UFC Fight Night 160 - Copenhagen Breakdown & Predictions
When is UFC Fight Night 160? Saturday 28th September, 2019 - 17:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 160? Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
What channel is UFC Fight Night 160? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 160? 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 Fight Night 160? https://www.ufc.com/tickets
Jack Hermansson vs Jared Cannonier
Jack ‘The Joker’ Hermansson makes the short trip from Norway to headline the first UFC event in Denmark, bringing Jared ‘The Killa Gorilla’ Cannonier to the dance.
Hermansson has been hunting a big name which is fully deserved after outclassing perennial top contender Jacare Souza after finishing Thales Leites, Gerald Meerschaert and David Branch in dominant fashion. However, he has been handed Cannonier, who is ranked five spots below but he is a problem and has all the ability to break the hearts of the European faithful.
Cannonier is fresh off his fight with the greatest middleweight of all time Anderson Silva and walked away with a TKO after injuring the Brazilian’s leg with one of many bruising leg kicks. This was after his disposing of David Branch, marking his second fight and knockout as a middleweight truly finding his home after competing up in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions.
PREDICTION
Cannonier looks a different fighter since making the drop in weight but he has kept his thunderous power which he will look to unleash on the Swede. Cannonier is a skilled striker and will tactfully throw leg kicks and set up his huge overhand right.
Despite the knockout threat, Hermansson is just on a different level, especially in the grappling department with one of the best guillotine’s in the game. He is ferocious on the feet with speed, power and variety of techniques and after his grappling display against Souza you would back him to submit most middleweights right now. Whether Hermansson takes Cannonier down or knocks him down he will look to capitalize in predatory fashion.
Winner: Hermansson via Submission
Mark Madsen vs Danilo Belluardo
The co-main event in Copenhagen is graced by ‘The Olympian’ Mark Madsen who makes his UFC debut on home soil against Italian prospect Danilo Belluardo.
Madsen is a decorated wrestler and silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the talented Dane is continuing his success in MMA sitting proudly on an unbeaten record with five finishes. Now, he faces his toughest test in MMA by entering the UFC but what better occasion than the first UFC event in his home country.
Belluardo is the man sent over to spoil the party who made his UFC debut in his last fight against Joel Alvarez. He had high hopes earning a contract after an impressive six-fight winning streak including two submissions and three knockouts however, he lost via TKO in the second round.
PREDICTION
It seemed nerves got the better of Belluardo in his last fight and worryingly he got finished by ground-and-pound after taking Alvarez down at will. He will have to have a different game plan against the Olympic silver medallist.
Madsen is ferociously strong and his technique continues to evolve. He has proven one-punch knockout power and if he can get a hold of Belluardo he is going for a ride.
The Italian is a great MMA grappler but Madsen is an elite wrestler and his power will make all the difference. He is expected to control the fight and likely to earn a finish especially if he gets the fight to the floor.
Winner: Madsen via KO/TKO
Gunnar Nelson vs Gilbert Burns
Thiago Alves pulled out of his glamour tie with Gunnar Nelson but fortunately another Brazilian bull in the shape of Gilbert Burns has stepped up in what is arguably a tougher match up for Iceland’s finest.
Nelson is coming off a disappointing loss to top contender Leon Edwards who changed the course of the fight with a perfectly timed elbow which would have finished many fighters. Nelson dragged the fight to a split decision and was constantly a threat but could not gain momentum from his incredible submission win over Alex Oliveira.
Credit to Burns, who has chosen to fly over to Europe to take on one of the most dangerous and well-rounded fighters in the division. That said, the Brazilian has all the tools himself as he is also an accomplished grappler as a jiu-jitsu world champion and a weapon on the feet; carrying momentum with three wins and handing Alexey Kunchenko the first loss of his career.
PREDICTION
This is a fascinating match-up as they are so well-rounded and Nelson will not be giving up a usual size and power advantage. A grappling tussle would be an absolute spectacle as they are both at the top of the food-chain when it comes to ground skills.
However, these skills are likely to cancel each out, forcing a stand-up battle which will be just as tense. Burns will look to close the difference and swing in search for the knockout whereas Nelson will leverage his karate style to bounce in and out of range waiting to snipe.
If Nelson can avoid the power shots, he has the speed and technique to counter and when he lands he usually looks for the submission but Burns will have to be on his way out to get caught.
Winner: Nelson via Decision
Ion Cutelaba vs Khalil Rountree Jr.
This stacked Copenhagen card will be complimented by fireworks in the form of the two light heavyweight powerhouses Ion Cutelaba and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Cutelaba was full of promise before entering the UFC finishing all of his wins in devastating fashion but his UFC record is now 4-3. After losing a decision to Jared Cannonier we saw vintage Cutelaba when he starched Henrique da Silva and Gadzhimurad Antigulov, but he was outclassed and submitted by Glover Teixeira in his last fight.
Rountree has also looked full of promise but has suffered big losses. He racked up the fifth knockout of his career in shocking fashion when he decided to stand and trade with legendary kickboxer Gokhan Saki. However, he then got a taste of his own medicine, and a taste of Johnny Walker’s elbow, but completely rejuvenated himself in his last fight against Eryk Anders dishing out a three-round beating.
PREDICTION
Rountree’s time in Thailand paid dividends as he put on a Muay Thai clinic in his last fight and he is fully expected to come out with the same style. Anders was not prepared for this but Cutelaba will be.
The Moldovan will not care for that performance and will be his usual aggressive and explosive self. He will hunt the knockout while Rountree will square up and attack the legs and body to break Cutelaba down.
A knockout for either man is likely but if Rountree settles he will pile on more and more damage to frustrate Cutelaba and set him up for a finishing blow.
Winner: Rountree via KO/TKO
Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Ovince Saint Preux
The first of two light heavyweight bouts at UFC Fight Night 160 features two top talents, Michal Oleksiejczuk and Ovince Saint Preux, which should be a fiercely competitive scrap.
Oleksiejczuk has completely flown in under the radar of the division and would be on a 12-fight winning streak if he had not tested positive for clomiphene after his unanimous decision win over Khalil Rountree at UFC 219. After that was deemed a ‘no contest’, Oleksiejczuk picked up where he left off and looked even better going on to smoke Gian Villante and Gadzhimurad Antigulov.
Saint Preux has had 19 UFC fights (11-8) going to war with some of the very best light heavyweights in the world which has inevitably seen him suffer losses. After a superb performance finishing Tyson Pedro with an armbar, he is now coming off two disappointing losses – a unanimous decision to Dominick Reyes and a submission to Nikita Krylov.
PREDICTION
The key for Saint Preux is to respect the power in Oleksiejczuk’s hands. The Pole’s striking always seems to be underestimated, but he has a touch of death capable of a knockout from awkward angles.
If Saint Preux does not game plan to avoid his hands he could easily become Oleksiejczuk’s 11th knockout victim. However, it is hard to see someone of the calibre and experience of Saint Preux losing three in a row and he is likely to call upon his impeccable grappling to tie Oleksiejczuk up and wrap up a submission.
Winner: OSP via Submission
Nicolas Dalby vs Alex Oliveira
The hometown hero Nicolas Dalby makes his return to the UFC for Denmark’s first hosting, but he has been handed an extremely tough assignment in the form of the experienced Alex Oliveira.
After losing two in a row to Zak Cummings and Peter Sobotta, Dalby was released from the UFC and on his return to Cage Warriors he lost again to Carlo Pedersoli. However, the Dane regained his old form and finished three fights in a row to claim the Cage Warriors interim welterweight championship. Then, in his unification fight with Ross Houston, referee Marc Goddard had to call a ‘no contest’ as the fight was so bloody that the canvas became too slippery and unsafe.
Oliveira is in unfamiliar territory losing two fights in a row. Unfortunately, he also spilled vast amounts of blood in his last fight courtesy of Gunnar Nelson who sliced him with an elbow before submitting him. He then went on to lose a thrilling battle to Mike Perry in a decision and is now desperate to get back on track with a win.
PREDICTION
Dalby will be so pumped for the opportunity to fight for the UFC again, especially in Copenhagen. He has the momentum, but he will be under heaps of pressure to perform and Oliveira has the experience to capitalize on it.
This should be a bruising and technical stand-up battle. Dalby will come out fast and aggressive and has the ability to knock Oliveira out but if the Brazilian can be patient and watch out for Dalby’s high kick and left hook he can out-strike the Dane with his own lethal offence and punish him in the clinch.
Dalby is extremely durable and will put everything on the line but Oliveira has more tools at his disposal and will find a way to win.
Winner: Oliveira via Decision