UFC Fight Night 62: Preliminary Card Predictions
The UFC's busy schedule continues this weekend, as the Octagon makes the return to Brazil. This time, UFC Fight Night 62 will broadcast from Rio de Janeiro, and the card is headlined by longtime Brazilian contender Demian Maia and first-time headliner Ryan LaFlare.
As is usual for most cards from Brazil, the UFC has thrown on a bevy of Brazilian talent, including up-and-comers who are looking to make a name to contenders in their respective divisions. Throw in some talent from the United States, Latin America and Japan, and you have a worldly card.
The average record of the last few UFC events continued at UFC 185, as I ran just a 4-3 record. We will look to right the ship here, as the hot start to the year has cooled a bit in recent times.
With that, let's take a look at the prelims and make some predictions.
2015 Riley's Record: 31-18
Last Event: UFC 185 (4-3)
Fredy Serrano vs. Bentley Syler
1 of 6Kicking off the prelims will be the flyweights, as The Ultimate Fighter Latin America teammates Fredy Serrano of Colombia and Bentley Syler of Bolivia square off.
Serrano is a former Olympic wrestler with tremendous grappling chops. He persistently goes for the takedown and achieves it with good success. He then uses pressure and ground strikes to score points.
On the show, Serrano dropped a controversial decision to eventual winner Alejandro Perez. That was his first legit loss, as the 1-0 Colombian scored a decision win in his only official pro fight.
Syler, who trains with American Top Team, is also a doctor, which is an interesting combo for a pro cage fighter. He is known to be solid in every aspect of fighting, though ground fighting is definitely his strength.
On the show, Jose Quinonez eliminated Sylar in the first round, viciously beating him up. That was his first legit loss, as Syler owns a 5-0 record as a professional.
Serrano's high-level wrestling skill is too hard to ignore. He will take Syler down, hold him there and pulverize him en route to a decision.
Prediction: Serrano def. Syler via decision
Jorge De Oliveira vs. Christos Giagos
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Finishing up the Fight Pass prelims are the lightweights, as Jorge de Oliveira looks to defend his home country against RFA veteran Christos Giagos.
Giagos is a power striker known for a headhunting style in which he uses big punches, kicks and knees to cripple opponents. His ground game and submission defense are the holes in his game, as seen in his three career losses.
His UFC debut did not go to plan, as Gilbert Burns submitted him with a first-round armbar. That loss reversed a four-fight winning streak, which included a triangle choke victory over Sevak Magakian and a brutal knockout over Dakota Cochrane that earned him the RFA Lightweight Championship.
As for De Oliveira, the Renovacao Fight Team member is similarly a striker, though he does have a decent ground game as well. He is powerful and quick, which make him a dangerous adversary when the fight is upright.
He came into the UFC as a late replacement with an undefeated record. However, in said debut, he was outpointed by Dhiego Lima, the first time De Oliveira had been to a decision in his career.
This should be a fun fight on the feet while it lasts. Given both men's style, I doubt this will reach the scorecards.
Prediction: Giagos def. De Oliveira via TKO
Leonardo Mafra vs. Cain Carrizosa
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Kicking off the Fox Sports 1 prelims are the lightweights, as Leonardo Mafra looks to defend his home turf against Cain Carrizosa.
A rep of Chute Boxe in Brazil, Mafra is a classic striker who is a throwback of that gym from the Pride days. That said, he relies on putting people's lights out early and avoiding the ground, where he needs to make improvements.
After appearing on the first season of TUF Brazil, he made his debut back in 2012 in a losing effort to Thiago Perpetuo. He was then bumped to the regionals, where he won five in a row via TKO or KO, earning a spot back in the UFC. However, his comeback was not a welcome one, as Rick Story dominated him in his return.
As for Carrizosa, he is primarily a ground fighter, training with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Cleber Luciano in California. That said, his striking has improved in recent times, though he is most comfortable in top position while searching for submissions.
He came into the UFC as an undefeated prospect with a lot of upside. However, in just over a minute, Chris Wade brutally choked him out in his debut with the company, which means he needs an impressive showing here.
If Mafra can land the kill shot early, this is his fight. However, Carrizosa will close the distance and make this a war of attrition, eventually tiring the Brazilian and scoring a submission victory.
Prediction: Carrizosa def. Mafra via submission
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Leandro Silva vs. Drew Dober
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We stay in the lightweight division for our next bout, as Leandro Silva looks hold court in his home country against Drew Dober.
Dober is a brawler who has good power and some complementary wrestling to go along with it. Most of his wins have come by submission, and he is known for being tough as nails and possessing a good chin.
He opened his UFC career with losses to Nick Hein and Sean Spencer, before choking out a dazed Jamie Varner in his most recent outing. He will want to keep this upright with Silva and turn this into a wild firefight.
As for Silva, he is an athletic, quick submission artist who has taken most of his victories via tapout. He has cleaned up his striking in recent outings, though it's a means to get the fight to the ground and work his skills.
After a one-fight stint with the UFC that saw him lose to Ildemar Alcantara, Silva took to the regionals where he rattled off five wins in a row. That earned him a call back to the company, and since that call, he has fallen in a nail-biter to Francisco Trinaldo and choked out Charlie Brenneman for his first win with the company.
Dober got lucky in the Varner fight, which saved his job with the company. He will not be so fortunate here, as Silva uses the home crowd and superior athletic ability to earn a convincing decision.
Prediction: Silva def. Dober via decision
Kevin Souza vs. Katsunori Kikuno
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A Fight of the Night contender is afoot, as Japanese featherweight Katsunori Kikuno looks to enter enemy territory with the aim of taking out Kevin Souza.
Kikuno is a karate practitioner, utilizing good movement, a wide stance and powerful strikes in his fights. He has good one-punch knockout power in his hands and feet as well, which makes any moment a dangerous one with this Japanese fighter.
Kikuno has sandwiched a loss to Tony Ferguson with two wins in the UFC. He routed Quinn Mulhern in his debut with the company before utilizing superior striking and a beautiful rear-naked choke to take out Sam Sicilia in his most recent fight.
As for Souza, he is an iron-jawed power slinger with massive knockout ability, as well as intimidating aggression. He takes the center of the cage and throws heat from bell to bell, earning knockouts in 13 of his 15 victories.
His debut was a fun one, where he took a close call over Felipe Arantes on the scorecards. He followed up that win with a huge knockout over Mark Eddiva, which shows this guy is not one to mess around with.
This has the makings of an awesome fight. Both men sling heavy leather and will be looking to take each other's head off. Unfortunately for Kikuno, Souza's firepower is more lethal.
Prediction: Souza def. Kikuno via KO
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Akbarh Arreola
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Capping off the prelims are the lightweights, as Mexican fighter Akbarh Arreola and Brazilian Francisco Trinaldo will square off.
Arreola is one of the more experienced veterans from south of the border, as he is 23-8-1 in his career. He is known for his ground game, where he has a good arsenal of submissions and solid technique on the ground.
Thiago dos Santos outpointed him in his UFC debut, but Arreola came back in impressive fashion in his sophomore effort. He was able to score an armbar over vet Yves Edwards in less than two minutes, likely saving his spot on the roster.
As for Trinaldo, he is a physical brute and a monster for the 155-pound weight class, which is good for a size advantage but puts a restriction on his conditioning. He has powerful striking, but his specialties are the clinch and top game on the ground.
He is 5-3 with the UFC, taking a majority of his fights in Brazil. He is 2-1 in his last three, falling to Michael Chiesa but taking wins over Leandro Silva and Jesse Ronson.
Arreola's best shot of winning this fight is dragging Massaranduba into deep waters, as his cardio is not his best asset. However, Trinaldo's strength will earn him takedowns, where he will either score a late submission or win a convincing decision.
Prediction: Trinaldo def. Arreola via decision
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