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411’s MMA Roundtable Preview – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Branch

September 16, 2017 | Posted by Dan Plunkett
UFC Fight Night 116

WELCOME:
Luke Rockhold and David Branch collide on a path to a middleweight title shot at UFC Fight Night! In the co-main event, “Platinum” Mike Perry takes on late replacement Alex Reyes. At middleweight, Hector Lombard looks to end a three-year winless streak against Anthony Smith. In lightweight action, Gregor Gillespie fights Jason Gonzalez. Plus, Kamaru Usman battles Sergio Moraes, Justin Ledet vs. Zu Anyanwu, and more!

THE STAFF:

  • He’s 411’s Jack of All Trades, Jeffrey Harris!

  • He’ll lock you in the guillotine, Robert Winfree!

    Preliminary Card
    UFC Fight Pass
    Lightweight Bout: Jason Saggo vs. Gilbert Burns

    Fox Sports 1
    Bantamweight Bout: Luke Sanders vs. Felipe Arantes
    Middleweight Bout: Krzysztof Jotko vs. Uriah Hall
    Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Hamilton vs. Daniel Spitz
    Lightweight Bout: Tony Martin vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier


    THE MAIN CARD:
    Heavyweight Bout: Justin Ledet vs. Zu Anyanwu

    Jeffrey Harris: Justin Ledet, Decision
    Robert Winfree: Justin Ledet, TKO, Round 2


    Welterweight Bout: Kamaru Usman vs. Sergio Moraes

    Jeffrey Harris: Kamaru Usman
    Robert Winfree: Kamaru Usman, Decision


    Lightweight Bout: Gregor Gillespie vs. Jason Gonzalez

    Jeffrey Harris: The undefeated Gregor Gillespie faces the 1-1 in the UFC Jason Gonzalez. Lightweight is a tough division, but Gregor Gillespie definitely appears to be the tougher prospect right now. This could still be a fun fight, but i’m leaning toward Gregor Gillespie to get a workman-like victory.

    Winner: Gregor Gillespie, Decision

    Robert Winfree: A couple of prospects squaring off here. I lean towards Gillespie, he’s got a solid background in wrestling and has proven to have serious hands to go with that.

    Winner: Gregor Gillespie, TKO, Round 1


    Middleweight Bout: Hector Lombard vs. Anthony Smith

    Jeffrey Harris: It’s pretty hard for me to be believe that Hector Lombard is still fighting in the UFC after his losing streak to Neil Magny, Dan Henderson, and Johny Hendricks. He hasn’t won a fight since March 2014 after his UFC 182 win over Josh Burkman got overturned. Anthony is riding a 3-1 record in the UFC and is 27-12 overall in MMA. He’s hardly a world-beater. However, I also vowed I was never going to pick Hector Lombard to win a fight again. Lombard does have knockout power, but his cardio and stamina are terrible. He’s not good at cutting off the cage, and his chin is questionable at this point. Anthony Smith wins after Lombard gasses.

    Winner: Anthony Smith, TKO, Round 2

    Robert Winfree: I can’t pick Hector Lombard against anyone who’s even half decent at this point, and I think Smith is a little better than half decent. If Smith escapes the first two minutes this is his to lose.

    Winner: Anthony Smith, TKO, Round 2


    Welterweight Bout: Mike Perry vs. Alex Reyes

    Jeffrey Harris: Mike Perry has a fan-friendly style and is trying to build some momentum after an impressive knockout win over Jake Ellenberger earlier this year. He now faces a new opponent in this card in Alex Reyes after Thiago Alves dropped out due to injury. Reyes is a 13-2 MMA fighter who is a King of the Cage veteran. He makes his Octagon debut for the fight. Perry is on a 13-fight winning streak, and he’s never gone the distance in his career. However, he faces a strong striker with some devastating knockout power in Perry, who boasts 10 knockout wins in all 10 of his career bouts. Reyes is coming into this fight on three days notice. So, he could shock the world and somehow walk away with an insane win, or Perry could simply get another name on his resume. I’m going with the former.

    Winner: Mike Perry, TKO, Round 2

    Robert Winfree: I was looking forward to this before Alves fell out. Now it’s likely an effective showcase for Perry.

    Winner: Mike Perry, TKO, Round 1


    Middleweight Bout: Luke Rockhold vs. David Branch

    Jeffrey Harris: Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold finally returns to the Octagon after a one-plus year layoff following his devastating title loss to Michael Bisping last year. It’s hard to foresee Luke Rockhold losing this fight. However, it’s also hard to foresee where his mindset is. David Branch was less than impressive in his UFC return. However, he’s still an experienced fighter and veteran who hasn’t lost a fight since he fought former UFC title contender Anthony Johnson in 2012. He also beat the likes of Yushin Okami and The Ultimate Fighter winner Jesse Taylor in title bouts in World Series of Fighting. Granted, I don’t see any area where David Branch gives Rockhold serious problems, unless Rockhold doesn’t take this fight seriously and underestimates Branch. Rockhold should be coming into this fight to make a statement to show the UFC and the middleweight division that he’s back with a vengeance, just like how he came back after his loss to Vitor Belfort.

    Winner: Luke Rockhold, Submission, Round 2

    Robert Winfree: Rockhold can’t take Branch for granted, Branch is a boring but very effective fighter and if Rockhold tries to coast through this fight he’ll either lose or win such an uninspired and ugly fight no one will want to see him again. That said, I think Rockhold takes this seriously enough to get back on track to fighting for the belt once that situation sorts itself out.

    Winner: Luke Rockhold, TKO, Round 3


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