TUF 26 Finale predictions: Who will become the UFC's 1st women's flyweight champ?

Prior to Friday's The Ultimate Fighter 26 finale in Las Vegas, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's main-card bouts.

Women's Flyweight Championship

Nicco Montano (0-0 UFC, 3-2)
vs.
Roxanne Modafferi (0-1 UFC, 21-13)

The third time will be the charm for Modafferi.

After failing to capture major world titles in Strikeforce and most recently, Invicta FC, the well-traveled 35-year-old will right that wrong at Montano's expense with her crafty grappling. The 28-year-old Montano may stay on her bicycle and look to score points with strikes from the outside, but Modafferi will only oblige her enough to set up a takedown and impose her will with a smothering top game for the gold.

Modafferi by decision.

THE PICK: Modafferi

Bantamweight

Sean O'Malley (0-0 UFC, 8-0)
vs.
Terrion Ware (0-1 UFC, 17-6)

It won't come easily, but O'Malley should exit this one with the "0" on his record intact.

In what should remain a striking duel for the full three rounds, look for Ware to keep his jab active and work to enter boxing range, with O'Malley riding his length and keeping the seasoned vet on the end of his punches. Much to the newcomer's chagrin, O'Malley will have to go to the scorecards to remain undefeated, but if he can pick his shots and catch Ware reaching on his combinations, he'll get the nod.

THE PICK: O'Malley

Related - The Sugar Show: How far will top prospect Sean O'Malley go in the UFC?

Women's Flyweight

Barb Honchak (0-0 UFC, 10-2)
vs.
Lauren Murphy (1-3 UFC, 9-3)

In a battle of seasoned flyweights who don't shy away from the clinch, it's whoever gets the better of the exchanges against the fence that'll earn the W.

Having regained her sea legs on "TUF 26" after a three-year layoff, Honchak should submit a vintage performance in her promotional debut, grinding Murphy against the cage and peppering her with short strikes. Murphy is no stranger to gruelling affairs, but she's often gotten the short end of the scorecards against workhorses of Honchak's ilk in Sara McMann and Liz Carmouche.

Honchak on points.

THE PICK: Honchak

Middleweight

Eric Spicely (2-2 UFC, 10-2)
vs.
Gerald Meerschaert (2-1 UFC, 26-9)

If the pair of submission artists turn this into a grappling match, lord knows who'll come out on top.

It's in the striking department that Meerschaert owns the advantage, and unless he aims to suffer the same fate as Thiago Santos, he should do his damnedest to keep the action upright. Look for the Roufusport man to earn Spicely's respect with his mitts early and tag him before adding another tapout to his prolific resume.

THE PICK: Meerschaert

Women's Flyweight

DeAnna Bennett (0-0 UFC, 8-3)
vs.
Melinda Fabian (0-0 UFC, 4-3-1)

Bennett won't let her second chance go to waste.

The Invicta FC alum and "TUF 26" contestant heads into her UFC debut on a three-fight skid, but her striking should right the ship at an all too game Fabian's expense. If the action stays upright, expect Fabian to take the center of cage while Bennett stays on her bicycle, sticks her jab and front kicks in equal measure, and circles out of harm's way for three rounds en route to a much needed W.

THE PICK: Bennett

Bantamweight

Joe Soto (3-3 UFC, 18-5)
vs.
Brett Johns (2-0 UFC, 14-0)

In his pair of UFC victories, Johns made a winning formula of setting up a steady stream of takedowns with strikes. Soto is just the man to make him rue the strategy.

If his bloody March battle with Rani Yahya was any indication, the former bantamweight title challenger isn't afraid to make a fight ugly, and if Johns does indeed take the action to the mat, Soto should ride his Brazilian jiu-jitsu acumen to gain the upper hand and make it four in a row with his 11th career tapout.

THE PICK: Soto