By TONY SHUCK
@shuckystyle
Special to woodypaige.com
UFC 208: History will be made with inaugural women’s featherweight title.
The UFC is finally ushering in a new women’s division. Unfortunately, most believe it was the wrong weight class to make. Not only that, but the woman it was made for is not fighting for the title. Whether we like it or not, history (or “her”story) will be made on Saturday when Holly Holm squares off against Germaine de Randamie for the inaugural featherweight title.
I believe this division is a one and done division. As in, the winner will never get a chance to defend her title. Without Christine “Cyborg” Justino, the whole thing feels like a fraud. Despite this, the card is packed with names, including Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Last time I managed a measly 2-2, but this time I’m looking to go a perfect 5-0.
WHO DO YOU LOVE — HOLLY FEATHERWEIGHT?
In the opening bout, Jim Miller looks to reestablish himself as a top 15 lightweight. To do so, he will have to get past No. 10 Dustin Poirier. This fight has all the makings to win “Fight of the Night” honors. Both men have incredible stand-up with a slight edge on the ground going to Miller. These are also two of the most durable fighters the 155-pound division has to offer. Prediction: Jim Miller via decision. I love everything Poirier has done since moving to 155, however; Miller is the king of “going to war”. It’s that experience in tough fights that gives him the advantage in this match-up. I look for Miller to utilize his strength and wrestling and grind out a win.
No. 3 Glover Texeira takes on No. 15 Jared Cannonier. Everything about this fight feels like a mismatch. Texeira is 3-1 in his last four fights and is always in the mix for a title shot. Cannonier is a virtual nobody in the UFC. Both men have knockout power. The winner will be the one who can connect first. Prediction: Glover Texeira via KO/TKO 1st round. Texeira is No. 3 for a reason and I expect him to remind the world why that is on Saturday. He has been compared to Mike Tyson on multiple occasions. Hopefully, Cannonier isn’t Buster Douglas in disguise.
OR HOLLY GOLIGHTLY?
No. 3 middleweight, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, makes his long-awaited return against No. 13 Tim Boetsch. We haven’t seen “Jacare” since his May 2016 win against Vitor Belfort. Since that win, he has been clamoring for a title shot against Michael Bisping. Boetsch is looking to prove he is no one’s stepping stone. If he can get by “Jacare” he might earn himself a spot inside the very crowed top five of the division. Prediction: Ronaldo Souza via sub 2nd round. Boetsch hits like a truck, so I see “Jacare” trying to get this fight to the ground. To do so, he may need to pull guard. Once he grabs hold of Boetsch, I don’t see him letting go until the ref pulls him off for the win.
In the co-main event, No. 7 Anderson “The Spider” Silva may be one win away from another title shot. No. 8 Derek Brunson looks to play spoiler to “The Spider’s” climb. Brunson is 5-1 since 2014 while “The Spider” has gone 0-5. Momentum seems to be on Brunson’s side and at this point in Silva’s career, one must wonder how mush motivation he still has to get into the octagon. Prediction: Brunson via decision. At 41 years of age, Silva will already go down as one of the greatest fighters in history. What more does he need to prove? Brunson, on the other hand, is hungry for what he believes is his and that’s respect in the middleweight division.
In the main event Holly Holm takes on Germaine de Randamie for the UFC’s inaugural featherweight title. Holm is 0-2 since defeating Ronda Rousey; de Randamie is 2-0 since her loss to Amanda Nunes. Both women excel at kick boxing with Holm being the more precise fighter, while de Randamie is a brawler. Sadly, no matter who wins, fans will not recognize the winner as the featherweight champion until she faces Christine “Cyborg” Justino. Prediction: Holm via decision. Holly Holm has had a tough road since her upset win against Ronda Rousey. I look for her to finally put the pieces back together with a solid game plan and superior footwork. We know Germaine de Randamie can take punishment. What I struggle to believe is that she can make contact with Holm. Holm’s footwork is just too good and she has championship experience.
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Tonyshuckmma@gmail.com
(Tony Shuck, an avid MMA fanatic since 2002, has become an expert on the sport. The 34-year-old Indiana native is a veteran of the United States Army, serving between 2002-2006. He was deployed twice to Iraq (2003-2004, 2005-2006). He is married and lives in Denver. Tony has trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing. He is a student at the Colorado Media School, is a regular contributor to woodypaige.com and hosts his own MMA radio show, The Weigh-In, on Elevation 5280 Sports.)