UFC Fight Night Poirier vs. Hooker

Interesting card for UFC Fight Night Poirier vs.Hooker. There’s a lot of puzzling match ups that I found really tough to pick. I really like the main event here. Poirier and Hooker are both stars in the lightweight division. I’d love for the winner of this to fight either Ferguson or Conner. I think other than the main event, this card is probably gonna be a little underwhelming. Not too many big names or big upsets to root for. 

Dustin Poirier (-235) vs. Dan Hooker (+175): Poirier by KO/TKO (+125)

This will be a fantastic main event. Poirier is ranked third in the lightweight division, and Hooker is ranked fifth. Two guys with great UFC resumes. Hooker is the longer fighter, but the smaller cage in the Apex is gonna limit his ability to utilize that. Poirier is the better boxer with a better ground game. Hooker probably should’ve lost to Paul Felder in his last fight. Poirier, before losing to Khabib, raddled off wins against Gathje, Holloway, and Alverez. Poirier is just the better well rounded fighter. I could see Poirier finishing him via submission or via knockout.

Mike Perry (-355) vs. Mickey Gall (+255): Perry by Decision (+500) (.5u)

Two fighters with two very different styles. Perry is a prolific striker with knockout power. Mickey Gall is a grappler with the ability to hit a submission. Normally, I’d take Perry every day of the week, but Perry decided to forgo the traditional coach for his girlfriend as his corner woman. All that being said, Mickey Gall is not a UFC caliber fighter. If this was any other fighter I would fade Perry. 

Gian Villante (+205) vs. Maurice Greene (-280): Greene by Decision(+500) (.5u)

Gian takes too many punches. He takes 6.4 strikes per minute. I think that’s too many to take against a guy like Maurice Greene. Greene is the longer, taller fighter, which in a heavyweight fight means a lot. I’d either pass on this fight or take Greene.

Brendan Allen (-320) vs. Kyle Daukaus (+230): Daukaus by Submission (+650) (.5u)

This is gonna be a very fun fight. Both of these guys are very good on the ground. Daukaus is undefeated in his professional career up to this point. Daukaus has one 8 of his 9 fights via submission, but Allen has the advantage in the striking game. Allen does boast a solid ground game, but from what I’ve observed, Allen struggles with top control on the ground. This is gonna be a very fun, technical ground fight to watch. With these fighters being so close in my eyes, I’ll take Daukaus with the positive number.

Sean Woodson (-600) vs. Julian Erosa (+300): Woodson by KO/TKO (1u)

Erosa has been finished in his last three fights. Woodson is by far the superior fighter. Woodson has the better stand up game, being a boxer by trade. Erosa took the fight on five days notice. This one won’t be close at all. This is something to add to a parlay, or a first round finish. Woodson is more of a volume puncher. I do not see a path to victory for Erosa. Normally, I’d say that Woodson isn’t capable of the knockout, but Erosa has been finished in his last three fights.

Luis Pena (-260) vs. Khama Worthy (+220): Khama by KO/TKO (+450) (.5u)

Luis Pena excels as a grappler and a wrestler. On the other hand, Khama is a pure striker. Khama comes with knockout power, whereas Pena doesn’t really have the power behind his punches. Pena is the more rounded fighter, but -260 on Pena is too much to lay. I’ll take Khama with the knockout at great value.

Philipe Lins (-110) vs. Tanner Boser (-110): Boser by Decision (+150) (.5u)

This is going to be a very close fight. Both of these guys are even in the stand up game. We’re gonna see a lot of low leg kicks from both of these guys to add pressure. Lins debut saw him go against a very experienced fighter in Andrei Arlovski. That was a fight in which Lins went the distance and lost convincingly by decision. I think Boser’s striking is just a tad better. Give me Boser in a very tight fight. 

Takashi Sato (-175) vs. Jason Witt(+190): Sato by KO/TKO

Tough situation here for Witt. Taking this fight on very late notice. In the original match up I liked Brahimaj, but with the late notice and Sato’s striking game, I have to take Sato by KO/TKO.

Jordan Griffin (+110) vs. Youssef Zala(-130): Zala by Decision (+180) (1u)

Both of these guys are very talented fighters. Both boast a prominent submission and ground game. This one will be back and forth on the mat, however, Zala wins this fight because of his superior striking. 

Kay Hansen (-152) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (+125): Kay Hansen by Submission (+500) (.5U)

Both of these women are making their UFC debut. Hasen is known as a grappler and Frey is a kickboxer. This will be a clash of styles. I’ll take the younger grappler in the smaller cage in the Apex here. Hansen with the early submission in round two for half a unit.

Lock: Sean Woodson

Dog of the Day: Khama, outright

Parlay: Hansen, Sato, Woodson, Poirier