The UFC is heading back to Liverpool this weekend with a night of fights that are sure to deliver. Here we will break down a few fights from the card on Sunday and make our predictions on just who we think will walk out of England one step closer to UFC gold. Two fighters on the card that are primed to make a run at UFC gold square off in one of the UFC’s highly anticipated main events. Highly touted prospect Darren Till looks to keep his UFC record unblemished as he steps in the cage against one of the best in the division, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Does Darren Till have all the skills necessary to hang with Thompson, or will “Wonderboy” derail the Till Hype Train?
No. 4. Arnold Allen vs. Mads Burnell
We start our predictions off with the Featherweights as Arnold Allen takes on Mads Burnell. Burnell will have an uphill battle against Allen’s impressive striking but Mads does have a ton of heart so this fight has the potential of being a slugfest. Mads also has the advantage of being more active inside the octagon recently. Allen’s last fight inside the octagon was a year ago so it will be interesting to see if the lay-off will affect his performance in the fight. Despite the lay-off, Allen is the favorite to win as far as the betting lines are concerned. It will be interesting to see if Burnell can pull off an upset.
Prediction: Arnold Allen via TKO
No. 3. Jason Knight vs. Makwan Amirkhani
Next up in the Featherweight Division is “The Kid” Jason Knight vs “Mr. Finland” Makwan Amirkhani. Knight and Amirkhani are both looking to get back to their ‘winning ways’ and this fight should deliver. No one would be surprised if this fight heads to the ground and we see some high level jiu-jitsu and grappling. On paper, “Mr. Finland” has all the tools to get the submission, and he has the accolades to back it up. Makwan isn’t a slouch when it comes to striking either, and as we saw in his fight with Andy Ogle, Makwan has tremendous knockout potential as well. While chasing the submission, Makwan needs to respect Knight on the ground, as “The Kid” has racked up a majority of his wins due to his submission game and has yet to have a loss due to submission. As of right now, both men are close in the betting odds, so it’s a proverbial coin toss on who gets the win Sunday.
Prediction: Jason Knight via Submission
No. 2. Elias Theodorou vs. Trevor Smith
We head to the Middleweight Division for our next clash on this prediction list as “The Spartan” Elias Theodorou takes on Trevor Smith. “The Spartan” is the heavy favorite going into the bout, and if you’re familiar with the former Ultimate Fighter Winner, you probably know why. Training out of the famed Tristar Gym is an advantage that almost any fighter would enjoy having, especially getting to train alongside some of the sport’s elite like Rory MacDonald and Georges St. Pierre. The story here is if Trevor Smith can knock off one of the sport’s up and coming prospects in the Middleweight Division, or if “The Spartan” will move closer to championship contention.
Prediction: Elias Theodorou via Unanimous Decision
No. 1. Stephen Thompson vs. Darren Till
Finally, we head to the Welterweight Division for our main event of the evening as Darren Till faces his toughest challenge yet in Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. It’s easy to say this is one of the most anticipated fights in the Welterweight Division where the winner might find themselves lined up with a shot at UFC gold. Darren Till looks to add another impressive finish to his record with a knockout of “Wonderboy” but Till might be in for a long night. Thompson’s unorthodox stance is a challenge for most of his opponents as it allows “Wonderboy” to counter his opponents with deadly kicks and strikes. If there is a young up and comer that could beat Thompson, it might just be Darren Till. Darren has racked up some impressive finishes in his MMA career and his striking is as dangerous as they come in the Welterweight Division. A win for Till this weekend will skyrocket him up the rankings for sure, but will Sunday be his night?
Predictions: Stephen Thompson via Knockout
What do you think of our UFC Liverpool predictions? Do you feel the same or do you see the fights going a bit differently? Feel free to leave your predictions and thoughts from the fight in the comments below, and check out all of the other awesome content Kwinn POP! has to offer! Now, let’s get ready to rumble!!