24 fighters step on the scale today in Houston Texas which is the site for tomorrow night’s 2nd pay-per-view offering from the UFC, UFC 247 Jones versus Reyes.
With two title fights at the top of the card, UFC 247 is looking like another great event. Jones vs Reyes has legit heat. Jones is a big favorite to retain his belt, but make no mistake this should be a good fight. Reyes is a powerful athlete and will look to finish fast utilizing his powerful striking, which is the only way he has a prayer to win. Jones who has everything to lose seems focused on ending Reyes by the third round and then quite possibly making the move to heavyweight to face Stipe Miocic. Jones is more accomplished in every aspect of this fight, even on the feet. Many don’t give Jones enough credit for his stand up striking because he hasn’t knocked out every opponent, which seems to have motivated the Light Heavyweight champion to remind the MMA community, and Reyes just what he is capable of.
Shevchenko vs Chookagian is an interesting matchup for the Flyweight title. Chookagian has the height and length advantage over Shevchenko, and in my opinion, those two areas are the only places where Chookagian has any edge. Shevchenko is better everywhere. Striking, kicks, grappling and experience on the biggest stages will play well for the reigning champion tomorrow night. Chookagian has power and shouldn’t be taken lightly, however, Shevchenko is an absolutely well-rounded killer, and once the door to the octagon closes the switch is flipped, and whoever is in front of her is in for a bad night. She, in my opinion, is the most focused and dedicated athlete on the entire UFC roster and will continue to own her division for as long as she chooses to do so.
My under the radar fight takes place at featherweight between Mirsad Bektic(13-2) and Dan Ige(12-2). Bektic is a top 10 fighter and feels that Ige isn’t on his level due to not facing the same level of competition. Ige is looking to make a splash in the crowded featherweight division, and a win against the highly touted Bektic would be his fifth in a row inside the octagon, and would certainly elevate Ige’s status as a possible title contender. Bektic is coming off a knockout loss to Josh Emmett last July and needs to win to get the train back on track as a 2nd loss in a row would send him backward in the featherweight division, and take him out of any title fight chats.
Ige and Bektic are both hungry and in need of a win tomorrow night, I am taking Ige to upset Bektic. I feel that Ige is on a run right now and has been waiting for this moment against a top 10 fighter to show the world that he is a legitimate threat to everyone in the division. These two men are so close to one another as far as ability and capable of winning wherever the fight goes. Ige has a chip on his shoulder and has more to gain from a win vs Bektic, than Bektic has if he beats Ige.
The full UFC 247 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Jon Jones(C) (204) vs. Dominick Reyes (205) – for the light heavyweight title
Champ
Valentina Shevchenko(C) (124.5) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (124.5) – for women’s flyweight title
Juan Adams (266) vs. Justin Tafa (265.5)
Mirsad Bektic (145) vs. Dan Ige (145.5)
Ilir Latifi (246.5) vs. Derrick Lewis (261.5)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
Antonio Arroyo (186) vs. Trevin Giles (185.5)
Andrea Lee (125.5) vs. Lauren Murphy (125)
Alex Morono (171) vs. Kalinn Williams (169)
Mario Bautista (135) vs. Miles Johns (135)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)
Journey Newson (135.5) vs. Domingo Pilarte (135.5)
Andre Ewell (135.5) vs. Jonathan Martinez (136)
Austin Lingo (145.5) vs. Youssef Zalal (145.5)
UFC 247 takes place tomorrow night from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and will air across the ESPN family of networks including the PPV portion of the card.
Christopher James has been in the MMA industry for 15 years, Working as a ring announcer for promotions like the XFC, Island Fights, Combat Night and Fight Nights Global during his career. Chris’ love for the sport and the athletes that partake in it led him to writing and doing face to face interviews with the athletes he admired and respected. Chris isn’t conventional by any stretch of the imagination, he has his own style, and takes pride in not being a “cookie-cutter” member of the media. Unique and sometimes controversial takes are what he brings to the table, forcing folks to think a little differently about the world of MMA. He also has a love for music as he has been a dj for 25 years and his love for music gets brought to the MMA world when he gets his guests to sing on his weekly show Cage Side with Christopher James which can be seen Wednesday nights on FACEBOOK LIVE, and soon via podcast.