The Bloody Elbow staff have made their picks for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 56 card, and we’re narrowly leaning towards a Jairzinho Rozenstruik win over Alexander Volkov in the main event. As for the co-main event, Stephie Haynes is the only one to go over Movsar Evloev with Dan Ige. To see the latest betting lines for these bouts, go to DraftKings Sportsbook.
note: Predictions are entered throughout the week and collected the day before the event. Explanations behind each choice are not required, and some authors choose not to for reasons of their own. For example, if Zane Simon made all of his predictions on Wednesday with no explanations, he has no idea if he will be the only one to side with a fighter for a given fight.
Alexander Volkov vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Mookie Alexander: I would have conveniently chosen Volkov a couple of years ago. I think it’s been about that long since Volkov looked really good and confident in a fight. Something about that Derrick Lewis fight might have changed him. His win over Greg Hardy is aging so badly as he opted for a lukewarm kickboxing match over alleged concerns that Hardy could hurt him with a big shot. The loss to Aspinall is arguably the worst he’s ever seen and while that may work in Aspinall’s favour, Volkov isn’t usually that unrivalled. So basically we have a similar dynamic to the Lewis fight when we talk about the Rozenstruik fight, except Rozenstruik isn’t easy to hurt and he’s more technical. I have a feeling that Volkov can win much of this fight just through activity until he doesn’t anymore, which means Rozenstruik will land something massive and Volkov will collapse. I’m pretty sure I’ll be thoroughly displeased with every second of this competition if it doesn’t end in a KO. Jairzinho Rozenstruik by TKO, Round 4.
Zane Simon: I just don’t think Volkov is fast enough to get in and out of range while hitting Rozenstruik for a long time. He’s even been looking a step slower lately, struggling to maintain cardio and pace even in bouts where it seemed like it was a clear advantage. And while Volkov certainly has room to get takedowns and play a really decent top game, he just doesn’t initiate much wrestling unless his opponent tries to level with him first, and that won’t be a part of Rozenstruik’s game. Add in a recent camp change and his own admission of struggling with his performances and I take it Jairzinho Rozenstruik via TKO, Round 2.
Personnel selection Volkov: Victor, Dayne
Personnel selection Rozenstruik: Mookie, Zane, Stephie
Dan Ige vs. Movsar Evloev
Mookie Alexander: This is a tough question because Ige has a really good hitting power and his well-rounded game makes it really difficult for most fighters to top him. It’s hard to shake how often he throws away a round in a three-pointer and how that seems like a speedway to losing a clear decision against Evloev. He’ll wrestle and he’ll have the edge on the mat that you would expect. I feel like Ige’s best route to victory is to keep this on his feet and try to land power shots, but that’s easier said than done. Movsar Evloev by unanimous decision.
Zane Simon: I’m a bit concerned about what happens to Evloev when he encounters a true power puncher who can adapt to his fairly predictable game plan. And while I’m not sure Ige is the most adaptable fighter in the world, he absolutely has the power to make Evloev pay for it, especially if he can catch Evloev early while diving into the pocket. Despite Ige being a capable grappler, it’s hard not to think about how TKZ took him down and wrapped him up in their fight with dominant positional control, and to assume that Evloev can’t do the same. Even though I think he might have some really hairy moments, I have to endure it Movsar Evloev by decision.
Personnel selection Ige: Stephie
Personnel selection Evloev: Mookie, Zane, Victor, Dayne
Michael Trizano vs. Luke Almeida
Zane Simon: Lucas Almeida starts very quickly, with a lot of power and well-chambered counterattacks. Aside from his penchant for jumping on quick submissions, there’s a really good chance he’ll scare Trizano in the first round of this fight. However, once the fights get a little longer, the shallowness of Almeida’s game becomes more apparent and it loses steam pretty quickly. Trizano has always been very difficult to hurt and stealing rounds has become more difficult as he learns to fight behind his jab. Don’t think Almeida can survive this if it goes the distance. Michael Trizano by resolution.
Personnel selection Trizano: Mookie, Zane, Dayne
Employees pick Almeida:
Poliana Botelho vs. Karen Silva
Zane Simon: Hard fight to choose. Botelho tends to start fights with the right ideas, throwing with power, dominating clinch positions, and hitting takedowns. But she pushes herself so hard and with so much excitement along the way that the drop in effectiveness for her tends to be steep. On the other hand, Karine Silva still seems to be trying to figure out what a working MMA game looks like. She has trouble finding range with her punches and has a remarkable willingness to break cover and work from her back for longer distances from full cover. I’ll take Poliana Botelho just because she’s fought at this level, knows what to expect and starts strong. But this fight could get a little ugly as it progresses. Poliana Botelho by decision.
Personnel Selection Botelho: Mookie, Zane, Dayne
Employees pick Silva:
Alonzo Menifield vs. Askar Mosharov
Mookie Alexander: By the time the card begins, Mozharov’s current record will be 56-189. Alonzo Menifield by KO, Round 1.
Zane Simon: In Mozharov’s last loss, he bet on a single elbow from top control. I take Alonzo Menifield via TKO, Round 1.
Personnel Selection Menifield: Mookie, Zane, Dayne
Personnel selection Mosharov:
Zarrukh Adashev against Ode’ Osbourne
Zane Simon: Adashev’s game is terribly limited at this point in his career. He was able to come out of the gate and functionally disable Ryan Benoit with low kicks for his only UFC win, but even after getting Benoit on his feet in the first 30 seconds, it still felt like a fighter trying to finding his comfort zone in the cage. Osbourne is a rare flyweight who can fight with range and he uses it well. He is also said to have a strong speed advantage. Ode’ Osbourne by decision.
Personnel selection Adashev:
Personnel Selection Osbourne: Zane, Dayne, Mookie
opinion poll
Who wins?
51%
Alexander Volkov (60 votes)
48%
Jairzinho Rozenstruik (57 votes)
117 total votes Vote now