ROUNDTABLE: Staff predictions for Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis

Who will win Saturday’s main event between Stephen Thompson and Anthony Pettis?

Cole Henry, Host – MMA Scope Podcast

I’m going with Wonderboy here. Pettis has pretty much devolved into a brawler as of late and while that’s exciting, its also the kind of style that Thompson usually eats up. Now if we see a vintage Pettis performance perhaps things could get interesting but I think this will likely be a fight consisting of Thompson keeping Pettis at a distance and winning a decision, unless Pettis gets wild and perhaps, we could then see Thompson score a finish.

Sean Covington, Columnist – Covington’s Corner

Both of these guys have unfulfilled potential and I’m sick of em. These two guys keep getting big/good fights and it’s like they’re doing nothing with them. Stephen Thompson should win pretty easily over Anthony Pettis. Pettis is an extremely inconsistent fighter and I expect him to struggle against Thompson. If Thompson gets beat up and loses, he’s DONE! Whoever loses should go to Bellator immediately afterwards.

Frank Hyden, Columnist – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I think Thompson wins by 4th round TKO. Pettis has been bouncing around trying to find his place but it’s a big ask for him to beat Thompson. Pettis has shown glimpses of his former Showtime self and I think we see a little bit of that in this fight, but I think Thompson bides his time and pounces later in the fight. I think the early rounds will be a little dull as both fighters are tentative but things pick up and we get an explosive finish.

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Michael Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor

Anthony Pettis moving up to welterweight reeks of desperation and I think Stephen Thompson is going to make him pay for it. Through a combination of Pettis deteriorating as a fighter and his opponents figuring out the score on him, he doesn’t have a lot to offer at the top level right now. I expect Thompson to put the pressure on Pettis, and try and get some goodwill back that he’s lost as an exciting fighter after a string of dull fights. I think “Wonderboy” knocks him out in the second round by keeping the pressure on, and potentially even using his size advantage and taking the fight to the ground.