UFC 225 Song vs Simon Breakdown

Hailey Cowan vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

The first fight of the night! Horth is taking this fight on short notice making her UFC debut. Cowan is looking to make her UFC debut after a win on DWCS. The size of Cowan will push her over the edge along with the striking. Horth is decent on the feet with kickboxing and will push the pace. Horth hasn't fought in over a year and this is a higher weight class than she typically fights in. I like Cowan by a hair but this fight isn't the greatest.

Brian Kelleher vs. Journey Newson

Both of these fighters are coming off losses and is needing a win. Kelleher has always had the "Bad Guy Persona" as the veteran. Newson is normally a boxer in the cage. Kelleher will push the pace by far. Kelleher has the better wins on his record compared to Newson. Kelleher has great striking but has wrestling in his back pocket. I can see Kelleher finding a submission to get the win.

Stephanie Egger vs. Irina Alekseeva

Interesting female fight. Egger should be able to submit Irina which Irina likes fighting on the ground. Egger is the heavy favorite and this should be a layup win for Egger. This is going to be all on the ground by far. Irina is wild on her feet and that is what worries me. The striking is awful for Irina and Egger should be able to finish this fight in any way she wants.

Josh Quinlan vs Trey Waters

Quinlan is coming off a nasty knockout win while Waters is from DWCS with a loss there. Waters went back to the LFA and earned a win, and now making his UFC debut. Waters is the bigger fighter with great striking. Waters fought a week ago and he didn't look fantastic seeing a ton of hits. Quinlan is going to come in aggressively and take advantage of the weight cut of Waters. Quinlan has massive power and is good on the ground with his submission output. This fight will all be on the feet. Quinlan for the win is my pick.

Cody Durden vs. Charles Johnson

This fight has been all over social media where both fighters are coming at each other. Johnson is the better fighter to me despite the durability of Durden. Johnson will shoot for the takedown and has decent movement on the feet based on his fast pace. Johnson will strike a ton and has massive volume. Durden will try to wrestle over and over again despite having okay power with his hands. I do like Johnson because he knows the game plan of Durden, and the skill set on Johnson should push him to the edge.

Natan Levy vs. Pete Rodriguez

Both of these fighters are coming off a win last fight. Levy is a massive grappler and the wrestling is fantastic. Levy will continue to push the wrestling, which is where Rodriguez worries me. Rodriguez will try to throw massive bombs and the defense is terrible all around. I am liking Levy in all formats in this fight. Rodriguez typically doesn't fight past round 1 comapred to Levy. I can see Levy earning the submission win and take him down multiple times.

Julian Erosa vs. Fernando Padilla

Padilla is making his UFC debut against Erosa coming off a knockout loss from two months ago. The physical aspect of both of these fighters is very similar. Padilla is going to want this fight on the feet and the wrestling worries me with his defense. Erosa should push the fight wherever he wants to. This fight is closer than the odds appear but I like Erosa by a hair.

Martin Buday vs. Jake Collier

The big boy fight! Buday is coming off three wins including his DWCS series win. Collier is coming off two losses and it is still crazy seeing him as a heavyweight. Buday has great knockout power and is clean on the feet. Collier has volume on the feet but the striking is not terrible. Collier has takedown offense in his toolbox. I think Buday can bounce back in this fight and find a knockout win where we know the chin isn't great on Collier.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima

Another heavy-weight fight! Both fighters are coming off a win. Lima has decent striking and grappling, he is coming up in age though. The submission win was great for Lima last fight. Acosta has power in his hands and will try to work around Lima. Acosta has volume for days with his striking output. This is a close fight and I like Lima to slow the pace of the fight down in his favor.

Cody Brundage vs. Rodolfo Viera

This is a great fight, to be honest. Brundage is a wrestler and that is his main weapon. The problem is Viera is one of the best on the ground. Viera is a world class wrestler and can submit anyone on the ground. Both of these fighters are needing to get back in the win column. Viera is also good with his striking and his overall game plan. I am loving Viera in this fight.

Caio Borralho vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

The co-main event! Caio is running a 4 fight win streak including his win on DWCS. Michal is coming off two wins which based on the name value of both are not great with Brundage and Alvey. Caio is great on the feet and the ground game is there for him. Michal is quick on the feet and the striking game can push the pace for him. Caio is going to want to try to take down Michal which I think he can. I am liking Caio here and the odds are heavily in his favor.

Yadong Song vs. Ricky Simon

The main event! This fight has moved from the co-main event from last week to now the main event of 5 rounds onto this card! Song is quick on the feet with his striking but the defense of striking is worrisome. Simon is the grappler in this fight trying to work the pace with his all of his output. Simon can drop anyone and try to grapple anyone. I am liking Simon by a hair despite it being 5 rounds. If Simon slows down the last two rounds though, Song will be the favorite pick in this fight.