Fight Predictions: UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2

After watching the weigh-ins, I question if anyone ISN'T pumped for 'UFC 261' (#UFC261)

On such a HUGE stage, five fighters will be making their debuts!

Na Liang (@naliangmma) 🇨🇳 blazes in off two submissions & two KO's looking to continue the streak against Ariane Carnelossi (@ariane.sorrisoufc) 🇧🇷 who wants to dust off and show what she's about.

A 'Dana White Contender Series' (#DWCS) graduate, Jeff Molina 🇺🇸 🇨🇴 (@jmolina_125) is looking to have great first day in the office. While QilengAori (@aoriqileng) 🇨🇳 is looking to continue the murderous path he's been raising in 'Wu Lin Feng'.

Kazula Vargas (@kazulavargasufc) 🇲🇽 wants to break his two fight skid and get that elusive win in the Octagon. But, he has to welcome Rong Zhu (@rongzhu.mma) 🇨🇳 who maybe 20yrs but is on a TEN fight winning streak, nine of which were finishes!!!

And, Tristan Connelly (@mmatristan) 🇨🇦 had a great debut himself, but he's probably hoping to spoil that of Patrick Sabatini (@patricksabatini_mma) 🇺🇸 who tasted gold at Cage Fury MMA (@cffcmma) and wants to replicate that in the UFC!

THEN, THREE title fights headline the card!!!

Jéssica Andrade (@JessicaMMAPro) 🇧🇷 in her third division, wants to take the Flyweight belt home. BUT, when you have a champion like Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) 🇰🇬 🇵🇪 who has looked unstoppable. It might be easier to catch a bullet between your teeth!

Rose Namajunas (@RoseNamajunas) 🇱🇹 🇺🇸 was once the champ and she wants that gold back. No easy feet though, against the first Chinese champion, who won in deviating style and then had one of the best fights EVER to retain the gold, Zhang Weili (@ZhangWeiliMMA) 🇨🇳 has no plans on giving anything up!

AND then, nine months ago they met on Fight Island and now they do it again. This time Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) 🇨🇺 believes a full camp will change the outcome. BUT, when you face someone like Kamaru Usman (@Usman84kg) 🇳🇬 only one loss, and that happened in 2013......how do you not have nightmares!!!

For the full event preview, you can listen to the podcast (ep 177) Otherwise, here are your @ChinCheckPod #fightpredictions 🥊

Main Card

Main Event - Welterweight

Kamaru Usman (W) vs Jorge Masvidal

Co-main - Women’s Strawweight

Zhang Weili (W) vs Rose Namajunas

Co-main - Women’s Flyweight

Valentina Shevchenko (W) vs Jéssica Andrade

Middleweight

Uriah Hall vs Chris Weidman (W)

Light Heavyweight

Anthony Smith vs Jimmy Crute (W)

Preliminary Card

Welterweight

Alex Oliveira vs Randy Brown (W)

Welterweight

Dwight Grant (W) vs Stefan Sekulić

Middleweight

Karl Roberson vs Brendan Allen (W)

Featherweight

Patrick Sabatini vs Tristan Connelly (W)

Early Preliminary Card

Bantamweight

Danaa Batgerel vs Kevin Natividad (W)

Lightweight

Kazula Vargas vs Rong Zhu (W)

Flyweight

QilengAori vs Jeffrey Molina (W)

Women’s Strawweight

Na Liang (W) vs Ariane Carnelossi