UFC 250 - APEX 2 Breakdown & Predictions
When is UFC 250? Sunday 7th June, 2020 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 250? UFC APEX Facility, Las Vegas, Nevada
What channel is UFC 250 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 250? 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!
Amanda Nunes vs Felicia Spencer
The queen of MMA Amanda Nunes returns to defend her featherweight crown as Felicia Spencer is summoned to dethrone the double champion.
Nunes is on a 10-fight winning streak scalping some of the best names that have graced the sport. She has defended the bantamweight crown five times and now makes the first defence of her featherweight strap after taking on the imperious Cris Cyborg and sparking her in just 51 seconds back in December 2018.
Even if the featherweight division had a population, Spencer would be at the top. She has only had nine professional fights but has a phenomenal skill set with only one loss but that was to Cyborg in a decision. She bounced back after that defiant loss with a dominant first round TKO over Zarah Fairn Dos Santos.
PREDICTION
Spencer really proved her worth against Cyborg doing what few fighters have achieved in going the distance with the powerhouse and we can expect her to approach this fight the same way.
Spencer will not wait for Nunes to offload and instead use her taekwondo background to throw combinations with kicks and close the distance with that jumping elbow. However, Nunes’ offence should be dominant as usual biding her time with front and oblique kicks to avoid Spencer tying her up.
Spencer is tough and has more of a chance if she can drag Nunes into the championship rounds with her extra weight and grappling. However, if Nunes takes this fight as seriously as her previous title fights and is not complacent she should remind everyone of why she is the female ‘GOAT’.
Winner: Nunes via KO/TKO
Raphael Assuncao vs Cody Garbrandt
The former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt returns to action but has been assigned stalwart Raphael Assuncao to prevent a four-fight skid.
Assuncao is trying to prevent three losses in a row himself which has come after an impressive four-fight winning streak. After beating Aljamian Sterling, Marlon Moraes, Matthew Lopez and Rob Font, Moraes returned with a vengeance finishing Assuncao in the second round with a submission and then came up against the surging Cory Sandhagen losing a decision.
Garbrandt’s fall from grace has been dramatic but no one has written him off just yet. After pulling off one of the best performances in bantamweight history in beating Dominick Cruz, he engaged in a feud with TJ Dillashaw coming off the wrong end of a knockout in both title fights. He then met Pedro Munhoz and after the Brazilian dangled a brawling carrot, he tasted a devastating knockout for the third time in a row.
PREDICTION
Both men are in unfamiliar territory sitting on losing streaks. Assuncao is so well-rounded and Garbrandt has some of the best hands in the division so it is really a case of who is in better shape mentally to perform at their best.
If both men come out confident, you have to back Garbrandt but only if he has a strategy. Assuncao is a veteran but does not have the power and dynamism of Dillashaw and Munhoz so if Garbrandt executes a strategy without giving up any of his confidence and flare he should pull off the win and the lack of a crowd may help him.
Winner: Garbrandt via KO/TKO
Aljamain Sterling vs Cory Sandhagen
Two guns, Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen aiming for the vacant bantamweight title left by Henry Cejudo takes place at UFC 250 with the victor potentially getting a shot against Petr Yan for the belt.
After that demonic knee by Marlon Moraes that left Sterling stiff as a board back in December 2017, the ‘Funk Master’ has compiled four impressive wins. He replied with a decision over Brett Johns and then went on to submit Cody Stamann with a spectacular Suloev stretch. Sterling added two more big names; Jimmie Rivera and Pedro Munhoz to put him on course for a title shot.
Sandhagen has quietly gone about business while climbing the stacked division. He has won all five of his UFC fights and looks better with each one. He knocked out Austin Arnett and Iuri Alacantara in his first two outings and then went on to submit Mario Bautista. He is now coming off two decisions but his two biggest wins – John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao.
PREDICTION
We are in for a treat here as these two guys have all the skills and are at the top of their game. They will both be confident on the feet, in the clinch and on the floor.
We are well aware of Sterling’s ground skills but Sandhagen is also a beast and just ask Alacantara how hard it is to submit him.
So, this should be decided on the feet and Sandhagen’s hefty output will be crucial. His flying knee will surely come out at some point, but Sterling will have learnt after eating Moraes’ knee which he has only just digested.
We should expect an array of elite skills here and it will be a close contest. Both men are natural finishers, but their elite defence should create a decision.
Winner: Sandhagen via Decision
Neil Magny vs Rocco Martin
UFC veterans Neil Magny and Anthony Rocco Martin duke it out at the UFC APEX facility.Magny has only fought once since 2018 after serving a drugs ban due to a contaminated supplement. After a brutal knockout courtesy of Santiago Ponzinibbio that year, he got back in the win column on his return three months ago. He was assigned a very tough assignment in the form of Li Jingliang but cruised to a unanimous decision.
Martin has also bounced back with a win recently with a great performance and unanimous decision over Ramazan Emeev. This was in response to a majority decision loss to Demian Maia which broke a four-fight winning streak.
PREDICTION
Both these guys are beasts, but a clash of styles could form a slow-paced fight. They both rely on their output and endurance to wear their opponents down so this will be competitive right until the bell.
Martin’s bread and butter is his grappling and he can grind out a decision if he starts early and ties Magny up as soon as possible in each round. However, Magny’s experience will be crucial in preventing Martin gaining control in the clinch or taking him down.
Expect Magny to grow into the fight and once he gets a read on Martin he can control the distance with his reach and with little knockout threat, Magny will be able to let his hands go but would need a flawless performance to finish Martin.
Winner: Magny via Decision
Eddie Wineland vs Sean O’Malley
The scrappy veteran Eddie Wineland returns to action as he attempts to derail bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley.The former WEC champion has only fought once a year since 2016 with two unanimous decision losses to John Dodson (2017) and Alejandro Perez (2018), but Wineland gave everyone a tasty reminder of his striking prowess in June last year with a second round TKO of Grigory Popov back at UFC 238.
The O’Malley hype train is picking up the pace again after his last outing in March this year. After suffering injuries and being caught up in tainted supplements, his fight prior was two years ago where he defeated Andre Soukhamthath. Now, O’Malley is desperate to build momentum after his dispatching of Jose Alberto Quinonez.
PREDICTION
O’Malley looked superb against Quinonez and showed no signs of ring rust and this is a great match-up for him to build upon that performance.
Wineland is experienced, tough and has undeniable knockout ability. However, his aggressive style and reach discrepancy will play right into O’Malley’s hands. O’Malley will patiently wait for Wineland to attack while calmly picking him off with counter punches and kicks.
O’Malley also has an excellent ground game, but this will remain on the feet until O’Malley piles on enough damage to land the killer blow.