UFC Fight Night 77: Main Card Staff Predictions
UFC Fight Night 77 takes place Saturday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Headlining the card is a match between mixed martial arts legends Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson. They have face off twice before, with Henderson owning a decision win from 2006 and Belfort winning via knockout in 2013.
Supporting the main event is a collection of 12 other fights, including five additional main card scraps. The full main card for Fight Night 77 is as follows:
- Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson
- Glover Teixeira vs. Patrick Cummins
- Thomas Almeida vs. Anthony Birchak
- Alex Oliveira vs. Piotr Hallmann
- Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov
- Fabio Maldonado vs. Corey Anderson
As is our custom, the Bleacher Report picks team has compiled predictions for each main card bout.
Prepare yourself to absorb a torrent of wisdom, courtesy of Scott "Serenity" Harris, Nathan "Fillion" McCarter, Steven "River" Rondina, Jonathan "Jayne" Snowden and yours truly, "Captain" Craig Amos.
2015 Standings
1 of 7
Our abbreviated 2015 standings remain competitive as we begin a flurry of UFC events to close out the year. Including UFC Fight Night 77, there are eight shows before the calendar turns, which means things are far from settled.
Right now Steven Rondina and I are tied atop the list. Scott Harris is a mere one pick behind, while Nathan McCarter and Jonathan Snowden have a little ground to make up.
Here's how things stand coming into Saturday night's event:
- Craig Amos: 19-5
- Steven Rondina: 19-5
- Scott Harris: 18-6
- Nathan McCarter: 14-10
- Jonathan Snowden: 13-11
As you may recall, Darren Till and Nicolas Dalby fought to a draw at Fight Night 76. Since no one would realistically pick a draw, that outcome was stricken from the ledger. We're only tallying wins and losses here—none of that in-between nonsense.
Now on to the picks!
Fabio Maldonado vs. Corey Anderson
2 of 7
Steven Rondina
Corey Anderson is Beastin' 25/8. Maldonado only beasts 23/6. That extra beastin' will prove to be the difference here.
Anderson, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
This fight likely comes down to if Anderson can be successful taking Maldonado down, and I think he will be. Maldonado is virtually one-dimensional. Anderson continues his progression with a 15-minute smothering of the Brazilian.
Anderson, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Maldonado is a sentimental favorite for the way he deliberately goofies his own brain and that of the other man in the name of our good, clean fun. Luckily for Maldonado's cortex, if not his record, Anderson is a grinder. He'll stifle the Brazilian and silence the hometown crowd.
Anderson, unanimous decision
Jonathan Snowden
One day Anderson will meet a man who beasts 26/9. Until then, however, it's Anderson all day, every day. He's better than Maldonado in the clinch and on the mat. Not coincidentally, that's likely where this fight is going to take place.
Anderson, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
I picked Maldonado to beat Quinton Jackson in his last fight. I was at the Bell Centre in Montreal to witness my brave upset pick come to fruition. Instead, I saw a reason to not pick Maldonado against good light heavyweights. Anderson takes this bout in a one-sided decision.
Anderson, unanimous decision
Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov
3 of 7
Steven Rondina
This is the most interesting match on the card for a multitude of reasons. Magomedov and Burns are two of the most interesting prospects in the UFC, and it's tough to peg which way this will go. I'll lean toward Magomedov here.
Magomedov, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I'll be honest: I didn't know this fight was even a thing. It should be getting a bit more publicity. I like both fighters, and the winner deserves a legit Top 10-level opponent in 2016. I'm siding with Burns. Magomedov isn't known for quick finishes, and Burns will get a couple of moments where he can finish within the distance.
Burns, TKO, Rd. 2
Scott Harris
Now this one I don't like. Why diminish one of your hot prospects on the altar of another hot prospect? It doesn't make sense! On the other hand, what does make sense is a rip-snorter of a striker vs. grappler matchup. Can Burns get Magomedov to the ground, where he has a massive advantage? I say yes, after some kind of massive and perhaps non-beauteous effort. Sound the upset alarms.
Burns, submission, Rd. 2
Jonathan Snowden
"World class" is a descriptor that has lost almost all meaning in MMA, mostly thanks to UFC announcers who apply it recklessly to anyone with a modicum of striking or grappling talent. That's a shame, because when someone tells you Burns has a world-class grappling game, you aren't likely to believe them.
Burns, submission, Rd. 3
Craig Amos
Burns locked up a last-minute submission in a fight he was clearly losing to Alex Oliveira to remain undefeated. His fight with Magomedov will go much the same way, the late-fight heroics notwithstanding.
Magomedov, unanimous decision
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Alex Oliveira vs. Piotr Hallmann
4 of 7
Steven Rondina
This is one of those squash matches that have become standard on UFC cards in Brazil. Oliveira is a hot up-and-comer. Hallmann probably should have been cut already. We all know which direction this is going in.
Oliveira, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
Oliveira is another entertaining “Cowboy." He will be all over Hallmann early and often. Oliveira's aggression will be too much, and he hands Hallmann his third straight loss.
Oliveira, TKO, Rd. 1
Scott Harris
At first, I didn't think Oliveira had a leg to stand on when he tried to call himself Cowboy. But then I learned he was a real bull rider. So, whatever. You know what, I don't care. Oliveira is a berserker, and he'll light up the crowd while sending Hallmann to his likely UFC demise.
Oliveira, TKO, Rd. 1
Jonathan Snowden
Hallman's job here is to negate all that beautiful athleticism and keep Oliveira crunched up against the cage. He could easily get that done. If he does, we all lose.
Oliveira, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
Alex "Cowboy" Oliveira isn't the best UFC fighter named Alex. Nor is he the best named Oliveira. Nor is the best named Cowboy. But he is a credit to all those names. He'll earn the win Saturday night.
Oliveira, TKO, Rd. 2
Thomas Almeida vs. Anthony Birchak
5 of 7
Steven Rondina
Another squash match. Almeida is fringe Top 10 bantamweight with crazy knockout power. Birchak is...pretty decent. I guess. This match was made to pad Almeida's record, and he will likely capitalize on the opportunity.
Almeida, TKO, Rd. 1
Nathan McCarter
This is another fantastic fight but not quite as hard to predict as Burns vs. Magomedov. Almeida is a blue-chipper. He is going to put on another clinic with a third straight finish. He may even get a bonus check.
Almeida, submission, Rd. 1
Scott Harris
Almeida has been a golden-dipped blue-chipper for years now, and this isn't going to change anything. The UFC is right to bring him along slowly. I like Birchak as a fun foil in this one. It will show how heavy Almeida's game really is.
Almeida, knockout, Rd. 2
Jonathan Snowden
Sometimes we try to shy away from this sport's intrinsic violence, intellectualizing a sport that is wanton to the core. It's awfully tough to do that, however, when Almeida fights. The man is violence personified. Sit back, enjoy and try not to feel bad about your doomed soul.
Almeida, knockout, Rd. 1
Craig Amos
I'm going with the consensus here. Birchak is a good fighter, but Almeida is an absolute killer. He'll push his pro record to 20-0.
Almeida, knockout, Rd. 2
Glover Teixeira vs. Patrick Cummins
6 of 7
Steven Rondina
Cummins is a sneaky-good light heavyweight, but Teixeira is a rough stylistic matchup for him. Watch for the Brazilian to keep it standing long enough to land one of his hard right hands.
Teixeira, TKO, Rd. 2
Nathan McCarter
I really wanted to pick Teixeira here, but how he performed against Phil Davis is a huge red flag for me. Cummins is another strong wrestler but not nearly as long as Davis is. That differential could allow Teixeira to be successful on the feet, but he won't be there long enough to do damage. Cummins grinds this out.
Cummins, unanimous decision
Scott Harris
Good on Cummins for shedding the novelty tag he had as a barista-turned-fighter not too long ago. He's serviceable in a wafer-thin division, but Teixeira is on another level. His game is simplistic, and Jon Jones exposed him, but the clinch/uppercut/rinse/repeat approach is rugged in all the right ways against a lesser opponent.
Teixeira, unanimous decision
Jonathan Snowden
Cummins has quietly put together a solid resume in a short time. Unfortunately for him, the maxim that memories are short doesn't always apply. Despite a number of good wins, it's hard to forget his first UFC bout, a woeful showing against Daniel Cormier. Now, once again, Cummins finds himself up against an elite light heavyweight. This time he'll make the most of it.
Cummins, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
Like McCarter said, Teixeira didn't fare well against the last strong wrestler he faced. And Cummins isn't a guy to toy around on the feet. He knows what he's good at and does it. He'll pull out what is a surprisingly large upset.
Cummins, unanimous decision
Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson
7 of 7
Steven Rondina
Part of me wants to pick Henderson here just because of how bad Belfort looked against Chris Weidman back at UFC 187. That, however, would require ignoring how bad Henderson has looked over the last two years. Belfort probably won't be able to blow Hendo out the water the way he did back in 2013, but a boring, wheezy hometown decision for him seems probable.
Belfort, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
I would love for this to echo the wild brawls of Shogun and Henderson, but these two are not as close in terms of how they match up. Belfort is much quicker and more versatile. Henderson's chin isn't what it once was. It'll show. Belfort clocks him early.
Belfort, TKO, Rd. 1
Scott Harris
I don't know what to say about these two guys anymore. Combined age: 83 years. That's a high number of years. But given that Henderson was in the second grade when Belfort was born (and the fact that this is being contested in Brazil), I'll assume Belfort will be the faster, stronger, fresher man. He will batter, if not finish, the old man.
Belfort, unanimous decision
Jonathan Snowden
#AgeintheCage
Belfort, knockout, Rd. 1
Craig Amos
If Belfort can't score the knockout within three minutes, Henderson has a real chance. But the Brazilian will finish up quickly.
Belfort, knockout, Rd. 1
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