UFC 245 Predictions for Usman vs Covington, Holloway vs Volkanovski, Nunes vs De Randamie, and More

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's year-end super-card is nearly here! Fight fans were over the moon to learn that UFC 245, the promotion's final pay-per-view of 2019, would feature not one, not two, but *THREE* championship bouts, all wrapped up with Kamaru "The Nigerian Nightmare" Usman defending his welterweight title against the polarizing, MAGA-crazy Colby Covington. Let's make some 12uppercut UFC predictions!

Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Colby Covington

"Marty From Nebraska" is 10-0 in UFC, has never even been dragged into anything as close as a split decision, and now makes his first 170-pound title defense having beaten up on three straight fighters noticeably older than himself. Interestingly, Colby defeated a man named Jose Caceres in October 2013 in the Championship Fighting Alliance -- five months after Caceres handed Usman his first and only pro loss. But guess what? That means nothing.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Usman by decision.

Featherweight: Max Holloway (c) vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Max Holloway has defended the 145-pound title three times, whipping Jose Aldo and Brian Ortega by stoppage and taking Frankie Edgar the distance. Volkanovski, while dangerous, has never gone five rounds. He'll try and fail to end this one early with an elbow or two.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Holloway by decision.

Women's Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Germaine De Randamie

Amanda's the GOAT. Enough said.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Nunes by stoppage.

Bantamweight: Marlon Moraes vs. Jose Aldo

Much has been made of Aldo's "Skeletor" weight cut down to 135. Like, a LOT. But this is almost certainly a little overblown; the dude is a total pro. He'll engineer a surprising victory against a compelling bantamweight opponent.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Aldo pulls the upset by stoppage.

Bantamweight: Petr Yan vs. Urijah Faber

At 41, the California Kid ain't a kid anymore. His 46-second triumph over Peter Simon in July was a feel-good story, but Yan will prove to be too much for him. No shame in that, really.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Yan by decision.

Featured Prelim: Geoff Neal vs. Mike Perry

Geoff Neal's rise has been a fun one to watch over these last two years, whereas we have no freaking idea how Platinum Mike was cleared to fight just four months after Vicente Luque turned his nose sideways. Mark it down.

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Neal by stoppage.

Featured Early Prelim: Jessica Eye vs. Viviane Araujo

Can we please get Viviane Araujo a Wikipedia page?

12UPPERCUT'S PREDICTION: Araujo by decision.