Fight Picks- UFC Fight Island 5 Predictions and Odds

Tonight is another fight night event from Fight Island! This event features 13 fights, with one Canadian making his debut, and a top ranked bantamweight bout as the headliner.

Here are my predictions for the night and the odds on those coming true:

Main Card:

Main Event:

Marlon Moraes takes on Corey Sandhagen in a bantamweight battle of number 1 vs number 4. Moraes is the number 1 contender having won 5 of his last 6, including a win over recent title challenger Jose Aldo. I find many people forget about Moraes in the bantamweight title contention talks since Aldo was the one to get the fight against Petr Yan for the vacant belt. Moraes was actually scheduled to take on Yan earlier this year before the whole covid pandemic had to scrap that event. If Moraes gets the victory here tonight, he could be getting that Yan fight early next year.

The other side of the main event is Corey Sandhagen, who only just suffered his first UFC defeat back in June to Aljamain Sterling (who may be getting the next title shot). Prior to this, Sandhagen won 7 in a row dating back to 2017. Moraes actually has a 2017 win over Sterling with a quick first round KO.

Now for my prediction:

I think Moraes is too good standing for Sandhagen, as most of the wins for Moraes come from some sort of KO/TKO. For a Sandhagen victory, I would expect to see him use wrestling to control the fight and grind out a decision. However, I think Moraes will get it done before Sandhagen can grind out a decision. I think Moraes will be able to secure a TKO finish midway through the fight. My call is Moraes TKO round 3.

Current Odds:

Moraes to win: +110

Moraes by KO/TKO: +230

Moraes in round 3: +1200

Co-Main Event:

The co-main event should be an exciting, fast paced, striking matchup as former ranked lightweight Edson Barboza makes his second appearance at featherweight to take on Mr. Finland, Makwan Amirkhani. Edson Barboza did not seem to lose any speed, strength, or cardio in his drop to 145 the first time out. I expect the second time to be much easier for him, and I expect him to have advantages in those areas, as well as striking skill. I think Barboza can get a TKO in the second round.

Current Odds:

Barboza to win: -305

Barboza by KO/TKO: +120

Barboza in round 2: +505

Heavyweight:

Ben Rothwell vs Marcin Tybura

Prediction:

Tybura by decision

Current Odds:

Tybura to win: +125

Tybura by decision: +255

Middleweight:

Markus Perez vs Dricus Du Plessis

Former KSW and EFC champion Dricus Du Plessis making his UFC debut.

Prediction:

Du Plessis by KO/TKO in round 2.

Current Odds:

Du Plessis to win: -190

Du Plessis by KO/TKO: +205

Du Plessis in round 2: +600

Heavyweight:

Tom Aspinall vs Alan Baudot

Prediction:

Aspinall by KO in round 1:

Current Odds:

Aspinall to win: -690

Aspinall by KO/TKO: -190

Aspinall in round 1: -110

Featherweight:

Youssef Zalal vs Ilia Topuria

(I believe with a win, Zalal would be the first to win four fights in the UFC in 2020).

Prediction:

Zalal by decision

Current Odds:

Zalal to win: -165

Zalal by decision: +140

Prelims: (6 PM Eastern)

Middleweight:

Tom Breese vs KB Bhullar

Canadian KB Bhullar makes his UFC debut. He was to fight on the most reason season of the Contender Series. It actually stills shows on Tapology as an upcoming bout, so I'm not too sure what's going with that. However, he fights tonight on Fight Island as a UFC fighter. Bhullar is the undefeated former middleweight champion of Edmonton's Unified MMA. His last victory was the championship bout over former Canadian UFC fighter Matt Dwyer.

Prediction:

KB Bhullar by decision

Current Odds:

KB Bhullar to win: +160

KB Bhullar by decision: +465

Heavyweight:

Rodrigo Nascimento vs Chris Daukaus

Prediction:

Nascimento by submission in round 1

Current Odds:

Nascimento to win: -270

Nascimento by submission: -115

Nascimento in round 1: +200

Middleweight:

Impa Kasanganay vs Joaquim Buckley

Impa Kasanganay can become the first fighter from this most recent season on the Contender Series to get two wins inside the Octagon.

Prediction:

Kasanganay by decision

Current Odds:

Kasanganay to win: -240

Kasanganay by decision: +105

Bantamweight:

Amir AlQaisi vs Tony Kelley

Prediction:

Kelley by decision

Current Odds:

Kelley to win: -220

Kelley by decision: +135

Fight Pass Prelims: (5 PM Eastern)

Featherweight:

Giga Chikadze vs Omar Morales

Prediction:

Chikadze by KO/TKO round 3.

Current Odds:

Chikadze to win: +145

Chikadze by KO/TKO: +455

Chikadze in round 3: +2200

Women's Bantamwight:

Tracey Cortez vs Stephanie Egger

Prediction:

Cortez by decision.

Current Odds:

Cortez to win: -170

Cortez by decision: -105

Flyweight:

Tagir Ulanbekov vs Bruno Silva:

Prediction:

Ulanbekov by submission in round 1.

Current Odds:

Ulanbekov to win: -565

Ulanbekov by submission: +160

Ulanbekov in round 1: +400

View my fight picks on Tapolog here:

https://www.tapology.com/profiles/thecombatjournal/predictions/71622-ufc-fight-night