UFC Rochester Predictions: dos Anjos vs. Lee
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The duration of fight night in Rochester will take place entirely on ESPN+ in a night that is sure to excite.
UFC has put on a number of great cards in 2019, and fight night Rochester is sure to fall right in line. The Blue Cross Arena, in Rochester, New York will be hosting the event on Saturday May 18th. The prelims start at 5:00pm MT with the main card to follow suit at 6:00pm MT.
Welterweight contenders are set to face off in the main event, Rafael dos Anjos (#3) faces off against Kevin Lee (#7) who moves up in weight in hopes for a fresh start at welterweight. The card also features many fighters trying to demonstrate that they do belong in the top 15, and will have to prove themselves against up and coming challengers. Check out the staff predictions for the main card below.
Davis Ramos vs Austin Hubbard (Lightweight)
Jordan: Davis Ramos is on a great run. Three wins via submission, for a streak that stretches back to 2017. He’ll be confident of keeping that run going against UFC newcomer Austin Hubbard. Hubbard on a three fight win streak of his own gained notoriety in his last fight as he picked up the LFA 155-pound title by inflicting a first defeat on Killys Mota. The fight going viral for a very late stoppage. Enough to get him the call to the UFC. Someones streak must end.
Davis Ramos def. Austin Hubbard via submission in round 2.
Connor: Hubbard is set to make his UFC debut against Ramos. Ramos is dangerous on the ground and will probably look to take the fight there and get to work with his submission game. With only one loss on his UFC resume, Ramos will look to formally introduce Hubbard to MMA’s top promotion.
Davis Ramos def. Austin Hubbard via submission in round 1.
Charles Oliveira (#15) vs Nik Lentz (Lightweight)
Jordan: With 13 submission victories in the UFC too his name, Charles Oliveira is one of the most dangerous BJJ players in MMA and on something on tear right now. Four wins all coming via submission, two of which earned him performance of the night bonuses. A trilogy fight against Nik Lentz promises to be an exciting one, especially if it’s anything like their first two fights. Both earned fight of the night honors. Oliveira got his hand raised in the first two, although one was later changed to a N/C. I expect him to make it 3-0 vs Nik Lentz and put an end to this rivalry.
Charles Oliveira def. Nik Lentz via submission in round 1.
Connor: Lentz is a fantastic well-rounded fight veteran. With over 40 professional fights in his career, Lentz has the experience advantage, but Oliveira is one of the most dangerous fighters in arguably the most dangerous division in the UFC. Oliveira has added a strong striking game to one of the best submission games in all of MMA. Oliveira brings too much to the table in this fight.
Charles Oliveira def. Nik Lentz via submission in round 2.
Vicente Luque (#15) vs Derrick Krantz (Welterweight)
Jordan: A 10-fight UFC run stretching all the way back to 2015 has finally found Vicente Luque in the top 15. Impressive win streaks appear to be the theme of this card. Luque has four in a row, all coming within the distance. Neil Magny was originally slated to face off with Luque, but adverse findings in a pre fight USADA test left Magny out and Luque’s place on the card in jeopardy. In steps MMA veteran Derrick Krantz to make his UFC debut. It’s a big ask for Krantz but an even bigger opportunity.
Vicente Luque def. Derrick Krantz via TKO in round 1.
Connor: Krantz is set to make his debut in the UFC, on short notice, against one of the toughest fighters in the UFC. Luque put on a fight of the year candidate back in February with a KO coming near the end of the fight. Luque does not back down from a fight and is willing to stand and trade with anyone. This looks like a huge leap for Krantz as he tries to make a splash by taking out a ranked opponent of Luque’s caliber.
Vicente Luque def. Derrick Krantz via TKO in round 1.
Megan Anderson vs Felicia Spencer (Featherweight)
Jordan: Megan Anderson’s UFC career hasn’t got off to the best start. Falling to a decision loss in her debut to Holly Holm. Anderson picked up a win over Cat Zingano last time out but the fight finishing by a freak injury a minute into the first round has left more questions than answers about Anderson’s ability to challenge for UFC gold. Felicia Spencer will certainly test Anderson’s credentials in this one. The undefeated former Invicta featherweight champion will be looking to make a statement in her promotional debut. The winner of this one surely pushes themselves to the front of the very short queue for featherweight champion Amanda Nunes.
Felicia Spencer def. Megan Anderson via unanimous decision.
Connor: Anderson is a true featherweight, which is rare in the UFC. Anderson is part of the move to bring talent to the division that needs fighters, especially with the division is in flux now with Cris Cyborg no longer at the top and Amanda Nunes double dipping at bantamweight and featherweight. We did not get to see much of Anderson in her last fight with her win coming from a bizarre TKO victory, when her toe went into the eye of her opponent from a head kick and they could not continue.
Megan Anderson def. Felicia Spencer via TKO in round 2.
Antonio Carlos Junior (#12) vs Ian Heinisch (Middleweight)
Jordan: Antonio Carlos Jr. is a scary dude on the mat. The Brazillian is currently riding a 5-fight win streak stretching back to 2016. A step up in competition has saw him excel, finishing Eric Spicely, Jack Marshman and Tim Boetsch in his last three. Ian Heinisch is the man tasked with ending Antonio’s win streak. After emerging victorious through DWTCS, Heinisch made a successful debut picking up a big win over Cezar Ferriera. He’ll be aiming to go a step further in this fight an push himself into the middleweight makings with a win.
Antonio Carlos Junior def. Ian Heinisch via submission in round 1.
Connor: Junior is another submission technician who will look to halt the rise of Heinisch. Heinisch has a great story after turning his life around. Heinisch has great wrestling and should looked to use that to keep the fight standing and stay away from Junior’s ground game. If the fight stays on the feet, there should be an advantage for Heinisch. Heinisch will look to rise quickly into the rankings and establish himself as a legitimate contender, and Junior will look to continue doing what he does and wrangle his opponent until they tap.
Ian Heinisch def. Antonio Carlos Junior via TKO in round 2.
Rafael dos Anjos (#3) vs Kevin Lee (#7) (Welterweight)
Jordan: A spectacular start at welterweight has plateaued after back-to-back defeats for Rafael dos Anjos. Falling to the divisions best in the newly crowned champion Kamaru Usman and next in line Colby Covington. Dos Anjos at 34 years old is still a serious problem at 170 pounds. At 26 years of age, it seems just a matter of time before Kevin Lee realizes his potential and becomes one of the sports biggest stars. That now seems unlikely to happen at lightweight. Lee stepping up to welterweight for his divisional debut and they don’t come much tougher than this. Dos Anjos will be determined to stop his current slide and get back to winnings ways, battering Lee back down to lightweight in the process. Lee on the other hand, will need to adjust to the division and do it quick, because they only get bigger and badder with a win in this main event match-up.
Kevin Lee def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision.
Connor: After an up and down showing at lightweight, Lee moves up to welterweight where he hopes to show how diminishing his weight cut was and that he belongs at welterweight. Lee will have a large reach advantage even after moving up and facing another former lightweight in dos Anjos. Dos Anjos has been on the wrong side of the score cards in recent fights, but he is always relevant in title contention talks.
Rafael dos Anjos def. Kevin Lee via TKO in round 3.
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