Okay, so I decided to get into predicting UFC fights, specifically for the UFC Fight Night prelims. It sounded like fun, and honestly, I wanted to see if I could actually get some right.
First, I started by pulling up the fight card. I just used the UFC website cause it’s the easiest. I needed to see who was fighting who, obviously. Then, I opened up a bunch of browser tabs – one for each fighter.
Next I looked up each fighters record, like, what’s their win/loss ratio, how do they usually win (knockout, submission, decision?), and who have they fought before. The previous fights they had can tell me how well they fight. I jotted all this stuff down in a notebook, old-school style. I like having it all in front of me, not just on a screen.
Digging into the Stats
- Wins/Losses: This is a no-brainer, but it’s not everything. A fighter with a few losses against top guys might be better than someone with a perfect record against weaker opponents.
- Method of Victory: Does a fighter tend to knock people out, or are they more of a submission artist? This helps me guess how the fight might go.
- Recent Performance: Have they been on a winning streak, or have they lost a few lately? Momentum can be a big deal.
- Strength of Schedule.I had no idea what that * I searched online, I found it means who are the fighters * better opponents means the fighter is maybe also better.
After gathering all the raw data, I started watching some fight footage. I wanted to see their fighting styles, how they move, how aggressive they are, and any obvious weaknesses. Some guys are great strikers but have terrible ground games. Others are submission wizards but can’t take a punch. I tried to find patterns, anything that might give me a clue.
It took a while, but I watched as much as I could, fast-forwarding through some of the boring parts. I focused on their recent fights, figuring that’s the most relevant.
Finally, I made my picks. It was tough! Some fights were really close, and I went back and forth a few times. I didn’t just go with my gut; I tried to use all the info I’d gathered. I wrote down my predictions and why I thought each fighter would win.
In the end, it’s still a guess. Anything can happen in a fight, but I felt like I’d done my homework. Now I just gotta wait and see if I’m right! Wish me good luck!
