UFC on ESPN 7 - Washington Breakdown & Predictions
When is UFC on ESPN 7? Sunday 8th December, 2019 - 00:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 7? Capital One Arena, Washington D.C
What channel is UFC on ESPN 7? BT are not showing this event
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 7? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ which can you sign up to here!
Are tickets still available for UFC on ESPN 7? https://www.ufc.com/tickets
Alistair Overeem vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Due to the sad situation of Walt Harris’ stepdaughter, he has had to pull out the biggest fight of his career with Alistair Overeem but another knockout artist has stepped up in the seismic shape of Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Overeem is a true legend and even though he has been around since the Pride days and been wrecked by several heavyweight monsters, he is still at the top of the food chain putting away top contenders. Just when it seemed the writing was on the wall for the veteran after getting absolutely extinguished by a Francis Ngannou uppercut, and ravenously finished with ground-and-pound by Curtis Blaydes, he has responded with two calculated knockouts of his own.
Although lacking MMA experience, Rozenstruik is cut from a similar cloth. Sitting on a successful kickboxing career where he earned a record of 76-8 with 64 knockouts. It is fair to say the Suriname native is a beast with frightening knockout power which he has displayed beautifully in his fledgling MMA career, finishing all but one of his wins via knockout. He has had three UFC fights in which he starched Junior Albini, Allen Crowder and most recently dispatching another legend, Andrei Arlovski, only a month ago.
PREDICTION
Overeem is a lot more tactical these days and he will not have had to alter his preparations too much for Rozenstruik as Harris was also an explosive knockout artist. That said, Overeem has to execute a game plan as his damaged chin will not hold up against Rozenstruik’s power.
As it is five rounds you have to expect a knockout. Overeem has the experience to mix in strikes with clinches and takedowns and if he can get the fight to the floor, he will have a clear grappling advantage. However, Rozenstruik only needs to connect once to send the veteran to sleep.
Winner: Rozenstruik via KO/TKO
Marina Rodriguez vs Cynthia Calvillo
Unfortunately, we will not get to see the mouth-watering match-up between Claudia Gadelha and Cynthia Calvillo, as Gadelha had to pull out with injury, but thankfully the prospect Marina Rodriguez has stepped up to put her unbeaten record on the line.
Calvillo is also a prospect with six UFC fights under her belt already. She only has one loss to her name which was a decision against the former champion Carla Esparza but has notched up two wins since - a submission over Poliana Botelho and a decision over Cortney Casey.
Rodriquez has buckets of potential and power for a strawweight. After knocking out Maria de Oliveira Neta on Dana White’s Contender Series, she was awarded a contract. She fought to a draw with the experienced Randa Markos on her debut but is coming off two more wins and decisions over Jessia Aguilar and Tecia Torres.
PREDICTION
Rodriguez is a big strawweight and if she can keep the fight on the feet she can leverage her aggressive Muay Thai to overwhelm Calvillo. However, Calvillo is a tough, technical boxer and the only time she has been outclassed was against a top-tier wrestler.
If Calvillo mixes things up and secures takedowns she can take the fight away from the Brazilian but if not, she will have to deal with an aggressive striking onslaught with a reach discrepancy. Either way, this should be a very close contest.
Winner: Calvillo via Decision
Stefan Struve vs Ben Rothwell
‘The Skyscraper’ Stefan Struve rises out of retirement to take on ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell who has not won since his drugs ban.
The giant Struve never reached his potential and you get a feeling that’s why he has signed a six-fight deal after retiring. He has a win over the current champion Stipe Miocic and has phenomenal ground skills but a combination of heart issues (literally) and never utilizing his monstrous reach meant he never made the top bracket. He suffered three losses in a row to Alexander Volkov, Andrei Arlovski and Marcin Tybura but is coming off the 18th submission of his career against Marcos Rogerio de Lima.
At one point, Rothwell looked like he fulfilled his potential and then some going on an amazing four-fight winning streak – knocking out Brandon Vera and Alistair Overeem and then submitting Matt Mitrione and Josh Barnett. He went on to lose a decision to Junior dos Santos but that streak was incredible. However, that was between 2013-2016 and he was then banned for two years after failing a drugs test. Who knows what difference it made, but he has returned without a win coming off two more losses to Blagoy Ivanov and Andrei Arlovski.
PREDICTION
If these towering heavyweights regain some old form we could be in for a blockbuster with a knockout or submission to close the show. If Struve can use his reach, he can keep Rothwell at a safe distance while accumulating body and legs kicks to wear him down and although Rothwell is a very tricky grappler, he won’t want to get wrapped up in Struve’s limbs on the floor. This fight all depends on how they turn up on the night and a rejuvenated Struve looks more likely to perform - but who knows with these two.
Winner: Struve via Decision
Aspen Ladd vs Yana Kunitskaya
Aspen Ladd is coming off the first loss of her career and looks to get back to winning ways against the experienced Yana Kunitskaya.
Ladd suffered a TKO to Germaine de Randamie in her last fight which was somewhat controversial as she thought it was a premature stoppage. The controversy was exacerbated because it happened so early in the fight but the truth is, Germaine de Randamie is an elite striker and would have embarrassed Ladd the longer the fight stayed on the feet.
Kunitskaya has strung two wins together after nominating herself as a sacrificial lamb for Cris Cyborg at featherweight. Bantamweight is clearly her division after two well-earned decisions over Lina Lansberg and Marion Reneau.
PREDICTION
Kunitskaya is a well-rounded and seasoned fighter who will have the striking advantage over Ladd. However, Ladd has a chip on her shoulder and is likely to make a statement with her raw power and aggression. If she can take the Russian down easily, she should get back in the win column.
Winner: Ladd via Decision
Cody Stamann vs Song Yadong
The Team Alpha Male prospect Song Yadong returns to the octagon to take on Cody Stamann who has only lost once in his last 12 fights.
That loss came after Stamann won his first three UFC bouts which stretched his impressive record to 17-1. He met Aljamain Sterling who gave him a taste of the elite with a crazy-rare submission called the Suloev Stretch. However, Stamann got back to winning ways in his last outing earning the 10th decision of his career against Alejandro Perez.
Yadong is also coming off a win over Perez but a far more impressive first round knockout. The Chinese native is only 21 years old but performs like a veteran, winning his last seven fights with five finishes.
PREDICTION
This will be a high-calibre and fast-paced scrap. Both fighters are very technical but Yadong is more explosive with knockout power. That said, Stamann is very tough and has never been knocked out. If Yadong cannot find a knockout, Stamann will test his cardio and look to take him into deep waters with clinches and takedown attempts but only if he remains patient and is prepared for an even more dangerous version of Yadong.
Winner: Stamann via Decision
Striking and grappling stats sourced via FightMetric.