UFC 278 is right around the corner. There are plenty of interesting fights on the card. With that being said, let’s get into our UFC 278 preview covering all the fights on the main card.
Tyson Pedro vs. Harry Hunsucker
The main card starts off with a match-up in the light heavyweight division between Tyson Pedro and Harry Hunsucker. Pedro enjoys a four-inch reach advantage and he has a higher significant strike accuracy percentage than Hunsucker at 70%. Pedro is 2-3 in his last five fights, but he did win his last fight by 1st round KO.
Hunsucker, meanwhile, is coming off of two straight KO losses. Hunsucker also has fewer UFC fights in his career than Pedro. The momentum going into this fight is definitely in Pedro’s favor.
Prediction: Tyson Pedro by KO/TKO
Wu Yanan vs. Lucie Pudilova
The next fight on the main card is a fight in the women’s bantamweight division between Wu Yanan and Lucie Pudilova. Yanan is coming off a three-fight losing streak in the UFC. On the other hand, Lucie Pudilova is making her UFC debut after going 4-1 in her last five fights in Oktagon MMA.
Pudilova doesn’t have any UFC experience yet. However, she certainly has the momentum on her side and Yanan has struggled quite a bit in the UFC. Pudilova also has a slight 1.5-inch reach advantage.
Prediction: Lucie Pudilova by Unanimous Decision
Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Next up, we have a bantamweight match-up between former UFC featherweight champion and long-time UFC veteran Jose Aldo and rising contender Merab Dvalishvili. Aldo certainly has the edge when it comes to experience. Aldo has had more than twice as many bouts in his career as Dvalishvili.
Aldo also has excellent kicks and body strikes in addition to very good takedown defense. Merab is a very good striker and he is on a five-fight winning streak. Aldo will certainly prove to be an excellent test for Merab.
Aldo is on a three-fight winning streak. The odds favor Merab in this match-up. I think it could go either way, but I give Merab the slight edge in this fight.
Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili by Split Decision
Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold
In the co-main event, we have Luke Rockhold making his return to the UFC and to the middleweight division to face Paulo Costa. Rockhold has struggled in recent years. He is currently on a two-fight losing streak. Both of those losses came by way of KO/TKO.
Costa is also on a two-fight losing streak. Adesanya finished him in his last fight at middleweight in their title bout. After that, Costa came up short in a competitive fight at light heavyweight against Marvin Vettori.
Rockhold has good wrestling and good kicks. He will need to get this fight to the ground. I don’t think he wants to fight Costa on the feet, especially given his suspect chin.
Costa has plenty of power in his strikes and is quite durable. His best bet to win is to keep the fight standing and land some significant strikes on Rockhold. Rockhold has been finished by powerful strikers in the past.
Prediction: Paulo Costa by KO/TKO
Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2
In the main event, we have Kamaru Usman looking to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards. Usman has become one of the best mixed martial artists in the world in recent years. Usman has won six fights in a row starting from his title bout against Tyron Woodley.
Usman has excellent wrestling and top-notch takedown defense. Usman also has fantastic cardio, as well. In addition to that, Usman has improved his striking greatly in recent fights and has two KO/TKO wins in his last three fights.
On the other hand, Edwards is on a 10-fight unbeaten streak. His last loss came in his first fight with Kamaru Usman in 2015. Edwards is an excellent technical striker and has very good boxing.
His jab is especially effective. We saw that in his last fight against Nate Diaz. Edwards also has great cardio, just like his opponent. I think this will be a competitive fight, but I have to give Usman the edge due to his dominance and very well-rounded skillset.
Prediction: Kamaru Usman by Unanimous Decision
UFC 278 Should Be Quite Exciting
There are plenty of great fights on the UFC 278 card. In addition to the ones we covered here, there are some interesting match-ups in the prelims, as well. This should be a fun night of fights. You can feel free to bet on the fights if you like. Check in next month for our preview of UFC 279 and enjoy the fights.