Summary:

For the evenings “main course” Brazil is treated to a rubber match between legends, as Vitor Belfort & Dan Henderson do battle one final time. When you not only consider their last meeting, but the fact that Henderson is 2-7 in the last four years, it’s easy to see why Belfort comes in as the favorite. His only losses in nine years comes to the sports best(Silva, Jones, and Weidman), but he’s only fought once in the last 2 years in what has arguably been a troublesome time in “The Phenom’s” career.  Though I do acknowledge Vitor’s positive test/level history, and his visible physical to performance variances, I try to maintain efficacy by keeping my analysis technically based and free from private intangibles or personal opinions(That doesn’t mean I don’t factor in these intangibles for my personal analysis or private plays).

With all that out of the way, let’s jump into this bouts technical action. Vitor is well known for his blitzing killer-instinct but is primarily a counter fighter. Habitually slipping to his left, Belfort possesses an excellent left uppercut-right hook counter. I would say that this is Henderson’s best chance to land his right, but in their most recent(and relevant) fight, we saw Vitor’s speed & technique prevail as his countering was spot on. Granted it’s in Dan’s entries where he’s most vulnerable, he’ll none the less have to show improvements and awareness here. With a “never say die” aggression & power, Henderson will often throw himself off balance and out of position. It’s here that he’s available for TD’s & counter punches, especially given his nature to overcorrect this by swinging back into the fire(his opponents range).

Defensively, Dan keeps his right hand high and will dip & slip hard to that side. He will have to be careful when doing this with Vitor’s looming left high kick. Sharpening and showing this tool since his fight with “Sexy-Yamma”, this could once again prove useful to Belfort with Dan’s propensity to lean heavily right. Henderson’s best chance to beat Belfort’s speed & aggression is utilize his counter right-hand set ups. As we saw in his fights with Fedor & Boetsch, Dan can still be effective with his power moving backwards. Henderson should also have an advantage on the floor, but given Vitor’s movement & Dan’s TD tendencies(10 for 27 TD’s in 39 fights) I doubt we’ll see much ground time. However, should this fight go past a second round, I feel Dan’s TD interests & overall chances of winning will greatly increase.

The one intangible I will factor in(and you should too) is the age & experience of each man’s glorious but weathered career. Though I feel Henderson’s line is mis-valued & worth looking at, I’d avoid any Fantasy picks despite this being a 5 round affair. I am self admittedly a huge Dan Henderson fan, but in unbiasedly looking at the information I give a slight edge to Belfort in this fight. Although I don’t necessarily agree that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, I feel any expectations on either man should be respectfully tempered as so.

Official Pick: Belfort – Inside the distance

Official Outcome: Belfort – KO round 1.

Summary:

In the “Co-Main Event” of the evening, Light-Heavyweights Glover Teixeira and Patrick Cummins do battle. Given both men’s stylistic strengths this one breaks down fairly simply. On the feet, Teixeira possesses solid Boxing technique with a nice economy of head & overall movement. Glover will seldom kick or throw himself out of position, making him match up well with Cummins on the feet. Cummins however does show improved stand up, particularly in his distancing where he manages it by utilizing shots/TD threats. It’s when Pat closes this distance in his entries is when he’s most vulnerable. With low hands and leading with his head, Cummins will shoot his way into space(often unaccompanied by punches). Here is where Glover will have his best chance to close the show given his counter punch abilities.

As good as Teixeira’s attack/counter-attacks are, he shows to struggle offensively & defensively when his backs to the cage. This is exactly where Pat will need to dictate this fight both standing and on the ground to walk away victorious. In fact, an initial tell to this fights outcome will be told within Pat’s early approach. Despite possessing an explosively well timed Power-Double(in which he uses to discourage/counter forward pressure), Should Pat allow Glover to establish the center and get comfortable, his striking & TD effectiveness may diminish. Cummins will need to keep  an “in your face” range of strikes to shots for his best chances of grounding Glover. Less we not forget that Teixeira is an underrated wrestler with good defense & get ups from the bottom.

With Teixeira proving hard to be held down, Cummins best chances top-side will be from inside the guard. From here, not only will he be able to maximize his offensive tools, but will also limit Glover’s escapes being that he favors under-hook & turtle out get ups. Should Pat succeed this much in his fight dictation, I wouldn’t bank on a finish given Glovers durability & defense. Which means if Cummins is gonna win this fight, He’ll have show the up-most discipline to do this to Glover for three rounds in hostile territory. Given that lofty task I’ll be siding with the Brazilian on this one albeit slightly. Even in a flat performance against another stylistic challenge in Phil Davis, Glover still showed the conditioning & heart to relentlessly fight back to his feet. Though Davis who rarely tires, was exhausted even after a clear victory. Though a different style of wrestler than Davis, Cummins more than possesses the tools to upset in similar fashion. With that said, I’d strongly caution any plays on this one’s outcome.

Official Pick: Teixeira – Decision

Official Outcome: Teixeira – TKO round 2.

Summary:

In my pick for the potential “Fight of the Night”, Thomas Almeida collides with Anthony Birchak. Almeida is a hot rising prospect from Brazil who embodies the classically aggressive “Chute Box” style. He’ll be facing his most well rounded opposition to date as he meets Birchak. Although coming from a wrestling base, Anthony shows a wild variety of techniques & aggression. This especially is apparent on the feet, where he keeps his opposition guessing from superman punches to clinch space, or fake shots into flying knees. However, the common thread here is that he keeps his head high and hands low on his entries. Favoring his right uppercut lead-ins, Anthony could particularly play into Almeida’s hands.

Thomas favors a lead/intercepting right hand of his own, which he uses to come over the top of oncoming attacks. Though Almeida’s willingness here has costed/exposed him to straight punches, Birchak’s wide open attack should prove less resistance for his accuracy. It is important to note that Thomas will turn his lead rights into counter set ups, as he leans heavily left/forward coming off his cross. This sets him up to come back hard with left hooks to the head & body. However, it’s in this high risk game that he also allows for his own counter vulnerabilities(seen in Pickett fight).

Though I give Almeida an overall edge standing, his willingness to go “toe-to-toe” makes Birchak’s KO power a live intangible in this fight. Not to mention Anthony’s shown durability & chin, you should not write this man off on the feet. That said, Birchak’s best chances will be by making this a gritty fight in clinch/grappling space. Almeida also shows improved TD defense & excellent get up abilities making the clinch the “Key Junction” in this fight. Should Birchak get Thomas down, I suspect he’ll try and test the Brazilian as we’ve seldom seen him grounded. However, I highly doubt we see any prolonged ground stanzas given each mans stylings.

Though possessing excellent ground striking & an aggressive sub game, Anthony will often make hasty/slightly technically deficient attempts that cost him position(even his back with his habit of turtling). Speaking of wrestling related habits, Birchak also shows to leave his legs for the taking in ground transitions(threatened/caught with leg-locks in last 4 of 4). Almeida also shows to threaten Heel Hooks in the scramble and whether he can catch Anthony or not, he should be able to use these opportunities to stand at the very least.

I actually like Birchak’s style & aggression for this fight, and I feel the odds are off as he’s a very live dog. But given the facts at play, I’ll be leaning toward the fight-to-fight improving prospect to get it done in his backyard. I cannot stress enough how close this fight actually is, and caution any plays for Almeida’s high price. That said, he is worth looking at for your high tier Fantasy picks given this ones promise for action. “When two Tigers fight, one losses but both end up maimed.” Expect high risk and high reward at it’s finest.

Official Pick: Almeida – Inside the distance

Official Outcome: Almeida – KO round 1.

Summary:

Once again in the deep Lightweight waters, Alex Oliveira meets Piotr Hallmann. With both men owning finish rates north of 80%, this one has some on-paper potential. Starting out on the feet, Hallmann will come out with consistent forward pressure. Favoring straight punches, he puts his strikes together well often finishing with chopping leg kicks. Piotr does however show defensive deficiencies, particularly when feinting his way inside. Piotr utilizes feints to set up strikes and keep his opponent guessing. In doing so, he has a tendency in over exposing his head by bringing it out and forward with his hands. This is where he traditionally has gotten hit and will have to be careful against a counter striker like Oliveira.

Alex will be more than happy to play Matador here, as he shows a natural ability to move in & out of range. Always looking to angle off, Oliveira wields an accurate left hook – right hand that Piotr will have to mind. With the larger and more proven arsenal, I have to give Alex the advantage standing. Piotr’s also the more defensively liable man given his stated issues(dropped in 3 of last 5). That being said, Hallmann is insanely tough and shows great recoverability. We’ve seen Piotr on many occasions outwork/out will opponents despite being hurt and tired.

Hallmann’s best chance of winning this fight is turning it into a grinding grappling affair. Showing a decent take down variety from the clinch, his single-legs should serve him best given Oliveira’s long frame. However, Alex shows underrated counter-wrestling and could find himself on top if Hallmann’s not careful. On the floor I give the overall scrambling & submission advantage to Oliveira, which means Piotr’s positional game will have to be on point. Hallmann’s showed progress in this part of his game when working with John Crouch & The MMA Lab.

Since departing with him, this will be Piotr’s second fight camp done in Thailand. With that said, I’m not sure what strides he’s made there or how it will translate(no slight intended). Should his transitional grappling falter, he could be subject to the active back-taking of Oliveira. From here, Alex could potentially steal control time should he not find a finish. In summation, this fight is so close it may come down to who fades first. With the new IV ban and both men’s admittance to struggle making Lightweight, fading could be a live intangible here. But with all things being equal, I’m siding with the hometown “Cowboy” to get the job done.

Official Pick: Oliveira – Decision

Official Outcome: Oliveira – KO round 3.

Summary:

In what is my most anticipated bout of the evening, Lightweight prospects Gilbert Burns & Rashid Magomedov do battle. This will be each man’s toughest test to date, as they will attempt to make statements in the UFC’s deepest division. Given both men’s consistent approach & this stylistic “Striker vs. Grappler” match-up, this one is pretty straight forward. Rashid will look to use his efficient footwork & distance management to dictate the striking traffic. Here he shows to methodically breakdown & measure opponents with a solid jab and varying(head, body, and thigh) lead-leg kicking attacks. Though his left body kick arguably is his best weapon, it’s Magomedov’s counter punching abilities that will serve him best here.

Although Gilbert continues to demonstrate improvements under Henri Hooft, he shows counter availabilities on strike retractions and exiting range. This will be Rashid’s best chances to sway momentum given his accurate counter-right and check left-hook(which I particularly see giving Burns trouble). Once hit or outdone in exchanges, Gilbert often reverts to a “shell defense”. If this happens, Burns will have to mind Magomedov’s said body attacks. Though Rashid doesn’t show one punch KO power, you can visibly see the displeasure of his opponents once cleanly landing.

Despite showing a durable chin, I doubt Gilbert will play more than he has to here. I heavily suspect Burns to utilize his aggressive forward pressure into clinch/cage space. Though lacking the Sambo & Wrestling credentials of his Dagestan counter-parts, Magomedov maintains a 92% TD defense rate. That said, the times he’s been taken down was from the cage clinch(where he’s also shown control susceptibility). This particular position is a strong suit for Gilbert, and what I believe to be the “Key Junction” in this fight.

Should Burns get Magomedov down, it could be a very long(or short) night for the Dagestani. Although Rashid’s training partners at American Top Team rave about how hard he is to hold down, Gilbert’s top/transitional game is at another level. With both men young in their MMA careers, their fight-to-fight improvements will be the intangible factor at play. Regardless of the outcome, I see this being a close fight that should bare lessons & maturity for both men. That being said, I’m leaning toward the more well-rounded Blackzilians prospect to edge this one out. I caution plays heavily here, and instead recommend the classic “Avoid & Enjoy!”.

Official Pick: Burns – Decision

Official Outcome: Magomedov – Decision.

Summary:

In the first fight on the main card, Light Heavyweights Fabio Maldonado and Corey Anderson square off. Though taking this fight on 3 weeks notice, Anderson claims to have already been in shape and actively searching for a fight. Looking at each man’s styles & tendencies, their respective paths to victory are clear. Maldonado being the more predictable fighter, will look to keep it standing at Boxing range. From here, he plays possum in pocket exchanges using deceptive tempo changing to draw out brawls. This is where he’s most dangerous as he possesses accurate counters and momentum shifting body shots.

Corey will have to avoid the brawling and stick to his game if he wants to be victorious here. Working with Mark Henry & Frankie Edgar’s team, Anderson shows an ever improving transition game. From accurate volume punches to well executed Double-legs, Corey only gets better every time we see him at 26 yrs of age. I expect him to lean heavy on his transitional wrestling skills, especially given how their strengths & weaknesses line up. Fabio shows take down susceptibility with glaring deficiencies in his ground game. Corey’s best chances are exposing this early and sticking it/Maldonado like glue.

Fabio is traditionally a slow starter, and usually gives up the first round(losing 7 of 10 opening rounds in the UFC). However, Fabio does possess the heart & durability to mount comebacks should Corey falter. This looming threat in particular will be a stern mental test in Mr. Anderson’s young career. I’m a big fan of Fabio Maldonado as he certainly holds the intangibles/tools to upset here. But between the on-paper stylings to the trajectory of their careers, I see Corey taking this one. Though lacking shown killer instinct & KO Power, I’d expect a gritty decision over a stoppage.

Official Pick: Anderson – Decision

Official Outcome: Anderson – Decision.

Summary:

In this heavily muscled Lightweight affair, Gleison Tibau meets Abel Trujillo. With each man’s consistent styling, this fight breaks down similarly to a “Striker vs. Grappler” match up. Though an NAIA collegiate wrestler, Abel prefers to stand and impose his KO power. He does tend to keep his hands low and head high(especially in pocket exchanges) making him equally susceptible. However, Trujillo shows to have quite the durable chin making him dangerous here. As we’ve seen with past opponents who discover this opening, Abel will eat their best shots and make them pay for reaching too far.

Tibau shows a nice straight left and improved overall striking, but should avoid standing too long with Trujillo. Given both men’s defensive liabilities, exchanging hooks is essentially a dice roll. Gleason’s best chance in this fight is to lean on his grinding grappling style(something Trujillo has traditionally struggled with). Tibau also holds the key factor in that regard with his excellently timed double-leg take downs. This is not only his most efficient move, it’s also shown to be an effective counter to Able’s upright forward pressure.

Should Abel defend successfully and enter his own offensive clinch space, he does wield affective knees to the body that could pay dividends. However, Tibau possesses a strong & neutralizing clinch game that should negate this. It’s also rare that I give Tibau the gas tank edge in match-ups, but given Trujillo’s shown susceptibility to fade, I gotta slightly lean toward Gleison. His overall proven experience and consistent game plan should give him the edge. Although Abel clearly holds the power & ability to upset, if he fails early it could be a long night in Brazil.

Official Pick: Tibau – Decision

Official Outcome: Tibau – Submission round 1.

Summary:

In another potentially fun Lightweight affair, Johnny Case and Yan Cabral go head-to-head. Cabral is a talented BJJ World Champion coming out of the renown Nova Uniao. Here he has diligently worked on his MMA game and sharpened his striking up. On the feet, he shows his camp’s staple of Muay-Thai stylings. Though lacking overall volume, he shows improved defense, counter-rights, and offensive power kicks.

That said, he does not match up well with Case when it comes to standing and trading. Johnny uses excellent movement & footwork to dictate range, keeping his opponents at the end of his punches. He’s also shown an improved TD/counter TD game, in which he can smoothly transitions to. Though his athleticism translates well with his TD’s in open spaces, he’s shown TD availabilities in the clinch. This is Cabral’s best chance to get the fight in his strong suit.

On the ground and especially on top, Yan is most dangerous. Using good strike selections and a relentlessly active passing game, Cabral methodically will make his way to mount. Should he get here, he poses many submission threats and controls that can at the very least steal the round. However, in his largely “float & flow” top game, he tends to leave his hips elevated. Unlike a rookie who would do this mistakenly, Cabral uses this space to bait overcompensating defenses. For example, from half guard, he’ll elevate his hips in blatant effort to free his leg and pass to side control.

Most people from bottom will naturally try and use this space to get back into the fight. It’s here Yan uses his recently liberated leg to misdirect as he jumps to mount. That all said, Cabrals space baiting style has shown to be stifled as he’s faced UFC level competition. In watching his UFC bouts, opponents have been able to reverse & reclaim guard multiple times. For this reason, should he get Case grounded I don’t think he keeps him there long. Not only being an active scrambler, Johnny also has a very effective butterfly guard(which stylistically poses problems for Yan’s style).

These factors, coupled with Johnny’s ever improving counter wrestling should get him top-side on the majority of grappling exchanges. Here I can see his solid hand fighting and G&P causing fits for Cabral. Similar to his Nova Uniao counter parts, Yan possesses underrated counter wrestling. But with a lack of offensive shot pressure, I see Johnny Case dictating the “where” and “how” of this fight. Unless Yan can shift the momentum early and capitalize, Cases chances only increase given Yan’s shown susceptibility to fade.

Official Pick: Case – Decision

Official Outcome: Case – Unanimous Decision.

Summary:

In this battle of long-time UFC veterans, Clay Guida collides with Thiago Tavares. Both men have acquired many miles throughout their respective careers, and any expectations on either man should be tempered as so. Given both fighters all-around style & activity, their current state of skill-sets & staying power will be tested. Though usually starting aggressively by establishing an “in your face” range, Tavares may tread more carefully given Guida’s consistent TD threats.

Clay shows an evolving sporadic footwork game in which he uses to dictate & disrupt distance. This method usually takes opponents out of their game, and(as we’ve seen in the latter of his career) can make for awkward stalemates standing. Guida has improved his feints which he’ll use to set up nice right hands & hooks. He does however have a tendency to lean too far forward/to the side on his feints and entries. This will increase the availability of Thiago’s hooks and knees(which he actively looks for in clinch space).

Tavares almost shows a mirror opposite in regards to standing vulnerabilities. Showing to block hooks well with his shell defense, Thiago struggles avoiding the straight punches. Luckily for him, Clay shows a lack of those specific punches in his attack. For those reasons I have to give the edge standing to Tavares. In the grappling department, Guida is more of a grinder, but both men show strong active top games. That said, it’s hard to find footage of either man consistently grounded, so don’t expect long floor stalemates.

Given each mans counter wrestling ability, expect most of the grappling to take place in the clinch battles & scrambles(especially against the fence). However, Tavares is an excellent back-taker, and should he hurt/establish position on Guida it could be trouble. Especially considering the RNC(rear naked choke) is Thiago’s favorite submission(4 finishes), and Guida owns 4 losses via this very technique. The biggest intangible in this fight is Guida himself. His said sporadic style makes this fight hard to call and easy to avoid. But with all things considered, I feel Tavares’s larger skill-set(with some help from the Brazilian crowd) should edge out the rounds and the overall fight.

Official Pick: Tavares – Decision

Official Outcome: Tavares – Submission round 1.

Summary:

In another fun and classic styles match-up, Kevin Souza welcomes Chas Skelly to Brazil. Though his first fight overseas/in Brazil, Skelly’s mental toughness and stated preparation for this bout should negate this. Chas’s most challenging aspect of this fight will certainly be in the standing exchanges. Though working hard and showing improvement on his striking, Skelly tends to retract his hands low off punches and exchanges. Specifically, he keeps his left hand/standing guard low, opening up right hand opportunities.

This could be especially bad considering Kevin Souza wields a deadly right hand. In watching film on Souza it’s clear he leans heavily on his boxing skills, as he appears to structure his MMA game to support it. Kevin likes to keep a low stance(to increase TD defense) and generally low hands(to bait counter strikes). From here, he favors a lead right Cross body shot to further his effort of drawing out offense. Often he’ll throw this at a blatant half-speed in order to set up his dangerously accurate left hook. These deceptive speed changes are signs of a good striker, and the strong point of Kevin’s game.

That said, Chas Skelly’s shown pressure fighting style doesn’t suggest he’ll stay & play Souza’s game for long. Though not the prettiest of technique, Chas shows the power & ability to change the pace and course of the fight. Particularly, Chas has an accurate lead right hand which he doesn’t shy from in making his entries. This could play a big factor standing given Souza’s susceptibility to right/counter right hands(shown in the Eddiva fight). Though Skelly can overexpose himself leaning forward on entries, Souza’s low stance & lack of kicks/knees(for fear of TD’s) should provide an open lane for Chas to test his shots.

Though awkward, Skelly is overall effective in entries as he looks for single-leg & body-lock TD’s. I suspect he’ll get this fight to the floor given Souza’s vulnerable hips & overall rudimentary TD defense. Though Kevin has competency in using the cage, he shows to be largely defensive & ineffective from the bottom. Though I’m sure Kevin has been working very hard & improving this part of his game, as he’s spent a lot of time with the Blackzilians this camp. Those intangibles aside, I don’t see him on the same technical or competitive level as Skelly.

Superior wrestling & submission game aside, it’s Skelly’s scrambling ability that sets him apart. Always looking of take the back or to hit submissions in transition(of which he has a deep arsenal of) it’s hard to see Kevin making it out of the kitchen without being burned. If you’re looking for “high scoring finisher” for Fantasy MMA, Then your eyes are probably looking toward Souza. But unless Kevin catches Skelly with an intercepting “home run” shot, I’m fairly certain Skelly takes this and possible puts him away.

Official Pick: Skelly – Decision

Official Outcome: Skelly – Submission round 2.

Summary:

In Brazil’s final Fight Pass prelim, Viscardi Andrade meets Gasan Umalatov. Both men are coming off over a year each of inactivity making the intangible factor high of this fight. The possibility of this being a sloppy affair only strengthens when examining each man’s style. Though both hold heavy ground credentials, the’ve shown difficulty being effective at the higher/UFC level. I would like to say Viscardi’s aggressive transitional Jiu Jitsu style is more dangerous on the ground, but given Gasan’s solid clinch/TD defense(89% in UFC) and his neutralizing grappling style, I suspect this one to stay standing.

On the feet, I also feel Andrade is the more dangerous fighter, but he’s also the more defensively liable man. With an already low standing guard, Viscardi tends to get in wild exchanges. This in particular will be Gasan’s best chances given his counter punching style. However, he also keeps low hands(particularly his left side) which could open him up to Andrade’s best punch.(overhand right). The most troublesome  aspect of Gasan’s style is his propensity for inactivity, which in my mind gives an overall advantage to the more aggressive Andrade(especially in Brazil).

That said, Gasan’s lone UFC victory came in Brazil against the more experienced Paulo Thiago(a similarly styled fighter who also carries heavy fading potential). With both mens durability & styles I see a finish either way very unlikely. On paper I’d like to lean toward Andrade, but if he’s to win this one, he’ll likely have to out pace & out-fight Gassan for a hard three rounds(which can be hard to swallow given potential cardio issues). Not to mention Gassan shows a solid chin & conditioning he can use to outlast the Brazilian should he tire. When inactivity, aggression, and intangibles meet, it’s often a close & sloppy affair. I’d avoid all plays/Fantasy picks on this one.

Official Pick: Unamlatov – Decision

Official Outcome: Andrade – Unanimous Decision.

Summary:

This next “Fight of the Night” candidate, is one the closest stylistic matches of the evening as Pedro Munhoz meets Jimmie Rivera. Thought different in styles, both men are aggressive forward moving strikers which should create for fun momentum swings. Rivera shows a disciplined kickboxing game favoring his hands, where as Munhoz is a Muay Thai stylist who leans more on kicks. Pedro has an excellent variety of leg/head kicks and body teeps. He likes to march forward with said attacks looking to get into clinch range where he has accurate in-close elbows.

Since training under Rafael Cordeiro (Kings MMA) he has shown fight-to-fight improvements in his striking, and I believe he has more weapons standing. that said, I expect distance control & defense being the difference on the feet. Despite showing much improved head movement, Pedro will still often revert to a shell defense. This traditionally opens up body shots, uppercuts, and rogue hooks in which Rivera wields plenty. Not to mention Jimmie’s propensity to throw these punches off kick-catch counters, Munhoz will have to be most careful here.

As far as distance management goes, Rivera shows a natural ability to stay just outside range while maintaining a constant offensive threat. This coupled with Jimmi’s forward pressure & pace could make it a difficult night for Pedro, especially if he doesn’t hurt Rivera/dictate the clinch. Though extensive ground footage on Jimmie is hard to come by(making him hard to value overall) the obvious on paper advantage goes to Munhoz given his ground base. If he can get on top he’ll be especially dangerous as he’s shown hard to shake off & dangerous in the transitions(hunting Guillotines/subs).

That being said, the clinch will also be the “Key Junction” in this fight. Both men show good TD defense, but the question will be if Rivera’s is good enough to stop Munhoz. Pedro has worked a lot on his wrestling with Kenny Johnson at Blackhouse, but given Rivera’s shown solid base, he’ll need more than his patent double-leg off the fence. This is a very hard match to pick with both men showing little weaknesses. However, I feel Rivera’s overall pressure, pace, and volume will make a slight difference. I’d caution plays here and instead sit back and “crack one open” in what is my official pick for Fight of the Night.

Official Pick: Rivera – Decision

Official Outcome: Rivera – Split Decision.

Summary:

In the evenings curtain jerker, TUF Brazil alum Bruno “Korea” Rodrigues meets Matheus “Nicolau” Pereira. From what footage I could gather on both men, this fight should breakdown pretty simply on paper. Bruno(although I could not confirm) shows to have a Tae Kwon Do base, favoring space to throw a variety of kicks. Though primarily switching stances for left power kicks, he fancies accurate spin hook kicks(to the head) and spinning side-kicks(to the body) from orthodox. However, his best option in this fight may be his right hand given Matheus’s defense. Thought showing fight-to-fight improvements in his overall striking, Matheus has shown to lower his hands  in exchanges opening up this particular punch.

Official Pick: Pereira – Decision

Official Outcome: Pereira – Submission round 3.