UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis will air on December 10, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
#2 MAX “BLESSED” HOLLOWAY (16-3-0) vs #5 ANTHONY “SHOWTIME” PETTIS (19-5-0)
This is a five round main event for the interim featherweight division. Holloway brings kickboxing, Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu making him efficient in both striking and cardio. Pettis brings boxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu and wrestling making him well-rounded in both standing and ground game as well as being the former Lightweight Champion. As both fighters are almost identical in style the basis of the fight will be decided upon who uses their techniques to the fullest. In that case, I would have to hand the fight to Holloway as he shows more striking and ground and pound than Pettis does and so I am not sure Pettis would be able to stand up to Holloway after he was destroyed by former Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Unless Pettis can keep the pressure on Holloway and set up some sneak attacks I really don’t see Pettis taking this fight the way he took many of his past fights. My prediction: Holloway wins via unanimous decision.
#5 DONALD “COWBOY” CERRONE (31-7-0, 1 NC) vs #14 MATT “THE IMMORTAL” BROWN (22-15-0)
This is a three round co-main event in the welterweight division. Cerrone brings kickboxing, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu and Gaidojutsu which have to lead him to be well-rounded in all three methods of victory. Brown brings kickboxing, judo and jiu-jitsu giving him great striking power along with grappling techniques. Both fighters have great striking power, but I believe Cerrone is more well-rounded in setting up his aggressive striking. Unless Brown can bring the fight to the ground and use his jiu-jitsu to the fullest by keeping Cerrone in a world of trouble I really don’t see this fight turning out to be much at all. My prediction: Cerrone wins via split decision.
#10 TIM KENNEDY (18-5-0) vs KELVIN GASTELUM (13-2-0)
This is a three round fight in the middleweight division. Kennedy brings boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling making him efficient in striking a grappling techniques. Gastelum brings boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling giving him striking power along with grappling control. Since both fighters are well-rounded in both striking and grappling it will most likely come down to who is more effective in their techniques. In that case I believe Kennedy’s wrestling and striking will be a little too much for Gastelum to handle since he is not that great against that kind of combination. Unless Gastelum can use his own wrestling to try to out wrestle Kennedy I really don’t see being able to stand toe to toe with Kennedy. My prediction: Kennedy wins via unanimous decision.
