UFC Fight Night 133 - Idaho Breakdown & Predictions
When is UFC Fight Night 133? Sunday 15th July, 2018 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 133? CenturyLink Arena, Boise, Idaho
What channel is UFC Fight Night 133 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 133? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
Junior dos Santos vs Blagoy Ivanov
Junior dos Santos and Blagoy Ivanov tops a Fight Night card that is littered with great bouts. The former heavyweight champion dos Santos welcomes the current WSOF heavyweight champion for his UFC debut and we expect it to be an absolute barn burner.
Ivanov finally enters the UFC and arrives with a lot of hype and only one loss to his name which was to current top contender Alexander Volkov. The standard is at a much higher level in the UFC but a record of 16-1 (1) with five consecutive wins on the bounce, he has to be feared.
However, dos Santos fears no one having reigned the division and gone to war with some of the best heavyweights of all time. Cain Velasquez took years off his fighting life and he has also recently been at the wrong end of exceptional performances to Alistair Overeem and Stipe Miocic but he is out to prove he is still among the best in the division.
He also comes into this fight with extra fire after being wrongfully accused and banned for the consumption of a prohibited substance. He got pulled from his fight with Francis Ngannou at UFC 217 and has eventually cleared his name after he proved it was a tainted supplement that he consumed.
PREDICTION
When you see dos Santos perform it is easy to forget that he is one of the most humble and nicest fighters in the sport. He is a true gentleman but in the cage he is a violent beast with some of the most thunderous boxing in the UFC. He is technical and fast but has sledgehammers for arms that can knock out any fighter in the division and he will wait patiently to land on the Bulgarian to ruin his debut.
However, his takedown defence will have to be at its usual level as Ivanov is a master of Sambo. Combat Sambo is extremely effective in MMA but Ivanov is a well-seasoned and complete Mixed Martial Artist and although he is giving up a lot of size to dos Santos, he will be a serious threat in every area.
As dos Santos’ chin has taken a lot of damage over the years, he will be susceptible to another knockout and his cardio will have to be on point to endure the outstanding grappling of Ivanov, but the Brazilian has a habit of bouncing back form losses in spectacular fashion. His reach, height and power advantage may just set up a trademarked uppercut to turn off all the lights and cap off the show.
Winner: Junior Dos Santos via KO/TKO
Striking and grappling stats sourced via FightMetric.
Dennis Bermudez vs Rich Glenn
The co-main event for UFC Fight Night 133 features UFC veteran Dennis Bermudez and ex-WSOF featherweight champion Rick Glenn in what will be his fifth UFC fight.
Glenn is 2-2 in the UFC but has a huge opportunity to put his name on the map with a big-name win. This will be Bermudez’ 16th UFC fight and although Glenn in not very well known, this will be a very tough encounter – especially coming off three losses on the bounce.
PREDICTION
Glenn is very well-rounded and uses his dimensions effectively to finish fights. He is a great grappler but will look to pick Bermudez apart with his striking. Bermudez is also well-rounded and is very accustomed to fighting opponents with a significant reach advantage and even boasts a win against the current lanky featherweight champion, Max Holloway.
However, considering the reach advantage and stand-up skills of Glenn, we should expect Bermudez to shoot in for the takedown and control the fight on the mat or in the clinch. The longer the fight lasts on the feet, the more likely Glenn will find the knockout but considering the form of Bermudez, he will call upon his hefty experience and close the fight out.
Winner: Bermudez via Decision
Sage Northcutt vs Zak Ottow
After flirting with the welterweight division throughout his UFC career, Sage Northcutt now hopes to settle at 170 lbs and has been handed the tough and experienced Zak Ottow to begin his new chapter.
Northcutt is only 22 years old and as he continues to develop, the cut to 155 lbs becomes a steeper and steeper hill to climb. He is an athletic freak, born with abs and when he is at his best he has blown opponents away with his explosiveness and athleticism, so it makes sense to fight in a more natural weight division.
PREDICTION
Ottow is coming off a great knockout over Mike Pyle, showing off his improved striking but his biggest skill is on the ground as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So, he will carefully study the footage of Northcutt’s only losses where he was submitted by Bryan Barberena and Mickey Gall and will attempt to get the fight to the mat.
However, footage of Northcutt may be irrelevant as the young star is evolving at such a rate he can look like a completely different fighter when he steps in the cage; especially now as he will be more comfortable as a welterweight. We should expect him to explode in the stand-up exchanges and overwhelm Ottow with his speed.
Winner: Northcutt via KO/TKO
Myles Jury vs Chad Mendes
Chad Mendes makes his long-awaited return after serving a two-year ban for a doping violation and is desperate to get back into the octagon and remind everyone he still has what it takes to compete at the top of the featherweight division.
However, he has no tune up fight on his return as Myles Jury is the man welcoming him back. Jury suffered his first career losses in 2015 but bounced back with two great wins over Mike De La Torre (TKO) and Rich Glenn (decision).
Meanwhile, Mendes has been training like a beast at Team Alpha Male and is raring to go. Prior to his ban, Mendes suffered knockout losses to Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar but he was still regarded as one of the best in the division so it will be fascinating to see how he performs upon his return.
PREDICTION
Jury is slick on the mat as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but he will no doubt try and keep the fight standing to utilize his huge reach advantage. Mendes is no stranger to giving up height and reach and relies on his explosiveness to close the distance and mix in takedowns with power strikes.
He has legitimate knockout power but considering the long lay-off, we could easily see him play it safe and rely on his exceptional wrestling to negate the stand-up threat.
Seven inches of height and reach advantage is one thing but combining that with the aggressive and technical onslaught is another. Jury is a phenomenal striker and if he can keep Mendes at a distance he will pick him apart and look for the finish but we can’t forget the class of Mendes.
Winner: Jury via Decision
Cat Zingano vs Marion Reneau
The main card for UFC Fight Night 133 kicks off with Cat Zingano and Marion Reneau who arrive to Idaho in contrasting form. Zingano has had a horrendous time with injuries throughout her career fighting an average of less than once a year since 2011.
She has lost her only three fights all in a row and desperately needs a win. Despite the injury lay-offs, she has been fighting the best in the division since she joined the UFC and she has another tough assignment in Reneau. Reneau is unbeaten in her last four fights with impressive finishes over Talita Bernado (TKO) and Sara McMann (submission).
PREDICTION
Both women are extremely well-rounded and the fight can take place in any area. As both of their strengths lie in their grappling, they are likely to test their skills on the feet as their plan A.
Wherever the fight goes, you can count on a very aggressive display from both fighters who always go for the finish and although they both have only won one fight each via a decision, they are so evenly matched and so tough that this bout may just endure all three rounds.
Winner: Zingano via Decision
