Every time an event rolls around, we invite a "guest predictor" to share their perspective and forecast how each MMA matchup will unfold.
For XFFC 21, Daryl St Rose has volunteered to break down and pick winners across all nine matchups on the card.
With a pro MMA mark of 3-2, St Rose's latest victory arrived at XFFC 19 where he earned a unanimous decision over Luis Martinez. He has also recorded victories against Matt Hovorka and Jesse Tedesco.
Below are St Rose's picks for XFFC 21:
William Carriere (4-2) vs Steve Mac Donald (2-0): Light Heavyweight Title Bout FIGHT PREVIEW
"Expect fireworks here. Carriere earned the nickname 'The Berserker' for good reason, and I expect him to rush Mac Donald and turn this into a brawl. Mac Donald should manage to avoid being pinned against the cage, though, and leverage what I believe will be a speed edge in the open. He's talked about landing the wheel kick, which points to serious athleticism. He's shown he can go the distance on the cards, and I doubt the Berserker's style holds up over five rounds.
Prediction: Mac Donald wins by submission in the fourth round.
Craig Shintani (7-2) vs Chris Day (5-5): Interim Featherweight Title Bout FIGHT PREVIEW
"I have a lot of respect for Day—he's always willing to take on a fight when called. His record isn't pretty, but his losing streak came against elite competition. He's certainly a tough competitor. Shintani is the better fighter, and there's a reason he was originally slated to challenge for Unified MMA and XFFC championships. This won't be a walk in the park, but I see Shintani using his pace to capitalize on Day's abbreviated training camp and finish the job.
Prediction: Shintani wins by TKO in the second round.
Michael Imperato (7-3) vs Blake Sigvaldason (2-1): Bantamweight Championship Fight PREVIEW
"This is the bout I'm most excited about. Imperato brings real power, solid grappling ability, and a wealth of experience against top-tier opponents. Sigvaldason, however, is a solid competitor with quality coaching from Toshido MMA alongside David Lea. Having sparred with him before, I know how quickly his game shifts when you commit too heavily to striking. Expect a compelling matchup with plenty of chaotic ground exchanges."
My pick: Imperato by unanimous decision.
Jordan Noseworthy (3-1) vs Lorenzo Celis (2-0-1): Amateur Middleweight Championship
"This should be a thrilling contest, depending on how long it goes. Both men carry comparable experience and have proven themselves as finishers. Someone close to Celis mentioned he's got sharp hands and a solid chin."
My pick: Celis by TKO, Round 3.
Jordan Roberts (2-2) vs Tom Theocharis (2-2)
"A nice stylistic clash. Roberts flaunts slick ground work and dangerous position reversals from his back, while Theocharis brings real dynamism standing up. I suspect Theocharis will be difficult to put on the mat, and I think his creative striking on the feet will separate him."
My pick: Theocharis by unanimous decision.
Dayton Roberts (1-2) vs Dave Pogson (2-6)
"A tricky call here. While Pogson carries significantly more experience, most of his cage time dates back over a decade. Roberts earned his sole victory inside XFFC and has faced tougher, more current competition overall."
My pick: Roberts by first-round submission.
Blair Watchorn (1-0) vs Drake Sanderson (0-0)
"An intriguing setup pitting a newcomer against a fighter with one professional bout—and that fighter happens to be 41. At that age, stepping into amateur competition usually signals pure passion for the sport rather than career ambitions. That mindset removes a ton of pressure. Still, Sanderson remains unproven."
My pick: Watchorn by unanimous decision.
Brandon Burton (0-1) vs Grady Behrens (1-0)
"Should be an entertaining matchup. Each fighter has only one bout to judge, making skill assessment difficult. Burton's debut was so brief he barely got to demonstrate his capabilities, whereas Behrens impressed in his last outing—he controlled the pace and secured the decision."
My pick: Behrens by unanimous decision.
