UFC Fight Night 33: Prelim Card Predictions
The UFC makes its return to the land Down Under with an exciting card when UFC Fight Night 33 touches down in Australia. The card boasts a deep lineup and features both established veterans and up-and-coming prospects.
Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva headline in a pivotal heavyweight battle that will elevate the winner back toward the title picture. It could turn out to be a fun fight that ends in devastating fashion.
Before that main event and the main card in general, we have a five-fight preliminary card that could provide fireworks. Here are the predictions for those prelim fights.
Alex Garcia vs. Ben Wall
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The card kicks off on Facebook in the welterweight division when Dominican-Canadian Alex Garcia makes his UFC debut opposite The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes vet and fellow debutant Ben Wall. Wall takes this fight on short notice, as original opponent Andreas Stahl backed out a over a week ago.
Garcia is a Tristar rep with a record of 10-1. All but one of his wins have come via finish, as he is immensely powerful and technical on the ground.
He is a physical force with his brute strength. He can knock you on the feet, ground-and-pound you or outhustle you to a submission (owns four rear-naked chokes).
Wall did not make his debut after The Smashes, as he was eliminated in the opening round. However, he is undefeated in his pro career, beating the likes of Rob Lisita and Jai Bradney.
He is more of a ground fighter but has shown great toughness on the feet. That being said, he would be wise not to trade with Garcia, as it could end poorly for him.
This is Garcia's fight to lose. He has a full training camp, better physical gifts and a more well-rounded game, and should be able to win his debut.
Prediction: Garcia def. Wall via TKO
Bruno Santos vs. Krzysztof Jotko
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Two 13-0 prospects will make their UFC debuts when Poland's Krzysztof Jotko takes on Brazilian Bruno Santos.
Jotko is a 24-year-old prospect with good upside and potential. He is more of a striker than a grappler, though he does have solid wrestling and ground-and-pound to round out his game.
He is used to fighting in the European regional circuit, where the talent isn't as plentiful as America or Brazil. This will be a huge step up in competition for him, though fellow countryman Piotr Hallmann showed he was up to the task in recent bouts.
Santos made a brief appearance with Bellator back in March of 2012, when he beat Giva Santana in a middleweight tournament quarterfinal. Strangely enough, he dropped out of that tournament and was never heard from again until now.
Santos is a grinder who is more likely to take down and hold his opponent to the mat for 15 minutes. In fact, 11 of his 13 wins have come via decision in the same grinding manner.
Jotko will want to strike with Santos, though Santos can bang on the feet a bit. However, Santos will persistently shoot on the Pole, ground him and hold him there en route to a decision.
Prediction: Santos def. Jotko via decision
Richie Vaculik vs. Justin Scoggins
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Yet another pair of UFC debutants will make their UFC debuts when American Justin Scoggins meets TUF: The Smashes vet Richie Vaculik in the flyweight division. Vaculik fought on that season of TUF as a lightweight, three weight classes above where he will take this bout.
Scoggins is an undefeated prospect who is taking a big step up in competition here. He is a devastating striker who has ended five fights via knockout, including two with head kicks and one with his knees.
Vaculik is a submission fighter who is going to be a very large flyweight. The 5'6" Aussie hasn't fought since April of last year but is on a five-fight win streak, including wins over Nick Honstein and Matt Jaggers.
One would figure Vaculik would want to ground the striker here and test his mat skills. That will be the case, and "Vas" will absorb some damage to earn the takedown and submission victory.
Prediction: Vaculik def. Scoggins via submission
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Nick Ring vs. Caio Magalhaes
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The first pair of UFC vets on the card are set to meet at 185. TUF 11 alum and Canadian striker Nick Ring will take on Brazilian grappler Caio Magalhaes.
Magalhaes, who works with Nova Uniao, has not looked like a world beater since entering the UFC. "Hellboy" is 1-1 in the UFC, taking a loss to Buddy Roberts before taking a comeback against a winded Karlos Vemola.
Half of his wins come by submission, and judging by his past performances on the feet, one would assume he is looking to get this fight to the floor as early as possible.
As for Ring, he has had an up-and-down career with the UFC going all the way back to his TUF days. He was a favorite to win, but persistent knee injuries hampered his run on the show.
Since then, the striker is 3-2 with the UFC, choking out James Head and taking controversial wins over Riki Fukuda and Court McGee. His two losses thus far have come against Tim Boetsch and Chris Camozzi, the latter of whom beat him in his latest outing.
Ring is the more well-rounded fighter here and should have the takedown defense to stuff the decent-at-best shot Magalhaes offers. The Canadian should nab a convincing decision here.
Prediction: Ring def. Magalhaes via decision
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Nam Phan
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The main attraction of the prelims, if you will, comes in the form of a bantamweight bout in which TUF 12 alum Nam Phan meets Japanese star Takeya Mizugaki.
Phan finds himself with his back against the wall here, as the gritty Vietnamese-American fighter is just 2-4 in the UFC, including a one-sided drubbing in his last outing against Dennis Siver. He is a boxer with good speed and technique, something he should utilize here.
Mizugaki is also a striker on a three-fight winning streak. He isn't the most powerful striker, but he is quick and technical, something he can use to outpoint the opposition.
On the ground, this is close, but whichever way this fight goes, the Japanese fighter should be better in most aspects of the game and should grab a decision.
Prediction: Mizugaki def. Phan via decision
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