UFC 239 Main Card Preview And Predictions

Are you ready for the UFC's biggest card of the year?

Ufc 239 poster
UFC

This Saturday, Paradise, Nevada will play host to UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos. The event is part of UFC's International Fight Week and features some highly anticipated matchups.

In the main event, light heavyweight champ Jon Jones will attempt to defend his title, when he takes on hard-hitting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Thiago Santos.

Dual titleholder Amanda Nunes returns to action to face the upset-minded Holly Holm for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.

UFC 239 will also feature some of the sport's biggest names including folks like the always interesting 'Funky' Ben Askren, Ultimate Fighter winner Diego 'Nightmare' Sanchez, and former middleweight king Luke Rockhold ⁠— who will be making his light heavyweight debut.

Will the champions reign supreme or will the challengers, who also happen to be heavy betting underdogs, be able to pull off major upsets?

In an effort to answer these questions and more, we will take a closer look at UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos and breakdown these main card contests. Moreover, it's also time to drag out the old crystal ball and offer a few predictions.

5. Diego Sanchez (29-11) Vs. Michael Chiesa (15-4)

Ufc 239 poster
Jae C. Hong/AP/Press Association Images

The first main card bout of the evening will be a welterweight showdown between a pair of former Ultimate Fighter winners, Diego Sanchez, and Michael Chiesa.

Diego 'Nightmare' Sanchez has been fighting in the UFC for nearly fifteen years now. The 37-year-old has been a part of some of the most exciting fights in UFC history, due to his aggressive fighting style. Though he definitely has some mileage on him, the veteran proved he's still very dangerous with his most recent victory over a young prospect in Mickey Gall.

Micael 'Maverick' Chiesa is a submission specialist who is coming of off arguably the biggest win of his career, having defeated former UFC interim champ Carlos Condit. In just his second fight at welterweight, the 31-year-old is looking to make an impact in his new division.

Chiesa has a lot of advantages heading into this fight. He's roughly six years younger, a bit taller, and has almost a four-inch reach advantage. Both men have solid grappling skills, though Sanchez often prefers to trade blows with his opponents.

Diego Sanchez's aggressive fighting style has helped make him a fan favorite in the UFC, but it could be his undoing against a crafty submission artist like Chiesa. In truth, it's a style that plays right into the 'Maverick's" hands. Look for Sanchez to throw caution to the wind and wind up getting caught in an armbar or choke.

The Pick: Chiesa via second-round submission.

 
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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.