UFC Fight Night: Boise

UFC Boise is tomorrow night, and while it doesn't look super exciting at first glance, there's some good fights (on paper) scattered throughout the card. Here are some picks.

Junior Dos Santos vs Blagoy Ivanov: Naturally, this is the fight I'm most looking forward to. Ivanov is the second ranked heavyweight in the world outside the UFC, so he's no scrub. Plus, he's been working with AKA, meaning he's been training with the likes of Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez for this camp. Anyone training at AKA that makes it to the fight uninjured has to be in serious consideration to earn a victory. However, JDS has had a lot of time off from the Miocic knockout and he's still one of the best heavyweight strikers and heavyweights overall in the world. He's earned the right to be the favorite in this fight. After watching Francis Ngannou fight this weekend though, I think it spells bad news for JDS. Ngannou had his soul snatched by Stipe, and JDS will suffer the same fate. Ivanov via TKO, Round 1

Sage Northcutt vs Zak Ottow: Northcutt's got to figure it out already; is he a lightweight or a welterweight? If he wants a sustainable career in the UFC he's gonna have to choose sooner or later. Anyway, he's moving back up to welterweight to face a pretty big dude in Ottow. If anyone remembers, Sage had a tough time against some French no name guy last fight at 155, and that worries me big time against Ottow. Sage'll probably tag him up on the feet a couple times, but he'll ultimately get smothered against the cage and on the ground. Hopefully he'll move down to lightweight for good after this. Ottow via decision

Dennis Bermudez vs Rick Glenn: I feel like this should be one of the easier fights to pick on the card; definitely sneak this one into your parlays. Dennis Bermudez is too talented to be facing someone like Rick Glenn, who is been really nothing more than a punching bag during his tenure in the UFC. I think Bermudez will outclass Glenn from the get-go and get back on track. Bermudez via Submission (Arm Triangle), Round 2

Randy Brown vs Niko Price: Probably the biggest toss-up on the card tomorrow night. Randy Brown looked much improved when he dominated Mickey Gall last time out, but that's kind of where the problem is. Gall is probably his most impressive win, but Gall really hasn't done much in the UFC. On the other hand, Brown has lost to Belal Muhammad, probably your average welterweight. As for Niko Price, his resume over Brown's is the decider for me. He has good win over Alan Jouban, a TKO, and another decent win over George Sullivan. He has KO potential on the feet and he's showed finishing instincts on the ground. This will probably be a good fight for as long as it lasts. I'll go with Price hurting Brown on the feet and finishing him on the ground. Price via Submission (RNC), Round 2

Myles Jury vs Chad Mendes: Chad Mendes is finally back from his stupid USADA suspension, but the UFC did him no favors by giving him Jury. This is definitely a good fight, but I hate the match-up. Jury is a legit prospect at 145 and I don't think the UFC should want him to lose. I just wish Mendes could fight Darren Elkins instead, who just happens to be on the same card, but they're teammates. It would just make so much more sense. Regardless, Chad is a little wrecking ball at 145 and I think he'll be able to lay on Jury for three rounds while dealing some good damage. Mendes via decision

Cat Zingano vs Marion Reneau: The old lady fight. Cat is like 37 and Reneau is already in her 40's I believe. I'm not super confident in either woman's striking, but I'm way more confident in both of their ground games. I feel like Reneau won't mind wherever the fight goes, but I'd assume Zingano will be the one shooting for takedowns, as Zingano definitely prefers the fight there. That said, Reneau submitted the most powerful looking female bantamweight I've ever seen in her last fight in Sara McMann, and that means something to me. I feel like this fight will probably be something similar. Reneau via Submission (Armbar), Round 3

Picks for the rest of the card: Wineland, Volkanovski (brutally), Nurmagomedov, Holobaugh, Carmouche, Garcia, Aguilar