UFC Predictions: UFC Fight Night: Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis 2

This weekend, the UFC will once again hold its latest Fight Night event at the APEX in Las Vegas, with a middleweight headliner being the main event.

Despite lacking star power, UFC Fight Night: Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis 2 is not surprising as it is taking place one week before one of the biggest events of 2024.

Hence, despite having low expectations, the most optimistic fans can only anticipate a series of entertaining fights and perhaps some exciting finishes from this event.

The expected results for UFC Fight Night: Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis 2 are as follows.

#1. Highly Anticipated UFC Middleweight Showdown: Brendan Allen vs. Chris Curtis

Since the beginning of 2022, Brendan Allen has been on fire in the UFC’s middleweight division. With his impressive record of six consecutive wins, five of which were by submission, the fighter known as ‘All In’ has risen to the No.6 spot in the rankings.

At first, he was scheduled to face Marvin Vettori, a former title contender, which would have been a significant chance for him. However, due to Vettori’s injury, Allen has been given an alternative opportunity.

Instead of getting a shot at climbing into the top five, he will now have an opportunity to seek revenge for his previous defeat.

After defeating Allen via TKO in 2021, Chris Curtis is eager to replicate his success in this upcoming match. Will ‘Action Man’ be able to achieve it once again?

Undoubtedly, it would be beneficial to examine their initial encounter in order to gain insight into how this one may unfold.

That match witnessed Allen entering with a strong sense of assurance, which was not unexpected considering Curtis accepted it on short notice.

Despite a strong start in the first round, ‘All In’ consistently made one mistake. He continuously tried to walk through Curtis’ strikes, and although he did manage to land many of his own, ultimately the strength of ‘Action Man’ proved to be too much.

After landing a brutal right hand, Curtis proceeded to deliver a barrage of vicious knees, ultimately earning a performance bonus.

However, it appears that Allen is the one who has made the most progress since then. At first, ‘All In’ was viewed as a fighter with a wide range of skills, capable of taking on opponents in any aspect. While this approach proved successful against most opponents, his defeats to Curtis and Sean Strickland revealed that he may not excel in a stand-up battle.

It appears that Allen has acquired the knowledge and is currently placing a greater emphasis on his grappling skills. During his recent fights, he has primarily utilized his striking to close the gap and bring his opponents to the ground. Once there, he actively seeks to secure the back and execute a choke hold.

Despite everything, Curtis remains unchanged. He is a tough fighter who can endure hits and retaliate with even greater force, and he possesses a ruthless instinct when his opponents are vulnerable.

Despite his impressive record, he has faced challenges when up against opponents who can effectively strike from a distance without leaving themselves vulnerable to his powerful shots. Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum were able to secure victories over him using this strategy, although only by decision, while Marc-Andre Barriault also found success with this approach.

Despite facing strong grapplers, Curtis has had little difficulty with takedowns and has managed to avoid being taken to the mat.

Upon reflection, one could make the case that ‘Action Man’ is not an ideal stylistic fit for Allen, as he typically relies on his takedowns and grappling abilities.

Despite this, it is important to acknowledge that ‘All In’ was able to defeat Curtis before getting involved in a physical altercation, and he also has a significant height advantage.

Additionally, the fact that Curtis agreed to participate in this five-round fight with only three weeks’ notice adds a new dynamic to the situation.

Essentially, as long as Allen remains patient and keeps Curtis at a distance with his strikes, avoiding engaging in a back-and-forth exchange, it is likely that ‘Action Man’ will tire and lose some of his effectiveness as the fight progresses.

Despite Curtis’s potential for a knockout, the prediction is that Allen will win by decision.

Allen’s Winning Decision: How He Will Secure the Victory

#2. UFC Lightweight Bout: Alexander Hernandez vs. Damon Jackson

Despite the fact that this fight is being featured in the co-headliner slot, it reflects the lackluster quality of this card. Both fighters have recently suffered defeats in the 145-pound division, and it could be argued that their UFC futures may be on the line.

Out of the two, Alexander Hernandez has undoubtedly received more hype throughout his years. ‘The Great Ape’ burst onto the MMA scene in 2018 with a devastating knockout victory over the highly ranked Beneil Dariush. At only 25 years old, he seemed to have a promising and successful career ahead of him.

Despite his impressive wrestling background, Hernandez has yet to fully tap into his potential. He often opts to engage in striking battles with his opponents, a strategy that has backfired against skilled opponents such as Donald Cerrone and Drew Dober.

Despite a drop to 145 pounds in 2022 with the intention of relaunching his career, Hernandez’s durability appeared to be lacking in a TKO defeat by Billy Quarantillo. Although he bounced back with a victory over experienced fighter Jim Miller, his struggles as a featherweight were once again highlighted in a loss to Bill Algeo.

Essentially, at this weight, Hernandez is not being overpowered, but he no longer possesses the speed advantage he once had at 155 pounds and appears to have also lost some durability.

Can Damon Jackson capitalize on this opportunity over the weekend? ‘The Leech’ is currently in his second stint with the UFC, after experiencing three losses in his first run. However, he has been performing strongly during this second chance.

From 2020 to 2022, Jackson had a record of 5-1, with his sole defeat being against the eventual champion Ilia Topuria. However, his performance has declined as he has suffered two consecutive losses, both of which involved him being on the receiving end of powerful strikes.

At the height of his skills, ‘The Leech’ poses a threat in all aspects, with his grappling being especially lethal. He possesses the ability to swiftly execute chokes, catching his opponents off guard.

The primary concern is whether Hernandez will make weight. If he appears to be in good physical condition, he will likely have an advantage in terms of strength and may be able to prevent Jackson from taking him down.

If that is not the situation, however, it would not come as a shock to witness ‘The Leech’ endure an initial struggle and emerge victorious.

Despite doubts about Jackson’s durability, it is undeniable that ‘The Great Ape’ still has the ability to make an impact. Therefore, he appears to be the wiser choice in this situation.

The Prediction: Hernandez by Second-Round Knockout

#3. UFC Fight Night: Main Card Highlights

In the featherweight division, Morgan Charriere and Jose ‘Chepe’ Mariscal will square off. Despite their undefeated records in the octagon, this matchup is often overlooked and could potentially be the most exciting fight of the night.

Both Mariscal and Charriere have comparable levels of experience, as Mariscal holds a record of 2-0 in the promotion while Charriere has a record of 1-0. Given their previous performances, it is expected that this fight will also be a fierce and intense battle.

Based on the situation, Charriere should be the preferred fighter. In his first octagon appearance last year, ‘The Last Pirate’ displayed a strong display of power and lethal aggression, and has yet to be defeated, unlike Mariscal who has appeared slightly less refined. The outcome of this match is uncertain, but the prediction is that Charriere will win by TKO.

At the lightweight division, Ignacio Bahamondes is set to take on Christos Giagos. While this may seem like a traditional matchup between a striker and a grappler, it is worth noting that Bahamondes has also shown proficiency in submissions and Giagos has secured TKO victories in the past.

Despite these factors, the determining factor in this fight will be whether Giagos can successfully close the distance. Bahamondes is known for keeping his opponents at bay with long strikes, and with his height and reach advantage in ‘La Jaula’, it may prove challenging for ‘The Spartan’ to get within striking range.

It is likely that Giagos will emerge victorious in this fight, but he has never been known for being a particularly explosive fighter. If Bahamondes is able to find his rhythm, he should be able to secure the win. My prediction is that Bahamondes will win by decision.

Facing off in a highly anticipated match, Valter Walker will go head to head against Lucasz Brzeski. While Walker, the brother of light-heavyweight contender Johnny, has yet to make his debut in the octagon, Brzeski has suffered defeats in all three of his previous appearances.

Essentially, if Walker is truly meant to compete at this level, he should emerge victorious. Based on the limited footage, ‘The Clean Monster’ appears to be a more intense, bigger, and messier rendition of his brother, with an arsenal of unpredictable attacks and minimal defensive tactics.

Will that suffice? This is likely, considering that Brzeski has not had much success in his octagon career and was knocked out in his most recent fight. Therefore, the prediction is that Walker will win by knockout.

Ultimately, the lightweight bout between Trevor Peek and Charlie Campbell will be the final showdown of the night. With both fighters showcasing their skills in previous matches, it’s no surprise that this matchup has earned a spot on the main card, promising an exciting and intense battle.

Peek gained attention last year after a rough yet unrefined knockout of Erick Gonzalez. Although his brawling approach was entertaining, it proved to be ineffective in his subsequent fight.

Despite facing an unproven fighter, he did show signs of improvement in his latest fight. On the other hand, Campbell displayed excellent skills in his first octagon appearance, swiftly defeating Alex Reyes with a barrage of precise strikes.

According to this, Campbell should take the win based on his superior skills if he is able to avoid Peek’s power. The prediction is that Campbell will achieve victory via knockout.

#4. UFC Fight Night: Preliminary Card

Bolded picks

The UFC welterweight match will feature Court McGee facing off against Alex Morono.

The upcoming UFC bantamweight fight will feature Norma Dumont facing off against Germaine de Randamie.

UFC bantamweight fight: Heili Alateng will face off against Victor Hugo.

The upcoming UFC strawweight match will feature Cynthia Calvillo going up against Piera Rodriguez.

The UFC bantamweight fight will feature Dan Argueta versus Jean Matsumoto.

UFC middleweight fight: Dylan Budka vs. Cesar Almeida

The upcoming UFC bantamweight fight will feature Nora Conolle and Melissa Mullins facing off against each other.

The upcoming UFC flyweight fight will be between Lucas Rocha and Joshua Van.