UFC 223 has become a complete mess. Following Conor McGregor’s bus episode on Thursday and Max Holloway being deemed unfit to compete, the card looks completely different than it did 48 hours ahead of the event.
So, I am going to provide you a faster, shorter than usual preview and predictions for the newly revised UFC 223 card.
First. Iaquinta is a fighter with defense in each facet of the game. However, the only time we have seen him fight in the last two years was a fast victory on a shop-worn Diego Sanchez. Nurmagomedov gets the best grappling in MMA and though there are some holes in his remarkable match, it just does not matter once”The Eagle” gets his hands on his competitor. Nurmagomedov will win however, do not doubt Iaquinta’s ability to make this one demanding for your Russian.
The co-main occasion, which thankfully has not been affected, sees Joanna Jedrzejczyk seem to regain her strawweight title vs Rose Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk was obviously not herself at the very first battle, which can likely be attributed to her inability to decode Namajunas emotionally before stepping foot into the Octagon. And though Jedrzejczyk is much more focused this time round, Namajunas is a much more complete mixed martial artist and I visit”Thug Rose” squeaking out a tough win.
Calvin Kattar and Renato Moicano are comparable fighters from the simple fact that they prefer to overwhelm opponents from the striking game. Kattar prefers to be the aggressor while Moicano likes to stay at scope, working his jabs and leg kicks. I give the advantage to Moicano thanks to his motion and ability to stay calm against an aggressive striker.
Zabit Magomedsharipov, one of the best prospects at the featherweight division, has his opportunity to shine on the PPV when he chooses on Kyle Bochniak. Magomedsharipov absolutely demolished his first two opponents from the UFC on his way to submission successes. Bochniak is a low-output striker who is more concerned about defense than offense. But in all honesty, Bochniak is being fed to Magomedsharipov. This should not even be a competition.
A couple high-octane combatants face off at the PPV curtain-jerker, as UFC stalwart Joe Lauzon takes on Chris Gruetzemacher. Lauzon has organic pop in his hands but weak striking defense and is at his finest in scrambles when he can use his slick submissions. Gruetzemacher hasn’t tried a takedown in his UFC tenure; instead,”Gritz” focuses on persistent forward pressure in the striking game. Lauzon’s tendency to get hit is a significant issue but I expect his working skills to shine through.

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