A Complete Guide to UFC Fight Night 62
UFC Fight Night 62 is this coming Saturday, and fans should temper their expectations following the two stellar pay-per-view events.
This coming event is headlined by No. 7-ranked welterweight Demian Maia and the unassuming No. 14-ranked contender Ryan LaFlare. It is not the most exciting main event the UFC has ever headlined with, but it is a key bout in the division.
The 12-fight event will see all but the first two contests of the night on television. Fox Sports 2 will have the four-fight TV prelims, and Fox Sports 1 will air the six-fight main card.
There is plenty of action to be had on this fight card if you dig deeply enough, which is what we are set to do.
Here is your guide to all the action this weekend in Brazil.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
1 of 11
Bentley Syler (5-0) vs. Fredy Serrano (1-0)
Division: Flyweight
The opening contest will feature two (officially) debuting fighters. They were both members of Team Werdum on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America but technically have yet to make their organizational debut.
Both were ousted on the first round of the show, but they were green and undersized. This will be a more telling fight to judge where they are in their development. The fight could go either way. Syler has more fights to his credit, but Serrano has a quality background in wrestling.
Neither is a spring chicken, as they're both in their 30s. I'll side with Serrano using his wrestling to score a decision win.
Prediction: Fredy Serrano defeats Bentley Syler by unanimous decision.
Jorge de Oliveira (7-1) vs. Christos Giagos (10-3)
Division: Lightweight
The previous fight features two debutants, and this fight features two fighters who lost their UFC debuts.
This is another coin-flip. Both men have good power in their hands and can do well enough on the canvas. I narrowly side with the Brazilian. De Oliveira is tough to stop and will eventually torque Giagos with a punch to end the fight. An early knockout on the card gets the crowd going.
Prediction: Jorge de Oliveira defeats Christos Giagos by KO in the first round.
Leonardo Mafra (11-2) vs. Cain Carrizosa (6-1)
2 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 2
Mafra is 0-2 in the UFC, but on Saturday he drops to the lightweight division against Carrizosa, who is 0-1 under the bright lights of the Octagon.
This could be a loser-leaves-town matchup.
You have to side with the powerful Brazilian if his weight cut goes smoothly. That's the lone X-factor heading into the fight. Carrizosa had a woeful debut against Chris Wade last August and has no signature win on his resume to give anyone confidence in picking him.
Mafra should be able to stop Carrizosa by TKO early. I would not expect much from this bout.
Prediction: Leonardo Mafra defeats Cain Carrizosa by TKO in the first round.
Leandro Silva (17-2-1) vs. Drew Dober (15-6)
3 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 2
Dober is coming off the big win against Jamie Varner in December, but he did not draw an easy opponent.
Silva is coming off a big win of his own. He stopped Charlie Brenneman last November with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
This is a pivotal bout for both lightweights as they try to earn bigger fights. They are a ways out from being ranked in the stacked division, but another stoppage win should put them on the radar for bouts against fighters on the fringe of the Top 15.
I like this matchup for Silva. His ground game may deter Dober from trying to take the fight to the canvas, and Dober is not far and away the better striker. This could be a 15-minute back-and-forth battle with a lot of cage work, but I'll take Silva to stop Dober in the second on a gut feeling.
Prediction: Leandro Silva defeats Drew Dober via submission in the second round.
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Kevin Souza (15-3) vs. Katsunori Kikuno (23-6-2)
4 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 2
Souza is seeking his 10th straight win overall and third in a row in the UFC, but Kikuno is a crafty veteran and good opponent.
Kikuno, a former DEEP lightweight champion, made a successful featherweight debut against Sam Sicilia with a rear-naked-choke finish. Dropping to 145-pounds looks to be a good career move. Saturday's performance will test that theory even more.
It is tough to go against a fighter on a roll like Souza, but it is also tough to think a fighter can win 10-straight fights in MMA. And now he is in the UFC with the best of the best. Given Kikuno's featherweight debut, he will stop the win streak.
Kikuno is a strong featherweight with KO power. If he can stay upright, he will score points on the scorecards. This will be a tightly contested battle that the foreigner wins in hostile territory.
Prediction: Katsunori Kikuno defeats Kevin Souza by unanimous decision.
Francisco Trinaldo (15-4) vs. Akbarh Arreola (23-8)
5 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 2
Grappling fans will want to tune in to this fight. Arreola has never lost via submission, but two of Trinaldo's four career losses have come by way of tapout, albeit to talented grapplers.
Trinaldo is 5-3 inside the Octagon and has exchanged wins and losses in his last four outings. Arreola is 1-1 with a win over Yves Edwards last November.
Arreola is a threat to submit Trinaldo, but the level of competition Trinaldo has seen in his UFC career gives him a leg up. He can win this fight on points or catch the Mexican with a submission on the mat. And for the first time in two years, I expect Trinaldo to win by way of submission.
It could be fool's gold banking on Trinaldo to get the tap against a quality grappler, but with his striking he can catch Arreola off-guard to change levels and get the finish.
Prediction: Francisco Trinaldo defeats Akbarh Arreola via submission in the first round.
Godofredo Castro (11-3) vs. Andre Fili (14-2)
6 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Better known as "Pepey," Castro came off The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil as one of the country's top prospects. After a couple of setbacks he is now on a two-fight win streak. And speaking of prospects, Fili is his opponent this weekend. Fili is one of the most exciting prospects in the featherweight division, and this could be his chance at a signature win.
Both Pepey and Fili are well-rounded. No matter where this fight takes place, you will see some quality exchanges.
Pepey likely has more pressure to perform than Fili, but it is Fili who is the one to watch. This fight will validate his status as a prospect, or it will end it.
I think he validates it.
I do not expect a finish, but I do expect Fili to continually touch up Pepey on the feet. Quicker hands and better movement win the day.
This is a good main card opener.
Prediction: Andre Fili defeats Godofredo Castro by unanimous decision.
Gilbert Burns (9-0) vs. Alex Oliveira (10-1)
7 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Josh Thomson was originally slated as Burn's opponent, but an injury sidelined him. Oliveira comes in on short notice.
Oliveira has some quality skills, but coming in on late notice against Burns is not going to set him up for success. There is a reason Burns was set to fight Thomson. He is a legitimate force in the division, and the UFC felt strongly enough to put him against a Top 10 fighter.
We get an emphatic performance from Burns on Saturday. He finishes the fight in style.
Prediction: Gilbert Burns defeats Alex Oliveira by TKO in the first round.
Amanda Nunes (9-4) vs. Shayna Baszler (15-9)
8 of 11
Division: Women's bantamweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This is an intriguing fight for both women. Nunes is coming off a quality showing against top-ranked contender Cat Zingano, where she nearly stopped the fight in the first round, and Baszler is trying to regain favor as a factor in the division.
Nunes, ranked No. 9, should be a solid pick here. Baszler's best attribute is her ground game, but Nunes is no slouch there and holds a significant strength advantage. Baszler will need to be in top position to be a factor, and she may not be able to take Nunes down.
Baszler has the tools to win. It's just not a good stylistic matchup.
Look for Nunes to get a stoppage in the second round after some vicious ground-and-pound. This should signal the end of the UFC road for Baszler. Three straight stoppage losses won't keep the American grappler in the top organization.
Prediction: Amanda Nunes defeats Shayna Baszler by TKO in the second round.
Leonardo Santos (13-3-1) vs. Tony Martin (9-2)
9 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Before getting to the co-main event, the UFC hits you with an interesting lightweight tilt.
Santos, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Season 2, is 2-0-1 in the UFC. Martin is coming off a surprising submission win against Fabricio Camoes after losing two straight.
This looks to be a showcase fight for Santos on paper, but Martin is a quality opponent. His losses were to Rashid Magomedov and Beneil Dariush. Dariush's performance at UFC 185 solidified him as a top-tier lightweight.
Do not expect a showcase performance from Santos. This will prove to be more difficult than expected.
Regardless, he'll get the nod. Over the course of 15 minutes, he will score enough on the feet and achieve plenty of ground control. It won't be too flashy. Martin turns this into a gritty fight that Santos struggles to win.
Prediction: Leonardo Santos defeats Tony Martin by unanimous decision.
Erick Silva vs. Josh Koscheck
10 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Up until writing this article, I was all-in on Silva winning the fight. But I cannot shake the feeling Koscheck returns in a big way.
What about Koscheck's performance at UFC 184 inspired this confidence? Nothing. Ellenberger hit him, and Kos shut down. That should actually turn me off Koscheck's chances against the dynamic Silva. But here I am.
Why do I feel Koscheck wins?
Silva gasses quickly. If he fails to knock Koscheck out in the first round, a distinct possibility, this should be all Koscheck in the second and third rounds with his explosive wrestling takedowns. He just has to survive the first five minutes.
Koscheck's submission defense will prevent him from tapping, and he'll score a much-needed early takedown. Silva will struggle to rid himself of Koscheck throughout the first. It will sap him of his energy.
Koscheck gets back in the win column. He has something left to prove.
Prediction: Josh Koscheck defeats Erick Silva by unanimous decision.
Demian Maia (19-6) vs. Ryan LaFlare (11-0)
11 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Either Maia moves back into contention, or LaFlare vaults into the Top 10. That is what this matchup is all about. It's not flashy on paper, but it should be fun.
Has there ever been a more subdued headliner than LaFlare?
He is undefeated in the UFC with four decision wins. He's not exactly the most exciting fighter on the roster, which is why he has gone unnoticed by the masses. This is a substantial jump up in competition.
If LaFlare can keep this fight standing, he can certainly upend Maia, but that is a tall order—early on. Maia has been known to get tired. This being a 25-minute fight gives LaFlare more of an opportunity to test that theory and win late or on the scorecards.
But he won't get that opportunity.
Maia is too talented on the canvas, and LaFlare is not ready for that level of ground work.
Maia is good at getting fights to the ground. He is an underrated wrestler in that regard. He moves LaFlare to the cage, takes him down with a single-leg and submits him shortly thereafter. A quick main event caps off a fun night of fights.
Prediction: Demian Maia defeats Ryan LaFlare via submission in the first round.
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