Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

This Saturday (May 30, 2020), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) journeys to UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC on ESPN 9. After three successful events in eight days, UFC looks to return to a more normal schedule, returning to planned weekly shows with Tyron Woodley’s first fight back since losing the title. Before that, however, we have some prospects and action fighters to analyze, so let’s dig into these main card bouts!

Remember: Later in the week, Jesse Holland will be back to preview and predict the biggest fights of the night.

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Lightweight: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver

Best Win for Roberts? Alexander Yakovlev For Weaver? Devin Smyth
Current Streak: Roberts won his last bout, whereas Weaver last won his UFC debut via a brutal DQ
X-Factor: Roberts’ guillotine choke
How these two match up: “Contender Series” prospects throw down!

Roberts debuted with nothing but finishes on his resume and lived up to that reputation with a nasty guillotine in his debut. Since then, he’s picked up two decision wins and suffered one loss. That’s not a bad effort from the 26-year-old, who gained some valuable experience and showed off well-rounded skills in his trips to the Octagon.

Meanwhile, Weaver proved himself a pretty capable bruiser in his “Contender Series” appearance, pushing the pace to outwork his foe. He wasn’t able to show much in his debut, however, as Weaver was out-wrestled by Rodrigo Vargas until Vargas threw a blatantly illegal knee.

Weaver’s full potential is yet unknown, but what we’ve seen so far doesn’t bode well for him. Vargas really threw him off with pretty straight forward pressure, which opened up easy takedowns. Roberts has the striking prowess to back him up as well, and the wrestling to change levels if he chooses.

More likely, Roberts backs his foe up with clean power shots, draws out a takedown attempt, and snatches up the neck.

Prediction: Roberts via submission

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Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifer

Best Win for Dern? Amanda Cooper For Cifer? Polyana Viana
Current Streak: Both women tasted defeat in their last outing
X-Factor: Dern’s weight cut issues
How these two match up: This one could get ugly.

Dern joined the UFC as a hyped prospect thanks to her incredible jiu-jitsu credentials. Unfortunately, the rest of her game has proven … lacking at best. Still, a solid overhand and world-class jiu-jitsu are a strong base for a 27-year-old to build from, so hope is not yet lost.

As for Cifer, “Shockwave” likes to strike and has finished five of her foes via strikes. She’s not overly technical on the feet, but Cifer does have a solid physicality and power to her shots that helped her push around Jodie Esquibel.

Is there a significant chance that Dern’s inability to chain wrestle or set up her shots effectively bites her once again? Definitely, and Cifers hits hard enough to potentially end things early. That said, the jiu-jitsu gulf between the two is so massive that it’s hard to pick against Dern, as Cifers would need an early stoppage or to fight perfectly for the full 15 mintues.

Long story short: Cifers was last seen trapped beneath the mount of Angela Hill, noted kickboxer, so picking her straight up against an ADCC gold medalist does not seem wise.

Prediction: Dern via submission

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC on ESPN 9 fight card this weekend, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” that are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then remaining main card portion that will air on ESPN/ESPN+ proper at 9 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC on ESPN 9: “Woodley vs. Burns” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

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