THE first UFC card of 2020 will host the long-awaited return of the promotion’s biggest star, Conor McGregor when he faces Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event. Ranked bouts fill out a fun main card, with the perfect chance for some up and comers down the list to impress those who will inevitably come for ‘The Notorious One’. Check out each match-up, as well as a prediction for every fight from top to bottom.

MAIN CARD:

WELTERWEIGHT | Conor McGregor [#4 LW] vs. Donald Cerrone [#5 LW]

A fight four years in the making headlines UFC 246 as Conor McGregor takes on Donald Cerrone at 170lbs, marking the Irishman’s first fight since tapping to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October, 2018. The fourth and fifth ranked lightweights respectively, these two need no introduction and should produce fireworks to conclude a rivalry which spawned all the way back in 2015 amid a memorable press conference. The shorter man, McGregor will come in with a surprising reach advantage but is naturally the smaller fighter having fought down at featherweight, while Cerrone has jumped between lightweight and welterweight. But the two are game to fight anyone, anywhere, any time, and at any weight, so will do exactly that. Cerrone seems to have more ways to win given his impressive grappling game combined with precise striking combinations, but McGregor has passed similar tests before – with flying colours – and is a phenomenal striker himself. The former double-champ seems to have reconnected with the drive which spurred his promotional come-up, declaring this the start of his 2020 “season”, in which he will be much more active. You love to see it, and deep down hardcore fans will be buzzing for this bout.

Prediction: McGregor by T/KO.

W. BANTAMWEIGHT | Holly Holm [#3] vs. Raquel Pennington [#4]

A former women’s bantamweight champion meets a former challenger when Holly Holm takes on Raquel Pennington in the co-main event slot. The two have have history as well, with Holm getting the better of ‘Rocky’ via decision back in 2015 when ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ was still undefeated. But since suffering her first defeat, Holm has gone on to lose four of her last six fights across two divisions – including two championship bouts. That often happens when constantly facing the best, and TUF alum Pennington has done just that across a career dating back to 2009. Pennington’s heavy hands and submission game are what Holm will try to avoid with distance management on the feet, leaning on her storied kickboxing career to pick Pennington off. While this rescheduled bout features third and fourth ranked fighters, it seems only a truly special performance will put the winner back in the title picture.

Prediction: Holm by decision.

HEAVYWEIGHT | Aleksei Oleinik [#12] vs. Maurice Greene

43-year-old MMA veteran and submission specialist Aleksei Oleinik gets a main card slot in his bout against Maurice Greene, with the Ultimate Fighter alum looking to earn his way back into the heavyweight rankings. Both fighters come in off losses though, with ‘The Boa Constrictor’ Oleinik suffering consecutive T/KO defeats, while the American was handed his first promotional loss in October, 2019. This match-up poses a polar opposite in experience, with the 71 fights of Oleinik looking quite daunting over Greene’s 11-fight career. Both know their way around on the ground, as ezekiel choke merchant Oleinik a combat sambo practitioner with a deadly grip, while Greene has four triangle choke finishes despite not landing a takedown in the UFC. This bout could go one of two ways; it could be a great stepping stone for Greene on his way to ranking status, or the experience of his opponent could prove too overwhelming on the big stage. Either way, a finish looms.

Prediction: Oleinik by submission.

W. STRAWWEIGHT | Claudia Gadelha [#6] vs. Alexa Grasso [#11]

Claudia Gadelha and Alexa Grasso are two strawweights hoping to break the current win-loss trend on their records, poised to do battle in the main card’s second bout. Returning from a frustrating injury spell, Gadelha has the opportunity to break through for her first pair of consecutive wins since 2017, while the up and coming Grasso will want to get back on the winners list after losses in three of her last five bouts. One of those was a razor-thin decision loss to Carla Esparza, with experienced grapplers seeming to trouble the Mexican boxer. A national BJJ champion, Gadelha should test her opponent should the fight get to the ground, but has the heavy hands to win the fight on the feet if she can steer clear of absorbing too many strikes. Either way, a bill of consistency is needed for these two if they are to push for a title shot, and a win here would be the perfect start.

Prediction: Grasso by decision.

LIGHTWEIGHT | Anthony Pettis [#9 LW] vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira

Anthony Pettis’ divisional yo-yoing continues at UFC 246 as he opens the main card in his lightweight return against Carlos Diego Ferreira. The former 155lbs champ will have his work cut out for him against a crafty grappler in Ferreira, who has flown under the radar to notch five consecutive wins in the UFC. That same consistency has evaded Pettis since his last set of consecutive victories from 2011 to 2014, unable to back up some impressive wins over the last three years. In fairness, ‘Showtime’s’ competition has been stiff during that time given his standing in the sport, and the failure to step up to that calibre of fighter is part of why his opponent remains unranked. Ferreira’s only two career losses have come to Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush, so a win here against a name like Pettis would put him on the map. The Brazilian will lean on his BJJ background, but has shown strong capabilities on the feet with three promotional KO’s. Pettis is extremely well rounded though, and will fancy himself in each area against the underrated challenger.

Prediction: Pettis by T/KO.

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PRELIMINARY CARD:

W. FLYWEIGHT | Roxanne Modafferi [#7] vs. Maycee Barber [#9]

In 25 or less: Experience meets youth. Barber’s a wrecking ball with finishes in seven of her eight fights. She’s in a hurry, but cannot be too hasty here.

Prediction: Barber by T/KO.

FEATHERWEIGHT | Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff

In 25 or less: A real step up for ‘Super’ Sodiq, who could be the next big thing out of Nigeria. Another DWTNCS alum, but Fili is no slouch.

Prediction: Yusuff by T/KO.

LIGHTWEIGHT | Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast

In 25 or less: The mini Kelvin Gastelum, Haqparast is about to make waves. A tough and more experienced opponent, but these kids on the prelims are so good.

Prediction: Haqparast by T/KO.

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EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD:

FEATHERWEIGHT | Chas Skelly vs. Grant Dawson

Prediction: Dawson by submission.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT | Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet

Prediction: Camur by T/KO.

FLYWEIGHT | Tim Elliott [#7] vs. Askar Askarov [#12]

Prediction: Elliott by decision.

BANTAMWEIGHT | Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne

Prediction: Kelleher by decision.

W. FLYWEIGHT | Sabina Mazo vs. JJ Aldrich

Prediction: Aldrich by decision.