veteran Shinya Aoki in an open-weight submission grappling match. Musumeci, the reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Champion, is a renowned figure in the grappling world, and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills are a sight to behold. On the other side, Aoki boasts a remarkable MMA career with 58 fights under his belt and black belts in both Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, accumulating 30 submissions in MMA. While Aoki holds a significant size and weight advantage, we anticipate Musumeci's superior Jiu-Jitsu prowess to prevail, with the bout likely concluding within the first 4 minutes.

Moving on to the Co-Main event, we have an enthralling Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship clash featuring the undefeated champion, Jonathan Di Bella (11-0), taking on the challenger, Danial Williams (24-10). ONE Championship kickboxing never fails to deliver fireworks, and this bout promises the same. Di Bella, the current champ, possesses exceptional boxing skills and a deadly arsenal of kicks. Across from him stands the ferocious Danial Williams, who aims to turn this into a brawl, preventing Di Bella's technical striking from taking control. However, we foresee the champion, Di Bella, maintaining his unbeaten record as his superior striking and tactical prowess should dominate as the rounds progress.

In the night's main event, the featherweight division takes center stage as Thanh Le (13-3), a 38-year-old American, faces off against 27-year-old Russian Ilya Freymanov (12-2) with the coveted interim featherweight title at stake. Thanh Le is known for his impeccable footwork and movement, intending to set traps for Freymanov to walk into his precise strikes. Freymanov, on the other hand, will look to close the distance and employ his combinations to catch Le. The Russian's leg kicks could be a key factor in slowing down Le's movements. We predict an early second-round KO victory for the up-and-coming Russian fighter.