UFC 246 Predictions

Former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis begins the UFC 246 main card against underrated 155lb challenger, Carlos Diego Ferreira, in what should be an extremely interesting match-up between the two.

Anyone who has watched Pettis fight knows that he's a creative and violent striker. Any opponent who has been foolish enough to stand in front of him usually has some form of kick heading towards their head. He's not one dimensional though, as fans saw in his fight with Stephen Thompson - and even against Tony Ferguson to some degree - that his hands are equally dangerous.

On paper, it looks like Pettis has the advantage in the stand-up department, but he does have a glaring weakness. Although he's brilliant going forward, if his opponent is able to get in his face and take his kicking range out of the equation, the striking battle becomes far more even.

In his last fight against Mairbek Taisumov, Ferreira showed that he's got the ability to do just that. He took a few clean shots to get in front of the heavy-handed Russian, but when he was there he made it count by landing heavy single shots alongside some solid combinations.

Both men are dynamic grapplers who have submissions on their records. However, when it comes to finishing quality opposition on the ground, Pettis has shown that he's more likely to lock something up on the floor.

It should be much closer than some fans imagine, but Pettis has fought and beaten far better opponents and should get the win.

Anthony Pettis via technical knockout