B/R MMA Staff Predictions for UFC on FX Preliminary Card

The UFC will put on its first show of 2013 in Brazil, when the UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping comes to you live on free TV on Saturday. As the event name suggests, middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort are set to do battle in the Octagon.

There are a large quantity of Brazilian fighters on the card, who usually put on exciting fights for fans. So if you are somebody who loves vicious brawls and great finishes in fights, this card is definitely one to watch.

Scott Harris, Andrew Saunders, Dwight Wakabayashi, James MacDonald and myself, Riley Kontek, will now give you our picks for the preliminary card of UFC on FX 6. Some of the fights hold unanimous verdicts, while others have split the staff in half.

Francisco Trinaldo vs. C.J. Keith

Riley Kontek: C.J. Keith's last outing saw him get manhandled by Ramsey Nijem, who is not nearly on the level of Francisco Trinaldo. Trinaldo is a more well-rounded, stronger and better version of Nijem, so I think he will destroy Keith and hand him his pink slip.

Trinaldo, TKO, Rd. 1

Scott Harris: When last we saw Francisco Trinaldo, he was getting muscled around by Gleison Tibau. I've never heard of C.J. Keith. We have a winner!

Trinaldo, Submission, Rd. 2

Andrew Saunders: Trinaldo might just be the largest fighter to ever compete as a lightweight. When put against a tough-as-nails Gleison Tibau, Trinaldo hung in there and had a lot of success. He will have no trouble with C.J. Keith, who is solely known as the guy who Ramsey Nijem stopped in less than three minutes.

Trinaldo, TKO, Rd. 2

Dwight Wakabayashi: Trinaldo is a beast who went the distance with Gleison Tibau in his last fight while C.J. Keith suffered a quick loss to Ramsey Nijem. Need I say more?

Trinaldo, TKO, Rd. 1

James MacDonald: A cursory Google search of C.J. Keith reveals little more than the fact that he doesn’t yet have a Wikipedia page. Therefore, like Scott, I’m giving Francisco Trinaldo the nod via process of elimination.

Trinaldo, Unanimous Decision

Staff Picking Trinaldo: Kontek, Harris, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald 

Staff Picking Keith: None 

Wagner Prado vs. Ildemar Alcantara

Riley Kontek: Wagner Prado had an ill-fated outing against Phil Davis in his last go, which is nothing to be ashamed of. He is matched up with somebody closer to his skill level when he meets late replacement Ildemar Alcantara, a natural middleweight. Prado will have his moments, but I think Alcantara will prove to be just tough enough.

Alcantara, Unanimous Decision

Scott Harris: Phil Davis gave Prado a strange welcome to the UFC. Against Alcantara, Prado will throw himself a proper coming-out party.

Prado, TKO, Rd. 1

Andrew Saunders: Yet another late change to this card. Wagner Prado was supposed to turn Roger Hollett into a breathing punching bag on this card. Instead, he takes on Ildemar Alcantara, who is riding a seven-fight winning streak and should still be in good shape as he competed in late December. This fight is a toss up for me, but I've got to go with Prado in this contest. Stand-up is his forte and he is fighting someone who typically competes as a middleweight.

Prado, TKO, Rd. 1

Dwight Wakabayashi: Even though Alcantara is a late replacement for Roger Hollet, I think he is a better fighter than Hollett and should make for a better show. It may take some more time and effort than Hollett would have, but Prado should be able to take Alcantara out.

Prado, TKO, Rd. 2

James MacDonald: Despite having been tossed around like pizza dough by Phil Davis, I expect the perpetually ebullient Wagner Prado to finally justify his rosy demeanor by securing his first UFC win on Saturday. Ildemar Alcanatara is a much more favorable stylistic matchup than Davis, so Prado should at the very least mount some offense this time.

Prado, Unanimous Decision

Staff Picking Alcantara: Kontek 

Staff Picking Prado: Harris, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald

Yuri Alcantara vs. Pedro Nobre

Riley Kontek: Yet another late replacement has to step up out of their natural weight class when flyweight Pedro Nobre meets Yuri Alcantara at bantamweight. Alcantara was considered a top 135er before losing to Hacran Dias, but I still see a top bantamweight in this guy. He will work over Nobre and send him back to 125.

Alcantara, TKO, Rd. 2

Scott Harris: MMA insiders like to call this kind of a fight a "mismatch." Alcantara all day.

Alcantara, Submission, Rd. 2

Andrew Saunders: Pedro Nobre is typically a flyweight who joined this card on January 6. On only two weeks notice, this can-crusher somehow has to deal with former featherweight prospect Yuri Alcantara. With Alcantara enjoying the benefits of a full training camp, a size advantage and a massive experience advantage, it is hard to see him losing this fight.

Alcantara, TKO, Rd. 2

Dwight Wakabayashi: Credit to Nobre for taking this fight on extremely short notice, but I don't see it being a good night for the Brazilian Top Team flyweight. Alcantara is bigger and has fought tougher guys but his only risk here is taking this fight too lightly come Saturday. If Nobre game plans correctly this fight may be closer than you think, but it won't be pretty.

Alcantara, Unanimous Decision

James MacDonald: Not being overly familiar with UFC newcomer Pedro Nobre, I’m inclined to go with Yuri Alcantara via decision. In order to pad the word count for this prediction, I will conclude by saying that Pedro Nobro is a cool name.

Alcantara, Submission, Rd. 2

Staff Picking Alcantara: Kontek, Harris, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald 

Staff Picking Nobre: None

Edson Barboza vs. Lucas Martins

Riley Kontek: Edson Barboza, despite his slip-up to Jamie Varner, is still a stud at 155. His Muay Thai skills may be second to none in the division. Lucas Martins is an intriguing newcomer who is undefeated, but I think his inexperience will play against him here and Barboza will get back on track.

Barboza, TKO, Rd. 2

Scott Harris: This undercard has a bit of a Strikeforce feel to it. It's downright un"can"ny, if you take my meaning. This one could be knockout of the night if an angry and motivated Edson Barboza gets the space to do his thing.

Barboza, TKO, Rd. 1

Andrew Saunders: Barboza will come back hungry after his first career loss. Although I think that late replacement Lucas has a bright future ahead of him, there is no way that he was able to put together a worthwhile training camp in less than three weeks. Had a full camp come into play, I would expect this fight to be a nail-biter, but he didn't, so I've got to bank on Barboza to outstrike his opponent, although I don't think he will earn a stoppage.

Barboza, Unanimous Decision

Dwight Wakabayashi: Justin Salas was set up to be the bounce-back opponent for the electric Edson Barboza following his upset loss at the hands of Jamie Varner last year. Salas pulled up lame and in steps debut fighter Lucas Martins. Barboza should be facing a more established fighter and now the pressure is on to not only win, but finish this newcomer in highlight-reel fashion. This fight has risk written all over it but Barbosa should prevail.

Barboza, Unanimous Decision

James MacDonald: Despite being upset by Jamie Varner last time out, I’m still high on Edson Barboza’s future title prospects. Perhaps I’m being foolish, or maybe I just don’t want to admit that I went all “Phillipe Nover” when I insisted to Luke Thomas that Barboza is the next Jose Aldo. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I’m taking Edson Barboza by second-round TKO.

Barboza, TKO, Rd. 2

Staff Picking Barboza: Kontek, Harris, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald 

Staff Picking Martins: None

Diego Nunes vs. Nik Lentz

Riley Kontek: Nik Lentz has had one fight at featherweight against a middle-of-the-road fighter in Eiji Mitsuoka and people are already jumping on his bandwagon. While I agree Lentz looked good at featherweight, Diego Nunes looked even better in his beating of Bart Palaszewski. I expect the newly-aggressive Nunes to come out and batter Lentz, but likely not finish him. 

Nunes, Unanimous Decision

Scott Harris: Nunes was like a different fighter his last time out when he dominated Bart Palaszewski. Lentz is tough, but I believe Nunes may be an emerging contender. If he really is, he'll handle Lentz.

Nunes, Unanimous Decision

Andrew Saunders: Since dropping to featherweight, Nik Lentz has looked tremendous. I don't think there is much chance that "The Carny" will be a willing participant to a kickboxing bout, so this fight will likely be a test of Diego's takedown defense. Lentz has a lot of heart and I think he will pull off the upset after three rounds of "Fitching." 

Lentz, Unanimous Decision

Dwight Wakabayashi: Lentz is coming off a nice knockout in his featherweight debut, but Eiji Mitsuoka is no Diego Nunes. Nunes won a nice bounce-back fight against Bart Palaszewski in October. This fight will be a simple case of takedown or no takedown with Nunes trying his best to keep this fight standing up. I think Nunes is just too slick to get beat by "The Carny."

Nunes, Unanimous Decision

James MacDonald: This is a tough one. Nik Lentz has improved a ton since his lay and pray days came to a sudden halt. His chances rest on whether he can wrestle Nunes to the ground and keep him there. And that is precisely what I expect Lentz to do, en route to a decision victory that will no doubt have us all on the edge of our seats.

Lentz, Unanimous Decision

Staff Picking Nunes: Kontek, Harris, Wakabayashi

Staff Picking Lentz: Saunders, MacDonald

Ronny Markes vs. Andrew Craig

Riley Kontek: Ronny Markes has been nothing short of impressive since entering the Octagon, winning two fights in two different weight classes. Andrew Craig has two come-from-behind wins, which is impressive, but not going to work against a stifling beast like Markes. Expect the judges to make the call here. 

Markes, Unanimous Decision

Scott Harris: It's tempting, and sensible, to go with Markes here. But Andrew Craig always seems to find a way. Sound the upset alarms.

Craig, Split Decision

Andrew Saunders: Two guys with 2-0 records inside the Octagon meet in this fight, although I think Craig needs an asterisk next to his record. The win over Kyle Noke came when his opponent was clearly injured and the win over Rafael Natal came via knockout in a fight where he was being outclassed. Markes fights out of Nova Uniao and has the ability to finish fights in both the striking and grappling aspects. I think he takes this one all day. 

Markes, Unanimous Decision

Dwight Wakabayashi: With all due respect to Andrew Craig and the UFC, I hope this fight isn't as one-sided as it looks on paper. A fight is never played out on paper but Markes is extremely well rounded and has faced some tough hombres while Andrew Craig has had the sun shine down on him in his two win streak. I expect a three-round beating.

Markes, Unanimous Decision

James MacDonald: I shan’t lie. I’m tempted to pick Andrew Craig simply because of his vaguely Scottish-sounding name. But I have decided to let reason prevail and pick Ronny Markes to ride out a decision.

Markes, Unanimous Decision

Staff Picking Markes: Kontek, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald

Staff Picking Craig: Harris

Godofredo Castro vs. Milton Vieira

Riley Kontek: Godofredo Castro really impressed during his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, but he is going up a wily veteran who actually is credited with inventing the anaconda choke in Milton Vieira. Vieira may be the better grappler, but he needs to get the fight down first before he can be effective. Castro will outstrike Vieira en route to a nod from the judges. 

Castro, Unanimous Decision

Scott Harris: This grapplers' battle is tough to call. Castro has a bright future, but Vieira has a serious experience edge. Gotta ride with the Pride veteran.

Vieira, Unanimous Decision

Andrew Saunders: This is a very difficult fight to call. Castro has the better striking but Viera is better versed with the grappling game. Calling this fight is ultimately about where you expect the action to take place. In this fight, proud jiu-jitsu masters meet in featherweight action. Sometimes that leads to a strictly standup affair, however, in this instance, a ground war is sure to ensue. For that reason, I've got to go with Viera. 

Vieira, Submission, Rd. 3

Dwight Wakabayashi: This fight is a pick 'em fight between two very good Brazilian grapplers. In my opinion, Viera has the advantage of being at a better camp and also has more experience to tilt the fight in his favor. 

Vieira, Unanimous Decision

James MacDonald: Tough call, this one. I might as well toss a coin, such is my uncertainty. However, I have an inkling that Milton Viera will tough out a decision.

Vieira, Unanimous Decision

Staff Picking Castro: Kontek

Staff Picking Vieira: Harris, Saunders, Wakabayashi, MacDonald