We'd be a lot more excited about this fight card if our very own Aisling Daly's fight against Claudia Gadelha had come to fruition but, oh well, Gonzaga v Cro Cop will have to suffice.
After last week's afternoon event from Fairfax, we're spoiled with another daytime fight card and our MMA writers' updated records look like this.
"Bourbon" Ben Kiely: 54-29
Darragh "The Quizmaster" Murphy: 53-30
Gabriel Gonzaga (16-9) v Mirko Cro Cop (30-11-2)
BK: Jesus, this could be a massacre. I was left a bit befuddled by Cro Cop's decision to return to the UFC.
The last time we saw him in the UFC he was getting knocked out by Roy Nelson, following his KO loss to Brendan Schaub and that came after Frank Mir put him to sleep with a knee.
While Gonzaga's form hasn't been great of late, he certainly has the requisite skills to beat up the 40-year-old Croat, and avoid that patented head kick.
Gonzaga via KO (round one)
DM: As thrilled as I'm sure we'd all be to see Cro Cop dust off the old left kick up top, I just don't see how he's improved more than Gabriel Gonzaga since they last met in 2007.
I don't see tonight's clash ending in circumstances as surprising as that hugely unexpected Gonzaga head kick knockout of the Croatian eight years ago.
Gonzaga is, by far, the better grappler and I see him being able to dictate where the fight takes place. If it stays standing, I think Gonzaga's heavy hands will put Cro Cop to sleep. If it hits the mat, I foresee a tap from the Croatian.
Gonzaga by KO (round one)
Jimi Manuwa (14-1) v Jan Blachowicz (18-3)
BK: I've been singing Manuwa's praises for a while now. All you have to do is look at his record (14-1, 13 KO) to realise that he's all out murderer inside the cage. Sure, he got found out against Gustafsson, but it was always unlikely that he would make a run at the belt at age 35 anyway.
Then you've got the perpetually underrated Blachowicz. The man who knocked out Ilir Latifi and made it look easy. He's well able to throw bombs and add this to the fact that he'll be fighting in front of a home crowd and you've got a recipe for an upset.
This is the only fight on the card that made me hesitate, but I've got to go for the Poster Boy. I simply haven't seen enough of the Pole to say that he can defeat Manuwa. If Blachowicz does get the victory, I probably won't be picking against him in his next bout.
Manuwa via KO (round one)
DM: I don't think home advantage will play much of a part in this light heavyweight clash because Manuwa is quite simply the better all-round fighter.
He has fought, and beat, much more high-level guys than Blachowicz and his only loss came against Alexander Gustafsson who is arguably the second best 205lber in the world.
On his day, Manuwa is a scary prospect for anyone and I expect him to rebound from that loss tonight. Although who knows how much of a factor his year out will play.
Manuwa via TKO (round two)
https://youtu.be/YxDzh1S1twk
Pawel Pawlak (10-1) v Sheldon Westcott (8-2-1)
BK: Take your mind back for a second to UFC Stockholm where Neil Seery vs Chris was not even on the prelims, but the early prelims. Now take another look at this fight. That's right, third from the top on the main card.
Stylistically, both fighters are very similar, and not just because they both had dreadful promotional debuts, they genuinely fight alike.
Westcott will have the size advantage though as he comes down from middleweight in his last trip to the Octagon. There might not be a lot of talent there, but there is a lot of him which should see him home to a dull decision victory.
(Westcott via decision)
DM: It can't be too often that a fight in which two fighters have exactly zero combined UFC wins makes a main card.
That's the scenario in which we find ourselves tonight but I think Westcott is the more accomplished fighter.
He looked exhausted in his TKO defeat at the TUF nations finale but his opponent that night, Elias Theodorou, looks a handy prospect.
If Pawlak couldn't hang with Peter Sobotta, I don't think he'll fare too well with the tremendously tough Westcott.
(Westcott via decision)
Joanne Calderwood (9-0) v Maryna Moroz (5-0)
BK: That's more like it. The fact that this fight has a lower billing than the welterweight bout is an absolute travesty.
Calderwood will be looking to stake her claim as the number one strawweight contender and with a good win here, she is likely to get a shot against that other one with all the Js and Zs in her name. Jedrzejczyk vs Calderwood would make a fine addition to the UFC Glasgow card in July.
Calderwood via decision
DM: Not a whole lot to say about this. Calderwood belongs at the top of the strawweight division, Moroz does not.
I think the Scot has championship potential and won't encounter too much difficulty against the UFC debutant.
Calderwood via TKO (round two)
https://youtu.be/4Lneb2ntNLc
