UFC Fight Night 88 predictions

The UFC keeps their Memorial Day weekend routine alive, but not with a pay-per-view. Instead, the UFC brings its Fight Night series to Las Vegas. The card features a number of prospect and contender match-ups, no more so than in the bantamweight division.

What: UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

When: Sunday, UFC Fight Pass has two fights starting at 6 p.m. ET; FOX Sports 1 has rest of card starting at 7 p.m. ET with the main card at 9 p.m. ET.

Thomas Almeida vs.Cody Garbrandt

What a tough, close fight to call. On the one hand you’ve got Garbrandt, who can wrestle while being deadly at boxing range. On the other, you have a multi-dimensional striker like Almeida. What and who will give first? Perhaps that isn’t the right question if we are trying to determine who will win. Almeida is a bit of a slow starter who gets better as gets warmer. Garbrandt, for his part, stays relatively consistent. Forced to make a pick, I’ll side with the Brazilian. He does have that early fight liability that’s impossible to overlook, but he also has more tools, particularly in the striking department where this fight is likely to take place. If he can overcome an early knockdown (and potentially worse), he should be able to adapt to Garbrandt’s boxing-range striking. Garbrandt has shown a sturdy chin, but the ability to be tagged as well. If Almeida can find it over time, he can emerge the top bantamweight contender.

Pick: AlmeidaRenan Baraovs.Jeremy Stephens

This is highly speculative, but I’m just not sure what’s left of Barao after the beatings Dillashaw gave …

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