Anthony Pettis is slightly favored against Donald Cerrone at UFC 249 on Saturday, May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida. This event is one of four fights on the ESPN portion of the preliminary card. Cerrone is 36-14 in his career, while Pettis is 22-10 in his career. There are a total of five fights on the main pay-per-view card at UFC 249, with the headliner a bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. There are also a total of seven fights on the preliminary card, with four on ESPN and three on ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Cerrone and Pettis and UFC predictions.
Donald Cerrone 36-14, 23-11 UFC
Cerrone came into the UFC with a record of 13-3 and he has 23 wins and 11 losses in the UFC. In his last five fights, he has two wins and three losses. He defeated Alexander Hernandez by TKO and Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision; while losing to Tony Ferguson by TKO, Justin Gaethje by TKO, and Conor McGregor by TKO. Cerrone has been a pro since 2006 and he has 10 wins by TKO/KO and 17 by submission. He has 15 first round finishes.
Cerrone said this to bloodyelbow.com about his upcoming fight, “They called me about fighting in May, and I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ Why not? It all worked out. This is my wheelhouse. Taking fights on short notice, when no else is prepared and mentally I’m the strongest. I feel good. I feel hungry. Ready to go out there and do it.”
Anthony Pettis 22-10, 9-9 UFC
Pettis came into the UFC with a record of 13-1 and he has nine wins and nine losses in the UFC. In his last five fights, he has two wins and three losses. He defeated Michael Chiesa by triangle armbar submission and Stephen Thompson by TKO; while losing to Tony Ferguson by TKO, Nate Diaz by unanimous decision, and Carlos Diego Ferreira by rear-naked choke submission. Pettis has been a pro since 2007 and he has 11 wins by TKO/KO and seven by submission. He has 12 first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Cerrone 4.33 / Pettis 2.97
Striking Accuracy: Cerrone 46% / Pettis 46%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Cerrone 4.27/ Pettis 3.48
Defense: Cerrone 53% / Pettis 53%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Cerrone 1.21/ Pettis 0.67
Takedown Accuracy: Cerrone 36% / Pettis 54%
Takedowns defended: Cerrone 73% / Pettis 58%
Submission average: Cerrone 1.3 / Pettis 1.2
UFC Predictions
This fight should be on the main card instead of Hardy vs. de Castro or Stephens vs. Kattar. It is good news for most people though, because ESPN is televising the prelims. Cerrone and Pettis fought each other in January of 2013 and it was Pettis winning by first round knockout. Neither of these two is in great form, but they are big names and it should be a competitive fight. Both of these fighters are known as finishers and I don’t know that either fighter is going to be in great cardio shape, so I will take the rounds to go under the total.
UFC 249 takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, May 9, with five fights on the main pay-per-view card, headlined by Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje and seven preliminary bouts, with four on ESPN and three on ESPN+.
Main Card Pay-Per-View
Lightweight - Tony Ferguson -183 vs. Justin Gaethje
Bantamweight - Henry Cejudo -245 vs. Dominick Cruz
Heavyweight - Greg Hardy -180 vs. Yorgan de Castro
Heavyweight - Francis Ngannou -291 vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Featherweight - Calvin Kattar -252 vs. Jeremy Stephens
Preliminary Card ESPN
Welterweight - Anthony Pettis -140 vs. Donald Cerrone
Heavyweight - Fabrício Werdum -325 vs. Alexey Oleynik
Women's Strawweight - Carla Esparza -160 vs. Michelle Waterson
Middleweight - Ronaldo Souza-125 vs. Uriah Hall
Preliminary Card ESPN+
Welterweight - Vicente Luque -267 vs. Niko Price
Featherweight - Bryce Mitchell -185 vs. Charles Rosa
Light Heavyweight - Ryan Spann -380 vs. Sam Alvey
How to Bet
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