UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov will air on April 22, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee.
#4 CUB “KILLER” SWANSON (24-7-0) vs. ARTEM “THE RUSSIAN HAMMER” LOBOV (14-12-1, 1 NC)
This is a five round main event in the featherweight division. Swanson brings boxing, judo, and jiu-jitsu giving him knockout power along with grappling control and cardio. Lobov brings striking, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and grappling control. With both fighters bring a similar style the fight will come down to who uses their techniques more accurately, which I believe will be Swanson all from his impressive knockout power that appears to be more than Lobov can handle. Now, Lobov has a chance if he uses his combination of striking and wrestling to place Swanson in serious pressure and possibly get him into a submission hold making the biggest statement of his career. But Swanson will be pressuring Lobov at the same time and unless he can find an opening I see Swanson taking the fight with an easy knockout blow. My prediction: Swanson wins via knockout in Round 1.
#14 AL “RAGING” IAQUINTA (12-3-1) vs. DIEGO “THE NIGHTMARE” SANCHEZ (29-9-0)
This is a three round co-main event in the lightweight division. Iaquinta brings boxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and grappling control. Sanchez brings Gaidojutsu, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power with grappling control and cardio. This seems to be a fun fight to watch as both are skilled in many techniques of the sport and look to put on a show making it difficult to chose a favorite. But since I must choose I believe Sanchez has the advantage with his aggressive style all around that he uses in every one of his fights to not only put pressure on his opponents but at the same time try to wear them down to where he can finish them or score enough points to steal the rounds. However, if Iaquinta manages to pressure Sanchez and possibly bring the fight to the ground to score more crucial points then he just might stand a chance against Sanchez. He must also overcome Sanchez’s takedown defense, which will surely be hard while Sanchez is laying a load of strikes upon him to show him why he is called “The Nightmare”. My prediction: Sanchez wins via split decision.
#8 OVINCE “OSP” SAINT PREUX (19-10-0) vs. MARCOS ROGERIO “PEZAO” DE LIMA (15-5-1)
This is a three round fight in the light heavyweight division. Preux brings boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and grappling control. De Lima brings boxing and kickboxing giving him knockout power. With what both fighters bring to this bout I see Preux taking this fight as he is a well-rounded fighter in many styles, where de Lima is all around striker with no ground game making this fight falling into a one-sided beating. The only way de Lima stands a chance is to keep the fight standing and find Preux’s weak spot on his chin to get the knockout blow, but Preux will be keeping his defense up knowing that is the only way de Lima can win and will, therefore, be able to wear him down until he gets him right where he wants him. My prediction: Preux wins via submission in Round 2.
#7 JOHN “THE MAGICIAN” DODSON (19-8-0) vs. #10 EDDIE WINELAND (23-11-1)
This is a three round fight in the bantamweight division. Dodson brings boxing, kickboxing, Gaidojutsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power with grappling control and cardio. Wineland brings kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and grappling control. In this fight are two fights looking to climb up the leader board into possible title contention and the one I see getting closer is Wineland, all from his striking power and grappling combination that I find more than Dodson can handle. Unless Dodson can use his speed mixed with his striking and grappling to catch Wineland off guard I really don’t see Wineland losing this fight and looks to dominate Dodson. My prediction: Wineland wins via TKO in Round 3.
JOE LAUZON (27-13-0) vs. STEVIE “BRAVEHEART” RAY (20-6-0)
This is a three round fight in the lightweight division. Lauzon brings boxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and extreme grappling control. Ray brings boxing, kickboxing and jiu-jitsu giving him knockout power with grappling control and cardio. With both fighters containing identical techniques this fight looks to be a close one, but in reality, I see Ray taking this fight with his deadly combination of striking mixed with wrestling that appears to be a little more advanced than Lauzon’s. The only way I see Lauzon standing a chance is to bring the fight to the ground early in the first round to where he can catch Ray off guard and pressure him to the point he leads him into a submission hold and get the victory. Though Ray has great takedown defense and it will not be easy to get him to the ground, which is why I still believe he will use his striking more aggressively to keep Lauzon at bay. My prediction: Ray wins via unanimous decision.
#13 JAKE “THE JUGGERNAUT” ELLENBERGER (31-12-0) vs. MIKE “PLATINUM” PERRY (9-1-0)
This is a three round fight in the welterweight division. Ellenberger brings boxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power and a little grappling control. Perry brings boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling giving him knockout power with all his victories being won by knockout. Now Perry is only beginning his career while Ellenberger has plenty of experience under his belt I still believe Perry’s striking power might be too much for Ellenberger to handle as his chin seems to have taken a great amount of beating. Unless Ellenberger can use his wrestling to try and maneuver around Perry’s striking and own wrestling then I really don’t see him standing much of a chance in this bout. My prediction: Perry wins via knockout in Round 2.
