MMA has one of the best sweats in DFS. Two fighters compete at a time with only one coming out as the winner. It's the best feeling in the world when you are watching the main event of a show and know you need a first round knockout to win the entire tournament.

And nothing feels worse than when you need a first round knockout by Stipe Miocic to win thousands of dollars in a tournament, but when he lands that knockout punch, you realize that you placed 14th because Jacare Souza was too dominant in a previous fight. This was a serious scenario that I had to live through when Miocic won the Heavyweight Championship.

Anyway, Jason and I will be taking a look at the main card for UFC 206. We will be keeping track based on picking winners and losers. We will also predict how the fight will be finished, but that will not reflect in the records.

Justin's Record: 63-31

Jason's Record: 51-43

Without anymore waiting, here are our picks and analysis for the main card at UFC 206.

 

Jordan Mein vs Emil Meek

Justin’s Pick 

This card is going to start out with fireworks. Both of these fighters are great strikers, who can end a fight in a hurry. Mein enters this fight with a 3-2 record in the UFC, and only one fight has gone the distance. Meek doesn’t have the experience that Mein does, but he’s coming off three consecutive finishes. Meek has yet to go the distance in his career, and with the finishing potential of both fighters, I don’t expect him to start this weekend. Either fighter could walk away with a devastating knockout in this fight, but I’m siding with Mein’s defense, accuracy, and UFC experience.

Jordan Mein via TKO, 2nd Round

 

Jason’s Pick

The key to success in this fight is going to be experience, which is something that Emil “Valhalla” Meek simply doesn’t have. That is no fault of his own, but it is the truth. Jordan “Young Gun” Mein is the more experienced fighter, and in a fight that is expected to be so close, that is very important. This fight could end at any second, and either fighter could walk away with a flash knockout, but the most likely scenario is that Mein ends up victorious.

Jordan Mein via TKO, 1st Round

 

Tim Kennedy vs Kelvin Gastelum

Justin’s Pick

This is an extremely interesting matchup. Kennedy has only ever lost to elite opponents in his career, while Gastelum has only two split decision loses on his resume. There is one major factor that comes into play in this fight; ring rust. Gastelum is an extremely active fighter, and he likes to get on his opponents early. Kennedy hasn’t fought since 2014, and while he has been training for a while because of his anticipated fight with Rashad Evans, I expect Gastelum to be able to start fast enough to take the early rounds on the judge’s scorecards.

Kelvin Gastelum via Unanimous Decision

 

Jason’s Pick

This is the closest fight of the night. It is going to be very interesting to see how Tim Kennedy responds to not fighting in a couple of years. He has been training non-stop, so it should not be an issue, but stranger things have happened in the UFC. Kelvin Gastelum is an elite level fighter, but Kennedy has a slight edge in all areas. He is slightly more accurate, he is slightly better at defense, and he is slightly better at takedown defense. All that said, he should be able to eek out a victory this week against the number 11 ranked Middleweight in the world.

Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision

 

Cub Swanson vs Dooho Choi

Justin’s Pick

Swanson is one of my favorite fighters to watch because of his unorthodox style, but that isn’t going to help in this fight. Choi is an accurate striker that comes with elite power. He has ended each of his last seven fights via KO or TKO, including three consecutive first round finishes in the UFC. Swanson could try to turn this into a wrestling match, but it’s only a matter of time before Choi lands a big shot and ends this fight.

Dooho Choi via TKO, 1st Round

 

Jason’s Pick

Cub Swanson is a great fighter; there is no denying that. However, Dooho Choi is simply better at this moment. Swanson is starting to move past his prime, while Choi is just now entering his. He has a ton of power, and Swanson is not going to be able to avoid his powerful hands for the entire fight. Choi will end this fight via knockout.

Dooho Choi via TKO, 1st Round

 

Donald Cerrone vs Matt Brown

Justin’s Pick

I wasn’t sure how Cerrone would fair at his new weight, but he quickly put my suspicions to rest with three consecutive finishes over three good opponents. He now gets a matchup against Matt Brown, who has lost four of his last five fights. Cerrone isn’t going to be any easier of an opponent for Brown, and there’s very little reason to believe he will win this fight. Cerrone should be able to dictate where this fight takes place, and he should be able to pick up his fourth finish in a row.

Donald Cerrone via TKO, 3rd Round

 

Jason’s Pick

This is an easy fight to predict. Justin’s assumptions are accurate. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone looks great at 170, and Matt Brown is on a downswing in his career right now. Cerrone is too tough of an opponent for Brown. He has multiple ways to finish this fight, so the only difficult part about predicting the outcome is whether it will be a knockout, submission, or decision. Brown is solid defensively, so Cerrone will likely pick him apart for three rounds.

Donald Cerrone via Unanimous Decision

 

Max Holloway vs Anthony Pettis

Justin’s Pick

It makes little to no sense as to why Anthony Pettis would be granted a “title shot” after losing three of his last four fights. Holloway, on the other hand, has now won nine fights in a row, and deserves to be main eventing this card. He has the takedown defense to keep this standing, and he will have a significant striking advantage on the feet. I’m not completely convinced that Holloway will be able to get the finish, though, as he doesn’t have elite power, and Pettis has never been finished in his career. Holloway should be able to avoid the big shot by Pettis, while punishing him for five rounds, though.

Max Hollway via Unanimous Decision

 

Jason’s Pick

Forget about the three losses in his last four fights. Anthony “Showtime” Pettis lost a split decision fight to Eddie Alvarez, a five-round decision to Rafael Dos Anjos, and a three-round decision to Edson Barboza. That is elite-level talent. Max “Blessed” Holloway is also elite-level talent, but to count Pettis out of this fight is ridiculous. If this fight ends up on the ground, Pettis has the advantage. He also has great knockout power, and Holloway is not going to be able finish Pettis. That gives Pettis the advantage, regardless of what Vegas and others think.

Anthony Pettis via TKO, 4th Round