Demian Maia vs Jorge Masvidal

Demian Maia vs Jorge Masvidal

In what was perceived to be an epic mismatch between a surefire number one contender in Maia and a guy not even ranked in the top 5 at the time, Masvidal, this fight has quickly caught on and is among the most eagerly anticipated fights on the UFC 211 card. Hell, Masvidal has even been billed as the favorite in this fight!

Maia who hasn't lost a fight in his last six, would have already fought for the 170-lbs title had it not been for the Woodley – Thompson fight and then the rematch. Not having fought since August last year, the Brazilian grappling phenom is bound to be a bit rusty out of the gate, but will be the bigger guy by a large margin against the former lightweight in Masvidal.

This one is extremely interesting because of the fact that it could be a straight blow-out for either man, given their contrasting styles. Masvidal has excellent wrestling defense, but Maia's takedown are traditionally against the cage which if done by a bigger guy is among the hardest to defend against. There is also the striking advantage for Masvidal, who is among the cleanest of strikers in the UFC and can shut Maia's lights out with an excellent combo when they engage.

I, however, am picking Maia for the win in that he has a great record against wrestlers and essentially because he's extremely motivated about getting his shot at the title.

Prediction : Demian Maia wins by submission