Get a round of UFC predictions for the promotion’s next card, UFC Austin on Dec. 2.
After a weekend away for the holidays, the MMA world leader returns on Saturday for a rare fight night card that is pretty stacked. In the night’s main event, ranked lightweights Beniel Dariush and Arman Tsarukyan will go to war as both men aim to get closer to a championship opportunity in 2024.
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In the UFC Austin 2023 co-main event, fan-favorite Bobby Green returns in a tough short-notice matchup against fellow top-15 fighter Jalin Turner. Green was originally set to face veteran Dan Hooker before the New Zealander suffered an injury last week.
UFC Austin will also see the return of Octagon veterans Clay Guida, Meisha Tate, Rob Font, and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in his bantamweight debut. With all of that in mind, we make four bold UFC predictions for several of the major bouts on Saturday’s card
4 bold UFC predictions for UFC Austin 2023 on Saturday night
Beneil Dariush (22-5-1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (20-3)
Beniel Dariush saw an eight-fight win streak ended in June at UFC 289. The defeat was a major setback and derailed his hopes of getting a championship opportunity this year. A second straight loss cost him an opportunity in 2024 as well. That is what makes his matchup on Saturday so important, however, a victory won’t come easy.
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Arman Tsarukyan is part of the new breed in the top 10 and his only losses in the company are to the current lightweight champion and a top contender, Mateusz Gamrot. It just feels like “Benny” may soon begin to age out of being a top contender in the division at 34, and Tsarukyan will show that new stars are on the rise.
“Ahalkalakets” won’t win dominantly but expect him to do enough to grind out a hard-fought decision win this weekend.
- UFC Austin odds: Beneil Dariush (+235) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (-290)
- Prediction: Tsarukyan by unanimous decision
Rob Font (20-7) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (21-3-1)
One of the most fascinating bouts on the UFC Austin card is top-10 fight Rob Font returning to action and welcoming former flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo to the weight class. Both are action fighters and this is certainly an early favorite to get “Fight of the Night” honors. The big question is can the Brazilian prove that this is the right move for him at this point in his career?
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“Deus da Guerra” has always had a tough time making 125 pounds and at 35 years old it makes sense to make the switch. Furthermore, this seems like a good matchup for him, and his speed should be a huge advantage in scoring a statement win in his bantamweight debut.
- Odds: Rob Font (-135) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (+114)
- UFC Prediction: Figueiredo by unanimous decision
Jalin Turner (13-7) vs. Bobby Green (31-14-1)
Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green is one of the most fascinating bouts on the UFC Austin card. Turner jumps in on short-notice for Dan Hooker and is, arguably, a tougher test than the New Zealander due to his long and lanky frame. While Green has seen it all during a career that includes 46 professional fights, this is still a tough matchup on short-notice.
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Expect Green to adjust and do well later in the fight, but before he find his groove he will give away the first two rounds in a highly-competive scrap in the night’s co-main event.
- Odds: Jalin Turner (-238) vs. Bobby Green (+195)
- UFC Prediction: Turner by unanimous decision
Miesha Tate (19-9) vs. Julia Avila (9-2)
Following a victory in her return to the UFC after five years away from the sport, Miesha Tate has suffered back-to-back definitive losses inside the Octagon. At 37, she is pushing the limits of being competitive at the highest levels of the women’s bantamweight division. On Saturday night she gets an unusual test in Julia Avila.
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Avila has not fought in over two years so it is difficult to gauge what kind of fighter she will be on Saturday night. But the fact that she is the favorite despite only being two years younger than “Cupcake” says alot. If this was 2015 Tate would be a sizable favorite, but “Mother Time” is a very real thing and it will have an effect on her and lead to a third straight defeat on Saturday night.
- Odds: Miesha Tate (+136) vs. Julia Avila (-162)
- UFC Prediction: Avila by unanimous decision