UFC 219 Full Main Card Preview & Analysis

With an up-and-down 2017 coming to an end for the UFC, the promotion has one event left – UFC 219 – and it’s certainly expected to be an exciting one.

The event is set to go down this Saturday night (Dec. 30, 2017) live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight between champion Cris Cyborg and ex-women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm.

In the co-main event, undefeated lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov will make his long-awaited return against dangerous striker Edson Barboza.

Without further ado, let’s take a look a deeper look into UFC 219’s top fights:

Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm

It could be argued that UFC 219’s main event is the biggest fight in the history of women’s mixed martial arts, and for good reason, as Cyborg and Holm are two of the best to compete in that category.

Cyborg, the reigning and defending 145-pound champion, has long been one of the most feared female fighters on the planet. Holding a professional record of 18-1-1, the Brazilian hasn’t lost since 2005. She’s 18-0-1 in the time since with 16 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Although most of her career has taken place outside of the Octagon, she’s now 3-0 in the UFC since entering the promotion in 2016. All three of those wins have come by way of stoppage, and now that she’s solely competing at her preferred weight of 145 pounds, she appears to be in the prime of her career.

A dangerous striker, Cyborg has made a career off of relentless pressure and aggressiveness. She’s powerful, fast and tends to stalk her opponents down while putting together effective combinations.

Although the power in her hands is unlike that of many of her female counterparts, Cyborg’s striking arsenal is filled with a variety of techniques. She has a background in Muay Thai and uses elbows, knees, and kicks effectively as well.

Although her strengths lie on the feet, Cyborg is no slouch on the ground. Her sole loss has come by way of submission, but that was many years ago. She now holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and hones her skills under Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles in Southern California. Cyborg also possesses incredible takedown defense, boasting a 95% rating.

If the fight does indeed end up on the canvas, which I don’t expect it to, Cyborg likely holds the advantage.

Given that it should take place on the feet, it’s important to note that Holm is also one of the very best strikers in women’s MMA, and she has a style that could give a fighter like Cyborg trouble.

A former professional boxer, Holm has won multiple titles in boxing, defending them 18 times.

Her best weapons are her left cross as well as her left high kick. In addition, she moves incredibly well, using lateral movement and different angles to land the shots she wants. This movement could give an aggressive brawler like Cyborg some difficulty.

As far as the ground game goes, Holm prefers to strike, but she trains at the world famous Jackson-Wink gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she’s been rounding out her skills. She’ll also likely come into the fight with a strong gameplan.

Ultimately, I can see this fight going either way.

Holm should look to establish her distance, move constantly, and keep Cyborg on the outside where she can pick her apart with strikes.

Cyborg, on the other hand, should look to do the opposite and close the distance where she can land heavy shots on the lengthy Holm.

In the end, I see the latter taking place. I feel that Cris Cyborg is too relentless, too aggressive, and too powerful.

Prediction: Cris Cyborg def. Holly Holm via third-round TKO

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza

In the co-main event, a pivotal lightweight bout will take place, and at first glance, it appears to be a classic striker vs. grappler match.

Nurmagomedov, an undefeated 24-0 native of Dagestan, Russia, is without question one of the very best wrestlers in all of MMA. He’s a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion and he’s used that background in grappling to run through everyone in his path. He also possesses a strong submission game, as eight of his professional victories have come due to an opponent tapping out.

On the feet, “The Eagle” has been improving his skills at the highly touted American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. He has, however, at times, left himself a bit open, and he is hittable, which could prove to be a problem against a striker the caliber of Barboza.

Nonetheless, Nurmagomedov has implemented his style well into the Octagon. There are some criticisms aimed at the Russian, however, as he’s been quite inactive due to injuries. He’s also had issues with his weight cut at times. When healthy and on point, however, it’s clear that Nurmagomedov is one of the best 155-pounders in the world.

Barboza, on the other hand, is also one of the top fighters competing at lightweight, and he’s been on a roll as of late, as he’s won three consecutive bouts over the likes of Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and Beniel Dariush.

As opposed to Nurmagomedov, Barboza is more of a striker. He’s a lethal Muay Thai tactician with 22 victories by way of T/KO and he owns some of the most emphatic knockout victories mixed martial arts has ever seen. Known most for his brutal kicks, the Brazilian also uses a wide array of punches and knees to land on his opponents.

On the ground, Barboza is no slouch, as he owns a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ricardo Almeida. He also trains with strong wrestlers like Frankie Edgar and Eddie Alvarez, but it’s safe to say that he’s never faced someone with the wrestling pedigree and top control of Nurmagomedov.

In this bout, I think Nurmagomedov’s inactivity and the fact that he has indeed been hittable in the past raise question marks. If Barboza lands a big shot, the fight could end before the final bell. However, if “The Eagle’s” striking defense is on point, I expect his grappling and control to be too much.

Prediction: Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision

Carla Esparza vs. Cynthia Calvillo

In this bout, we have a battle between a former champion and a rising prospect.

Although some often forget, Carla Esparza was the first woman to hold gold in the UFC’s 115-pound division. She’s also a former Invicta FC champion, possessing a 12-4 professional record with three of those victories coming by way of knockout and four of them coming by way of submission.

Stylistically, Esparza has long been considered one of the best wrestlers in the division. She’s improved her striking over the years, which she’s now able to use to set up her takedowns.

Esparza’s problem in the UFC, however, has always been consistency. Since submitting current champion Rose Namajunas in 2014, she’s split wins and losses, while dealing with some injuries as well.

Calvillo, meanwhile, has been red hot as of late, winning her first six professional MMA bouts in addition to her first three UFC bouts. Two of her wins in the Octagon have come by way of submission as well.

Training with the highly-respected Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, Calvillo has been constantly improving. Although she’s more of a grappler, two of her professional victories have come by way of TKO, and she may be able to use her skills on the feet to her advantage in this bout.

In terms of grappling, Calvillo has proven to have a strong submission game, but Esparza is likely the stronger pure wrestler.

Both fighters have similar styles, and it’s hard to predict how this fight is going to play out, but I’m going to side with the momentum of Calvillo over the experience of Esparza.

Prediction: Cynthia Calvillo def. Carla Esparza via unanimous decision

Carlos Condit vs. Neil Magny

Having not competed since August 2016, Carlos Condit is finally set to make his Octagon return, and he’ll be taking on divisional mainstay Neil Magny on the UFC 219 main card.

At one point, Condit, who’s held the WEC welterweight title as well as the UFC interim welterweight title, was considered to be one of the very best 170-pounders in the world, but he’s hit some rough times since then. He’s lost five of his last seven bouts in addition to dealing with a knee injury during that time.

It’s impossible to tell what form Condit will show up in, but at age 33, it’s also quite possible that he has a bit left in the tank.

Stylistically, Condit is a fantastic striker, using a Muay Thai approach and training under the highly touted Mike Winkeljohn. Being a lengthy fighter, Condit is well-versed in establishing his distance and he often uses his kicks to do so. Blessed with an iron chin and world-class endurance, “The Natural Born Killer” rarely shies away from a brawl as well.

On the ground, Condit is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and despite having four submission losses, he also has 13 wins by submission. It’s not often that he shoots for takedowns, but if he ends up being taken down, he’s very dangerous off of his back.

Magny, also a lengthy fighter, established himself as a legitimate threat in 2014 and 2015 when he won an impressive seven straight fights.

Since then, he’s been a bit inconsistent as well, as he’s lost two of his last three.

Despite his recent skid, Magny is well-rounded and a bit underrated, in my opinion. His striking has improved over the years, and he holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, although he has suffered four submission losses as well.

Ultimately, I think this fight will be determined by what form Condit returns in.

If his mind and body are in the right place, I feel as if “The Natural Born Killer” is the better fighter, although I’m not expecting an easy win for him.

Prediction: Carlos Condit def. Neil Magny via unanimous decision

Daniel Hooker vs. Marc Diakiese

In this bout, two rising lightweight contenders will look to continue their treks up the UFC’s marquee division.

Hooker is an experienced fighter, holding a 14-7 professional record through 21 fights. 13 of his 14 victories have come by way of stoppage, with seven coming by way of T/KO and six coming by way of submission.

On the ground, Hooker is well-versed and he’s been improving his striking at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand.

Diakiese, on the other hand, began to gain steam after winning his first three UFC bouts with two of them ending in a stoppage. His streak was halted this past July when he dropped a split-decision loss, but he remains a dangerous fighter nonetheless.

On the feet, Diakiese is an explosive and flashy striker with legitimate one-strike knockout power, as six of his 12 victories have come by way of T/KO.

He’s not known for his ground game, and although he’s never been submitted, Hooker likely owns the advantage in this area.

Hooker should look to land the takedown and control Diakiese from the top while doing damage and hunting for a submission. Given his recent improvements in the striking department, however, he may be willing to strike with the Englishman, and that could prove to be a mistake.

Prediction: Marc Diakiese def. Daniel Hooker via second-round TKO