The UFC returns from a week off when they hold a Sunday show in Boston, as UFC Fight Night 81 comes to you live on Fox Sports 1. It’s a card that has seen the prelims rocked by injury and many late changes, so it definitely limps into the finish line. At least the main card has stayed mostly intact.
The main event is a UFC Bantamweight Championship bout, as TJ Dillashaw puts up his belt against former champion Dominick Cruz. Cruz never lost his belt, as injury inactivity was what stripped him of his belt. Since that time, Dillashaw has laid down an iron fist on the division, dethroning top stars left and right.
We also have such great fighers on the card such as Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Travis Browne, Matt Mitrione and Ross Pearson. Overall, it’s a very stacked card for a Fox Sports offering. It’s a must-see event that moves away from the normal Saturday UFC fight night equation and moves it to a Sunday evening, right after the football playoffs. With that, let’s take a look at the card, preview each fight and make some predictions.
Main Card
TJ Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz
The main event has two of the best bantamweights in recent history, if not ever, facing off against one another for the UFC title. The big problem here is Dominick Cruz has barely fought the last three or four years. His last fight was in 2014 against Takeya Mizugaki. How will his knees hold up, especially given that a lot of his game is based on movement? That’s the problem, we don’t know. What we do know is TJ Dillashaw has been a wrecking machine, using movement, precision and athleticism to outgun opponents. Dillashaw retains, putting Cruz’s future in limbo due to his mounting injuries.
Anthony Pettis vs. Eddie Alvarez
Two of the lightweight division’s best are set in the co-main event, as former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez takes on former UFC champion Anthony Pettis. This was a dream crossover match not long ago, but now is a reality, minus the belts. Both men do their best work on the feet, with Pettis being a kickboxer and Alvarez being a boxer. And while Alvarez definitely has better wrestling than Pettis, Pettis is comfortable fighting off his back with his flashy submission game. It’ll be close and exciting, but Pettis should do enough to walk out of Boston the winner.
Travis Browne vs. Matt Mitrione
The big boys are ready to play, and I don’t expect them to need judges in this fight. Both Matt Mitrione and Travis Browne are big-time sluggers who consistently look to take each opponent’s heads off. The question is who will land the big blow first? Mitrione is quicker and more athletic, while Browne is more powerful and diverse. Mitrione will likely get his shots in, but I venture that Browne’s power will eventually hurt Mitrione enough for the finish.
Ross Pearson vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Francisco Trinaldo’s recent successes have taken him from midcarder to upper midcarder in a hurry, and he looks to continue those recent successes against perennial top-25 lightweight Ross Pearson. These men represent opposite styles here, as Trinaldo will favor the ground, while Pearson would like to strike. The question is, can Trinaldo get Pearson to the ground. His best bet is to get to him early, as Pearson is a slow starter. However, Person has shown good enough takedown defense that he should be able to push the Brazilian away and out point him in the striking game for the win.
Preliminary Card
Patrick Cote vs. Ben Saunders
A battle of veterans who have been around the game forever should be good enough to attract an audience in the prelim headliner. Both Patrick Cote and Ben Saunders have gotten a recent career resurgence, after their careers were seemingly left for dead. Both men love a scrap on the feet. Saunders is more long and utilizes the clinch more effectively. However, Cote, normally a brawler, has relied on takedowns and top position in more recent fights. This will be a war of attrition, but I think Cote takes the slight edge here.
Mehdi Baghdad vs. Chris Wade
Mairbek Taisumov’s inability to secure a visa for this fight took him out, so it will be Mehdi Baghdad stepping in his spot to take on Chris Wade. Baghdad had a ton of hype behind him before TUF 22, but a lackluster showing there has taken some wind out of his sails. As for Wade, he’s a grinder that wants to take you down and hold you there. Baghdad has shown questionable cardio in the past, so he will have to get at Wade early with leg kicks and movement. However, Wade’s aggression and persistence on the takedown will lead him to victory here.
Tim Boetsch vs. Ed Herman
Two middleweights are taking a fight at light heavyweight, when perennial top-25 185ers Tim Boetsch and Ed Herman square off. Both men are coming off losses and obviously don’t desire to cut to 185. It’s a trend that is seeing more fighters move up a weight class. In looking at this matchup, Boetsch will want to keep this fight up with his wrestling and use the power in his hands to hurt Herman. Herman will likely bang with Boetsch, but would be better suited in a submission grappling match. He won’t get that chance, though, as Boetsch out-muscles and out-guns him to victory.
Maximo Blanco vs. Luke Sanders
Maximo Blanco was supposed to fight Dennis Bermudez in this fight on the main card, but an injury to Bermudez has opened an opportunity to Luke Sanders on the prelims. Blanco is a brawler who has power in his hands and uses his wrestling from time to time. He takes on Sanders, a normal bantamweight, who will be quicker, more technical and is truly a top prospect. This should be an interesting fight, but I think the clinch and technical prowess of Sanders should be enough to overcome. He wins his UFC debut.
Paul Felder vs. Daron Cruickshank
If you’re a fan of strikers engaging in battle, the headliner of the Fight Pass portion of the prelims are for you. Both Paul Felder and Daron Cruickshank are flashy, powerful strikers that have done their best work when in kickboxing matches. Cruickshank certainly has wrestling in his back pocket if needed, but Felder has shown he can resist takedowns. This will be an absolute barn burner, and somewhat of a coin toss. I will take Felder here, who strikes a little more consistently than Cruickshank in recent memory.
Charles Rosa vs. Augusto Mendes
On late notice, Augusto Mendes steps in for Jimy Hettes to take on Boston boy Charles Rosa. In terms of style, it doesn’t change up much for Rosa, who was preparing for a grappler. That said, Mendes is likely a better pure grappler, so Rosa needs to use his wrestling defensively here. If this fight stays upright, Rosa will be on cruise control, as he is superior on the feet. That’s what happens, as Rosa jumps back into the win column.
Ilir Latifi vs. Sean O’Connell
Two light heavyweights looking to make headroom in the division will be pit up against one another. On one hand, you have Ilir Latifi, a strong wrestler that makes most of his cheddar gaining top position and punching a hole through his opponent. Then there is Sean O’Connell, a brawler with a huge heart and grit to match. He has good power in his own right, though he uses it on the feet. This will be an interesting fight, but Latifi’s wrestling gets it done.
Rob Font vs. Joey Gomez
Two east coast prospects collide in Rob Font and Joey Gomez, and it’s a great insight into the bantamweight future. Gomez fills in for Patrick Williams, and in my opinion, is a bigger threat to beat Font than Williams. He will want a ground-and-pound strategy here, which will be tough against Font. Font’s inactivity has hurt him a bit, but his striking and power often carry him. This will be a close bout, but Font should earn the edge here.
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Francimar Barroso
One of the many late replacements on this card, Elvis Mutapcic gets a very late call to fill in this card to take on Francimar Barroso. Mutapcic fills in for top prospect Abdul-Kerim Edilov, which will be a different look for Barroso than what he was training for. I expect Barroso to try to lean on and grind Mutapcic down, but his striking and defensive wrestling are sound. He also packs a major punch, and luckily, he was already training for a fight when he got the call to fill in here. Mutapcic wins his debut here and moves down to his more natural weight of 185.