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Max Holloway (blue gloves) Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Four bold UFC predictions for UFC Kansas City, including a dominant win for Max Holloway

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 4/11/23

Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next event, UFC Kansas City on April 15.

After a successful card last week in Miami, the MMA world leader is back on the road and will make a stop in Kansas City on Saturday night. The UFC Fight Night card will be headlined by a major matchup at featherweight when former division king Max Holloway returns and faces fast-rising Englishman Arnold Allen. A win for “Almighty” could net him a title opportunity later this year.

The card from inside the T-Mobile Center also features a few fan-friendly scraps in Edson Barboza versus Billy Quarantillo and Brandon Royval against Matheus Nicolau. Plus, UFC great Clay Guida will be back in action on April 15.

With all of that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s event this weekend.

UFC predictions: 4 UFC Kansas City fighters getting Ws Saturday

Max Holloway (23-7) vs. Arnold Allen (19-1)

Allen is a very talented young fighter currently on a 12-fight win streak. However, at UFC Kansas City he will be taking a massive step up in competition when he takes on division legend Max Holloway. The big question beyond if Allen is ready for the top of the division is “Blessed’s” relevancy at the highest levels of the fight game.

While the Hawaiian is only 31, there is a huge amount of fight miles on his body after a resume full of absolute wars. He has seemed to slow down in recent years and his fights are far more competitive than they used to be. Has the competition caught up to Holloway? Is he slowing down? Or is he a great fighter that only champions can beat? All those questions will be answered on Saturday, and chances are we find out that he is still the best fighter in the weight class besides Alexander Volkanovski.

UFC Kansas City: Holloway (-175) vs. Allen (+150)
Prediction: Holloway by TKO, Round 4

Edson Barboza (22-11) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-17-4)

Edson Barboza vs. Billy Quarantillo is the favorite to be the UFC Kansas City fight of the night. Barboza’s mix of explosive strikes clashing with Quarantillo’s aggressive brawling style will likely deliver fireworks and a definitive finish.

If it were five years ago, the Brazilian would be a huge favorite, but he enters this fight as an underdog due to an obvious decline in performance, and “Billy Q’s” guts and drive is a serious force to combat. Expect Barboza to hurt his foe at some point in the fight, but the American will survive and eventually overwhelm the aging fighter.

Odds: Barboza (+140) vs. Quarantillo (-165)
UFC Prediction: Quarantillo by TKO, Round 3

Brandon Royval (14-6) vs. Matheus Nicolau (19-2-1)

Matheus Nicolau’s matchup with Brandon Royval is a major fight in the UFC’s flyweight division. Both are in striking distance of a title opportunity, and a win — especially a finish — would likely leapfrog them into a title opportunity later in the year.

The matchup is a pick ’em, but based on heart and resume. Royval has the edge despite the Brazilian’s current six-fight win streak. Expect this one to be highly entertaining as “Raw Dawg” scores the biggest win of his career.

Odds: Royval (+135) vs. Nicolau (-155)
UFC Prediction: Royval by submission, Round 2

Clay Guida (38-22) vs. Rafa García (14-3)

Despite being 41 and having 60 fights on his resume, MMA great Clay Guida is still a relevant competitor in the UFC. His matchup with Rafa Garcia at UFC Kansas City will be another chance to prove that he still has a lot left in the tank after 20 years in the sport.

The matchup is a favorable one for “The Carpenter” since Garcia is not a serious knockout threat. However, the Mexican has very sound striking and will use that, along with a speed advantage to outpoint Guida and add a legend to his hit list on Saturday.