That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Boston baked edition of the Downes Side! Even though I’ll continue to pronounce the letter “r,” it will still be a predictions piece that would make Mark Wahlberg and all 13 members of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones proud.
The impression that I get from this week’s Fight Night card is a strong one. Live from the TD Garden, “The Notorious” Conor McGregor has an opportunity to earn a featherweight title shot. Not Conor McGregor (called Dennis Siver by some) can make a lot of people happy and break the hearts of the entire nation of Ireland with an upset. In the co-main event of the night, Donald Cerrone steps back into the Octagon only 15 days removed from his last fight. He’ll take on his old nemesis from the WEC, “Smooth” Benson Henderson. Grab a nice, warm bowl of chowdah, it’s fight time!
NORMAN PARKE VS. GLEISON TIBAU
We open the main card in the lightweight division with Norman Parke and Gleison Tibau. A judo black belt and winner of “TUF: The Smashes,” Parke holds a 4-0-1 record inside the Octagon. A veteran of 23 UFC fights, American Top Team’s Gleison Tibau overwhelms opponents with physicality. While he does have some power in his hands, his wrestling is his primary weapon.
Both fighters have excellent grappling games. They each defend takedowns at over 90 percent, though, so I don’t see this fight ending up on the ground. Parke has the speed advantage and could employ a hit-and-run style of attack, but he lacks the footwork to pull it off. This fight will primarily be fought in the clinch, and that favors Tibau. Parke will make it competitive, but he’ll end up getting smothered like Waffle House hash browns. Tibau by decision.
