UFC St. Louis predictions: Can Stephens silence The Korean Superboy?

Prior to Sunday's UFC Fight Night 124 in St. Louis, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's main-card bouts.

Featherweight

Jeremy Stephens (13-13 UFC, 26-14)
vs.
Doo Ho Choi (3-1 UFC, 14-2)

How this one goes down depends largely upon which version of Stephens shows up.

If the Stephens that ended his 2017 with a calculated, calf-kick-heavy dismantling of Gilbert Melendez takes the cage, Choi could be in for his second straight L. But if the 31-year-old's often damning habit of loading up on his shots without setting them up rears its ugly head, expect the Korean KO artist to subject Stephens to a death by a bevy of frighteningly fast counter right hands.

THE PICK: Choi

Women's Flyweight

Paige VanZant (4-2 UFC, 7-3)
vs.
Jessica-Rose Clark (1-0 UFC, 8-4)

VanZant can take comfort in her win over Bec Rawlings ahead of Sunday's date with Clark.

The 23-year-old remains a work in progress, but she'll be facing a near-mirror image of Rawlings - whom she KO'd 17 months ago - in her flyweight debut. As in the split decision she took over Rawlings in November, the 30-year-old Clark will look to score points with her boxing and takedowns, but if VanZant can ride her edge in athleticism, keep the fight upright, and work from the outside, she'll get back in the win column with a sweep of the scorecards.

THE PICK: VanZant

Welterweight

Kamaru Usman (6-0 UFC, 11-1)
vs.
Emil Meek (1-0 UFC, 9-2-1)

As Usman said himself after his September trouncing of Sergio Moraes, he's a "problem" for the welterweight division, and that includes Meek.

The surging contender flashed improved striking in his demolition of Moraes - undoubtedly thanks to his work at Combat Club with Henri Hooft - but he'd be wise to avoid a fire fight with Meek and counter often reckless entries with his vaunted wrestling. Usman has terrorized whomever he's brought to the mat throughout his UFC stint, and Meek - game as he is - won't be the exception.

THE PICK: Usman

Featherweight

Darren Elkins (13-4 UFC, 23-5)
vs.
Michael Johnson (9-7 UFC, 17-12)

The results of Johnson's clashes with wrestlers have been a mixed bag, as have Elkins' against more polished strikers.

The 31-year-old Johnson's crisper mitts and footwork might give Elkins fits early, but the gritty Team Alpha Male member won't be easily subdued. If Elkins can get his hands on Johnson and either wear him down against the fence or wrestle him to the mat - better known to Johnson as the Bermuda Triangle - he'll subject the St. Louis native to some smothering top control for a win on points.

THE PICK: Elkins