Each event, there will be a “guest predictor” who will offer their insight into the event and provide their predictions for each MMA bout.
For BFL 61, Isaiah Metituk has stepped in to provide his predictions and analysis for the 10 MMA bouts on the card.
Metituk holds an amateur MMA record of 5-4 and fights out of Champion Gym in Grande Prairie, Alta. Metituk strung together a four-fight win streak from early 2017 to early 2018, leading to a XFFC featherweight title shot at XFFC 19 against Albaraa Atmeh. Metituk fell to Atmeh in the third round, but rebounded with an impressive first round submission win over Connor Krebs at XFFC 20.
Here are Metituk’s predictions for BFL 61:
Jared Revel (8-2) vs Collin Hart (6-3-1): PRO Middleweight Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW
“Hart hasn’t fought MMA in quite some time, but he’s been very active on the jiu-jitsu scene. Revel is a very high-level jiu-jitsu guy as well, so this will be some real quality jiu-jitsu to watch. I think Revel being more active in MMA is going to pay dividends here.”
Prediction: Revel wins by submission in the third round.
Dejan Kajic (10-7-2, 1 NC) vs Eric McConico Jr. (4-0-1): PRO 175-pound Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW
“In my opinion, Kajic is the most underrated fighter in Canada. He’s almost become BFL’s Robbie Lawler. He always puts on exciting fights and he comes to fight. We’re seeing him now 20 fights into his career really starting to find his footing. But McConico Jr. is a tough test. He comes from a great gym and had a decorated amateur career, but I think Kajic is just too much for him to handle at this point.”
Prediction: Kajic wins by knockout in the third round.
Dario Sinagoga (0-0) vs Daniel Richard (0-0): PRO Lightweight
“These are two really high-level guys. I just think Richard’s training with better guys and I like his striking.”
Prediction: Richard wins by knockout in the second round.
Ali Wasuk (0-1) vs Jess Moore (0-1): PRO Bantamweight
“Even after losing his pro debut, there’s still a lot of hype around the Tristar product Wasuk. He’s putting in the work with Kajan Johnson, Jamie Siraj, and John Nguyen, so he’s going to be ready. He’s going to be super hungry to get back in the win column after his last fight.”
Prediction: Wasuk wins by unanimous decision.
Manny Fernandez (3-2) vs Nicolas Ouellet (1-0): AMATEUR Lightweight Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW
“This is quite the step up for Ouellet after only one amateur fight. He’s got some really high-level jiu-jitsu as he showed in his last fight against Matt Lepper. But I see Fernandez being too big, too well-rounded, and having too much experience for Ouellet. I see Fernandez’s wrestling overruling Ouellet’s jiu-jitsu.”
Prediction: Fernandez wins by TKO in the third round.
Gwyn Berry (5-2) vs Dakota Angel (3-0): AMATEUR 150 pounds
“Berry is a talented fighter. It’s kind of the old guard versus the new guy; Berry’s on his way out of amateur and about to turn pro and Angel’s getting his feet under him. I see Berry showing the old guard still has it and utilizing his full skill-set.”
Prediction: Berry wins by unanimous decision.
Hugh Gleeson (7-2-1) vs Kenny Pope (4-5): AMATEUR Welterweight
“Maybe Pope’s record isn’t the prettiest, but he’s fought some tough guys, and Gleeson is a very tough guy. Gleeson has a broad skill-set and I think he’s going to put that on full display. I think Pope will have his moments in the fight, but I think Gleeson is too technical and too skilled.”
Prediction: Gleeson wins by unanimous decision.
Varun Sunder Rajan (0-1) vs Curt Ferguson (2-2): AMATEUR Flyweight
“Ferguson hasn’t fought since submitting Jakob George quite awhile ago, but I’d imagine he’s still been training and I thought his jiu-jitsu was really slick in that fight.”
Prediction: Ferguson wins by submission in the second round.
Niko Chan (1-1) vs Jeevan Singh (0-0): AMATEUR Lightweight
“Chan already has two fights, so he’s got the pre-fight jitters out of the way. Being from Titan MMA, that’s a very solid gym with Nabil Salameh, Ken Tran, and Micah Brakefield all in his corner.”
Prediction: Chan wins by submission in the first round.
Ryan Oakes (0-0) vs Samuel Ramsay (0-0): AMATEUR Welterweight
“Oakes comes from a strong team and they’re not going to let anybody get in there that’s not ready. He’s got some very high-level training partners there.”
Prediction: Oakes wins by TKO in the second round.
