The UFC is back home at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 222 on Saturday night. The main event takes place in the women’s featherweight division and features Cris Cyborg as she defends her title against Yana Kunitskaya. Justino is the baddest woman on the planet. Sixteen of her nineteen pro wins have come via (T)KO. Her most recent win was a five-round unanimous decision over Holly Holm at UFC 219.
Yana Kunitskaya will be making her UFC debut when she steps into the cage with Justino. The Russian born fighter boasts eight finishes in her ten pro wins. Her last three fights were all under the Invicta banner where she went 1-1 with one no-contest. Kunitskaya’s most recent fight was at Invicta FC 25 where she decisioned Raquel Pa’aluhi.
The co-main event features what should be an excellent bout between featherweights Frankie Edar and Brian Ortega. Ortega steps in for the injured Max Holloway, who suffered a leg injury during training. The twenty-seven year old Ortega is undefeated as a professional fighter. He boats two (T)KOs, to go along with seven submissions in his thirteen wins. Ortega’s last fight was a second round submission of Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 123.
UFC veteran Frankie Edgar has won seven of his last eight fights. After losing to Jose Aldo at UFC 200, Edgar beat Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision at UFC 205 and then dismantled Yair Rodriguez leading to a doctor’s stoppage at UFC 211.
The five-fight main card also includes upstart Sean O’Malley who made a name for himself during Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series against Andre Soukhamthath, Stefan Struve vs. Andre Arlovski in a battle of heavyweights and Cat Zingano finally makes her return when she takes on Ketlen Vieira.
The early prelims will air on Fight Pass starting at 5:30 PM CT, with Fox Sports 1 taking over at 7 PM CT for the prelims. The main card airs on PPV starting at 9 PM CT.
Here are the current odds and my predictions for each fight.
Note: The predictions in this column do not necessarily mean that I will be betting them. I have changed my mind in the past and gone the other way after conducting more research. For all of my official bets follow me on Twitter @FightChampBlog. You can also find all of my official MMA bets at betmmatips.com. For more information on my MMA bets go to thefightingchampion.com.
Main Card
Cris Cyborg (19-1, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (10-3, 1 NC) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Cyborg -1600; Kunitskaya +900
Pick: Cyborg by KO/TKO
Frankie Edgar (21-5-1) vs. Brian Ortega (13-0, 1 NC) – Featherweight 145 lbs.
Current Odds: Edgar -155; Ortega +125
Pick: Edgar by Decision
Sean O’Malley (9-0) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (12-5) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Soukhamthath -115; O’Malley -115
Pick: O’Malley by Decision
Stefan Struve (32-9) vs. Andrei Arlovski (26-15, 1 NC) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Struve -180; Arlovski +150
Pick: Struve by (T)KO, however, I can see Arlovski winning the same way
Cat Zingano (9-2) vs. Ketlen Vieira (9-0) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Vieira -210; Zingano +165
Pick: Vieira by Decision
Prelims
Ashley Yoder (5-3) vs. Mackenzie Dern (5-0) – Strawweight 115 lbs.
Current Odds: Dern -445; Yoder +345
Pick: Dern by Submission
Beneil Dariush (14-3-1) vs. Bobby Green (24-8-1) – Lightweight 155 lbs.
Current Odds: Dariush -400; Hernandez +300
Pick: Dariush by (T)KO
John Dodson (20-9) vs. Pedro Munhoz (15-2, 1 NC) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Dodson -150; Munhoz +120
Pick: Dodson by Decision
CB Dollaway (17-9) vs. Hector Lombard (34-8-1, 2 NC) – Middleweight 185 lbs.
Current Odds: Lombard -120; Dollaway -110
Pick: Dolloway by Decision
Early Prelims
Mike Pyle (27-13-1) vs. Zak Ottow (15-5) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Ottow -305; Pyle +245
Pick: Ottow by (T)KO
Bryan Caraway (21-8) vs. Cody Stamann (16-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Stamann -135; Caraway +105
Pick: Caraway by Decision
Jordan Johnson (8-0) vs. Adam Milstead (8-1) – Light Heavyweight 205 lbs.
Current Odds: Johnson -230; Milstead +180
Pick: Milstead by Decision
Enjoy the fights!
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