UFC Fight Night 30 Predictions

The UFC is on Saturday, but the main card will start in the afternoon (3PM ET) for most of us, as UFC Fight Night 30 will be hosted in Manchester, England. Make sure you tune in early or else you’re going to end up missing the fights and having to watch replays.

UFC Fight Night 30 Predictions

• Bet on Ross Pearson +125 (BetDSI) vs. Melvin Guillard

Ross Pearson (15-6) and Melvin Guillard (31-12-2-1) should be one of the closer fights on the main card. Pearson will be fighting in front of a bunch of his fans in England and I think that will give him the edge to win this fight by TKO/KO or decision.

Pearson has won his L2 fights against Sotiropoulos and Couture by TKO. Pearson lands more strikes in the cage, but he also absorbs nearly twice as many strikes as Guillard. Pearson has to protect himself better, as this one is likely to go to the judges’ scorecards.

• Bet on Jimi Manuwa –167 (Pinnacle) vs. Ryan Jimmo

Jimi Manuwa (13-0) has beaten Kingsbury and Diabate in his two UFC fights by TKO. Manuwa has excellent power, he is very active in the stand-up and through two fights he has averaged 3 takedowns per 15 minutes. Manuwa needs to win in this fight though.

Manuwa is relatively old already despite his short UFC career, so he can’t afford to suffer setbacks. Ryan Jimmo (18-2) is 2-1 in the UFC, but he lost to James Te Huna. Manuwa will be fighting in front of his fans and I expect him to come through with the victory.

• Bet on Piotr Hallman +129 (SportBet) vs. Al Iaquinta

I haven’t seen much of these two fighters, but I like Piotr Hallman (14-1) to take care of business. Hallman won his UFC debut by sub against Trinaldo and he now has six wins by submission. Al Iaquinta (6-2-1) is 1-1 in the UFC, but he struggles against submissions.

Both of his losses in his career have been by submission and Hallman should be able to submit Iaquinta. I don’t see a line out yet for Hallman by submission, but the money line at +129 is good enough. Once the fight hits the mat Hallman has the edge.

• Bet on Norman Parke –152 (SportBet) vs. Jon Tuck

Jon Tuck (7-0) beat Zhang in his UFC debut, but Zhang is useless, so that doesn’t tell us too much. Norman Parke (18-2) is 2-0 in the UFC with wins over Fletcher and Tokudome. Parke will have the crowd behind him and on paper he should win this fight.

Parke is an active striker and his stand-up defense is better than Tuck. Parke likes to work takedowns, but he isn’t very accurate and he has to make sure he doesn’t get submitted. Parke has been submitted twice, but I think Parke is the better fighter in this fight.

• Bet Machida / Lineker / Manuwa Parlay +162 (Pinnacle)

I explained why I like Manuwa already. For my parlay I’m going to add Machida and Lineker. Both are big favorites on the main card and should definitely win. Machida is too technical for Munoz. Lineker is fighting Phil Harris and should easily win this fight.