EDIT – MOICANO IS IN! ARMAN IS OUT! 

It’s nearly upon us fight fans. The first PPV of the year and what a PPV she is. A five fight main card that is absolutely stacked top to bottom. There isn’t one fight on this main card that I aren’t absolutely pumped for. If this is Dana’s way of starting the year off on the right foot, I am absolutely here for it. I may even stop making jokes about him on X as a thank you. Say what you want about Dana. Love him. Hate him. But he has absolutely delivered on this card to get the year’s big cards off to a bang. Bravo sir. So with that, let’s get into it!

Opening the card is a UFC veteran, taking on a former One Champion in only his second fight for the promotion.

KEVIN HOLLAND V REINIER DE RIDDER.

You don’t get many fighters who you’d like to see open a PPV card than Kevin Holland. Whilst I don’t ever see Holland holding gold, he is one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion. Always in a fun fight win or lose, and when on his A game he is a handful for absolutely anyone. Sharp striking and slick submission skills, if he could wrestle he’d have it all. Coming off a rib injury last time out in a loss to Dolidze, he will be looking to get back in the win column here.

De Ridder enters on the back of a debut winning performance against GM3. Getting it done by submission in the third round. Personally I wasn’t impressed. He boasts a fantastic grappling game, but his striking is poor at best. If his striking defence hasn’t improved since his last performance either, he could be in for a short night. GM3 isn’t known for his striking, and he found success. So imagine what Kevin Holland will do to him if this stays on the feet. De Ridders plan will be to get this to the ground ASAP. It’s his best way to win, and to be frank, his only hope.

If Holland can defend a few takedowns and keep this upright where he has all the advantages, it will sap the confidence of the Dutchman. Leaving Holland nicely placed to finish De Ridder early or at worst in the 2nd round. It’s not that I dislike De Ridder, but I can only go off what I’ve seen in his last 3/4 fights. This is a level too far for him.

Pick – KEVIN HOLLAND TO WIN. 

Next on the card we move into the lightweight division, and in their words a battle of two old men. Lol.

BENEIL DARIUSH OFF THE CARD. ALMEIDA V SPIVAC MOVED TO MAIN CARD. 

Money Moicano is now stepping in on short notice to face Islam in the main event. Almeida v Spivac moved to the main card. Have to feel for Beneil Dariush who misses out completely as a result of the injury to Arman Tsarukyan. But the show must go on!

That’s two down and three to go. This card is WILD! The big fights just keep coming. Light heavyweights on deck!

JIRI PROCHAZKA V JAMAHAL HILL.

If you google the word BANGER, a picture of these two fighting shows up. It’s that simple. This one will be fun whilst it lasts. Jiri have been to the judges cards once in his career, Hill a little more. But neither of these guys like to leave it to the scorecards. It’s throw heat, try take the other dudes head off, or get knocked the F out.

Jamahal is like a WWE heel for UFC fans. Yes he’s brought most of it on himself, but you cannot say this guy isn’t an elite fighter. Scary scary power and fearless. I’ve actually grown to quite like him, but that could be because everyone else loves to hate him. He isn’t the most polished in his striking, but he what he lacks in technique he makes up for in raw power. Just go look at his knockout of Johnny Walker if you don’t believe me. The man can put you out.

Jiri is the perfect dance partner. A huge fan favourite who believe he has mystical powers and likes to wield samurai swords in his spare time. The man’s crazy! Just what you want in a MMA fighter. A former champion in multiple promotions. The guy is quality. If he has something he needs to work on, it’s his defence. He’s blessed with a great chin. A chin that will be tested here. If it hasn’t recovered enough from his KO loss to Alex last time out, he’s in a world of trouble. As Hill has the boxing to piece him up if he just ploughs forward swinging. Jiri needs to use distance early. Piece up the lead leg of Hill. Stay relatively safe. As nobody can take the sort of shots he’s taken in his last three fights without it having lasting effect. Yes he beat Rakic. But he still took some big hits.

I’ve flipped and flopped over this one all week. Call it a hunch. But I think the heel finds a way to win this one. Move over Ankaleav. Hill wants his rematch.

Pick – JAMAHAL HILL TO WIN.

It’s co main event time. World title fight 1. 5 rounds. Bad blood. Bring on the war!

MERAB DVALISHVILI V UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV

Now for the casual fans, this might not be quite as bigger fight than us hardcore fans. As it’s two grapplers. But arguably two of the best grapplers in the company, if not the world. Prepare to see some scrambles. I’m here for it. This is going to be great. Like most fights when you have two guys who excel at something, I’m sure we have periods where it turns into a kickboxing match. But it’s all about who gets more control here. I don’t see a finish. I see five rounds of who can win the positions on the mat. Or who can get the most takedowns.

Merab won the title last September taking the title off Suga Sean at The Sphere. Sean had his odd moment but I thought it was comfortable for Merab. He just controlled Sean for the fight and neutralised his stand up game. Merab is world class. A deserving champion. A champion who I think is being completely wrote off this Saturday. Wrongly. Very wrongly. This won’t be easy for the challenger.

Umar is world class too. Unreal grappling which expect with a surname like his. But hear me out. Take away his surname and I guarantee people don’t rate him quite as highly. Part of the aura goes. Go back and watch his fights with Sandhagen and Bekzat. But other than Cody, he hasn’t faced anyone world class. He’s never faced someone in Merab’s league. No way he just turns up and wins like some people on social media expect. This is a fight. A close one. Mark my words. The dog could bark. Loudly.

Pick – MERAB DVALISHVILI TO WIN. #AndStill 

It’s time for the main event of the evening. World title number 2, and a fight that I absolutely love!

ISLAM MAKHACHEV V RENATO MOICANO.

WOW! What a last hour we have had! ARMAN IS OUT! MOICANO IS IN! I had a whole article written up on the main card fights and I’ve literally published it and I’m now sat here editing it! UNREAL! Credit to Islam for taking the fight, credit to Moicano for stepping in!

Prediction? I can’t bet against Islam in this one. But I’m super intrigued by it. Maybe even more than the original main event in some ways.

Moicano is the upset king! Can he pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of mixed martial arts? We find out in a little more than 24 hours!

it’s a crazy world in MMA. Anything can and literally will happen. I hope one of my favourite fighters in Moicano can pull this off, but my god it’s a big ask.

Pick – ISLAM MAKHACHEV TO WIN. #AndStill

Enjoy the violence.

Phillip Dean @PPDSPORTS for Fight Bananas.