UFC 252 Prediction: Herbert Burns vs Daniel Pineda

August 15 will see UFC 252 take place at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas with a stellar card. The headliner for the card sees Stipe Miocic defend his undisputed gold strap against arch-rival Daniel Cormier. Moreover, the victor will advance his legacy in the heavyweight division of the promotion and further bolster his status.

Additionally, the main card sees certain fights that will play an important role in shaping the divisions of the UFC. Chiefly, a featherweight match-up between Herbert Burns and Daniel Pineda has bumped up the card. The aforementioned fight replaces a rematch between Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev after the latter tested COVID-19 positive.

UFC 252: Herbert Burns vs Daniel Pineda

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace is one of the hottest prospects in the company, given his 5-fight tear as a professional. He has recovered swiftly after testing positive for COVID-19 along with his top-ranked brother Gilbert Burns. He most recently submitted the perennially durable fighter in Evan Dunham back in June.

All but one of his victories have come through submission in his professional career. The moment the fight goes to the ground, he advances to highly favorable positions. When fighting a game brawler like Daniel Pineda, Burns will have to be wary of fighting at long range.

‘The Pit’ Pineda has had a rough out over the last two years of his professional career. His stint in the PFL ended with both his tournament win being overturned to No-contests due to elevated testosterone levels. He has now found himself back in the UFC after a 6-year long hiatus and looks to put his woes in the past.

He has an extremely underrated ground game with several submission victories to his name. However, Burns would still be favored heavily if the fight were to hit the mat. If Daniel Pineda is able to get into a tight range, he should be able to discourage his opponent from grabbing at a limb.

The fight is being touted as an immediate ‘Fight of the Night’ candidate by fans and media alike. Pineda has said that this fight will not go the scorecards under any circumstance. However, Burns’ toolbox may prove to be far too varied for the UFC returning veteran.

Prediction: Herbert Burns to claim a third-round submission (Arm-triangle)