UFC Fight Night 70 Preliminary Card Predictions

UFC Fight Night 70 is limping to the finish line but will come to you live on Saturday on Fox Sports 1. 

Originally set to be The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 finale, the card underwent massive changes in the lead-up to the event due to an ongoing visa problem in the USA. Many fights were cancelled or shifted to other events, leaving holes on the card that needed to be filled.

That is especially the case for the preliminary card. Because of the loss of so many fights, the UFC had to put together four late-notice preliminary card fights, utilizing many new fighters to the organization and a couple of veterans.

Last time around, the prelim picks were subpar at best. We have a chance to do better here, though having just four fights won't make a huge difference in this year's record.

With that, let's take a look at the prelims and make some picks.

2015 Riley's Record: 73-43

Last Event: UFC Fight Night 69 (3-4)

Danny Martinez vs. Sirwan Kakai

Kicking off the card is one of four late additions to the card, as normal flyweight Danny Martinez moves up to 135 pounds to take on Swedish fighter Sirwan Kakai.

Kakai is a well-rounded fighter who can strike and submit opponents. His only shortcoming seems to be his wrestling, as he superior wrestlers can take him down. That said, he thrives when he ends up in top position.

He was on The Ultimate Fighter 18 but lost to Chris Beal in the elimination round before making it into the house. Since the show, he is 2-1, including a win in Titan FC over then-undefeated Joe Barajas in his latest offering.

Martinez is more of a wrestler, using takedowns to incorporate his ground-and-pound and submission arsenal. He holds the quickness and athleticism edge, something that should be key in this matchup.

He was also on TUF 18, and like Kakai, he was eliminated before the house round by Davey Grant. However, the UFC brought him back to the flyweight division, where he has gone 0-2 against Chris Cariaso and Scott Jorgensen.

Kakai has improved, but Martinez's skill set matches up favorably to that of the Swedish fighter. That's why Martinez will save his job here, perhaps moving back down to 125 pounds in the aftermath.

Prediction: Martinez defeats Kakai via decision.

Steve Montgomery vs. Tony Sims

A welterweight bout will take place next, as TUF 21 veteran Steve Montgomery takes on normal lightweight fighter Tony Sims. 

Most will know Montgomery from the current season of TUF, as the American Top Team representative left the show when he suffered a seizure in training camp. It was a disappointing end to the show for the 6'4" striker, as he could have been one of the better fighters for ATT.

The gigantic welterweight comes into this fight on the heels of a fantastic 2014 when he went 4-0, including two wins with Titan FC. His most recent fight saw him knock out UFC veteran Brock Jardine with a devastating knee.

As for Sims, he will be undersized (5'11") for this fight, but the Coloradan is one of the better 155-pound prospects in the United States right now. He likes the stand-up game and has good knockout power but can also secure takedowns and drop hammers from top position.

He enters the UFC on a three-fight winning streak, which reversed a questionable decision loss to Drew Dober at the end of 2013. Other than that, he has dominated the Colorado regional scene, shooting into top prospect status in his division.

Montgomery and Sims match up well, but Montgomery's size is going to make the difference. Sims is normally 155 pounds, and Montgomery is freakishly big for this division, which could be the X-factor.

Prediction: Montgomery defeats Sims via decision.

Leandro Silva vs. Lewis Gonzalez

The lightweights do battle next, as Brazilian Leandro Silva welcomes WSOF veteran Lewis Gonzalez to the UFC.

Silva has about double the fights of Gonzalez, as the Team Nogueira rep has been one of the more consistent fighters on the Brazilian regional scene. He is quick, athletic and explosive, which allows him to use his striking effectively in the cage.

His UFC run has seen triumph, tragedy and controversy. While he did choke out Charlie Brenneman during this stint, he took a loss to Francisco Trinaldo and a weird no-contest to Drew Dober in his most recent offering.

As for Gonzalez, he is a wrestler who a lot of times will entertain opponents on the feet. He has good top control when he gets opponents down, which has been the key to his success so far.

Before the UFC, Gonzalez was a three-time WSOF veteran and title contender. Despite a knockout loss to Luis Palomino, Gonzalez was able to score decisions over UFC vets Antonio McKee and Justin Buchholz.

Silva has the UFC experience, but Gonzalez has the skill set that will stifle the offense of his counterpart. It may not be the most exciting bout, but Gonzalez will be victorious in his debut.

Prediction: Gonzalez defeats Silva via decision.

Alex Oliveira vs. Joe Merritt

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Capping off the prelims are a pair of welterweights, as surging Brazilian Alex Oliveira looks to rebuke the debut of American knockout artist Joe Merritt.

Oliveira has been a pleasant surprise to the UFC thus far, as he has gone from Brazilian regional face to soon-to-be contender. He is well-rounded with submission grappling that complements his stand-up well. 

He got to the UFC in a late-notice situation, where he fought valiantly before succumbing to a submission against Gilbert Burns. He reversed that in another late-notice fight, where he quickly choked out former Elite XC champion KJ Noons to the surprise of many.

As for Merritt, the Millennia MMA product is undefeated at 6-0. He is a knockout artist who has good stand-up, utilizing strong punches, knees and kicks to damage opponents. He can also score takedowns, though he prefers to stand and bang.

He is a veteran of the RFA organization, which explains why he gets a look in the UFC here. At RFA 21, Merritt knocked out Steven Ciaccio late in the third round. It continued his knockout streak, as all of his six pro fights and all six of his amateur fights have ended via knockout.

Merritt has looked beastly so far as a pro, but his competition level leaves something to be desired. Oliveira has proved himself at a high level, which should allow him to score another win.

Prediction: Oliveira defeats Merritt via submission.