UFC Vegas 40 Predictions

UFC Vegas 39 proved to be another successful week for this column, as my picks went 7-2 (and, most importantly, won money). The UFC is back at it this Saturday with a very weak-looking fight card – UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs Dumont aka UFC Vegas 40. Weak or not, there is money to be made here so let’s proceed with my UFC Vegas 40 predictions.

UFC Vegas 40 Predictions

All odds courtesy of PointsBet

Aspen Ladd (-150) vs Norma Dumont

After yet another botched weight cut a couple of weeks ago that resulted in her fight being cancelled, Aspen Ladd steps into this fight on very short notice. However, it is a featherweight, a weight class above her normal bantamweight, so hopefully there won’t be any issues on the scale this go around. Despite the lack of preparation for this fight, Ladd is just the better all-around fighter than Norma Dumont so I see her cruising to a W.

Andrei Arlovski (-104) vs Carlos Felipe

Yes, I’m going with a guy with 53 pro MMA fights on his resume and who has been a pro since 1999. But former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski has seen a career resurgence over the past few years, fighting far smarter than ever and not getting knocked out any longer. He should earn a safe, boring decision victory over Carlos Felipe on Saturday.

Jim Miller (-225) vs Erick Gonzalez

Let’s go with another OG in Jim Miller in what will be his 50th professional MMA fight. He’s facing a newcomer, Erick Gonzalez, this week who struggles with takedowns. Grappling wizard Miller should be able to take him down at will and work his submission game.

Manon Fiorot (-240) vs Mayra Bueno Silva

This fight was supposed to happen a few week’s back at UFC 266 before COVID-19 scuttled it. It’s back on this week, and Manon Fiorot is still my pick. ‘The Machine’ is a real legit prospect in the women’s flyweight division and will have no trouble getting past Mayra Bueno Silva.

Julian Marquez (-250) vs Jordan Wright

We’ve got ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis’ vs ‘The Beverly Hills Ninja’ here. Obviously, I’m going to back a missile against a ninja in a fight, so Julian Marquez is the pick. Jordan Wright’s resume is full of cans, while Marquez’s is not.

Bruno Silva (-176) vs Andrew Sanchez

Bruno ‘Blindado’ Silva is an absolute beast in the cage, knocking out 17 of his 20 pro victims. Andrew Sanchez is not immune to being knocked out, having his lights put on four times as a pro. He’s going to get hit here, a lot, by Silva.

Ramazan Emeev (-300) vs Danny Roberts

A pretty simple breakdown here – Danny Roberts can’t stop or handle Ramazan Emeev’s wrestling. Emeev grinds out a win on the mat. Easy peasy.

Lupita Godinez (-260) vs Luana Carolina

There are quick turnarounds and there’s what Lupita Godinez is doing – she just won via submission last weekend and is back for more this Saturday. Luana Carolina can’t handle the grappling that Godinez is going to bring to the cage, so Loopy might make it back-to-back submissions on back-to-back weekends.

L’udovit Klein (-350) vs Nate Landwehr

While the last two fights were all about the grappling, this one is about L’udovit Klein’s striking. He can really crack, and Nate Landwehr gets hit – and knocked out – often.

Danaa Batgerel (-185) vs Brandon Davis

Brandon Davis will be making his UFC return after going 2-5 in his first stint. His second kick at the can isn’t going to start off very well, as Danaa Batgerel is going to piece him up on the feet.