The Ultimate Fighter 27 Final: Choices and Predictions of Adesanya Vs. Tavares

The staff of Bloody Elbow made his predictions for The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, and most of them go with Israel Adesanya to beat Brad Tavares in the main event on Friday. Just like a heads-up, we skipped reports for all the fights related to TUF 27, mainly due to time constraints since we have a much bigger event to predict tomorrow.

Note : Predictions came in throughout the week and collected the day before the event. Explanations behind each choice are not necessary and some authors choose not to do so for their own reasons. For example, if Phil Mackenzie entered all his predictions on Wednesday without adding any explanation, he has no idea whatsoever he will be the only one to take the side of a fighter for a given fight.

Brad Tavares vs. Israel Adesanya

Mookie Alexander : It's not that I do not think that Adesanya can become an elite fighter on the line, but this third round against Vettori I made it possible to take a break. Tavares is certainly a better striker than Vettori, and is a good enough fighter to defeat Adesanya. There is a lot of luck that Adesanya just lights up Tavares, especially since Tavares is not powerful enough to disturb Adesanya, has been stunned twice before, and is likely to lose the vast majority trade in range, but I think Tavares is the type of veteran who can crush an ugly victory. Adesanya has not shown many things on his back, which benefits Tavares, who is not a great threat to control, but he can simply gain by pinning and doing the bare minimum during that he is there. Brad Tavares by unanimous decision

Victor Rodriguez: I do not remember who made this point first, but some people noted that Tavares is the kind of guy with whom it is difficult to look good . Damn it, it's hard for him to look too impressive in his fights until he gets a finish (like his last fight). Israel has many excellent tools and instincts as an attacker, and has demonstrated a great ability to survive and recover. Tavares should be able to stop and control it, but it does not seem to me that he will keep it long enough to make up for the result that Adesanya will have. Eventually, Adesanya should get far enough on the scorecards that he denies any high standing Tavares control. Israel Adesanya by decision.

Picking Tavares Staff: Mookie, Stephie, Tim
Picking Adesanya Staff: Bissell, Harry, Nick, Phil, Fraser, Victor, Dayne

Alex Caceres vs. Martin Bravo

Mookie Alexander : I know that Bravo was brutally knocked out quickly last time, but I can not trust Caceres to be damn close to any fight. It is so difficult to predict and so easily able to put itself in a bad position. Marvin Bravo by unanimous decision.

Phil Mackenzie: Martin Bravo is a good, violent amusement, but may not have the basic durability required for this style to be particularly distant. On the other hand, we have Alex Caceres who has completely capped. The only thing about Bravo, is that he does not seem willing to face kicks, which ended up making him fall in his last fight. If Caceres has the opportunity to fight from outside, he will reluctantly take it, even if he will probably be dumped at some point. His confidence that he can come back after seems to be declining. Avoid if you are a bettor. Alex Caceres by unanimous decision.

Staff Caceres: Bissell, Harry, Nick, Fraser, Phil, Tim, Dayne
Picking Bravo Staff: Mookie, Stephie

Roxanne Modafferi vs. Barb Honchak

Phil Mackenzie: Revenge the MMA world shouted for. Modafferi deserves our respect as someone who has absolutely maximized some disappointing physical gifts, but his main improvements have been in his typing. She is still ramified and lacks muscle, and will have trouble hitting on her back. Barb Honchak by unanimous decision.

Victor Rodriguez: Honchak is another underrated fighter who has found much success before the UFC opens a division in which she could participate. While she was mostly a controlling grappler with a decent jab and good showers of offense standing, she mostly resorts to stifling her opposition and doing damage on the pitch. On the other hand, Roxanne continues to improve since arriving in Las Vegas, both in technique and conditioning. Modafferi should be able to outdo Honchak standing up, and we'll have fun exchanges on the field with Roxy threatening more bid attempts, but eventually going to the judges. Roxanne Modafferi by decision

Picking Staff Modafferi: Harry, Mookie, Victor, Stephie
Picking Honchak Staff: Bissell, Nick, Phil, Fraser, Tim, Dayne

Julian Marquez vs. . Alessio Di Chirico

Phil Mackenzie: Not a bad fight. Mark has a quality Lineker-esque pleasing to his aggressive play of punches and choking. Di Chirico is athletic and clean, but lets the perfect be the enemy of the good a little too often and can be put under pressure. Marquez will probably do that. Julian Marquez by Submission, Turn 3.

Mookie Alexander : Oh, Mark has much more than a Lineker-esque quality with aggressive fists and chokes. He takes the same approach with his weight cut. It also means that he will probably win. Di Chirico is a decent fighter but Marquez seems to be a promising talent. Julian Mark by submission, turn 2.

Staff Selection Mark: Harry, Mookie, Nick, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Tim, Dayne
Picking Staff Di Chirico: Bissell

Montana De La Rosa [19659004] c. Rachael Ostovich

Mookie Alexander : This is an intriguing clash that should mostly take place on the ground. The two women had quick wins in the TUF 26 final and, literally, none of them won by anything other than the tapout or the decision. I can easily see Ostovich throwing a wry head and arm that leads to De La Rosa who puts her in trouble and submits her. Ostovich definitely seems more composed than in his previous fights, so I will not prevent him from getting the W, but the choice is Montana De La Rosa by submission, round 2.

Selection De La Rosa staff: Nick, Phil, Dayne, Mookie
Picking staff Ostovich: Bissell, Harry, Fraser, Stephie, Tim

Matt Bessette c. Steven Peterson

Mookie Alexander : Bessette is an offensive fighter almost at fault, which could be a bad thing against Peterson, who survived the badault on Brandon Davis in their last fight. could be a good scrap between two guys not hesitant to engage. I lean towards Bessette to get the win, which would give "Ocho" Peterson eight defeats. Matt Bessette by unanimous decision

Picking staff by Bessette: Bissell, Mookie, Nick, Fraser, Stephie, Tim
Picking Peterson Staff: Harry, Phil, Dayne

Gerald Meerschaert c. Oskar Piechota [19659004]

Victor Rodriguez: Piechota is a strange duck for me. He has a functional strike and is smart enough to pull out the most common bad points. It still lacks a sense of urgency, and this fight is a good test of where it is located. Merrschaert is a very experienced fighter who should have been part of the UFC centuries ago, who has an excellent submission game and who fights well despite a speed disadvantage in some fights. Oskar gives adjustments to Gerald at first, and then Meerschaert begins to slow down the fight by crawling and doing his kind of fight. Gerald Meerschaert by decision

Phil Mackenzie: Meerschaert is hard, grubby and athletic disappointing. Like a clinician Court McGee, but with a little less durability. Piechota is a truly decent prospect who can hit, attack and submit and has a much higher basic athletic level. He also has a certain calm which, I think, will be very useful to him. Oskar Piechota by TKO, turn 2.

Picking up the staff by Meerschaert: Bissell, Harry, Nick, Victor, Tim
Picking by Piechota staff: Mookie, Phil, Fraser, Stephie, Dayne

Rest of the map:

Joe Giannetti vs. Mike Trizano – TUF Lightweight Final

Giannetti Staff Selection: Harry, Mookie, Nick, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Tim, Dayne
Picking Trizano Staff: Bissell

Jay Cucciniello vs Brad Katona – Featherweight Finale TUF

Picking Cucciniello Staff:
Katona Staff Picking: Mookie, Nick, Bissell, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Tim, Dayne

John Gunther vs. Allan Zuniga

Gathering Gunther Staff: Bissell, Mookie, Nick, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Dayne
Picking Zuniga Staff: Harry, Tim

Tyler Diamond vs. Bryce Mitchell

Picking Diamond Staff: Nick, Bissell, Dayne
Mitchell Staff Picking: Mookie, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Tim

Luis Pena vs. Richie Smullen

Pena staff picking: Bissell, Harry, Mookie, Nick, Fraser, Phil, Stephie, Tim, Dayne
Pick Up Staff Smullen: