The UFC's return to the Sunshine State features a relatively deep card headlined by a welterweight showdown between Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland. Read on for our UFC picks and predictions for Saturday's card.
“Wonderboy” Thompson is simply a high-level gatekeeper at this point. Although Thompson has the requisite skills to separate the wheat from the chaff at welterweight, a future title shot is extremely unlikely. A stirring victory over Holland offers him a glimmer of hope, and a loss probably permanently tosses him out of the title picture.
Despite his recent loss to Khazmat Chimaev (a short-notice favor to the UFC), Holland is on the rise at welterweight. “Trailblazer” snatched consecutive stoppage wins over Tim Means and Alex Oliveira and could find himself in the top 10 at 170 pounds with a demonstrative win over Thompson.
The card also features a potential heavyweight slugfest between Tai Tuivasa and Sergei Pavlovich and a welterweight showdown pitting former lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos against Bryan Barberena.