Penick's Take
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 59 PREVIEW: Penick's main card thoughts and picks for "McGregor vs. Siver" event
Jan 18, 2015 - 9:40:37 AM UFC FIGHT NIGHT 59 PREVIEW: Penick's main card thoughts and picks for "McGregor vs. Siver" event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Is Conor McGregor going to lock up his title fight with Jose Aldo? Can Donald Cerrone finally beat Benson Henderson? Those are the top two questions set to be answered tonight at UFC Fight Night 59. Though Henderson and Cerrone playing second fiddle to McGregor despite the respective histories of all involved is unfortunate - especially given the likelihood the main event ends within three rounds - those two fights are still must-see affairs on Fox Sports 1. Here's what's on tap for the Boston card tonight:


Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver (Featherweight): In just his fifth UFC fight, McGregor has a chance to earn his shot at one of the longest reigning Champions in the UFC. He's taken an undeniably charismatic personality, backed it up with a few impressive performances, and convinced those that matter in the UFC to strap the proverbial rocket to his back.

Dennis Siver has gone 4-1 as a featherweight, though it seems he's been on a bit of a decline in the last couple years even as he's won two straight. After his TKO loss to Cub Swanson in July of 2013, he beat Manny Gamburyan and short notice newcomer Charles Rosa by decision, but Rosa was simply out-matched on short notice even as he stayed in the fight.

Simply put, though Siver's a mostly durable veteran with good control on the ground, as well as a good - though not great - striking attack, there's something more at play with McGregor into this fight.

The win over Dustin Poirier last September was the eye opener. Sure, McGregor had won 11 straight fights into that UFC 178 matchup, but he hadn't fought anyone really at Poirier's level at that point. Then he destroyed him.

McGregor's got good takedown defense, an exciting striking game, and the intangibles that allow him to put things together to be a legitimate challenger in this division. If he's healthy, I think he'll follow through on his pre-fight prediction. McGregor via TKO in the first round.


Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone (Lightweight):

I'm going to preface the following with this: I have no idea how this fight is going to play out. Anyone who thinks they have a handle on this one based on what happened in their first two fights five years ago, or even on what they've done in the last year, is kidding themselves, because this is just one of those "anything can happen" matchups.

Cerrone's had moments of brilliance in the cage, and he's fairly consistent. He's improved almost every part of his game since he last faced Henderson, but he's coming into this one having fought just two weeks ago.

Henderson has been prepping for an entirely different type of fighter in Eddie Alvarez, and is returning from his KO loss to Rafael dos Anjos last August. He's still got the same skills he's every had, improved a bit over the years, but I wouldn't say he's improved more than Cerrone in that same time.

We know what both fighters can do. They've been two of the more active fighters on the roster over the last several years, and we've seen them time and again against every variety of opponent. Cerrone's gotten more dangerous at his best, but Henderson - despite the KO loss to RDA - isn't an easy out. Still, the short notice nature of this fight, again, means anything can - and quite possibly will - happen here. Because it would be a crazy story, one few would have expected a year ago, I think a lot of people may be pulling for Cerrone. Maybe he'll get it done this time around. Cerrone by submission in the second round.


Uriah Hall vs. Ron Stallings (Middleweight): Hall hasn't lived up to the promise shown on The Ultimate Fighter 17, and has seemed to have some mental blocks holding back what is simply some natural and violent striking talent. Stallings enters on extremely short notice as a bit of a journeyman, and actually lost his most recent fight decision in November. His proximity to this region and availability gave him his shot in the Octagon.

This one should be one-sided in Hall's favor. He's fought tougher opposition, and though he has had some mental lapses that have helped lead to grind-out losses to Kelvin Gastelum and John Howard, Stallings isn't the type of opponent who has that style of attack. Hall should roll in this one, provided he can find a little bit of killer instinct. Hall via TKO in the first round.



Norman Parke vs. Gleison Tibau (Lightweight): Parke looked good in his stoppage of Naoyuki Kotani in September, but Tibau is a much tougher out than that. As one of the longest tenured fighters on the UFC's roster, Tibau's relative consistency has given him opportunity after opportunity to fight in the Octagon. He's on a 4-1 run right now, and though that one loss came by knockout, Parke's not been consistent on that front, either. This should be a tough, competitive, not necessarily all that entertaining style of fight, and we'll see if Parke is in the top half of the UFC's lightweight field or the bottom half in this one. Parke by decision.