Can Tom Aspinall continue his quick rise up the UFC’s heavyweight division ladder? Will Jack Hermansson put a halt to Chris Curtis’ cinderella story? The predictions from the MMA Empire team, along with our guest picker, can be found below for the six-fight main card.
Our guest picker for this event is Canadian amateur featherweight fighter Zachary Gehl (1-0). At just 21 years old, Gehl earned his first amateur win back in April, to go along with a long list of kickboxing wins. Gehl will look to move to 2-0 next weekend when he takes on Justin Breiwick at Warrior Games 13.
For the second time in four months the UFC brought a card to London's O2 Arena, another show built around the British roster — Aspinall headlined in a heavyweight main event with real contender implications, while Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann returned to the same building where they had become breakout stars in March. The promotion clearly saw a market worth investing in.
2022 standings thru UFC on ABC 3
1. Jason Hagholm (83-44) N/A in 2021
2. Kylan Knowler (82-45) 128-93-3 in 2021
T3. Cole Shelton (80-47) 138-83-3 in 2021 *Champion
T3. Joe McDonagh (80-47) 122-99-3 in 2021
5. Cooper Riehl (79-48) 136-85-3 in 2021
T6. Dylan Bowker (78-49) 113-108-3 in 2021
T6. Cody Rempel (78-49) 134-87-3 in 2021
8. Joel Griffith (77-50) 135-86-3 in 2021
9. Guest picker (69-58) 115-106-3 in 2021
The main event was the biggest test of Aspinall's career to that point: Curtis Blaydes, the consensus number-three heavyweight in the world and the division's most decorated wrestler. Aspinall's finishing run had beaten everybody put in front of him, but none of those opponents had Blaydes' combination of elite takedowns and heavyweight knockout power — the classic striker-versus-grappler question with a title shot potentially awaiting the winner.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Tom Aspinall
Jason Hagholm: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Cole Shelton: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Curtis Blaydes via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Tom Aspinall via decision.
Cody Rempel: Tom Aspinall via knockout.
Joel Griffith: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Zachary Gehl: Curtis Blaydes via decision.
Picks – Curtis Blaydes: 2, Tom Aspinall: 7
Jack Hermansson vs. Chris Curtis
Jason Hagholm: Chris Curtis via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Chris Curtis via TKO.
Cole Shelton: Jack Hermansson via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Chris Curtis via knockout.
Cooper Riehl: Chris Curtis via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Jack Hermansson via decision.
Cody Rempel: Chris Curtis via decision.
Joel Griffith: Jack Hermansson via decision.
Zachary Gehl: Chris Curtis via decision.
Picks – Jack Hermansson: 3, Chris Curtis: 6
Paddy Pimblett vs. Jordan Leavitt
Jason Hagholm: Jordan Leavitt via submission.
Kylan Knowler: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Cole Shelton: Paddy Pimblett via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Paddy Pimblett via knockout.
Cooper Riehl: Paddy Pimblett via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Paddy Pimblett via decision.
Cody Rempel: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Joel Griffith: Paddy Pimblett via decision.
Zachary Gehl: Paddy Pimblett via TKO.
Picks – Paddy Pimblett: 8, Jordan Leavitt: 1
Nikita Krylov vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Jason Hagholm: Alexander Gustafsson via decision.
Kylan Knowler: Nikita Krylov via decision.
Cole Shelton: Alexander Gustafsson via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Alexander Gustafsson via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Alexander Gustafsson via decision.
Dylan Bowker: Alexander Gustafsson via TKO.
Cody Rempel: Nikita Krylov via decision.
Joel Griffith: Alexander Gustafsson via decision.
Zachary Gehl: Nikita Krylov via decision.
Picks – Nikita Krylov: 3, Alexander Gustafsson: 6
Molly McCann vs. Hannah Goldy
Jason Hagholm: Molly McCann via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Molly McCann via decision.
Cole Shelton: Molly McCann via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Molly McCann via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Molly McCann via decision.
Dylan Bowker: Molly McCann via decision.
Cody Rempel: Molly McCann via decision.
Joel Griffith: Molly McCann via TKO.
Zachary Gehl: Molly McCann via decision.
Picks – Molly McCann: 9, Hannah Goldy: 0
Elsewhere on the card, Chris Curtis' remarkable late-career surge got its sternest test against Jack Hermansson. Curtis had been a regional-scene veteran for over a decade before a stunning run of UFC wins turned him into one of the sport's best stories, while Hermansson — a former middleweight title challenger — was trying to rebuild his own standing after uneven results. It was experience versus momentum at 185 pounds.
Paul Craig vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Jason Hagholm: Paul Craig via submission.
Kylan Knowler: Paul Craig via submission.
Cole Shelton: Volkan Oezdemir via knockout.
Joe McDonagh: Paul Craig via submission.
Cooper Riehl: Volkan Oezdemir via TKO.
Dylan Bowker: Paul Craig via submission.
Cody Rempel: Paul Craig via TKO.
Joel Griffith: Volkan Oezdemir via knockout.
Zachary Gehl: Paul Craig via TKO.
