UFC Fight Night 67 Preliminary Card Predictions
The UFC's hectic schedule for 2015 continues this weekend, as UFC Fight Night 67 goes down in the MMA crazy country of Brazil. Headlined by welterweight strikers Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves, the card looks to be an exciting installment in the 2015 UFC schedule.
Also on the card are established veterans like Norman Parke, KJ Noons and Ryan Jimmo. They all will ensure that the card is exciting and will make this one to watch on Saturday.
Before them, we get the prelims. We look to build on a solid UFC 187, where we would have had a 5-1 record had Uriah Hall not lost a controversial decision to Rafael Natal.
With that, let's take a look at the prelims for this card in Brazil.
2015 Riley's Record: 60-41
Last Event: UFC 187 (4-2)
Luiz Dutra vs. Tom Breese
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Kicking off the card will be the welterweights, as UFC newcomer Tom Breese takes on Luiz Dutra, who returns from a 16-month layoff.
Breese is an undefeated Brit at 7-0 who trains at the renowned Tristar Gym in Montreal. At just 23 years of age, he has spent all of his pro fights in the big leagues, competing for both BAMMA and Cage Warriors.
He is a ground fighter and finisher, as all seven of his wins have yet to see the judges. Six of those wins are by submissions, showing he needs to get Dutra down and work him from top position.
As for Dutra, the Renovacao Fight Team member is a physical brute and a well-rounded individual with good clinch and grappling ability. He likes to put his weight on guys and pound on them from close quarters.
He was a member of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 2, where he earned his way into the house by beating Robson Ferreira and followed that up with a submission of Pedro Irie. He was injured and could not continue in the competition but got a shot in the UFC anyway. His debut and only fight in the company so far saw him fall via disqualification when he nailed Kiichi Kunimoto with illegal strikes.
This is a big step up in competition for Breese, so we will need to see how he responds here. Dutra is underrated and has the skill set to outlast the talented Brit.
Prediction: Dutra def. Breese via decision
Juliana Lima vs. Ericka Almeida
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The women will close out the Fight Pass portion of the card, as two-time UFC fighter Juliana Lima welcomes Jungle Fights champion Ericka Almeida to the cage on late notice. Lima was set to fight Jessica Penne, before she accepted a title bout in Germany against champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Lima is a big (5'5"), well-rounded fighter, though clinch work and grappling have been her best weapons so far. She prefers close-quarters striking, especially against the cage and on the ground.
She is 1-1 in the UFC thus far, which followed a loss in Invicta against Katja Kankaanpaa. Her UFC debut saw her get beaten up by Jedrzejczyk, though she came back with a decision win over Nina Ansaroff in her latest bout.
As for Almeida, she is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist with a dynamite ground game and great offensive submission ability. She is 7-0 and has finished all of her fights thus far, including six in the first round.
Lima could outmuscle Almeida, but the overall prowess of the newcomer is more impressive. She will outlast Lima with her cardio, potentially even finishing her late in the fight.
Prediction: Almeida def. Lima via submission
Lucas Martins vs. Mirsad Bektic
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Kicking off the Fox Sports prelims are the featherweights, as Brazilian striker Lucas Martins takes on super prospect Mirsad Bektic. Martins took this bout on late notice when Renato Moicano dropped out with an injury.
Undefeated at 9-0 and working with American Top Team, Bektic is one of the best prospects in the UFC. He uses his wrestling base proficiently, although his hands have improved at ATT.
He is already 2-0 with the UFC with both big performances. He outlasted an illegal knee from Chas Skelly to beat him by decision and followed that up by dominating Paul Redmond in his sophomore outing.
As for Martins, the Brazilian is a muay thai stylist with heavy kicks and powerful punching ability. His ground game is his weakness, though one has to walk through his on-the-feet onslaught to achieve a ground fight.
He is 3-2 in the UFC thus far, though his wins have come against lesser competition. Despite finishes over Ramiro Hernandez, Alex White and Jeremy Larsen, he has faltered when stepping up against the likes of Edson Barboza and Darren Elkins.
Bektic's wrestling and overall improvements in his game will prove too much for Martins. This is especially true since Martins has shown weakness against wrestlers and ground specialists who are able to get him on the mat.
Prediction: Bektic def. Martins via TKO
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Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos vs. Nicolas Dalby
4 of 6A pair of newcomers will throw down next, as Danish sniper Nicolas Dalby takes on Brazilian ace Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
Dalby is an accurate striker who runs with the underrated Rumble Sports gym in Europe. He is undefeated at 13-0, finishing just over half of his fights by knockout or submission.
A veteran of Cage Warriors, he became the champion in a quick rise to the top. In his last two bouts, he earned two big wins, knocking out Sergei Churilov and taking a decision over Mohsen Bahari.
As for Zaleski dos Santos, he is also a champion, although he was the king of Jungle Fights. At 14-4, he has taken on some tough fighters in Brazil, though he has faltered when stepping up against guys like Viscardi Andrade, Jose Gomes and Guilherme Vasconcelos.
Dalby's striking and accuracy have been impressive, but how will his leaving Europe affect him in this bout? Although Zaleski dos Santos is no pushover, Dalby could show us why he was the Cage Warriors champ.
Prediction: Dalby def. Zaleski dos Santos via decision
Jussier Da Silva vs. Wilson Reis
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Next up are a pair of flyweight contenders, as Brazilians Jussier da Silva and Wilson Reis collide in front of their home country.
Known affectionately as "Formiga," da Silva has been one of the top flyweights for a long time. He is an aggressive grappler who likes to close the distance and force a ground battle.
Almost half of Formiga's wins have come via submission, and he has never had a stoppage win via strikes. He is 3-2 in the UFC thus far and is on a two-fight winning streak, defeating Scott Jorgensen and Zach Makovsky in convincing fashion.
Then there is Reis, a well-traveled veteran who has fought everywhere from Bellator to Elite XC. Like Formiga, Reis is a grappler who is a giant (5'4") for the flyweight division, something he can use to his advantage in the 125-pound weight class.
Reis is 3-1 in the UFC, including a 2-0 record as a 125er. Since his move to the division, he has bested Joby Sanchez and Scott Jorgensen to make himself a contender in the weight class.
Reis needs to use his physicality here, as he is likely the larger of the two men. However, the skill set of da Silva is more reliable at this point, so he should win a close one.
Prediction: da Silva def. Reis via decision
Rony Jason vs. Damon Jackson
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The featherweights will cap off the prelims, as Brazilian Rony Jason looks to refute American Damon Jackson's attempt at his first win in the UFC.
Jackson is an aggressive wrestler who enjoys the clinch and top position. He is proficient in takedowns and can achieve them easily, as he is explosive when changing levels.
He opened up his career at 9-0, fighting in organizations such as Bellator and Legacy FC. His UFC debut came on short notice and up a weight class, where he suffered his first defeat at the hands of Yancy Medeiros.
Then there is Jason, the winner of the first season of TUF Brazil. He is an aggressive fighter with big power in his hands and a refined submission game.
He opened up his UFC career with three straight wins, though his last three fights have seen him alternate between wins and losses. He did knock out Steven Siler, but Jeremy Stephens out him to sleep and Robbie Peralta won a controversial decision over him.
If Jason can stick and move, he will be in good shape against the American wrestler. However, Jackson's takedowns and positional game will lead him to score the win here.
Prediction: Jackson def. Jason via decision
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