UFC Atlanta sees the return of a former UFC -Weltergeverkampioen on top of an exciting card full of action on 14 June.
Kamaru Usman returns to Joaquin Buckley after almost two years away, with a view to return to the world titles scene with a victory over his younger opponent.
In the meantime, the Co-Main event places two women who want to catapult themselves in the ranking, because former champion Rose Namajunas faces a young and hungry Miranda Maverick.
Other attacks are the exciting collision of Cody Durden with Jose Ochoa, the long -awaited Malcolm Wellmaker vs Kris Moutinho Bout, and Cody Garbrandt wants to make an impression when he takes on Raoni Barcelos.
In anticipation of UFC Atlanta, the Bloody Elbow experts have picked their staff for the two most important event areas, as well as the performance of the night and their fight of the night.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC Atlanta -Preferences
Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman -Preference
- Harvey Leonard – Kamaru Usman
- Jamie Theodosi – Kamaru Usman
- Hamish Woodward – Kamaru Usman
The most important event of UFC Atlanta sees Usman stepping into the Octagon after almost two years, although the bloody elbow staff does not have high expectations of him.
Harvey, Jamie and Hamish all chose Buckley to beat Usman in his UFC Comback, and saw him as too strong for the chronically wounded Nigerian.
Knee injuries have plagued Usman over the past decade and he admits that he is not 100% fighting at UFC Atlanta on 14 June.
He took a long-term break of the sport in 2023 after losing back-to-back to Leon Edwards, followed by a majority decision loss for Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
The former UFC champion Welterweight could take one fight too much, and Usman's goals to regain his world title can be a blowjob for the Nigerian nightmare.
Rose Namajunas vs Miranda Maverick -Prepisations
- Harvey Leonard – Rose Namajunas
- Jamie Theodosi – Rose Namajunas
- Hamish Woodward – Rose Namajunas
The Co-Main event of UFC Atlanta is another clear fight, according to the bloody elbow personnel choice.
Although Namajunas comes from a defeat of Erin Blanchfield, she remains #7 in the flying weight of the UFC ladies and she will have faith in beating the #11-ranged Maverick in a narrow game.
The former dual UFC ladies straw weight has had a mixed run since he made the step in weight classes, won two and lost two fights in the past two years.
That will give Maverick confidence, which is unbeaten in her last four fighting.
However, her opponents are of a much lower caliber compared to Namajunas and have fallen short when they are confronted with a high -ranking competition such as Namajunas.
UFC Atlanta version of the night forecasts
- Harvey Leonard – Malcolm Wellmaker
- Jamie Theodosi – Cody Garbrandt
- Hamish Woodward – Joaquin Buckley
When it comes to the performance of the night at UFC Atlanta, the experts all have a different choice of whom they think will make an impression.
Harvey predicts that Malcolm Wellmaker will run away with the award, because “The Machine” tackles a difficult competition with Kris Moutinho.
Wellmaker has so far been 9-0 in his career and won his UFC debut in April with a first round knockout victory against Cameron SaiMan.
With five of his nine victories that come through that method, he has a good chance of eliminating Moutinho and to increase his reputation as a knockout outpartist in the UFC Bantamweight Division.
In the meantime, Jamie Cody Garbrandt supports to impress and earn the bonus for the performance of the night at UFC Atlanta.
While Garbrandt was once compared to Conor McGregor, his mixed record has been struggling to flatter the American hunter almost ten years ago since debuting in the UFC almost ten years ago.
He recently hit back-to-back victories before he was submitted by DEIVESON Figueiredo at UFC 300, and will have a point to prove when he will take Barcelos on June 14.
Finally, Hamish thinks Buckley will be the most impressive hunter at UFC Atlanta in his main event with Usman.
After he has already predicted a victory for the American, he supports Buckley to add another knockout to his already impressive record and a step closer to the UFC -Welterweight title fight.
UFC Atlanta Fight of the Night For Spellings
- Harvey Leonard – Cody Durden vs Jose Ochoa
- Jamie Theodosi – Malcolm Wellmaker vs Kris Moutinho
- Hamish Woodward – Malcolm Wellmaker vs Kris Moutinho
The fight of the night comes down to two different attacks, split with the bloody elbow experts about which the award will be earned.
Harvey is the most enthusiastic to see Cody Durden's competition with Jose Ochoa. Both men have a mixed record in the UFC so far, which shows that they are able to pick up victories that are also susceptible to big hits and entries.
This has all the start of an exciting fight, in which both men have weaknesses that the other could exploit for an open fight at UFC Atlanta.
In the meantime, both Jamie and Hamish see the collision between Wellmaker and Moutinho and the future fight of the night winner.
Moutinho has achieved five victories outside the promotion since losing his first UFC fight, and impressed by Cage Titans and combat zone on the way to the UFC.
Both men have something to prove in what is predicted as one of the most exciting battles at UFC Atlanta.