UFC 15: Collision Course: Predictions & Analysis

The Heavyweight matchup features Maurice Smith (4-2) taking on David Abbott (8-9).

Smith is rated at 1155 — 378 points above Abbott's 777. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

The style clash matters here: Smith is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings, while Abbott is most dangerous on the ground, constantly threatening chokes and joint locks. In our database, knockout artists own a 54% win rate against submission artists, giving Smith the stylistic edge.

A few statistical edges stand out. Abbott throws significantly more leather — a 0.1 sig. strike per minute gap. Abbott is far more active with takedowns, averaging 3.6 more per 15 minutes. Smith has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Maurice Smith over David Abbott.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Smith at 52%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Heavyweight matchup features Mark Kerr (2-0) taking on Dwayne Cason (0-0).

Kerr is rated at 1241 — 298 points above Cason's 943. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Kerr throws significantly more leather — a 4.3 sig. strike per minute gap. Kerr is far more active with takedowns, averaging 7.5 more per 15 minutes. Cason has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Mark Kerr over Dwayne Cason.** The model is firm on this one: Kerr at 88%.

The Heavyweight matchup features Randy Couture (16-7) taking on Vitor Belfort (15-9).

The Elo gap here is razor-thin — Couture at 1248, Belfort at 1255. On paper, this is as close to a coin flip as it gets. Couture rides a 3-fight win streak into this one.

Stylistically this is Couture's wrestler game against Belfort's knockout artist approach. Couture looks to close distance and put the fight on the mat, while Belfort is patient on the feet, timing counters and loading up when he sees openings. Historically these archetypes are dead-even when they collide.

A few statistical edges stand out. Belfort throws significantly more leather — a 10.2 sig. strike per minute gap. Couture is far more active with takedowns, averaging 2.0 more per 15 minutes. Couture has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Randy Couture over Vitor Belfort.** This is essentially a pick'em. The model nudges toward Couture at 52%, but there's almost nothing separating these two.

The Heavyweight matchup features Dave Beneteau (2-3) taking on Carlos Barreto (0-0).

Beneteau is rated at 1110 — 187 points above Barreto's 923. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Beneteau throws significantly more leather — a 3.7 sig. strike per minute gap. Beneteau is far more active with takedowns, averaging 5.8 more per 15 minutes. Barreto has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Dave Beneteau over Carlos Barreto.** The model is firm on this one: Beneteau at 78%.

The Heavyweight matchup features Mark Kerr (2-0) taking on Greg Stott (0-0).

Kerr is rated at 1241 — 292 points above Stott's 949. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Kerr throws significantly more leather — a 4.5 sig. strike per minute gap. Kerr is far more active with takedowns, averaging 9.2 more per 15 minutes. Stott has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Mark Kerr over Greg Stott.** The model is firm on this one: Kerr at 95%.

The Heavyweight matchup features Dwayne Cason (0-0) taking on Houston Dorr (0-0).

There's a real Elo separation here: Cason at 943 versus Dorr at 852. That 91-point gap typically reflects a meaningful difference in recent quality of competition and results.

A few statistical edges stand out. Dorr throws significantly more leather — a 0.0 sig. strike per minute gap. Dorr is far more active with takedowns, averaging 0.0 more per 15 minutes. Dorr has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Dwayne Cason over Houston Dorr.** The model is firm on this one: Cason at 86%.

The Heavyweight matchup features Alex Hunter (1-0) taking on Harry Moskowitz (0-1).

Hunter is rated at 1129 — 255 points above Moskowitz's 875. Gaps this large usually mean one fighter has been consistently beating better opponents.

A few statistical edges stand out. Hunter throws significantly more leather — a 2.8 sig. strike per minute gap. Hunter is far more active with takedowns, averaging 6.0 more per 15 minutes. Moskowitz has tighter striking defense, making opponents miss more often.

**The Pick: Alex Hunter over Harry Moskowitz.** The model is firm on this one: Hunter at 85%.