UFC 142 Fight Card: Info and Predictions for Every Fight

On Saturday, January 14th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be taking its talents to Rio De Janeiro for UFC 142.

UFC 142 will air live from the HSBC Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT and 10:00 p.m. ET.

The main card will be featured around hard-hitting featherweight Jose Aldo, who will try to hold on to his UFC gold when he takes on rising star Chad Mendes.

Also featured on the main card is Vitor Belfort, who will square off with newly accustomed middleweight Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

In total the fight card consists of five main card fights and five preliminary bouts.

The following slides display info and predictions for every fight at UFC 142.

Let's take a look.

Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho

Felipe Arantes

Career Record: 13-4

UFC Record: 0-1

Key Wins: Marcelo Dutra

Key Losses: Yuri Alcantara

Antonio Carvalho

Career Record: 13-4

UFC Record: 0-0

Key Wins: Hatsu Hioki

Key Losses: Jeff Curran

Felipe Arantes and Antonio Carvalho will enter the Octagon on January 14th with identical records. Both martial artists lack major experience inside the Octagon, combining for just one Octagon appearance.

Both Arantes and Carvalho are fairly experienced in the stand-up and have the potential to knock their opponents out.

However, it's likely both will be very timid when action begins at UFC 142, since one wrong move could be enough for their dismissal from the UFC.

Arantes may attempt to overwhelm Carvalho with a series of strikes early, but Carvalho has faced much stiffer competition.

Fans shouldn't be surprised to see this one heading to the judge's scorecards.

Prediction: Carvalho by Unanimous Decision

Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle

Ricardo Funch

Career Record: 8-2

UFC Record: 0-2

Key Wins: TJ Waldburger

Key Losses: Johny Hendricks, Claude Patrick

Mike Pyle

Career Record: 21-8-1

UFC Record: 4-3

Key Wins: Ricardo Almeida

Key Losses: Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald

In a welterweight showdown, Mike Pyle will look to bounce back from his most recent defeat to Rory MacDonald at UFC 133.

However, his opponent Ricardo Funch may have something to say about that, since he is currently seeking his first win inside the Octagon.

It's safe to place your money on Pyle's takedown attempt as he'll want to overwhelm Funch from the ground and grapple his way to victory.

Funch needs to demonstrate effective takedown defense from the get-go and avoid the submission at all costs.

When the rubber meets the road, Pyle is much more experience and skilled.

Prediction: Pyle by R1 Submission

Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa

Yuri Alcantara

Career Record: 26-3

UFC Record: 1-0

Key Wins: Felipe Arantes

Key Losses: Mauricio Reis

Michihiro Omigawa

Career Record: 13-10-1

UFC Record: 1-3

Key Wins: Jason Young

Key Losses: Chad Mendes

Yuri Alcantara is currently on the best stretch of his MMA career and is on a fast track to the top of the featherweight division.

The only man standing in the way of his 13th consecutive victory is Michihiro Omigawa.

Omigawa could be in a world of trouble early and often as he'll be facing an opponent with a much more well-rounded skill set than his own.

Alcantara will have the choice to out-strike Omigawa on his feet or burn him out from the ground position.

Either way, Alcantara is too much for Omigawa to handle at this point in his career.

Prediction: Alcantara by R2 TKO

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira

Gabriel Gonzaga

Career Record: 12-6

UFC Record: 7-5

Key Wins: Mirko Cro Cop

Key Losses: Junior Dos Santos, Shane Carwin

Ednaldo Oliveira

Career Record: 13-0-1 (1)

UFC Record: 0-0

Key Wins: Nalzinho Novaes

Key Losses: N/A

In one of the more interesting matchups of the night, Gabriel Gonzaga will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to take on unbeaten Ednaldo Oliveira.

Many feel that Gonzaga will run through Oliveira since he's fought and won at the highest stage already in his career.

However, Oliveira has very powerful hands that could put an end to Gonzaga's homecoming party fairly quickly.

In fact, Gonzaga has been knocked out five times in his career, which leads us to question how many strikes he can endure before his breaking point.

However, Gonzaga is believed to be fresh and much more well-rounded than in his previous outings.

Fans in attendance can expect electric action from the opening bell.

Prediction: Gonzaga by R1 TKO

Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout

Thiago Tavares

Career Record: 16-4-1

UFC Record: 6-4-1

Key Wins: Spencer Fisher

Key Losses: Matt Wiman

Sam Stout

Career Record: 17-6-1

UFC Record: 6-5

Key Wins: Joe Lauzon

Key Losses: Jeremy Stephens

When Thiago Tavares and Sam Stout circle the Octagon at UFC 142 on January 14th, fireworks are sure to take off as both martial artists are two of the more exciting fighters in the UFC today.

Full of "Fight of the Night" and "Knockout of the Night" honors, it's likely this bout could finish with the Brazil crowd on its feet.

But many are quickly forgetting this will be the first time Stout takes to the Octagon in a little over seven months.

Therefore, it's possible both Stout and Tavares will come out of their corners fairly hesitant before fully engaging in action.

While Tavares and Stout rarely disappoint, this lightweight showdown could be heading to a judges' decision.

Prediction: Stout by Unanimous Decision

Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim

Edson Barboza

Career Record: 9-0

UFC Record: 3-0

Key Wins: Ross Pearson

Key Losses: N/A

Terry Etim

Career Record: 15-3

UFC Record: 6-3

Key Wins: Sam Stout

Key Losses: Rafael dos Anjos

After being off for more than a year, Terry Etim returned to action with a stunning 17-second submission victory over Edward Faaloloto at UFC 138.

Etim will look to repeat his previous performance when he takes on undefeated  Brazilian lightweight Edson Barboza.

Etim is a serious threat to any opponent in the submission and Barboza will have to be on guard throughout the evening.

While much hype has revolved around the rising of Barboza, he's been lackluster in his previous two performances.

The harder the competition, the less likely it's been that Barboza can finish off his opponents.

However, he has all the ingredients to outlast his opponents due to his conditioning.

Prediction: Barboza by Unanimous Decision

Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater

Erick Silva

Career Record: 13-1 (1)

UFC Record: 1-0

Key Wins: Luis Ramos

Key Losses: Mario Neto

Carlo Prater

Career Record: 29-10-1

UFC Record: 0-0

Key Wins: Melvin Guillard

Key Losses: Reza Madadi

Many fans will cross off Carlo Prater since he's yet to be recognized and has never fought in the UFC until this point in his career.

But that will all change when he takes on Erick Silva in a main card showdown on January 14th.

Prater's track record shows domination in the submission—he's recorded 16 victories by way of tapout.

In addition, Prater is one of the more well-conditioned fighters in MMA today; he has the tendency to outlast his opponents to a decision victory.

But when it's all said and done, Silva's submission skills are slightly more advanced.

Prater has also shown a weakness in submission defense, as he's been defeated by submission three times in his career.

Prediction: Silva by R3 Submission

Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio

Rousimar Palhares

Career Record: 13-3

UFC Record: 6-2

Key Wins: Dan Miller

Key Losses: Dan Henderson

Mike Massenzio

Career Record: 13-5

UFC Record: 2-3

Key Wins: Steve Cantwell

Key Losses: Brian Stann

Rousimar Palhares will attempt to stay red-hot when he enters the Octagon at UFC 142 to battle with Mike Massenzio.

Palhares has won five of his last six bouts as his exceptional submission skills have been too much for his opponents to handle.

He'll be taking on Massenzio, who's been inconsistent lately, losing four of his last seven.

Palhares will try to put Massenzio on his back immediately after the opening bell rings and submit him.

If Massenzio wants a chance, he'll need to prove he can effectively avoid the ground game and remain in the stand-up.

Palhares isn't much of a threat on his feet,  but Massenzio has showed a weakness in his striking defense in the past.

Prediction: Palhares by R2 TKO

Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson

Vitor Belfort

Career Record: 20-9

UFC Record: 9-5

Key Wins: Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin

Key Losses: Anderson Silva, Alistair Overeem

Anthony Johnson

Career Record: 10-3

UFC Record: 7-3

Key Wins: Charlie Brenneman, Dan Hardy

Key Losses: Josh Koscheck

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson will look to make a rumble when he makes his middleweight debut in Rio De Janeiro on January 14th.

Johnson is recognized as one of the hardest hitters in the UFC today and will look to overwhelm his opponent Vitor Belfort in the stand-up.

however, Belfort hits just as hard as—if not harder than—Johnson, leading fans to believe they could be in for an absolute slug-fest.

Age could play a crucial factor in the outcome of this 185-pound matchup, as Johnson certainly has the advantage in speed and quickness.

Belfort needs to prove he can stand toe-to-toe with an athlete like Johnson and not lose a beat.

Fans should be prepared to see a Johnson who's stronger and better than ever.

Prediction: Johnson by R2 TKO

José Aldo vs. Chad Mendes

Jose Aldo

Career Record: 20-1

UFC Record: 2-0

Key Wins: Urijah Faber, Kenny Florian

Key Losses: Luciano Azevedo

Chad Mendes

Career Record: 11-0

UFC Record: 2-0

Key Wins: Erik Koch, Cub Swanson

Key Losses: N/A

In the main event of the evening in Rio De Janeiro, Jose Aldo will look to successfully defend his featherweight title against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes.

Aldo has been nearly unstoppable until this point in his career, but he's yet to face an opponent with the wrestling skills of Mendes.

In fact, Mendes puts his opponents on their backs and unleashes his collegiate wrestling skills.

Mendes hasn't been taken down in any of his WEC or UFC bouts, leading us to believe Aldo could have an extremely hard time if he can't defend against the takedown.

But Aldo is the 145-pound champion for a reason—he is one of the best martial artists when it comes to adjusting to an opponent's game plan.

Aldo will certainly look to remain on his feet and impose his will via strikes and knees to Mendes.

The question that remains is whether or not Aldo can be the first man to defeat the undefeated "Money" Mendes.

Prediction: Aldo by Unanimous Decision

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