By TXMMA Staff | Emil Fischer | Photos by Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC on FOX 11 this Saturday; Texans Derek Lewis and Chas Skelly to make UFC debuts
Saturday’s event is a special one. We get to see the top two contenders of the heavyweight division fight for an opportunity at a title shot in the UFC on FOX 11 main event. Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne have both showcased amazing skill sets over their past few fights and they will deliver what is sure to be an amazing fight. We also get to see a battle between two of the best women in the UFC with Meisha Tate looking to score a win over Liz Carmouche.
We also have an undercard jam packed with great matchups. For the Texan contingent we have the powerful, hard hitting Derrick Lewis and slick submission specialist Chas Skelly both fighting in the UFC for the very first time as they take on Jack May and Mirsad Bektic.
Check out our UFC on FOX 11 predictions for every fight on the card below!
UFC on Fox 11: Werdum vs. Browne – Main Card Predictions (PPV)
The headline fight of the evening is an amazing matchup between one of the hardest hitters in the heavyweight division and one of the most (if not the most) decorated grapplers in the UFC today. Travis Browne (16-1-1) has only lost once in his MMA career, and is currently on a tear, winning his last three fights with knockout of the night performances. On the other side of this card, Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1), the first man to submit Fedor Emelianenko, has also been on a tear lately and hasn’t lost a fight since he was in Strikeforce (in 2011). These fighters are competing for a title shot and are sure to bring their A games. If Werdum is able to get this fight to the ground he will look to finish with a slick submission, whereas Browne will be looking to knock Werdum out any chance he gets. Given the most recent trend that Browne has enjoyed, we think that this fight is going to end in the second round by a brutal Travis Browne style knockout.
PREDICTION: Travis Browne over Fabricio Werdum by KO in Round 2
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT: Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche
Both of these women are scrappers who come to the fight looking for the finish. Both women are also coming off of losses and have something to prove. Liz Carmouche (9-4) is a well rounded fighter who is partial to striking while Miesha Tate (13-5) is more of a submission specialist. Given that Tate has lost her last two fights, while Carmouche is only coming off of one loss we might see a hungrier Miesha Tate take a decision victory.
PREDICTION: Miesha Tate over Liz Carmouche by Decision
LIGHTWEIGHT: Donald Cerrone vs. Edson Barboza
In this fight we see the submission artist Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone (22-6) facing off against a powerful kickboxer Edson Barboza (13-1). It’s amazing to think that a fight between a Brazilian and an American has the Brazilian more likely to finish with trikes and the American more likely to finish with a submission, another testament to how far the sport has come. Cerrone is a more experienced fighter by far but Barboza has experienced a greater rate of success. Both fighters are trying to work their way up to a title shot, so expect them to come out ready for action. Given Cerrone’s hard charging game and tough chin we expect to see this end in a first round submission for Cerrone.
PREDICTION: Donald Cerrone over Edson Barboza by Submission in Round 1
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Brad Tavares vs. Yoel Romero
In this Middleweight fight we have two fresh, talented fighters with very similar records. Brad Tavares (12-1) and Yoel Romero (7-1) have both done very well lately, each only having lost once in their career. Tavares has shown a lot of heart having won most of his fights by decision, while Romero has been a power hitter knocking out most of his opponents. We expect Tavares to be tough as nails in this fight, but at the end of the day that knockout power that Romero brings to the table will be too much and will end the fight in the third round.
PREDICTION: Yoel Romero over Brad Tavares by KO in Round 3
UFC on Fox 11: Werdum vs. Browne – Preliminary Card Predictions (FOX SPORTS 1)
At the top of the prelim card we have two remarkable fighters. Nurmagomedov has gone 21-0 and Dos Anjos has gone 26-6 only having been finished twice. Nurmagomedov has shown himself to be extremely versatile but when he goes up against a tough opponent he historically has always won by decision. That said, we see this fight ending in a decision victory for Nurmagomedov.
PREDICTION: Khabib Nurmagomedov over Rafael Dos Anjos by Decision
WELTERWEIGHT: Thiago Alves vs. Seth Baczynski
This welterweight fight will be interesting because we have two very similar fighters. Both Alves (19-9) and Baczynski (19-10) are willing and able to stand and bang but possess fearsome submission arsenals. Chances are the hard hitting Thiago Alves will earn a knockout victory in the first round.
PREDICTION: Thiago Alves over Seth Baczynski by KO in Round 1
LIGHTWEIGHT: Jorge Masvidal vs. Pat Healy
Both of these fighters are coming off of decision losses. Both fighters are also unpredictable and tough. We expect to see Healy (29-18) try to overpower Masvidal (25-8) and ultimately submit him, while we will see Masvidal make every effort to outmaneuver Healy. Masvidal’s ground game has thus far been unimpressive but he has shown himself to be a tough, resilient fighter only being submitted twice in his career. That said, we predict a decision victory for Healy.
PREDICTION: Pat Healy over Jorge Masvidal by Decision
FEATHERWEIGHT: Estevan Payan vs. Alex White
Newcomer Alex White (9-0) is making his UFC debut fighting Estevan Payan (14-5). Payan has not done well his last couple of fights and may have his hands full with the undefeated Alex White. White seems to favor submissions, though he does have the ability to knock an opponent out. That said, we expect to see an early knockout by Alex White.
PREDICTION: Alex White over Estevan Payan by KO in Round 1
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Caio Maghalaes vs. Luke Zachrich
Luke Zachrich (13-2) is another newcomer to the UFC who will have his hands full with tough submission specialist Caio Maghalaes (7-1). Zachrich is no joke on the ground having won 7 of his 13 victories by submission. That said, we think these two fighters will negate each other’s games, and this fight will very likely end in a decision. Because Caio Maghalaes has already fought a couple of times in the Octagon successfully we think he will win by decision.
PREDICTION: Caio Maghalaes over Luke Zachrich by Decision
WELTERWEIGHT: Jordan Mein vs. Hernani Perpetuo
Yet another fight between an established UFC fighter and a newcomer, Jordan Mein (27-9) looks to come back from his recent loss to Matt Brown in this exciting matchup with Hernani Perpetuo (17-3). Mein has had an impressive career thus far beating many tough opponents. Perpetuo has fought in smaller promotions but hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself against any big names yet. We are pretty sure that Mein takes this by TKO in the second round.
PREDICTION: Jordan Mein over Hernani Perpetuo by TKO in Round 2
UFC on Fox 11: Werdum vs. Browne – Preliminary Card Predictions (UFC FIGHT PASS)
FLYWEIGHT: Dustin Ortiz vs. Ray Borg
Dustin Ortiz (12-3) is only fighting his third fight in the Octagon but has already shown himself to be super tough by losing a narrow split decision to top contender John Moraga. Newcomer Ray Borg (6-0) is a submission artist looking to make a name for himself. Dustin Ortiz will win this fight by knockout in the third round.
PREDICTION: Dustin Ortiz over Ray Borg by KO in Round 3.
FEATHERWEIGHT: Mirsad Bektic vs. Chas Skelly
Both of these fighters are brand new to the UFC but Chas Skelly (11-0) has shown himself to be a very tough submission specialist. Mirsad Bektic (7-0) is not going to be an easy fight for Skelly as he is a well-rounded, intelligent fighter, but this fight will end in a submission for Skelly!
PREDICTION: Chas Skelly over Mirsad Bektic by Submission in Round 1
HEAVYWEIGHT: Derrick Lewis vs. Jack May
When Derrick Lewis (9-2) hits someone, he generally knocks them out. Jack May (7-0) is the older of these two heavyweight sluggers and will also be looking for an early knockout, but Lewis will get the best of him and knock him out in the second round.
PREDICTION: Derrick Lewis over Jack May by KO in Round 2