UFC 219 Breakdown

This on paper is one of the weaker PPVs the UFC has put on in a while, UFC 218 was great and UFC 220 Should be near that level too.  UFC 219 feels a little bare with the only title fight being Cris Cyborg vs Holly Holms which is a pretty big fight but the rest of the card feels a little like space fillers.

Opening Fight: Carlos Condit (8) vs Neil Magny (12)

Right off the bat this fight feels like it’s more of a prelim main event than a pay to see fight.  Carlos Condit is a veteran of the Octagon this will be his fourteenth fight in nine years with the UFC but his best years seem to be behind him, It’s been almost five years since he held a title and he’s two and four since losing the belt to GSP.  Condit has been floating in purgatory the last few years beating the lower end of the division but losing to the real contenders.  Magny is also an experienced fighter with a ridiculous seventeen UFC fights in the last four years but has been similarly up and down as of late.

Prediction: Condit by decision though I don’t expect much to come of the win.

Second Fight: Cynthia Calvillo (6) vs Carla Esparza (9)

This strawweight division class will likely be dull viewing for the casual UFC fan as both women are grapplers though of different persuasions.  Calvillo is a more of a submission with a background in BJJ with a mix of Muay Thai and wrestling.  Esparza also was wrestling and BJJ training but mixes in more strikes and ground and pound.

Prediction: Calvillo by decision in a slower paced ground and clinch affair but a win here will probably put Calvillo in line for a title shot.

Third Fight: Dan Hooker vs Marc Diakiese

Diakiese is coming off of a split decision loss in the finale of the Ultimate fighter: Redemption.  Hooker just fought his way back onto PPVs after losing at 192.  Hooker is a pretty well rounded fighter while Diakiese is a more explosive fighter.  Diakiese has a pretty high ceiling being only twenty four with three UFC wins under his belt.

Prediction Diakiese by KO which should push him toward a number one contender fight.

Fourth Fight: Khabib Nurmagomedov (2) vs Edson Barboza (4)

Now this is the shit daddy likes Khabib is an perfect twenty four and zero in his career and is eight and O in the UFC.  The Eagle is the kinda of maniac tough that you can only find in Russia.  The guy fought his way up from the very bottom I’m not fucking with you their are internet videos of Khabib fighting with bear cubs when he was like seven.  He is an amazing wrestler who can also kick the shit out of almost anyone standing up too though in this fight taking it to the ground might be preferable.  The reason being that Barboza is a fucking highlight reel and fuck your life if you try to trade with him because his kicks hit like freight trains and he has power in both hands, also taking him to the mat if he doesnt wanna go, that’s easier said than done because Barboza is great at stuffing takedowns (87% takedown defense).

Prediction: This one is tough because these guys are both fucking killers, but I’m picking the upset Barboza catches Khabib and puts him down in the second.

Main Event: Cris Cyborg vs Holly Holms

Credit to Holly Holms because in my book Cyborg might be the most dominant champ in the UFC in terms of physical superiority over the rest of the division.  Holm shocked the world when she manhandled Ronda Rousey ending Rousey’s dominance and more or less her career. Despite that dominant showing she hasn’t been able to really cement herself since her ground game has been exploited by people who can get passed the kickboxing that beat down Rousey.

Prediction: Cyborg first round KO

Written By: Jason MacKinnon