UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold staff picks and predictions

The Bloody Elbow team has made its predictions for Saturday’s UFC 221 card in Perth, Australia. Opinion is fairly divided on who’ll win the primary event between Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero, which is fitting considering the 50-50 nature of this one. Our ideas are also split on the co-main involving Mark Hunt and Curtis Blaydes. As for the rest of the card? Yeah… fully forgettable.
Note: Predictions are entered during the week and gathered the day prior to the event. Explanations behind every choice are not required and some authors elect to not do this for their own reasons. For example, if Phil Mackenzie entered all his predictions on Wednesday without adding in any explanations, he has no idea if he’s likely to be the only one siding with one fighter for any specific fight.
Luke Rockhold vs. Yoel Romero
Anton Tabuena: Romero does not have MMA wrestling that is on par with his credentials, and if this does go to the ground, that will be Rockhold’s world. So this basically boils down to Romero landing a bomb, or he labored by the more technical and complete fighter. Romero has power and he can certainly put out his lights at any point, but I just think Rockhold is your far superior MMA fighter in general. Unless Rockhold begins slow and gets cluttered, he ought to be able to control space, land those big kicks, and maybe finish this on the floor. Luke Rockhold by TKO.
Mookie Alexander: Selfishly, I want Rockhold to acquire because it is simply more interesting to watch him from Robert Whittaker compared to Whittaker vs. Romero two, a fight I think Whittaker wins even more conclusively than he did the first time. Romero is not a guy who completes people quickly, however, the mere fact he’s so dangerous in the later rounds presents a different challenge for Luke. Nevertheless, I hope Rockhold’s cardio to hold up at a five-rounder, he has a more varied ground game than Romero (zero livelihood submission attempts), and that I believe his kicks will be crucial to effecting Romero’s gas tank as the fight progresses. You always have to be concerned about Romero’s KO power, in addition to the potential for him to put Rockhold on his back and deliver some punishment, but that I think Rockhold gets the win in a tough, highly competitive contest. Luke Rockhold by unanimous conclusion.

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