Photo by Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Saturday, March 14, 2015 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas we have UFC 185. The co-main event sees newly crowned UFC Women’s 115lb Champion Carla Esparza taking on #1 contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the belt. This fight hasn’t been given the attention it deserves, but I’m here to break it down for you and let you know why you should watch.
Striking Advantage: Jedrzejczyk – Although she’s only got two wins via form of knockout so far in her career, Jedrzejczyk’s muay thai should give her an advantage while this fight stays standing (for how long that may be is anyone’s guess)
Wrestling Advantage: Esparza – This is the easiest category to pick for this fight. Esparza possesses the best wrestling in the UFC’s strawweight division, so she should be able to take Jedrzejczyk down whenever she wants to in this one
Ground Advantage: Esparza – she possesses four submissions in her ten career wins. Esparza should be able to control the fight once it hits the mat, landing ground and pound at will, as Jedrzejczyk hasn’t proven to be all that active from her back thus far
The Prediction
I’ll be completely honest with you guys, this fight will be an absolute blowout. Carla Esparza will dominate from start to finish. I don’t even see how any judge could have given Jedrzejczyk the decision in her last fight over Gadelha. However, somehow she “won” the fight and here we are. Esparza will set the tone of the fight right off the bat. She will pressure Jedrzejczyk and take her down at will. I believe Jedrzejczyk will be able to survive the first two rounds, but in the third it’s all over. Esparza will take the fight to the mat, an exhausted Jedrzejczyk will give up her back, and Esparza will make it look easy, as she sinks in the rear-naked-choke and forces the tap out.
Also, just as a bonus to readers, I’ll let you know that in most sports betting books right now Esparza is just a -155 favourite (bet $155 to win $100). This is an absolute steal, so if you’re interested in MMA betting and you’re looking for the closest you’ll ever get to free money, here it is – jump on it.
Esparza defeats Jedrzejczyk via third round submission
Follow Nate Grotenhuis on Twitter @BurgersMMA
