UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh Preview and Predictions (McKee Picks)

UFC Fight Night is taking place live in Pittsburgh this Saturday night and NEOSI’s own Eli Mooneyham and Vince McKee will both be reporting live from PPG Arena to cover all of the action.

While most eyes will be on Luke Rockhold as he tries to climb back into the loaded UFC Middleweight Title picture, the undercard of this show is pretty stacked too, and I’m happy to “try” and break it down for you with some predictions.

 

Jason Saggo vs Gilbert Burns

Prediction – This distant relative of C. Montgomery Burns, will do the family proud with a decision victory.

 

Luke Sanders vs Felipe Arantes

Prediction – Luke Sanders by first round submission in a fight that goes less than two minutes.

 

Krzystof Jotko vs Uriah hall

Prediction – Jotko by Split Decision as the career of Hall continues to slide.

 

Anthony Hamilton vs Daniel Spitz

Prediction – Hamilton via first-round knockout unless Spitz catches him first, either way this will be a total slugfest that doesn’t last long.

 

Tony Martin vs Olivier Aubin Mercier

Prediction –  Martin via unanimous decision as he needs this win badly.

 

Justin Ledet vs Zu Anyanwu

Prediction – Justin Ledet is undefeated for a reason and will show you why Saturday night with a technically perfect decision win.

 

Kamaru Usman vs Sergio Moraes

Prediction – Usman hasn’t lost in nearly five years at welterweight and I don’t see that streak stopping Saturday night against and overmatched Moraes.  Usman will continue to place his name on the UFC map with a dominant decision win.

 

Gregor Gillespie vs Jason Gonzalez

Prediction – Gregor Gillespie is a dangerous wrestler and will wear out Gonzalez on the mat.

 

Hector Lombard vs Anthony Smith

Prediction –  Anthony Smith is a dangerous man and primed to give Lombard his fourth straight defeat.  In the upset of the night, I’m taking Smith to knockout Lombard and end his UFC run in disappointing fashion.

 

Mike Perry vs Alex Reyes

Prediction –  Perry makes Reyes pay for taking this first on 3 days’ notice with a first round knockout.

 

Luke Rockhold vs David Branch

Prediction – Rockhold has not fought since losing his Middleweight belt in June 2016.  Will he be rusty or will he be more focused then ever?  He wants and deserves a rematch for the UFC Middleweight championship.  Will this motivate him ever more against a dangerous David Branch?

David Branch has won titles in multiple weight classes in other promotions, but showed nothing in a boring win over Krzystof Jotko that many felt he actually lost.  He has won 11 straight but will be a serious underdog in this clash.

I see Rockhold taking his time and wearing down Branch with a tactical attack before finally putting him away in the fourth by doctor stoppage.