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UFC Fight Night 59 Main Card

After four consecutive UFC scalps, Conor McGregor will look to back up the hype once more and secure a featherweight title shot when he tackles Dennis Siver on Sunday in Boston.

McGregor, who headlines UFC Fight Night 59 at the TD Arena, is already one of the promotion’s rising stars, recently dismantling Dustin Poirier in September in one round of graceful destruction.

That was just two months before he swept up a frenzy in his hometown of Dublin, when he picked apart Diego Brandao for another first round TKO.

And remember, the Irishman has done it all while slamming his rivals on the mic, drawing the wrath of fighters such as Diego Sanchez, Cole Miller and, of course, reigning world champion Jose Aldo.

Dana White, the UFC president, has said McGregor will get his crack at the belt if he wins this weekend. Watch this space.

Siver is on the other hand quiet, respectful, but no less dangerous in the cage. The German is an 11-year veteran holding a record of 22-9-1 NC, and outpointed Charles Rosa in October with both men exploring their submission arsenals.

Dennis boasts deadly spinning-back-kicks – check out his finish of Nate Mohr in 2009 – and switches from legs kicks to body attacks with great effect. Still, he hasn’t scored a finish since 2010, plus question marks remain over his ability to fight for five minutes of each round.

Expect both men to start quickly with spinning attacks, high kicks and side kicks.  The key for McGregor will be to force his rival towards the fence. Think back to Conor’s decision over Max Holloway in 2013. Remember his success with left kicks once “Blessed” was cowering against the cage-wall?

With an 88% TKO/KO ratio compared to Siver’s 23%, the pick is for McGregor to grab his fourth UFC stoppage. Siver’s conditioning has perhaps taken a hit since dropping from 155lbs and, from what we’ve seen so far, McGregor doesn’t hang around.

Lightweights Benson Henderson and Donald Cerrone complete their trilogy in the co-main event after Henderson twice got the better of “Cowboy” in the WEC.

“Smooth” Henderson has since developed a reputation as a technician with a gas tank to boot, holding five-round verdicts over Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Frankie Edgar (twice, both in title fights). He has been criticised, though, for fighting to not get hit and he was knocked out in August, last time out, against number one contender Rafael dos Anjos.

Cerrone meanwhile always brings fireworks and notched up three finishes in 2014 before his muay Thai attacks put paid to Eddie Alvarez over three in September. Incredibly, “Cowboy” replaces the injured Alvarez here just two weeks after his decision over Myles Jury.

“Hendo” is a different proposition though. Training at the MMA Lab, the 31-year-old boasts world-class takedown defence and a shrewd, calculated boxing game. He can at times reduce opponents to a shell of themselves with his defence but nevertheless Cerrone is always resourceful, especially off of his back. Henderson will endure moments of danger but the Glendale, Arizona man should take this on the cards.

In the same division Norman Parke and Gleison Tibau will also trade blows. “Stormin” Parke showed his striking arsenal last July by stopping Naoyuki Kotani inside two for his fourth UFC coup. Partly based at Alliance MMA, the Northern Irishman boasts athleticism and a broad range of chokes.

Regardless, not many styles will surprise Tibau, who began fighting in 1999 and has competed in the Octagon 23 times. The 31-year-old is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, holds weapons on the ground, and can take a shot too – his last defeat, two years ago against Michael Johnson, was his first TKO defeat since 2006. Parke could win a decision but it could be a different story once it goes to the ground. You’d think the Antrim warrior would love a stoppage though.

Middleweight prospect Uriah Hall became renowned for his striking when his spinning-back-kick knockout of Adam Cella, on The Ultimate Fighter Season 17, went viral. Still, a handful of lacklustre performances have diminished the hype somewhat, and the New Yorker damaged his foot badly during his July 2014 decision over Thiago Santos.

He faces UFC debutant Ron Stallings, a 31-year-old with a background in taekwondo. Stallings can bang a bit too – note his body shots finish of Mike Massenzio in 2012. But given his opponent’s deft footwork and ability to create openings in the stand-up, all signs point to a Hall finish, probably by strikes. Let’s hope “Primetime” shows what he can do.

 

The Prelims

The undercard features plenty of scraps to look out for most notably featuring Irishmen, Cathal Pendred and Paddy Hoolahan, and talented Boston middleweight John Howard. Pendred, a thickly-set welterweight from McGregor’s SBG Ireland base, will look for his third UFC victory when he faces Sean Spencer, while his flyweight stablemate Hoolahan should start as favourite against Oklahoma’s Shane Howell. Howard, meanwhile, tackles Lorenz Larkin in a clash of evenly-matched strikers.

The rest of the undercard hosts TUF China lightweight champion Zhang Yipeng against Chis Wade, another 155lb battle between Johnny Case and Frankie Perez, and Charles Rosa’s featherweight collision with Sean Soriano. Elsewhere Fight Pass prelims will showcase light-heavyweights Matt Van Buran and Sean O’Connell, and flyweights Tateki Katsuda and Joby Sanchez.

 

This UFC Fight Night 59 preview was brought to you by Alistair Hendrie. Follow Alistair on twitter @Allyh84