Fight Predictions: UFC on ESPN 24: Waterson vs Rodriguez

'UFC on ESPN 24' (#UFCVegas26) lost its original Main event and has taken other hits along the way. BUT, it's Saturday and we have TEN fun fights to look forward to, at an earlier time too! So what's not to be excited about....

Carlston Harris (@carlstonlindsay) 🇬🇾 is the lone debut on this card. He stopped his last three opponents, the last via a d'arce, so it looks like he has the weapons. The question is though, how will he fair, with this step up in competition!?! Christian Aguilera (@datbeastchris) 🦬 had a spectacular debut, but then got mauled by Sean Brady, so he'll be looking to get back to it with this fight.

Now there were four fights on our 'Straight Fire' list, but one got scrapped. But the three that are left.......

After losing his debut, Jun Yong Park (@ninja_turtle1991) 🇰🇷 has put together a couple of pretty decisive, dominant wins. Now Tafon Nchukwi (@tafon_da_don) 🇨🇲 has less experience, but he's undefeated, and other than his debut, he's finished every fight!!!

It really seems like failure was the fuel that has helped Phil Hawes (@philliphawes) Cause since 'Dana White Contender Series' (#DWCS) he's been on a six fight streak, and he's been blazing through cats! We know Kyle Daukaus (@kyle_daukaus) 🥩 is Philly tough, probably scrapped with his bro Chris all his life. And you can see that in his fights, he lost the debut, but never once gave up. Then looked real good in his next outing. So now he's gonna want to put together a run.

If you listen to Amanda Ribas (@amandaufcribas) 🇧🇷 speak, you'd never think she's coming off a brutal KO. Which is great, cause she still has that self belief. And her skillset definitely hasn't diminished, cause if this goes to the ground.....Danger Angela Hill (@angieoverkill) ☄️ is the female cowboy, she's always down for a fight and in this second stint in the UFC, we've really seen her blossom. Her stand-up is where she's most comfortable and after Ribas last fight, she'll definitely want to try and stamp her authority in that department!

THEN, there's the Main event! It was a short notice replacement, so these straw weights are fighting up a class, but still, this is a tremendous fight!

Marina Rodriguez (@marinarodriguezmma) 🇧🇷 is riding high off her stoppage of Ribas in her last fight. Her hands looked super sharp, and that high kick, damn. Now though, can she put together a run in the division! Michelle Waterson (@karatehottiemma) 🇹🇭 🇺🇸 has always been close to the top, nearly getting a title shot back in 2019. She can definitely match Rodriguez with the kicks and hit her where she's had difficulty in the past, the wrestling. Waterson is used to dealing with reach, so it will be interesting to see if she can get it to the ground. It's a bit of a chess match, and should be a great fight‼️

For the full event preview, you can listen to the podcast (ep 183) Otherwise, here are your @ChinCheckPod #fightpredictions 🥊

Main Card

Main Event - Women's Flyweight

Michelle Waterson (W) vs Marina Rodriguez

Co-main - Welterweight

Donald Cerrone (W) vs Alex Morono

Welterweight

Neil Magny vs Geoff Neal (W)

Heavyweight

Marcos Rogério de Lima vs Maurice Greene (W)

Lightweight

Carlos Diego Ferreira vs Gregor Gillespie (W)

Women’s Strawweight

Amanda Ribas (W) vs Angela Hill

Preliminary Card

Middleweight

Phil Hawes (W) vs Kyle Daukaus

Featherweight

Ľudovít Klein (W) vs Michael Trizano

Middleweight

Jun Yong Park (W) vs Tafon Nchukwi

Welterweight

Christian Aguilera vs Carlston Harris (W)