UFC Columbus: Blaydes vs Daukaus Prelims Undercard Betting Preview

UFC action heads to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio this weekend where heavyweights Curtis Blaydes will take on Chris Daukaus in the headliner.

Both Blaydes and Daukaus are trying to re-establish themselves as title contenders after suffering recent setbacks. Blaydes saw his four-bout win streak ended by Derrick Lewis two fights ago but he’s bounced back with a win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his most recent bout. Dauakaus meanwhile had a four-fight UFC win streak also ended by Lewis in his last outing.

Also fighting in the main card are Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France in a bout that could determine the next flyweight challenger after Figueiredo vs Moreno 4. Joanne Calderwood-Wood and Alexa Grasso will also collide in the event.

But before the big names take the cage, an equally exciting prelims undercard will open the show on Saturday night. Let’s take a look a the bouts and make our predictions:

Jennifer Maia vs Manon Fiorot

Jennifer Maia is the no. 4 ranked female flyweight in the UFC. The 33-year old from Curitiba, Brazil is a former Invicta FC flyweight champion who joined the UFC in 2018 after making two successful title defenses. Maia is just 4-4 inside the UFC Octagon and challenged for the flyweight title at UFC 255, losing via decision. She is coming off a unanimous loss to Katlyn Chookagian at UFC Vegas 46 last January 15, 2022.

Maia is 19-8 with four knockouts and five submission wins. She stands 5-4 tall with a reach of 64 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.

Manon Fiorot is the no. 13 ranked female strawweight in the UFC. The 32-year old from Nice, France is a former UAE Warriors women’s flyweight champion who also fought under Cage Warriors and EFC. She joined the UFC last year and defeated Victoria Leonardo in her UFC debut. After knocking out Tabitha Ricci at UFC Vegas 28, Fiorot went on to defeat Mary Bueno Silva at UFC Vegas 40 for her third straight UFC win.

Fiorot is 8-1 with six wins by way of knockout. She is 5-7 tall with a reach of 65 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

Fiorot has a three-inch height and one-inch reach advantage over Maia here. The Frenchwoman is good at using those advantages by fighting at range. That should be the key against Maia who is well known as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace.

The problem for Maia here is that she does not have the takedown offense to put Fiorot down, meaning her edge in BJJ will go for naught here. Fiorot’s reach will be an issue for Maia who won’t be able to catch the Frenchwoman and hurt her. I think this is going to be a striking battle and Fiorot’s edge in power, volume, and movement will carry her to a decision win.

Prediction: Manon Fiorot

Neil Magny vs Max Griffin

Neil Magny made a name for himself during the 12th edition of The Ultimate Fighter competition. The 32-year old from New York tied a UFC record with five bouts in 2014. Magny owns notable wins over Tim Means, Kelvin Gastelum, Hector Lombard, and Carlos Condit.

Magny stands 6-3 tall with a ridiculous reach of 80 inches while fighting as an orthodox fighter. He has a record of 25-8 with seven knockouts and three wins via submission. He has won four out of his last five bouts and is coming off a decision win over Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 26 last May 21, 2021.

Max Griffin is a former welterweight champion at Tachi Palace Fights and double-champion ( welterweight and middleweight ) at West Coast FC. This 36-year old from Santa Barbara, California joined the UFC in 2016 and was knocked out by Colby Covington in his UFC debut. After opening his UFC career with a 3-6 record, Griffin has won three in a row and is coming off a win over Carlos Condit at UFC 264.

Griffin is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-11 tall with a reach of 76 inches. He has a record of 18-8 with 9 knockouts and 2 submission wins.

Credit Griffin for turning his UFC career around but for all the success he’s found lately, Neal Magny is above his level and has always been. Magny is taller, rangier, more durable, and has better cardio. Magny also has the wrestling chops to put Griffin on his back which negates the latter’s punching power.

I think this is a fight that Magny dominates with his long-range striking and occasional takedowns. With that game plan, Griffin should not be able to get going and will get frustrated. Magny goes to work and Griffin doesn’t know how to counter him.

Prediction: Neal Magny

Marc Diakiese vs Viacheslav Borshchev

Marc Diakiese is a former BAMMA Lonsdale British lightweight champion and the ex- Cage Kumite lightweight champion. This 27-year old from Congo won his first 12 MMA bouts, including his first three octagon fights. Since then, however, he’s won just twice in his last seven bouts and is coming off back-to-back losses to Rafael Fiziev and Rafael Alves.

He has a record of 14-5 with six knockouts and one victory via submission. Diakiese is 5-10 tall with a reach of 73 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

Viacheslav Borshchev is a newcomer who started fighting only in 2019. Borshchev appeared in Gladiator Challenge, LFA, and Titan FC, before joining the Contender Series where he knocked out Chris Duncan to earn his UFC contract. He will be making his UFC debut against Bush.

Borshchev is 6-1 with five knockout wins. He stands 5-11 tall with a reach of 69 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.

Diakiese has good athleticism, legit punching power, and solid wrestling. However, he has not been able to put it all together and display consistency. Still, with his knockout power and devastating low kicks, he can pull off a surprise against the fairly inexperienced Borshchev.

That may be unlikely though as Borschev knows how to use his superior striking technique. He also is good at getting back to his feet if he is taken down so it would be difficult for Diakiese to implement his wrestling here. I think Borschev puts the pressure on Diakiese and puts the latter on the backfoot for three straight rounds.

Prediction: Viacheslav Borshchev

Sara McMann vs Karol Rosa

Sara McMann is a former Olympic wrestler and the first American female wrestler to win a medal after she bagged a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 39-year old from Takoma Park, Maryland is the no. 9 ranked female bantamweight in the UFC. McMann was challenged for the UFC women’s bantamweight title but was knocked out by Ronda Rousey at UFC 170. She has lost three out of her last four bouts and is coming off a submission loss to current champion Julianna Pena at UFC 257 last January 24, 2021.

McMann stands 5-6 with a reach of 66 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. She has a record of 12-6 with one knockout and five wins by submission.

Karol Rosa is the no. 12 ranked female bantamweight in the UFC. Rosa started her career at Brazilian promotions like Haidar Capixaba Combat, Aspera FC, Curitiba Fights, MMA Brutus, and HCC before joining the UFC in 2019. Rosa is undefeated inside the UFC Octagon with wins over Lara Procopio, Vanessa Melo, Joselyn Edwards, and Bethe Correira.

She has a record of 15-3 with four knockouts and two submission victories. Rosa is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-5 tall with a reach of 67 inches.

McMann is a live dog here at +170. She’s a veteran who can beat anybody with her wrestling and even during her losses, she has been competitive ( except for the Ronda fight ). McMann is never out of any fight and I don’t discount her pulling off the upset here.

However, Rosa isn’t just 14 years younger. She also has a one-inch reach advantage which helps her to strike from afar and avoid getting taken down. While I think that McMann has the tools to win this bout, I have not seen her display consistency in her output in her recent bouts. That said, Rosa’s sheer volume will be enough to get the judges’ nod here.

Prediction: Karol Rosa

Chris Gutierrez vs Danaa Batgerel

Chris Gutierrez is the former SCS and WFC bantamweight champion. The 30-year old from Boston, Massachusetts also fought for Bellator, WSOF, and LFA. Gutierrez joined the UFC in 2018 and lost to Raoni Barcelos via submission in his UFC debut. Since that loss, he is undefeated in six bouts with one draw and is coming off a split decision win over Felipe Colares last October 9, 2021.

He stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 67 inches and is an orthodox fighter. Gutierrez is 3-1 inside the Octagon and he has a record of 17-4 with seven knockouts and one win via submission.

Danaa Batgerel joined the UFC in 2019 after campaigning in Asia and is a former MGL-1 featherweight champion. The 31-year old from Mongolia lost to Heili Alateng in his UFC debut but has since picked up TKO wins over Guido Cannetti, Kevin Natividad, and Brandon Davis.

Batgerel has a record of 12-2 with eight knockouts and two submission wins. He stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 70 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.

These are two fighters who still have a lot to prove in the UFC. They have found success but against lesser competition. This fight is easily the toughest fight to date for both fighters. Gutierrez stands two inches taller but Bargerel has a one-inch advantage in reach.

This one is a clash of styles. Batgerel is like a bulldozer that tries to run right through his opponent.s Meanwhile, Gutierrez is a sniper who likes to paw away and beat his opponents with his sharpshooting strikes. You can make a case for both men her but in a fight that seems to be 50/50, this is where I take the plus money as Gutierrez has the ability to slow Batgerel down with his low kicks.

Prediction: Chris Gutierrez

Matheus Nicolau vs David Dvorak

Matheus Nicolau is the no. 7 ranked flyweight in the UFC. The 29-year old from Minas Gerais, Brazil began his career with Shooto Brazil, and Bitetti Combat before joining the UFC in 2015. After picking up a 3-1 UFC record, he went to Brave CF and Future FC in one-fight appearances. Nicolau rejoined the UFC in 2021 and picked up wins over Manel Kape and Tim Elliott.

Nicolau is 17-2 with four knockouts and five submission wins. He is 5-6 tall with a reach of 66 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

David Dvorak is the no. 10 ranked flyweight in the UFC. The 29-year old from Horic in the Czech Republic is a former Gladiator Fighting Championship flyweight champion who also fought under Fight Nights Global and XFN. Dvorak joined the UFC in 2020 and is a perfect 3-0 so far inside the UFC Octagon.

Dvorak is 20-3 with 8 knockouts and 8 submission wins. He is 5-5 tall with a reach of 68 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

These are two fighters who love to put on a show for the fans and this is a fight that could go either way. Dvorak has the sharper hands but Nicolau also packs that solid wrestling that he can turn to if the fight doesn’t go his way on the feet.

However, I like Dvorak here because he has the takedown defense to prevent Nicolau from taking him down multiple times. Sure, there will be some successful takedowns but I don’t see Nicolau earning a decent amount of control time. Instead, I see Dvorak dictating the pace of this fight on the feet with his faster and cleaner combination.

Prediction: David Dvorak

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