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Judges? We don’t need no stinkin’ judges!
With 32 finishes in 35 combined professional mixed martial arts (MMA) victories, Derrick Lewis and Travis Browne have established themselves as some of the most dangerous men in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight division. This Sunday evening (Feb. 19, 2017), both heavy hitters will get a chance to demonstrate on each other as they headline UFC Fight Night 105, which will take place inside Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The FOX Sports 1-televised card will also see Johny Hendricks make his Middleweight debut against Hector Lombard and local favorite Elias Theodorou attempt to halt the resurgent Cezar "Mutante."
Injuries have left us just five "Prelims" undercard matches to preview and predict this time around, one bout on Fight Pass and the remaining balance on FOX Sports 1. Let’s begin:
185 lbs.: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Ryan Janes
Gerald Meerschaert (25-8) came back from a 1-3 slump to win 10 of his next 11 fights, ultimately submitting Chase Waldon for the vacant RFA title. This earned him a call up to UFC, where he dispatched Joe Gigliotti with a bonus-winning anaconda choke in his debut.
Eighteen of his wins have come by submission.
Though he had to deal with several false starts, Ryan Janes (9-1) finally got to step into the Octagon in Dec. 2016 after more than a 16-month layoff. In a mostly stand up affair, he out-struck Keith Berish to take home just his second decision win.
He will have a two-inch height advantage, although he will give up an inch of reach.
This matchmaking honestly confuses me. Meerschaert has made the jump from journeyman to legitimate threat, fighting a wide range of opponents, while Janes' best accomplishment is beating Keith Berish. Literally the only reason this might not be a complete blowout is that Meerschaert has been submitted seven times and Janes is no slouch on the mat.
Still, "The Machine's" experience, craft and durability are just too much. He dominates everywhere before locking up a choke in transition.
Prediction: Meerschaert via first-round submission
There are four more UFC Fight Night 105 "Prelims" bouts to preview and predict, including a former champion, an unbeaten prospect, and a pair of heavy hitters in the featured bout.
Same time as always, Maniacs!
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 105 fight card, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, and then the remaining under card balance on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET, before the FOX Sports 1 main card start time at 9 p.m. ET.
