Edgar vs. Faber: A Complete Guide to UFC Fight Night 66
UFC Fight Night 66 will get underway this Saturday morning with an amazing main event fight.
This marks the first event the UFC has put on in the Philippines. The card takes place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
No. 3-ranked bantamweight contender Urijah Faber moves back up to 145 pounds to take on No. 2-ranked featherweight contender Frankie Edgar. Faber is a former WEC featherweight champion, and Edgar is a former UFC lightweight titleholder. Their fighting styles will make for a great five-round contest.
No. 7-ranked middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi meets No. 12-ranked Costas Philippou in the co-main event.
The action begins on UFC Fight Pass at 7 a.m. ET before moving to Fox Sports 1 at 8 a.m. ET for the prelims. The main card action starts on Fox Sports 1 at 10 a.m. ET.
There are 10 other bouts scheduled for action this weekend, and we will take a look at them all. This is your complete guide to UFC Fight Night 66.
Nolan Ticman (4-2) vs. Yao Zhikui (1-2)
1 of 12
Division: Flyweight
Where to watch: UFC Fight Pass
The event opens with an underappreciated flyweight battle.
Both Ticman and Zhikui lost their UFC debuts by decision, and neither fighter has a spectacular record. However, they are 26 and 24 years old, respectively, which them young prospects to watch. They are still developing under the UFC banner and could potentially make big enough strides to make small waves in this shallow division.
We haven't seen them since last August, and when they step inside the cage they will be new versions of themselves. Whoever improved the most will win. I lean toward Zhikui.
Zhikui gave Royston Wee a competitive fight last year, and another nine months of improvement should be enough to get him past Ticman. Zhikui takes a decision to even out his record.
Prediction: Zhikui defeats Ticman by decision.
Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1) vs. Jon Delos Reyes (7-4)
2 of 12
Division: Flyweight
Where to watch: UFC Fight Pass
Sangcha-an dropped his UFC debut, and Delos Reyes is 0-2 under the bright lights of the Octagon. Their placement on Fight Pass is deserved.
Neither man has a significant win to his credit. Delos Reyes' record includes three notable names, and in all three instances he was finished. I hesitate to pick him for fighting higher level of opposition as he was never competitive.
I'll take Sangcha-an in front of a friendly crowd. He has a few finishes to his credit, and he'll get another one here: a TKO in the middle round.
Prediction: Sangcha-an defeats Delos Reyes by TKO in the second round.
Ning Guangyou (4-2) vs. Royston Wee (4-0)
3 of 12
Division: Bantamweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Now we get to fighters with at least one win in the UFC. Guangyou won his UFC debut by decision over Jianping Yang, and Wee is a perfect 2-0 with two decisions.
This is a showcase fight for Wee.
Guangyou has done next to nothing in his career. There is nothing you can look back on and feel comfortable about him in this matchup, whereas Wee's UFC performances at least have shown some bright spots. This feels like a matchup that Wee should dominate to extend his perfect record to 5-0.
Wee has yet to earn a finish inside the UFC's cage, but that changes on Saturday. He'll choke Guangyou until he taps.
Prediction: Wee defeats Guangyou via submission in the second round.
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Li Jingliang (9-3) vs. Dhiego Lima (10-3)
4 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Lima looks to be the pick here from first glance, but don't write off Jingliang so easily.
Heg gave David Michaud and Nordine Taleb interesting fights inside the Octagon, and he got the split decision win over Michaud. He has the ability to steal a decision away from Lima.
With that said, I will still stick with Lima. He has the more refined skill set between the two. Ultimately, skill wins out more often than not. Lima knows he needs a victory this weekend, and that will make him more cautious. He won't overcommit.
Jingliang is tough to stop, and Lima won't be able to do it. It will go to the cards, where Lima narrowly picks up the win.
Prediction: Lima defeats Jingliang by decision.
Zhang Lipeng (9-8-1) vs. Kajan Johnson (19-11)
5 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This may be the ugliest fight on the card. Their records reflect that. Johnson dropped his UFC debut to Tae Hyun Bang by knockout, while Lipeng returns after losing a decision to Chris Wade.
Despite a lackluster record, Lipeng started his UFC career with two rather surprising showings, defeating Wang Sai and Brendan O'Reilly by decision. It moved him past have a .500 record. Johnson will be an interesting test for him but one he can pass.
Lipeng is strong, if nothing else. That strength will come into play against Johnson as Lipeng wins the clinch and position battles against the cage. He will get the nod on the scorecards by having the better position. If the fight hits the mat, he will be the one on top.
Johnson is the better striker and submission stylist, but he won't have the opportunities to capitalize on. Lipeng's pressure keeps Johnson on the defensive.
Prediction: Lipeng defeats Johnson by decision.
Tae Hyun Bang (17-8) vs. Jon Tuck (8-2)
6 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This fight could be a dark horse for Fight of the Night. Bang and Tuck will each have spurts of offense. They both have high output but lack excellent defense. It should be a fan-friendly fight.
Tuck will have to be wary of Bang's power. Bang has nine stoppages to his credit, and all nine are KO/TKO performances. And he carries that power throughout all three rounds. He is always dangerous.
This is a tough fight to call. It's well-matched.
When push comes to shove, I like Tuck's well-rounded abilities slightly more than Bang's. Tuck can utilize wrestling more effectively in this fight in order to avoid lengthy periods of striking. This will not only help to drain Bang's energy but also open up potential submission opportunities.
Tuck won't be able to finish, but he'll do enough to win.
Prediction: Tuck defeats Bang by decision.
Mark Eddiva (6-1) vs. Levan Makashvili (6-1)
7 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This will be the first fight on the main card.
Eddiva looked impressive in his UFC debut last year. The Filipino defeated Jumabieke Tuerxun by decision. Unfortunately, he couldn't follow that up, as he lost by TKO to Kevin Souza nearly three months later.
Makashvili makes his UFC debut with an identical record to Eddiva. The 26-year-old will take a step up in competition against Eddiva.
I like Eddiva here, but the oddsmakers do not. He is more than a 3-1 underdog. This will be a way to get the Filipino crowd into the action. Eddiva's volume strikes will wear Makashvili down over time. It will last until the third round, where Eddiva drops Makashvili for a TKO win.
Correction: I had the odds to this fight flip-flopped, and Eddiva is the significant underdog.
Prediction: Eddiva defeats Makashvili by TKO in the third round.
Phillipe Nover (10-5-1) vs. Yui Chul Nam (18-4-1)
8 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
It's been more than five years since we've seen Phillipe Nover, but the former The Ultimate Fighter finalist makes his return to the UFC. Nover is currently on a three-fight win streak. He meets Nam, who has won five consecutive bouts including his UFC debut against Kazuki Tokudome.
According to Odds Shark, Nover is a slight underdog, which I find surprising.
Nover never developed into the next Anderson Silva, but he has been competitive in fights against legitimate competition. He nearly nabbed a decision from Marcin Held at Bellator 59. Nam has a couple of notable wins such as beating Hacran Dias in 2009, but as of late he has failed to put away less-than-stellar opposition.
Nam is a solid fighter, but he is not spectacular.
In a friendly setting, Nover can finally get that elusive UFC win. I expect speed to be the difference. He scores enough to win a hard-fought decision in a small upset.
Prediction: Nover defeats Nam by decision.
Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4-1) vs. Neil Magny (14-3)
9 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Not enough people are talking about this welterweight scrap. Magny returns for his second fight of 2015. After going 5-0 in 2014, he defeated Kiichi Kunimoto on Valentine's Day to extend the streak. He now sits at No. 15 in the welterweight rankings.
Lim will not be an easy out. He is 3-1 in the UFC, and the one loss came against Tarec Saffiedine in a five-round battle. He won two rounds on two of the judges' scorecards. Lim rebounded last September with a TKO victory over Takenori Sato.
This fight will be a big test for Magny. Lim is a large welterweight with big power.
Magny has made some incredible strides in his game, but it is difficult to have a lengthy winning streak in MMA. It will catch up to him this weekend when Lim lands a clean right hand. Magny will get too comfortable in an exchange, and Lim will take a chance and get inside Magny's reach.
Lim will be losing the fight up until the point where he finishes Magny by knockout.
Prediction: Lim defeats Magny by KO in the second round.
Mark Munoz (13-6) vs. Luke Barnatt (8-2)
10 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This will be Munoz's final professional fight. He's calling it a career. In a lot of cases, that could signal that a fighter would not be as motivated to compete at a high level, but The Filipino Wrecking Machine will have a reason to go out on a high note.
But the UFC gave him no favors in the matchmaking of this fight. Barnatt will be equally as motivated. He has lost his last two fights by split decision, and a win over Munoz would do wonders for his career. And Munoz has not exactly been hitting on all cylinders recently. He is on a three-fight skid.
Munoz's wrestling will decide this fight. If he can take Barnatt down early, he will win. If Barnatt stuffs the takedowns, it could be another quick evening for the retiring fighter.
Munoz needs to be successful with his wrestling to set up his striking. Barnatt is the better striker, and he can easily defend Munoz's telegraphed overhand right. Munoz needs to make him think about the takedown. That's the key.
I'm going to take Munoz and the feel-good ending. Barnatt's takedown defense isn't good enough to stop Munoz, and that will lead to a huge donkey-punch TKO on the ground.
Prediction: Munoz defeats Barnatt by TKO in the first round.
Gegard Mousasi (36-5-2) vs. Costas Philippou (13-4, 1 NC)
11 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This middleweight affair may be the least talked-about top-15 matchup in recent memory. Even I had no idea it was happening until I looked at the card earlier in the week. There is no buzz for it, which is a shame because it's an interesting fight.
Philippou worked his way up the middleweight ladder, but he was tossed from it in 2013. Back-to-back losses to Francis Carmont and Luke Rockhold sent him to the bottom. He got back in the win column last year with a knockout against Lorenz Larkin, but he has not been back in the cage since.
Mousasi is 2-2 since returning to middleweight with wins over Mark Munoz and Dan Henderson. His losses came against the elite of the division—Lyoto Machida and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. This battle of styles should favor Mousasi.
Both men love to box. Mousasi has a fantastic jab and a slight speed advantage. He will still have to be wary of Philippou's boxing, though. Philippou loves to work the body, and he has enough power to stop the fight. Mousasi may be forced to mix in some grappling.
Mousasi is just a bit slicker than Philippou, so I give the former the edge. His defense is good enough to avoid the power shot from Philippou, and his jab will frustrate the No. 12-ranked middleweight. This goes to the judges, but Mousasi takes all three rounds.
Prediction: Mousasi defeats Philippou by decision.
Frankie Edgar (18-4-1) vs. Urijah Faber (32-8)
12 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
This is an outstanding fight for the fans. It will be fast-paced from start to finish. That is just the kind of fighters Edgar and Faber are. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be terribly competitive.
Where Faber is good, Edgar is better. Those are the brass tacks. And it's evident in their histories.
Faber has been an upper-echelon fighter for years, but he has never truly broken through against the elite of the elite. Edgar has. Faber was not competitive against Jose Aldo. Edgar was. By nearly every metric you can think of Edgar is the better fighter.
Regardless, Faber will bring his A-game and have opportunities for a big upset. He is, after all, more than a 3-1 underdog.
I don't foresee this being competitive because Edgar will mix his boxing and wrestling up well against Faber. This will force The California Kid to be defensive throughout the fight. He will struggle to defend the takedown and then have to work his way back to his feet. Edgar's reach advantage will keep him out of harm's way while striking.
It's hard to envision a finish, but it's easy to predict a dominant decision for Edgar. Faber will still make this a fun fight, and that's reason enough to enjoy it Saturday morning.
Prediction: Edgar defeats Faber by decision.
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