Predictions: MFL 17

At every show, a guest predictor steps up to break down the action and share their picks for every fight on the card.

Tylor Freeman
Tylor Freeman receives the MFL amateur lightweight title after defeating Matthew Cooper at MFL 16. (Photo by MFL)

This time around, Tylor Freeman has taken on the role of guest predictor, offering his take and predictions across all 15 MMA bouts slated for the card.

Freeman is coming in with an amateur mark of 5-2 and currently sits as the MFL amateur lightweight champion, having captured the belt by beating Matthew Cooper back at MFL 16 earlier this year.

Below are Freeman's picks for MFL 17:

Louis-Philippe Caron (1-0) vs Gordon Cunningham (2-0): AMATEUR Light Heavyweight Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW

"This one should be tight on paper. I give Cunningham the edge on striking, while Caron brings the grappling upside. That said, I think Cunningham controls the range."

Prediction: Cunningham wins by unanimous decision.

Zachary Baldwin (3-1) vs Tommy Morrisson (6-1): AMATEUR Flyweight Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW

"I'm genuinely hyped for this matchup. Both fighters bring solid striking, and even though Baldwin brings more Muay Thai on paper, I see Morrisson as the more well-rounded MMA athlete overall."

Prediction: Morrisson wins by submission in the third round.

Liam Gallagher (4-0) vs Patrick Arseneau (3-0): AMATEUR Bantamweight Title Bout** FIGHT PREVIEW

"Both guys bring solid kickboxing backgrounds, but I think Gallagher's striking edge from his experience will carry him to a finish."

Prediction: Gallagher wins by TKO in the second round.

Alejandro Alvarado-Jimenez (2-1) vs Vince Nikiforov (0-1): AMATEUR Featherweight

"It's a tricky matchup to call—I'd lean toward Alvarado-Jimenez on paper since he's a quality striker, but Nikiforov keeps getting better and his reach gives him a real advantage at this division. Nikiforov needs to control distance, while Alvarado-Jimenez has to chew through the legs early and find those sharp angles."

Prediction: Nikiforov wins by unanimous decision.

Charles Azoulay (0-0) vs Joel Gauthier (0-0): AMATEUR Lightweight

"They're both strikers, but after spending time with Azoulay I'm seeing better angles and a stronger conditioning edge—he'll outwork Gauthier."

Prediction: Azoulay wins by unanimous decision.

Drew Truax (1-1) vs Olivier Poisson (3-0): AMATEUR Featherweight

"I've watched both of them compete, and Poisson takes this comfortably and sets up a title opportunity."

Prediction: Poisson wins by submission in the first round.

Blake Loxton (1-3) vs Kevin Ostiguy (2-1): AMATEUR Bantamweight

"Loxton brings serious toughness and some of the best heart I've seen around amateur ranks, but Ostiguy's just the more complete fighter overall."

Prediction: Ostiguy wins by unanimous decision.

Marc-Andre Brisebois (0-0) vs Luke Roberts (0-0): AMATEUR Welterweight

"Both guys appear to have solid grappling foundations, so the strike game might decide this. I'm picking Roberts."

Prediction: Roberts wins by submission in the second round.

Keyano Young (0-0) vs Innokentiy Perelmutov (0-0): AMATEUR Featherweight

"Young uses his size and athleticism to outwork whoever steps across from him."

Prediction: Young wins by TKO in the second round.

Runor Ralph (0-0) vs Zachary Raymond (0-0): AMATEUR Welterweight

"Ralph trains at a legitimate gym—I see him finishing this inside the distance."

Prediction: Ralph wins by TKO in the first round.

Nikita Ponomarenko (0-0) vs David Doucette (0-1): AMATEUR Featherweight

"Ponomarenko manages distance and closes it out."

Prediction: Ponomarenko wins by TKO in the first round.

Jo Gauthier (0-0) vs Nicky Heinrichs (0-0): AMATEUR Lightweight

"Heinrichs comes across as a high-pressure fighter who pushes the tempo and hunts for finishes early, but I expect Gauthier's striking and ring experience to make the difference."

Prediction: Gauthier wins by unanimous decision.

Geran Buckner (1-0) vs Jean-Michel Grondin (0-0): AMATEUR Light Heavyweight

"Another teammate—Buckner makes his light heavyweight bow after coming off heavyweight. He moves fluidly for his size, and I'm betting on an early knockout."

Prediction: Buckner wins by knockout in the first round.

Aymen Echi (0-0) vs Mohammad Safa (0-0): AMATEUR Flyweight

"Both appear to be striking fighters, but looking at the toolkits, Safa's got the sharper hands and I see him landing the finish."

Prediction: Safa wins by TKO in the second round.

Alex Moher (0-0) vs Martin Zaanoni (0-1): AMATEUR Bantamweight

"Moher's taking this on short notice and brings what looks like a strong wrestling pedigree from a quality camp, but Zaanoni's striking and fight experience, plus a proper training camp, should be the deciding factor."