UFC Fight Night 32: Preliminary Card Predictions
It has been a busy week for the UFC, as UFC Fight for the Troops 3 just passed and UFC Fight Night 32 is on the horizon.
Headlined by Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort, the main event is a rematch of a 2006 fight that Henderson took by unanimous decision. This may be a temporary move for Belfort at light heavyweight, as there is a high likelihood he goes back to 185 pounds.
Before the main event, there are a handful of prelims that should be entertaining.
Here are the predictions for those fights.
Jose Maria Tome vs. Dustin Ortiz
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Leading off the entire card is a flyweight bout, as UFC newcomer Dustin Ortiz takes on Brazilian Jose Maria Tome.
Ortiz runs with the Roufusport camp and enters the UFC on a three-fight surge. Owning wins over Josh Rave and Aaron Ely, the wrestler has added some solid striking to his arsenal to round off his game.
Of his two losses, one came at the hands of UFC contender Ian McCall. He is tough as nails, as he has never been finished in his career.
Tome entered the UFC on short notice in his last fight, where he was finished by the heavy-handed John Lineker. That performance should not be dwelled on, though, as Tome is incredibly talented and now has a full fight camp.
Tome is well-rounded, training with the renowned Renovacao Fight Team. In his last 10 wins, he has submitted seven of those foes.
On the feet, this will be a close matchup. Tome is probably the more polished submission grappler, but he will not be able to outwrestle Ortiz. This will go to the judge's scorecards and be close.
Prediction: Tome defeats Ortiz via decision
Daron Cruickshank vs. Adriano Martins
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Next up are the lightweights, as Strikeforce import and UFC debutant Adriano Martins takes on TUF 15 veteran Daron Cruickshank.
Cruickshank is a collegiate wrestler who comes from a kickboxing background. He uses lots of flashy techniques on the feet, which has led to the success he's had in the Octagon.
Right now, he is 3-1 in the UFC. Though he suffered a setback to John Makdessi, he decisioned Yves Edwards and Chris Tickle. His most impressive win came from a lightning-quick, head-kick knockout of Henry Martinez back in December of last year.
Martins enters the UFC with a lot of hype, despite only having one bout in Strikeforce. In that fight, he outhustled Jorge Gurgel to a convincing decision.
Martins is well-rounded, but his striking has been his key to success. If he mixes in clinch and takedowns, he could be successful here.
Cruickshank is likely the favorite here, but I have a hunch on Martins. Expect the judges to hand in their scorecards filled out.
Prediction: Martins defeats Cruickshank via decision
Thiago Tavares vs. Justin Salas
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We stick in the lightweight division for the next fight, as Thiago Tavares takes on late replacement Justin Salas. Salas is filling in for original opponent Quinn Mulhern, who backed out due to injury.
Tavares is a grappler who holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He has been in the UFC since 2007 and has run a 7-5-1 record with the company.
Of his 17 wins, 11 have come via submission, including tapouts of Pat Audinwood, Jason Black and Daniel Weichel. His best bet here is to put Salas on his back, which will be hard to do.
Salas is a wrestler who has decent striking due to his affiliation with Grudge Training Center in Colorado.
This will be just his fourth effort in the UFC, as he owns wins over Aaron Riley and Anton Kuivanen in the Octagon.
Salas will control whether this fight stays up or goes down. On the feet, this will be more close of a fight, but I think the young gun will get the narrow edge over the Brazilian veteran.
Prediction: Salas def. Tavares via decision
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Thiago Perpetuo vs. Omari Akhmedov
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Next up are the middleweights, as Brazil's own Thiago Perpetuo welcomes Russian Omari Akhmedov to the UFC.
Perpetuo is a power striker with immense power in his hands. The TUF Brazil veteran has nine wins in his career, seven of which have come via knockout.
Unfortunately, he hasn't competed since UFC 147 last year, where he knocked out Leonardo Mafra to secure a UFC contract. He will want to stay off the ground with a submission fighter like Akhmedov.
The Russian enters the Octagon with an 11-0 record while fighting overseas. He is well-rounded, as he has powerful striking and good ground game. His choice weapon on the mat is a nasty guillotine choke.
This could be an entertaining bout while on the feet, but one has to believe Akhmedov will plant the Brazilian on the ground. From there, he will outwork him to a late tapout.
Prediction: Akhmedov defeats Perpetuo via submission
Sam Sicilia vs. Godofredo Pepey
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The main feature of the preliminary card is in the featherweight division, as TUF Brazil runner-up Godofredo Pepey meets TUF 15 veteran Sam Sicilia.
Pepey is a tough fighter with decent striking and an impressive submission game. He is in dire need of a win, as he is 1-2 with the UFC while fighting exclusively in Brazil.
He opened up his UFC career with a decision loss to Rony Jason but came back strong in outhustling Milton Vieira in his sophomore outing. However, in his latest fight, he was brutally knocked out by vicious ground-and-pound at the hands of Felipe Arantes.
As for Sicilia, he is a wrestler with good hands. He is similarly in a must-win situation here, as he is also 1-2, though he is on a two-fight skid.
Sicilia won his UFC debut by violent knockout when he plastered Cristiano Marcello. However, he has dropped two straight at the hands of Rony Jason and Maximo Blanco.
Whether on his back or on top, Pepey will have the advantage due to his high-level BJJ. On the feet, it will be much closer, though. This one is tough to call, so we'll go with the home-field advantage.
Prediction: Pepey defeats Sicilia via decision
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