Super quick and rushed article – I wasn’t planning on doing an article for this card as I am in the last week of university I will ever need to attend so assignments have ramped up. But I have found myself some spare time so I will put together a very fast article on most, but not all fights. The card will be broadcast on ESPN 2 at 6 pm ET on Friday. Bear in mind I haven’t done any in depth study for this card but there are a few traps I warn you to avoid such as Khizriev given the fact he was in hospital not all that long ago.

LIZ CARMOUCHE vs. JENA BISHOP

This is a title fight for the women’s flyweight title. It is so secret they wanted Ditcheva vs. Carmouche, but Ditcheva can’t stop breaking her hands. Liz has a 3rd round KO win over Bishop already, and I think we will see the same result. Bishop has elite grappling and is huge for the weight class, and her striking is awful. 5 rounds also heavily favours Liz who has far more 5 round experience, plus a very significant cardio advantage.

Pick: Liz Carmouche by finish in round 3, 4, or 5. Likely TKO. Medium confidence.

TIMUR KHIZRIEV vs. GABRIEL BRAGA

Be careful blindly parlaying Khizriev as he is coming off a layoff where he was shot 5 times. To my understanding his hand was severely injured in the shooting so his grip strength may not be what it was. That being said, Braga is a muay thai striker who has been underwhelming and has also proven to have bad take down defense too many times for me to try make a hipster underdog pick.

Pick: Timur Khizriev by decision. Low confidence.

SARVARJON KHAMIDOV vs. RAFAEL DO NASCIMENTO

Nascimento is coming off a big upset win in a fight which Lewis McGrillen proved he has CTE as he was initiating grappling with him. Khamidov will do the same but he is 10 times the grappler McGrillen is.

Pick: Sarvarjon Khamidov by decision. Low-medium confidence.

OUALY TANDIA vs. JP SAINT LOUIS

Despite me stating I will never pick a French man again after Nell Ariano’s nonsense on the Contender Series, here I am again prepared to embarass myself. Tandia went 25-3 as an amateur and has recently developed into a machine as a pro. JP is a tricky enough grappler to make this interesting but he has taken this on short notice and is clearly the B-side.

Pick: Oualy Tandia by KO/TKO. Low confidence.

ELIEZER KUBANZA vs. TREY WATERS

My apologies for not getting this out earlier as Kubanza was the underdog for a while. He is now -125 and I still think there is value there. I had a Kubanza KO ticket when he submitted Mixan so I feel a bit upset over that – but he dominated Mixan on the feet. Waters looks horrific in his last bout against a much, much worse opponent. Kubanza should dust him and I will be playing Kubanza myself if the KO price is right.

Pick: Eliezer Kubanza by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.

EMILIANO SORDI vs. ABRAHAM BABLY

I will never forgive Bably for throwing the fight against Wilkinson but Sordi is beyond washed at this point.

Pick: Abraham Bably by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.

CASSIO BARAO vs. KEVIN PEASE

No pick from me here.

SHANNON CLARK vs. LUCERO ACOSTA

Pick: Shannon Clark by decision. Medium-high confidence.

GAMID KHIZRIEV vs. MICHAEL BOYLAN

I think Boylan has a funny personality but he is not a good fighter.

Pick: Gamid Khizriev by submission. High confidence