Last Event Winner: Earl Montclair/Nolan Howell (7-4)
Year Standings:
Lucas Bourdon: 9-4 .692
Ben Kohn: 129-58 .690
Luke Irwin: 209-125 .626
Josh Hall: 35-21 .625
TC Engel: 87-53 .621
Earl Montclair: 103-69 .599
Nolan Howell: 125-91 .579
Naomi Kamornick: 6-5 .545
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455
Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson (13-0-1) vs. Rick Story (17-8)
Luke Irwin: Rick Story will always be one of the greatest what-ifs. It seems like he should be much more successful than he was. Regardless, Nelson is too slick and I think he catches Story here. Nelson via R2 submission.
Nolan Howell: Gunnar Nelson by third-round submission.
Featherweight Bout: Akira Corassani (12-4) vs. Max Holloway (10-3)
Luke Irwin: I understand they want to give the Swedes good real estate on a Swedish card, but Corassani doesn’t belong in a co-main event anywhere and Holloway is a bad matchup for him. Holloway via R1 submission.
Nolan Howell: Max Holloway by unanimous decision.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Ilir Latifi (9-3) vs. Jan Blachowicz (17-3)
Luke Irwin: Latifi has been a pleasant surprise, and more than just Gus’s sparring partner, but Blachowicz is a tough draw. He’s not some debuting guy from Xplode, Jan has been around and faced some of the best. He’s long been one of the best light heavyweights out of the UFC, and I think he surprises people and takes Latifi out. Blachowicz via UD.
Nolan Howell: Jan Blacowicz by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Mike Wilkinson (8-1) vs. Niklas Backstrom (8-0)
Luke Irwin: I like Backstrom a lot. Mostly because he beat Tom Niinimaki, who I had high hopes for. If Wilkinson beats him, I’ll probably like him, too. Backstrom via UD.
Nolan Howell: Niklas Backstrom by first-round TKO.
Middleweight Bout: Magnus Cedenblad (12-4) vs. Scott Askham (12-0)
Luke Irwin: Askham is a pretty well-rounded middleweight, especially for a British fighter, and I think he forges ahead here. Askham via R2 KO.
Nolan Howell: Scott Askham by second-round TKO.
Welterweight Bout: Alexander Yakovlev (21-5-1) vs. Nicholas Musoke (12-3)
Luke Irwin: Yakovlev’s last two opponents have been Demian Maia and Paul Daley, and he went the distance with both of them, so I’m guessing he’ll enjoy the step down. Yakovlev via UD.
Nolan Howell: Nicholas Musoke by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Charles Rosa (9-0) vs. Dennis Siver (21-9)
Luke Irwin: Siver gets welcomed back with a prelim fight on a Fight Pass card. Oh, well. Siver via UD.
Nolan Howell: Dennis Siver by second-round TKO.
Welterweight Bout: Cathal Pendred (14-2-1) vs. Gasan Umalatov (15-3-1)
Luke Irwin: Cage Warriors guys usually fair pretty well and Pendred has done well against pretty good competition. Pendred via UD.
Nolan Howell: Gasan Umalatov by first-round submission.
Middleweight Bout: Krzysztof Jotko (14-1) vs. Tor Troeng (16-6-1)
Luke Irwin: Both of these guys coming off of losses, but I like Troeng just a little better. Troeng via SD.
Nolan Howell: Krzysztof Jotko by unanimous decision.
Welterweight Bout: Mairbek Taisumov (21-5) vs. Marcin Bandel (13-2)
Luke Irwin: Taisumov is just plum better, if you will. Taisumov via UD.
Nolan Howell: Mairbek Taisumov by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Ernest Chavez (7-1) vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (16-3)
Luke Irwin: The hard way it is, Ernest. Tukhugov via UD.
Nolan Howell: Zubairia Tukhugov by unanimous decision.
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