Tomorrow night on the main card of UFC Vegas 59, The Ultimate Fighter will conclude and we will see two new contracts handed out. This season of TUF featured the heavyweight division and women’s flyweight division.
Starting with the flyweight fight. We will see Team Pena’s Juliana Miller (2-1) take on Team Nunes’ Brogan Walker (7-2). These two are in very different stages of their career, but they are both fighting for the same UFC prize.
Juliana Miller didn’t have a ton of MMA experience, but she has a ton of grappling experience. She is extremely well-versed on the mat and she used that this season going 2-0 with one submission victory.
She’s going to have the grappling advantage, but Brogan Walker will have the striking advantage. Walker started her pro MMA career out at 5-0 which included a win over UFC fighter Miranda Maverick.
On the show, she won both of her fights by decision. She has good striking and decent pop in her shots. Now, she doesn’t fight with a ton of volume so that could play to her disadvantage. This fight is all going to come down to range and location.
If Miller gets this fight down consistently, she’s walking away with a UFC contract. However, if Walker is able to keep her distance and land her clean counters, she’s going to walk away with a decision. Should be a close fight either way.
UFC Heavyweights
Now onto the heavyweights. Undefeated Zac Pauga (5-0) will be taking on Muhammad Usman (7-2). Usman is the younger brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
When it comes to power and athleticism, there’s no question that Muhammad Usman has the advantage. I think he has the pure wrestling advantage and he definitely has the advantage in terms of raw power.
However, in terms of pulling everything together, you might have to lean towards Pauga. I’m really curious to see if Usman has improved on his overall MMA game since the last time we saw him outside of the UFC’s TUF house.
Pauga has good speed and he throws a lot of straight punches. If Usman is too wild with looping shots, I could see him getting caught down the middle. If his cardio can hold hold though, I think his overall power will be too much for the smaller Pauga. I’m not expecting a ton of action here, but I think Usman gets the win.
Predictions: Muhammad Usman and Juliana Miller win The Ultimate Fighter