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 Unified MMA 35, Behrang Yousefi has stepped in to provide his predictions and analysis for the 10 MMA bouts on the card.
Yousefi holds a professional MMA record of 8-7, including a victory over Chad Freeman inside the Bellator cage back in 2014. These days, Yousefi is a regular inside the Unified MMA cage, with his last five bouts being contested under their banner. Look for Yousefi to be back in the Unified MMA cage in early 2019.
Here are Yousefi’s predictions for Unified MMA 35:
Teddy Ash (12-3) vs Dominique Steele (17-11): Fight Preview
“Steele has six knockout losses, and Ash is known for his heavy hands. Ash is also coming in on a six-fight win streak. With his last win over Seth Baczynski in a nail-biter of a fight, which some consider fight of the year, Ash is coming in with serious momentum and wants to place himself on the map as one of Canada’s top middleweights.”
Prediction: Ash wins by knockout in the first round.
Craig Shintani (7-2) vs Clay Dixon (5-1): Fight Preview
“I think Shintani is on another level than his competition. On Dec. 7, there are going to be many beatings dished out, but few will compare to the one-sided beating Shintani will lay on Dixon. I see Shintani catching him with a straight right early in the fight and putting Dixon away for a much needed layoff. Shintani by way of what can only be described as legal manslaughter by way of elbows.
Prediction: Shintani wins by TKO in the first round.
Jamie Siraj (5-2) vs Michael Hay (5-1): Fight Preview
“Siraj has more experience than his professional record would have you believe and has many reasons to be confident. Hay has never been out of the first round and only has a combined 12 minutes of cage time. He may lack the cage experience, but that seems to be part of his plan. I see Hay pulling aggressive guard and securing a submission early in round one, but maybe Siraj knows something we don’t and this fight will go to a decision.”
Prediction: Hay wins by submission in the first round.
Neal Anderson (8-3) vs Curtis Demarce (18-13)
“Anderson is coming in on a four-fight win streak, whereas Demarce is 1-4 in his last five fights. Demarce has been a pro for 12 years and most careers don’t go past nine years. It’s Anderson’s time to shine.”
Prediction: Anderson wins by unanimous decision.
Nick Hrabec (6-4) vs Garret Nybakken (12-9)
“I’m a big fan of both guys, and this has fight of the night written all over it. Both guys come and lay it on the line and always give the fans what they want to see; fireworks! Hrabec has been very active and is coming in on a win streak, while Nybakken is looking to walk away from this sport with one last win and a fight of the night performance. I’ll have to give the edge to Nybakken since he’s beat Hrabec in the past, but it’s really hard to pick a winner here. Having fought Nick in the past, I know how much fighting spirit this man has.”
Prediction: Hrabec and Nybakken fight to a draw.
KB Bhullar (4-0) vs Corey Atkinson (4-8)
“This middleweight bout has fireworks written all over it, with Bhullar making his long-awaited return to the cage. The “Bengal” has not graced the cage since July 5, 2013. Cage rust may be real, but so is fighting spirit. Atkinson is coming in on a four-fight losing streak, however all four are against high-level competitors such as Pat Pytlik & Roger Alves. My heart always wants the underdog to win but I think this is Bhullar’s night.”
Prediction: Bhullar wins by knockout (head kick) in the first round.
Mark Mosure (3-0) vs Farzad Askari (0-0)
“I don’t know too much about Mosure, but I predict he will want to wrestle and grind Askari to the ground since Askari’s known to train out of TKO fighting arts. Askari’s known for a great muay thai background and an exciting fighting style, and I’m sure fight fans are in for a treat.”
Prediction: Mosure wins by submission in the first round.
Tyrell Giselbrecht (2-0) vs Matt Klute (2-1)
“Giselbrecht is a fast starter, with both his wins coming in the first round, whereas Klute’s wins are both by decision. The longer the fight goes the more it tips in Klute’s favour, having gone to at least the third round in all his fights, which gives him the cage time advantage he will need if he wants to nullify Giselbrecht’s fast start.”
Prediction: Giselbrecht wins by TKO in the first round.
Sebastian Fodor (0-0) vs Sterling Michetti (1-1)
“Michetti should have the experience advantage, having competed at amateur boxing as well as MMA, with an extensive jiu-jistu background and countless tournaments throughout the years. Fodor is relatively unknown, other than he trains out of Hayabusa and has a badass last name. I have Michetti by way of what the professionals in the industry call spinning $!#@.”
Prediction: Michetti wins by TKO in the second round.
Isaiah Bean (1-1) vs Skylar Sloan (0-1)
“I’ve got Bean coming out on top given that he has a well-rounded game and does have a win over Peter Janssen.”
Prediction: Bean wins by submission in the third round.
