UFC 248 Main Card Preview And Predictions
Will there be a new champion crowned this Saturday?
This Saturday, the UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a card that features two highly anticipated title fights. The pay-per-view also comes equipped with a solid undercard that's sure to pack a punch.
In the main event, the undefeated middleweight king Israel Adesanya will attempt to defend his title against the always dangerous Yoel Romero. The champ hopes to be the first man to stop Romero inside a UFC cage.
The co-main will pit reigning Women's Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili against former longtime titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk is eager to prove her days as the division's top dog are far from over.
The undercard bouts feature several fighters who love to throw punches in bunches and should deliver plenty of excitement.
UFC 248 offers another intriguing match up between a pair of athletes on three-fight win streaks, as Beneil Dariush and Drakkar Klose, are set to square off.
Rounding out the main card are two bouts that will likely be in contention for a Fight of the Night bonus, including Neil Magny versus Li Jingliang and Alex Oliveira taking on Max Griffin.
Now that the table's been set, let's get to the picks.
5. Alex Oliveira (19-8-1) Vs. Max Griffin (15-7)
The main card opener features two struggling welterweights who could very well be fighting for their jobs. Alex 'Cowboy' Oliveira is in the midst of three-fight losing streak, while Griffin has come up short in three of his last four contests.
Records aside, both men are known as action fighters capable of putting on a show, which is why this bout wound up on the pay-per-view portion of the event.
They are both very aggressive competitors who tend to throw caution to the wind and mostly rely on their striking —though 'Cowboy' has a solid ground game if needed.
If things wind up on the ground, based on what we've seen, Oliveira would appear to have the advantage. However, it's far more likely that this turns into the three-round brawl everyone is expecting.
If so, Oliveira's stand up game is a bit more diverse, which should give him a slight edge against the more traditional boxing style that Griffin utilizes. Given their aggressive tendencies, it's also quite possible that someone lands a big shot and puts their opponent away. However, these guys can both take a punch, so this one should go the distance. In truth, as predictions go, this one is a bit of coin-flip.
The Pick: Oliveira via unanimous decision.