One of the great things about UFC Fight Pass is getting to see events hosted by other MMA organizations. We have another of those events going on Friday night, with LFA 102 set to go down at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It’s a jam-packed main card with no less than 7 fights on offer. That is a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump right in with the predictions and then you can go ahead to make your bets against their MMA odds.
MMA Betting Preview for LFA 102: Souza Vs Johns
Haris Talundzic Vs Luis Iniguez
Both of these Welterweights are still very early in their pro careers, so it’s tough to make any kind of accurate prediction. Talundzic has just one fight and win as a pro, with that one coming via unanimous decision under the DCS banner. Iniguez has been fighting out of CageSport and has picked up wins in each of his first 3 pro bouts, with a pair of those coming in the early rounds. I am going to do a bit of a coin flip and take Talundzic.
Alberto Rodriguez Vs Chris Mecate
The common thread between the early bouts on the main card is that we are seeing newbies take to the octagon. This Featherweight bout fits that bill, with Rodriguez coming in with a 2-1 record after losing his last bout with HFC. Mecate saw his pro career get off to a winning start with a Round 1 KO at the Gladiator Challenge just a couple of weeks ago. That short turnaround should not be a problem, as I like him for the KO win.
Jimmy Meza Vs Brandon Lewis
This Bantamweight bout is the last of the fights featuring inexperienced pros, with both of these guys coming into to defend perfect records. Meza is 2-0 and has made short work of his opponents, finishing both fights in 2 rounds or less. It has been much the same story for Lewis, who is 4-0, with each of his last 3 fights ending early. I am on Lewis to win by submission.
AJ Cunningham Vs Javier Garcia
It’s the Featherweights up next for a fight that looks to have a clear favorite. Cunningham is on a 3-fight win streak and comes in with a 7-1 career mark, with 4 of those 7 wins coming in the opening round. By contrast, Garcia has been very up and down in his career, going 5-3 through his first 8 fights. 3 of those losses have come in his last 5 bouts, so you have to like Cunningham in this one.
Steve Jones Vs Nikolay Veretennikov
We are into the thick of the action now as we go into a Featherweight bout featuring a pair of fighters in a really good run of form. Jones has won 6 in a row, but he has had to work for those wins, with each of the last 4 going the distance. Veretinnikov is also on a 6-fight win streak, but he is in the habit of getting the job done quickly, which makes for an intriguing matchup. I have Veretinnikov winning by KO.
Gregory Rodrigues Vs Al Matavao
The co-main event should be a good one, as it has a pair of fighters looking to bounce back from a loss squaring off. Rodrigues saw a 6-fight win streak come to an end when he took an opening round loss his last time out. Matavao had win 4 in a row, and all in convincing fashion, before being downed by a head kick in the Contender Series his last time out. A close one here, but I am taking Rodrigues.
Bruno Souza Vs Elijah Johns
A pair of very good Featherweights close out the main card, with both of these fighters only have 1 loss each in their pro careers. Since losing the opening fight of his career, Souza has been perfect, reeling off 8 straight wins. Johns has rebounded nicely from the lone loss of his pro career, winning 5 in a row. This looks to be an evenly matched bout that I think will go the distance. I am taking Souza to come away with the decision.
