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PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs. Battle Quick Picks

Apologies for this article being much shorter than it should be, but I am currently overseas at my sisters graduation. I also thought this card was next weekend, not this weekend. It is a pretty good PFL card even though it certainly isn't “stacked”. This card is broadcast on Saturday, 28th March at 07:00 PM ET which I think is the same time as the UFC. Great planning by the PFL as always.

JOHNNY EBLEN (16-1) vs. BRYAN BATTLE (12-2) – Middleweight

Eblen should be able to outwrestle Battle here. He is coming off a loss to Van Steenis which is a bad look as I think Van Steenis sucks (even though he just beat Edwards), but he was cruising to a decision win there before the finish loss at the end of round 5.

Pick: Johnny Eblen by decision. Medium confidence.

DALTON ROSTA (11-2) vs. IMPA KASANGANAY (19-6) – Middleweight

Impa has looked really bad recently but Rosta is a good style for him to beat. He has been losing to technical, powerful strikers but Rosta is a pure wrestler with bad cardio. Impa is more well rounded so I like his chances striking. If he loses this will be a really bad loss for him even as an underdog.

Pick: Impa Kasanganay by decsion. Low confidence.

ARIANE LIPSKI (17-11) vs. SUMIKO INABA (8-2) – Women's Flyweight

Lipski is much more dangerous and well rounded. Expect to see her sacrificed to Ditcheva soon.

Pick: Ariane Lipski by decision. Low confidence.

ALEXEI PERGANDE (7-0) vs. JULIO ARCE (21-6) – Featherweight

I do believe that Pergande is legit but this is a massive set up in competition for him. Pergande is a wrestler who uses control and not a lot more. He is big for the weight class so the size advantage over a former UFC bantamweight will be his biggest strength. Arce isn't even washed either as the last two guys he beat aren't bad. Moraes is a former PFL fighter and Reis is old but was in the UFC and Bellator himself. Arce has always had good TDD even though that was at 135. I think Arce is the better overall striker so I will pick him to win by very close decision.

Pick: Julio Arce by decision. Low confidence.

LAZARO DAYRON (9-0-1) vs. JACOB THRALL (15-7-1) – Bantamweight

Step down in competition for Dayron.

Pick: Lazro Dayron by KO/TKO. High confidence

ALLAN BEGOSSO (10-3-1) vs. JACK CARTWIGHT (13-2) – Bantamweight

Both guys are busted prospects. For some reason UFC loves Begosso so it's funny that PFL got him.

Pick: Allan Begosso by decision. Low confidence.

NATAN SCHULTE (25-5-1) vs. JAKUB KASZUBA (15-0) – Lightweight

Haven't seen Schulte in almost 3 years since he was cut after his “fight” against Manfio. I don't think Kaszuba is all that but hard to know what Schulte is going to look like after all this time.

Pick: Jakub Kaszuba by decision. Low confidence.

ROBERT WATLEY (16-3) vs. DAKOTA BUSH (15-4) – Lightweight

Watley is a pretty good boxer-wrestler. Bush has never impressed me.

Pick: Robert Watley by decision. Low-medium confidence.

ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ (10-1) vs. MASAYUKI KIKUIRI (11-3-1) – Welterweight

Wrestler vs. Striker match up. Picking the wrestler (Rodriguez).

Pick: Ernesto Rodriguez by decision. Medium confidence.

JOSH FREMD (11-6) vs. JARRAH HUSSEIN AL-SILAWI (21-7) – Middleweight

Fremd sucks, we all know this. But he is a big middleweight and Al-Silawi has no chin at all. Complete and total dust.

Pick: Josh Fremd by KO/TKO. Low confidence.

ETHAN GOSS (12-8) vs. FREDERIK DUPRAS (9-2) – Featherweight

Most obvious Dupras guillotine.

Pick: Frederik Dupras by submission. High confidence.

 

The Writer

Artem MMA

Artem MMA

Regional Analyst