UFC Fight Night 81 matchups
A breakdown of the fights on the main card of UFC Fight Night 81 today at TD Garden in Boston:
T.J. Dillashaw (13-2) vs. Dominick Cruz (20-1)
CLASS: For Dillashaw’s bantamweight title
LINE: Dillashaw minus-140
STORYLINE: Before Cruz returned from more than a three-year layoff to fight Takeya Mizugaki in 2014, a popular theory was that he would struggle to regain his form after so many injuries because his style is so reliant on speed and movement. Then, he knocked out a strong opponent in 61 seconds. It’s easy to forget how good Cruz has been throughout his career because he has fought just once in four years. His counter would be that he remains battle-tested because he trains so intensely. He might be right. While his notoriously brutal practices have been blamed for some of his injuries, they have also kept him sharp despite the missed time. Dillashaw downplays the fact he has adopted so much of what Cruz did to become champion, but the similarities are clear to see. He spent so much time simulating Cruz in the gym for his training partners that he discovered the formula for success. Dillashaw is not just doing an impression. He just found a way to adapt a great deal of what Cruz does well into his own skill set. This should be a fun fight to watch, as both try to show they can do it better. Expect a lot of feints and movement, but the former champion is on a mission to reclaim the belt he never lost in the cage.
PICK: Cruz by decision
Anthony Pettis (18-3) vs. Eddie Alvarez (26-4)
CLASS: Lightweight
LINE: Pettis minus-340
STORYLINE: Pettis is another former champion hoping to again put the belt around his waist. An impressive win over Alvarez might be enough to get him that shot. Pettis was knocked around the cage by Rafael dos Anjos in March and lost the title by unanimous decision. An elbow injury knocked him out of action, but he’s been eager to return and put the loss behind him. Alvarez, a talented veteran who has never backed down from a brawl, will certainly provide the opportunity to put on a show. This fight could provide a lot of fireworks, as Alvarez will look to pressure Pettis, one of the flashiest strikers in the UFC. It could go a different way, however. Pettis has made a big deal about the fact he hired noted wrestling coach Izzy Martinez to improve that aspect of his game. Several members of his camp indicated a belief that Pettis will try to show how much his game has evolved by taking Alvarez to the ground and looking to finish him there. It’s certainly worth watching.
PICK: Pettis by second-round submission
Travis Browne (17-3-1) vs. Matt Mitrione (9-4)
CLASS: Heavyweight
LINE: Browne minus-150
STORYLINE: This is one of those fights that’s incredibly simple to analyze but not so easy to pick. There’s no mystery here. Both want to throw power strikes until the other falls. Both are also terrific athletes. Browne played college basketball. Mitrione made it to the NFL before switching sports. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the fight is that Browne is the boyfriend of former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Browne has been working with Rousey’s much-maligned trainer, Edmond Tarverdyan. He’s coming off a loss against Andrei Arlovski in a fight in which he was a large favorite. Tarverdyan, who was loudly booed at Saturday’s weigh-ins when he walked out with Browne, will start to feel the heat if Browne is again unsuccessful under his tutelage.
PICK: Browne by second-round knockout
Ross Pearson (20-9, 1 No Contest) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (18-4)
CLASS: Lightweight
LINE: Pearson minus-155
STORYLINE: Trinaldo has had more recent success, winning five of his past six fights. Pearson has alternated wins and losses in his past six fights, though it has come against consistently better competition. Trinaldo will be fighting in the United States for the second time in his career. He lost to Gleison Tibau and Michael Chiesa, arguably the two most prominent opponents he has fought. Pearson represents another step up in competition, and his style should work well against Trinaldo. Pearson probably will try to stay in the pocket and fire back when Trinaldo’s strikes get sloppy or loopy. Trinaldo, who got a late start on his career, is 37. This might be his final chance to make a splash in the sport. That back-against-the-wall mentality might make him an intriguing underdog play.
PICK: Pearson by decision
