UFC Vegas 7 - Breakdowns & Predictions
When is UFC Vegas 7? Sunday 23rd August, 2020 - 00:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Vegas 7? APEX Facility, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
What channel is UFC Vegas 7 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Vegas 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+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
Pedro Munhoz vs Frankie Edgar
Fourth time lucky for Pedro Munhoz and Frankie Edgar who were originally scheduled for UFC 251, then UFC Fight Island 1 and then UFC 252. Munhoz now finally welcomes Edgar to the bantamweight division providing they can make it to the octagon.
Munhoz is a very tough test for a debut in the division but Edgar would not accept anything less. The Brazilian has only lost two of his last nine in the stacked division, After John Dodson snapped a four-fight winning streak with a close split decision, Munhoz went on to outpoint Brett Johns and then claim his two biggest knockouts. Firstly, over Bryan Caraway and then coming out victorious in a brawl with one of the most dangerous boxers in the division, Cody Garbrandt. However, he is now coming off a unanimous decision loss to Aljamain Sterling.
Edgar is a legend competing in the upper echelon of the sport for well over a decade but all those wars and young hungry fighters have finally caught up with him and he has lost three of his last four. After a vintage dominant performance against Yair Rodriguez, we saw Edgar get knocked out for the first time courtesy of a vicious uppercut from Brian Ortega. Edgar then bounced back with the 12th decision of his career but he then got completely outclassed by Max Holloway in a title fight and then got finished again by the Korean Zombie who mercilessly put him away in the first round.
PREDICTION
Bantamweight was probably Edgar’s division all along but now at the age of 38 and coming off two losses and the second knockout of his career, has this move come too late? The worrying sign for Edgar is that we have finally seen his chin wilt and Munhoz can crack.
For once, Edgar will not be giving up size to his opponent, but Munhoz has more knockout power in his hands. He also has dangerous leg/body kicks and with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu he will hunt the neck and attack off his back.
That said, Edgar has never been submitted and his wrestling could be the key to avoiding the hands and kicks of Munhoz as well as the submission threat on the ground. We know what to expect from Edgar and that will be bringing a relentless pace, using combinations and level changes to set up the takedown.
Edgar is either going to wrestle his way to a decision banking on his cardio in the championship rounds or Munhoz is going to pull off a quick finish. If he can conduct the range and avoid the takedown, the Brazilian can eat up Edgar’s legs with kicks and test that chin or even jump on a guillotine when Edgar shoots in. Either way, this is going to be a fascinating battle.
Winner: Edgar via Decision
OSP vs Alonzo Menifield
Ovince Saint Preux (OSP) returns after his venture up at heavyweight back in May. He ended up losing a split decision to Ben Rothwell, but the veteran looked comfortable against the rotund slugger. That loss was his fourth in six fights and now he would love nothing more than to continue where he left off in submitting Michal Oleksiejczuk in September with another Von Flue choke or more like a ‘Saint Preux’ choke.
Menifield got derailed in his last fight which was against Devin Clark back in June. The tank was boasting a perfect record finishing all of his fights, but Clark subdued Menifield sealing a decision and handing Menifield his first loss.
PREDICTION
If OSP plays this safe, he can easily stifle the knockout threat by tying Menifield up in the clinch and even wearing him down into a submission. If he decides to stand and trade, he has the ability to find a knockout, but you have to back Menifield’s explosiveness if the fight stays on the feet for any length of time. A Menifield knockout or a late OSP submission is your best bet.
Winner: OSP via Submission
Marcin Prachnio vs Mike Rodriguez
Desperate for his first UFC win, Prachnio is coming off two knockout losses. After a meaty eight-fight win streak including four wins under the One banner, Prachnio met Sam Alvey for his debut walking into the vets knuckles. As a reward he was then handed an even more dangerous striker in the form of Magomed Ankalaev who ruthlessly finished him with a punch and head kick.
Mike Rodriguez is also without a win in his last two. After a debut loss to Devin Clark, he bagged a win with a brilliant TKO of Adam Milstead. He then lost a decision to John Allan but it was overturned due to Allan failing a drugs test and now he is coming off his biggest setback after getting brutally knocked out by Da Un Jung back in December.
PREDICTION
Both fighters are under a lot of pressure and there is little to choose between them. Prachnio has a tendency to be reckless and Rodriguez can easily frustrate him, keeping him at a distance. He not only has a significant arm and leg reach advantage, but he utilizes it well and is expected to open up with front kicks to keep Prachnio away and test him with jabs.
If Rodriguez can execute a game plan, he can control the exchanges and lure the Pole in for a counterattack finish, but he cannot slip up or Prachnio will walk away with a knockout of his own.
Winner: Rodriguez via KO/TKO
Daniel Rodriguez vs Takashi Sato
Daniel Rodriguez has made a big impression in just a couple UFC fights. He made his debut after stepping in for Ramazan Emeev on late notice to take on the Tim Means and put on one hell of a performance causing the upset and finishing the veteran with a guillotine. He added another win back in May earning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Green stretching his win streak to eight.
Takasi Sato in the man tasked in derailing Rodriguez gunning for back to back wins. Arriving to the UFC with a record of 14-2, Sato met Ben Saunders and had a perfect debut picking up the TKO. However, he then took on top contender, Belal Muhammad and got submitted but he is coming off a his 11th knockout which was against Jason Witt back in June.
PREDICTION
This should be fireworks wherever the fight takes place. They are both dangerous southpaws with very heavy hands and a grappling contest will also be fascinating.
Sato is a black belt in judo and uses these skills brilliantly to get his opponents to the mat to inflict his ferocious ground-and-pound. However, Rodriguez is always a submission threat and we saw how cleanly and quickly he wrapped that choke on Means.
This is another fight that could go either way. Two of Sato’s three losses have come via submission and Rodriguez will not want to risk getting caught under Sato raining down punches so this is likely to start and finish on the feet where either fighter is capable of the knockout.