UFC 282 “Blachowicz Vs Ankalaev” + Bellator 289 + Weekly MMA Report
UFC Orlando was an event to remember. Fourteen amazing combats, some high-level finishes, and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson outworked Kevin Holland in great combat, where many head kicks found their mark. The two scored the Fight of the Night bonus, despite Holland was not cleared to continue due to a broken hand at the end of round 4.
HOLLAND ROCKED WONDERBOY 👊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/DPfuwpLhVp
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
Kevin Holland WILL NOT go down!! #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/UKcsxLKj1V
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
The two Performance of the Night awards went into the hands of Sergei Pavlovich, who destroyed Tai Tuivasa after only 54 seconds, and Roman Dolidze, who swept Jack Hermansson and destroyed him with a barrage of GNP bombs with one leg trapped on the floor!
Sergei Pavlovich Knocks Out Tai Tuivasa #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/aWcxxwRFHv
— Pure Finishes🫡 (@PureKnockouts) December 4, 2022
Roman Dolidze TKO's Jack Hermansson #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/iEJMJqDRuP
— Pure Finishes🫡 (@PureKnockouts) December 4, 2022
The UFC 282 PPV event airs on Saturday, December 10th, 2022. But it will be headlined by the 205-pound title combat between Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz because Jiri Prochazka is out of the title fight due to a gruesome shoulder injury (he also vacated the title).
Image source: @UFCBrasil Twitter
Also, there might be some last-minute changes as James Krause’s license was suspended due to a potential betting affair scandal that rocked the MMA community.
UFC 282 will take place inside T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. The bouts are going to get underway at 6 PM ET (midnight CET).
The main event of the evening is very interesting, as Magomed Ankalaev is known for great wrestling, massive right hand, and excellent left high kick; while the former champion Jan Blachowicz will try to regain the title thanks to his superb fight IQ and all-around game with great power thanks to his nasty gym routine.
Prediction: Ankalaev to win (-245)
The co-main event looks even more entertaining since the British star and rear-naked choke expert Paddy Pimblett will try to submit legendary hitter Jared Gordon. This fight is not going to advance into later rounds for sure.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
Here is the whole fight card but due to Krause’s betting affair, there might be some last-minute changes.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 PM ET, 4 AM CET)
UFC Vacant Light Heavyweight Championship: Jan Błachowicz (29-9-0) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-0)
Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett (19-3-0) vs. Jared Gordon (19-5-0)
Welterweight: Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-6-0) vs. Robbie Lawler (29-16-0)
Middleweight: Darren Till (18-4-1) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (17-2-0)
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell (15-0-0) vs. Ilia Topuria (12-0-0)
Preliminary Card (ESPN+, ESPN 2, UFC On Fight Pass, 8 PM ET, 2 AM CET)
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (11-3-0) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula (11-5-0)
Featherweight: Billy Quarantillo (16-4-0) vs. Alexander Hernandez (13-5-0)
Featherweight: Erik Silva (9-1-0) vs. TJ Brown (16-9-0)
Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-4-0) vs. Chris Daukaus (12-5-0)
Early Prelims (UFC On Fight Pass, ESPN+, 5:30 PM ET, 11:30 PM CET)
Middleweight: Chris Curtis (29-9-0) vs. Joaquin Buckley (15-5-0)
Flyweight: Daniel da Silva (11-4-0) vs. Vinicius Salvador (14-4-0)
Bantamweight: Jay Perrin (10-6-0) vs. Raul Rosas Jr. (6-0-0)
Heavyweight: Ovince St. Preux (26-16-0) vs. Antonio Trócoli 12-3-0
Bantamweight: Cameron Saaiman (6-0-0) vs. Steven Koslow (6-0-0)
Check out my predictions for the upcoming card:
I have another surprise – Bellator 289 will take place on Friday, December 9th, 2022, and it is going to air on Showtime, while the preliminary card is free to watch on YouTube. The event will happen in Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut.
Image source: @BellatorMMA Twitter
Raufeon Stots will try to defeat dangerous Danny Sabatello, a hard hitter with great combos, in the interim Bantamweight championship in the main event of the evening. Sabatello will need an early stoppage, as Stots will not gas, that guy’s cardio is out of this world thanks to his rope sessions!
Prediction: the fight goes the distance, or Stots wins (-170)
Juliana Velasquez already lost once to Liz Carmouche, but she’ll try to fix her mistakes in the upcoming title match, which takes place in the co-main event of the evening. Yet, Liz is a better grappler, it doesn’t look too good for Velasquez. Oh, Liz is an underdog too!
Prediction: Liz wins (+160)
Here are my Bellator predictions:
This is the best MMA weekend in December, please enjoy the upcoming Friday and Saturday! I hope you don’t work this weekend!
