UFC Vegas 45 prediction, late ‘Prelims’ card preview | Lewis and Daukaus

The deadly heavyweight strikers will take center stage this Saturday (December 18, 2021) as rising rival, Chris Daukaus, wants to oust respectable Derrick Lewis during UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada . UFC Vegas 45 also features a Welterweight fight between Stephen Thompson and Belal Muhammad and this could be Raphael Assuncao’s last chance against Ricky Simon.
We still have four rounds of UFC Vegas 45 “Prelims” fighters to test (Check out the first batch here). Is that right?
185 lbs: Dustin Stoltzfus compare to Gerald Meerschaert
Dustin Stoltzfus (13-3) made it through a 10-fight streak that ended with a Joseph Pyfer header in the “Contender Series,” winning a UFC contract in the process. He has yet to taste victory in the Octagon itself, as he has beaten Kyle Daukaus and Rodolfo Vieira in a row.
Both Anthony Hernandez and Caio Borralho had to withdraw from the clash with Stoltzfus, letting him in as Abusupiyan Magomedov withdrew from the clash with Gerald Meerschaert (33-14).
Despite going on a two-game losing streak with a bonus slash from Bartosz Fabinski, Meerschaert entered the battle in August 2021 with top prospect Makhmud Muradov as a major underdog. In a classic performance, “GM3” survived a rough start by beating “Mach” in the second round and claiming another performance bonus.
His 31 professional stops include 26 submissions.
Meerschaert’s chin may not be as destroyed as before, but the fight with Muradov shows that it hasn’t been completely shot yet. That’s definitely bad news for Stoltzfus, who needs a knockout if he wants to win this one. Both “GM3” featured and venom-submitted games look like much the Stoltzfus can handle, and they think it will be more insurmountable than ever as the rounds progress.
How do you have to feel about Stoltzfus, who faced nothing but dangerous finishers during his brief Octagon tenure. Hopefully his UFC teammates find enough mercy in their hearts to give him a more sensible fight after Meerschaert wore him to a mid-round finish.
Prediction: Meerschaert passed the application in the second round
135 lbs: Raoni Barcelos compared to Victor Henry
Raoni Barcelos (16-2) entered the UFC as the RFA Featherweight Champion, and he lived up to his title by winning his first year at the Octagon. This set up a clash with Timur Valiev, who survived a near-knockout to narrowly overtake Barcelona by majority decision.
He took down eight pro enemies and took down two others.
Victor Henry (May 21) – an artist of the great Josh Barnett – has largely made a name for himself with impressive success on the Japanese circuit. Success is said to include his current 8-1 run, which most recently saw him return to the United States to knock out Albert Morales in an LXF title match.
“La Mangosta” comes to Trevin Jones in less than two weeks.
Even with his relatively recent loss to Denis Lavrentyev breaking his record, it’s hard to argue that Henry hasn’t earned his spot in the Octagon. That said, he was stuck here. I don’t like to use the phrase “better everywhere,” but it actually sounds like it; Henry has been met by strikers inferior to Barcelos, knocked out by lesser wrestlers, and outperformed by lesser-known artists.
The bigger question for me is whether 34-year-old Henry will finally suffer his first loss in 11 years as a professional. Considering the number of weapons the Brazilian carries, it would certainly be an achievement if he lasted the full 15 minutes. Sadly, I see Barcelos either freezing him with a perfect timer or banging him out of the head.
Prediction: Barcelos through second round technical knockout
265 lbs: Justin Tafa compare to Harry Hunsucker (7-4)
Australia’s Justin Tafa (4-3) recovered from a brutal direct loss on his UFC debut by beating Juan Adams four months later. It was followed by a controversial decisive loss to Carlos Felipe, followed by a “Fight of the Night” fight with Jared Vanderaa that saw “The Mountain” overtake Tafa in three rounds.
All four of his professional wins have come by knockout.
Harry Hunsucker (7-4) made a five-fight, five finish in the “Fight Series” where he faced Vanderaa in the early stages before succumbing to the weight division. Two fights later, he stepped up briefly to face Tai Tuivasa, who beat Hunsucker by the fourth knockout of his professional career just 49 seconds after the first round.
I’m still not ready to get rid of 27-year-old Tafa. He certainly has the physical tools to be a threat, and I let him beat Felipe despite still being a rookie in the sport. Only if he somehow loses to Hunsucker that I cut the bait. That’s because “The Hurricane”‘s sloppy fouling and lack of defense made him the most popular of Tafa’s Octagon tenure. Tafa may not be on the same level as Australian Tuivasa, but he doesn’t necessarily have to mindlessly knock down Hunsucker in the same fashion.
While Hunsucker deserves props for answering the call against “Bam Bam” and then signing up to face another heavy hitter, all the props in the world can’t make up for one the chin trembled, unprotected. Tafa cast him into oblivion within the first few minutes.
Prediction: Tafa through the first knockout round
125 lbs: Sijara Eubanks compare to Melissa Gatto
After a series of weight-cutting issues kept her out of the UFC Flyweight division, Sijara Eubanks (7-6) returned to Bantamweight, where she finished 2-4. Her return to 125 pounds in July 2021 proved a win, defeating Octagon newcomer Elise Reed for her first professional break since 2016.
She is one inch ahead of Melissa Gatto (7-0-2) in height and two inches.
Gatto originally planned to make his UFC debut in 2019, only with injuries and travel restrictions to eliminate four fights in a row. However, she made up for lost time in August 2021, edging past Victoria Leonardo on her way to injury time in the second round.
That win marked her first time through the (technical) knockout, although she did score four submissions as a pro.
There’s just so much you can glean from Eubanks’ victory over Reed, a man who’s been a long-timer in a match at Strawweight and Atomweight, but at least none. any red marks. Eubanks looks strong and has an admirable will to pursue his takedown goal instead of worrying on his feet. That mindset might serve her well here, as Gatto’s much-improved boxing is far superior to the powerful but crude “Sarj”.
As long as Eubanks has the incentive and incentive to keep Gatto around, she shouldn’t have too much trouble pulling her down and dominating from the top while Gatto chases aimlessly. If she allows and lets Gatto control the speed and distance, she will be defeated. The former seems more likely than the latter.
Prediction: Eubanks adopts unanimous decision
What better way to end this ridiculous year than two giant men beating each other? I am the game, at least. See you on Saturday, Maniacs.
Current UFC “Prelims” prediction record for 2021: 182-89-2 (2 NC)
Remember MMAmania.com will provide LIVE in installments, full coverage in batches UFC Vegas 45 correct card game here, starts with ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, followed by remaining primary card balance (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.
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https://www.mmamania.com/2021/12/14/22831433/ufc-vegas-45-predictions-full-undercard-preview-derrick-lewis-daukaus-late-prelims-pt2-espn-mma UFC Vegas 45 prediction, late ‘Prelims’ card preview | Lewis and Daukaus