Machida vs. Dollaway: A Complete Guide to UFC Fight Night 58

UFC Fight Night 58 hits Sao Paulo, Brazil this Saturday for your enjoyment.

Headlining the event will be middleweights Lyoto Machida and CB Dollaway.

The American has surged into the divisional rankings in the past two years with surprising performances, and the UFC is now giving him his chance to enter the title picture against Machida. The Brazilian is coming off a failed bid to capture the championship from Chris Weidman, and he will want to get right back into the mix at 185 pounds.

Co-main eventing will be former bantamweight champion Renan Barao. He takes on another fast-rising, unlikely challenger in Mitch Gagnon.

Ten other bouts will round out the card in Brazil, and the UFC will wrap up the year with an exciting event that many are overlooking. The fight card has several underrated matchups, and that is what we take a look at today.

This is your complete guide to UFC Fight Night 58. Hang your mistletoe over this event and be prepared to kiss the final card of 2014 goodbye.

Vitor Miranda vs. Jake Collier

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Division: Middleweight

Records: Vitor Miranda (9-4), Jake Collier (8-1)

See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)

Vitor Miranda came up short in winning The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Season 3 heavyweight finale back in May. The fighter now drops to his more natural weight class for his second official bout in the UFC.

He welcomes Jake Collier to the company.

Collier has a nice record but doesn't have a notable name on it. This will be a steep task for him in his debut fight with the UFC and will show us just how good he truly is. Miranda stopped all three of his opponents on the show. He looks the part of a fighter who can play spoiler.

This has the feel of a favorable matchup for Miranda. Expect him to kick off the card with a TKO stoppage.

Prediction: Miranda, TKO

Marcio Alexandre Jr. vs. Tim Means

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Division: Welterweight

Records: Marcio Alexandre Jr. (12-1), Tim Means (21-6-1)

See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)

The next bout on the card features the other TUF: Brazil 3 loser. The man called "Lyoto" dropped his finale to Warlley Alves in what was his first career loss. He meets scrappy vet Tim Means.

Whereas Miranda got a favorable draw, Lyoto did not. Means is a well-rounded fighter who is coming off a win. "Dirty Bird" Means has seen a lot of growth in his game over the past few years, and his improvements have been evident in the cage.

This is a stiff test for Lyoto. The 25-year-old prospect may have a bright future, but the UFC is doing him no favors. Means will make this a dirty fight and drag Lyoto to a decision. Means takes the nod on the scorecards.

Prediction: Means, Decision

Leandro Issa vs. Yuta Sasaki

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Division: Bantamweight

Records: Leandro Issa (12-4), Yuta Sasaki (18-1-2)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

The televised prelims start with the little guys when bantamweights Leandro Issa and Yuta Sasaki go toe-to-toe.

Sasaki is unbeaten in his last 12 fights. His UFC debut win over Roland Delorme was quite impressive. Issa, meanwhile, is 1-1 in his UFC career but is coming off a submission win over Jumabieke Tuerxun.

This could be a dark horse for Fight of the Night. Don't gloss over it because it lacks a big name.

I like Sasaki to do enough to get the win. The 25-year-old could start to make serious waves in the division. Winning 12 straight fights is difficult, but winning in the UFC is a different animal. Issa won't roll over. Both fighters like to grapple, and Sasaki will finish Issa on the canvas.

This should be a fun one.

Prediction: Sasaki, Submission

Darren Elkins vs. Hacran Dias

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Division: Featherweight

Records: Darren Elkins (18-4), Hacran Dias (21-3-1)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

Buried on the undercard is No. 13-ranked contender Darren Elkins and the talented Hacran Dias.

Dias has dropped his last two outings, but both were to Top 10-caliber featherweights, Ricardo Lamas and Nik Lentz. Prior to that, Dias entered the UFC with a quality win over Iuri Alcantara.

Elkins has exchanged wins and losses in his last four bouts. Most recently he defeated Lucas Martins at UFC 179.

This is a great stylistic fight, but Elkins' style likely won't make it a Fight of the Night contender. He will try to take Dias down, and if he can't, he will grind on the Brazilian. It will be up to Dias to either stop the takedown or use his jiu-jitsu.

Elkins' pressure and wrestling will not give Dias the opportunities he needs to finish. This goes the full 15 minutes.

Prediction: Elkins, Decision

Tom Niinimaki vs. Renato Carneiro

UFC.com

Division: Featherweight

Records: Tom Niinimaki (21-7-1), Renato Carneiro (8-0-1)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

Skilled grappler Tom Niinimaki welcomes Jungle Fights' Renato Carneiro to the cage on Saturday.

Carneiro also brings in a quality grappling game. His four finishes are all via submission. This is potentially yet another fun grappling match on this card.

Niinimaki will be fighting with his back against the wall. He has dropped his last two fights to Chas Skelly and Niklas Backstrom after an impressive debut win over top-tier grappler Rani Yahya. It he cannot defeat Carneiro, it would be difficult to see how he continues on with the UFC.

I favor the newcomer in this coin flip of a bout. Niinimaki is on a down swing, had to travel to Brazil and seems to fight to his level of competition. With his opponent being a debuting fighter, I don't expect him to be stellar. Carneiro takes the decision.

Prediction: Carneiro, Decision

Marcos Rogerio De Lima vs. Igor Pokrajac

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Division: Light Heavyweight

Records: Marcos Rogerio de Lima (12-2), Igor Pokrajac (25-11, 1 NC)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

Speaking of fighters with their back against the wall, here is Igor Pokrajac, who is winless since 2012. He draws Marcos Rogerio de Lima in a fight that may end his career with the UFC.

The UFC vet will continue to struggle in the Octagon. He has lost something that I do not foresee him finding.

De Lima is 4-0-1 in his last five fights, with all four wins being by stoppage. He packs power in his strikes and has a decent ground game. That spells trouble for Pokrajac. De Lima's UFC debut lasted all of 20 seconds with a knockout over Richardson Moreira.

Look for De Lima to have an impact in his debut with a potential Performance of the Night. He will send Pokrajac packing from the UFC.

Prediction: De Lima, KO

Daniel Sarafian vs. Antonio Dos Santos Jr.

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Division: Middleweight

Records: Daniel Sarafian (8-5), Antonio Dos Santos Jr. (6-1)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

The main card kicks off with one of the more disappointing prospects the UFC has invested in, Daniel Sarafian.

He made the finals of the first season of TUF: Brazil but couldn't compete at the finale. The UFC pitted him against CB Dollaway for his UFC debut, and he dropped a split decision. That showing against a skilled fighter with multiple UFC bouts gave promise that he was a legitimate prospect. He then won his next fight against Eddie Mendez.

Then the wheels fell off with two consecutive losses to Cezar Ferreira and Kiichi Kunimoto. He has failed to develop and take the next step.

Antonio Dos Santos Jr. looks to continue his four-fight win streak with another knockout.

This is Sarafian's fight to lose, but he has shown he isn't a bankable pick. I'll put faith in him one last time to use his grappling to get the win. He'll put Dos Santos Jr. down on the mat and choke him out.

Prediction: Sarafian, Submission

Erick Silva vs. Mike Rhodes

Felipe Dana/Associated Press

Division: Welterweight

Records: Erick Silva (16-5, 1 NC), Mike Rhodes (6-3)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

At one time Erick Silva was a hot prospect in the UFC. He burst onto the scene with great performances but then he ran into Jon Fitch. Following the loss to Fitch, he has exchanged wins and losses in his four fights, losing twice by KO/TKO.

Mike Rhodes will be an interesting challenger. He hasn't shown how good he can be in his two UFC appearances, but he is a quality fighter. This bout is just as much about Rhodes showing what he can offer as it is the same for Silva.

Silva should have the advantage on the feet and on the ground. If he wants to turn his career around and take the step up the 170-pound ladder, he needs a finish. I think he gets it. Rhodes will tap out and be sent back to the regional scene.

The Brazilian will show another flash of brilliance to lull you back into thinking he can contend.

Prediction: Silva, Submission

Elias Silverio vs. Rashid Magomedov

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Division: Lightweight

Records: Elias Silverio (11-0), Rashid Magomedov (18-1)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

This fight between Elias Silverio and Rashid Magomedov deserves your full attention. Both men are on the brink of breaking through to the Top 15, yet no one is talking about them.

Silverio is undefeated with three UFC wins to his credit. None was more impressive than his decision win over Isaac Vallie-Flagg. Magomedov is 2-0 in the UFC and coming off a decision over Rodrigo Damm.

This is a fantastic fight.

It's a pick 'em, and I have gone back and forth about the victor. I have favored Magomedov more often, and that is where I shall stick. The former M-1 champion will score enough on the feet to win the decision. Silverio is no slouch on the feet and will have a reach advantage, but Magomedov will get in and out more effectively this weekend.

The winner might move into the lightweights rankings.

Prediction: Magomedov, Decision

Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Patrick Cummins

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Division: Light Heavyweight

Records: Antonio Carlos Junior (4-0), Patrick Cummins (6-1)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

Antonio Carlos Junior won TUF: Brazil 3 to move his record to 4-0, but he gets no favors in Saturday's matchup.

Daniel Cormier rudely welcomed Patrick Cummins to the UFC. He got the beatdown many expected, but the talented wrestler has since showcased his incredible grappling in his two fights since. His complete domination over Kyle Kingsbury was impressive.

Carlos Junior is at Nova Uniao and is a jiu-jitsu champion, but Cummins' top game may be too good for him right now.

Cummins is strong. It will be tough to catch him with a submission from bottom while having to deal with his pressure and ground-and-pound. He stays active and pummels while maintaining the position. And if Carlos Junior gets back up, the Brazilian will take a ride right back down.

His grappling prevents the finish, but that just means he takes punishment for 15 minutes.

Prediction: Cummins, Decision

Renan Barao vs. Mitch Gagnon

TIM LARSEN/Associated Press

Division: Bantamweight

Records: Renan Barao (32-2, 1 NC), Mitch Gagnon (12-2)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

Renan Barao had not lost in over 30 professional bouts, but T.J. Dillashaw stunned the world with a stoppage over the champion. Barao then missed out on an immediate rematch because of difficulty making the weight limit.

Sneaking his way up the rankings, No. 14-ranked contender Mitch Gagnon has won four straight in the UFC after dropping his debut against Bryan Caraway. He has finished three of those fights by submission.

This is Gagnon's chance. He has a golden opportunity. The problem is that this matchup is awful for him. Barao is an all-around better fighter, and he will be hungry to try and earn a title shot for 2015. He is motivated for a finish.

It is difficult to envision Gagnon winning this fight. Barao can take what the Canadian gives him and finish him sometime during the 15 minutes. This should be a showcase for Barao's impressive skill set.

Prediction: Barao, TKO

Lyoto Machida vs. CB Dollaway

USA TODAY Sports

Division: Middleweight

Records: Lyoto Machida (21-5), CB Dollaway (15-5)

See it on: Fox Sports 1

The main event of the evening may be more competitive than many believe.

Lyoto Machida typically matches up well with wrestlers. His style makes it difficult for them to get takedowns, and his jiu-jitsu makes it dangerous even if they do get him to the ground. CB Dollaway's Arizona State teammate Ryan Bader learned that the hard way.

Machida is coming off a loss to Chris Weidman, and Dollaway is coming in on back-to-back wins over Francis Carmont and Cezar Ferreira. 

So, why is this matchup different? Machida has started taking more chances, and Dollaway has made significant strides in his development. He most certainly has a chance to upset Machida in the main event.

While I recognize his chance to defeat Machida, I just don't think it will happen.

Expect to see a more vintage performance from the Brazilian. He will keep Dollaway on the outside and use his speed to dart in and out. Eventually, he will catch the American. Once he stuns Dollaway, Machida can choose to finish with strikes or lock in a choke. I think it's the former.

Machida picks up the win.

Prediction: Machida, TKO