UFC Fight Night 83 Predictions: Main Card Staff Picks for Cowboy vs. Cowboy
The UFC limps into the Steel City for a rare Sunday card. UFC Fight Night 83 contains some interesting matchups, as all UFC and many other MMA cards tend to do, but no one should pretend the metaphorical bloom is not off the metaphorical rose in this instance.
The misfortunes that befell this card and its fighters would feel like over-the-top comedic devices if we hadn't watched them all happen in all-too-real time.
Exciting strikers Brandon Thatch and Sam Alvey were both injured and withdrew from their respective bouts. Ditto Trevor Smith and Sarah Moras. Knockout artist John Lineker caught dengue fever.
Most problematic for the card was Tim Means being flagged for a potential doping violation. Not only was he on the main event, but he was also welcoming the famous Donald Cerrone to his new home in the welterweight division.
To its credit, the UFC found replacements in several of these cases, including the headliner. Cerrone will now face a dangerous competitor in Alex Oliveira. But let's face facts: It's not as compelling.
There's a consolation prize, though: Cerrone and Oliveira are both nicknamed "Cowboy." That makes this an instant grudge match.
What about the other fights on the main card? Here is our predictions team to take you through it and make the picks: Craig "Cookie" Amos, Steven Rondina, Nathan McCarter, Sydnie "Syd" Jones and yours truly, Scott Harris. Let's get it on.
James Krause vs. Shane Campbell
1 of 6
Steven Rondina
This could be a fun one, but Shane Campbell's technically superior striking game will make the difference against James Krause. I'll take him by decision here.
Campbell, unanimous decision
Nathan McCarter
This fight may be all about which Krause shows up to fight. He has shown flashes of brilliance and also an equal amount of low fight IQ. I really have no idea what to expect from him on any given night. Campbell will have his chances, but he loses on the scorecards.
Krause, unanimous decision
Craig Amos
Krause might be the more well-rounded fighter, but his willingness to mix it up anywhere might work against him this time. Campbell is dangerous on the feet. If Krause indulges him there, he'll find trouble.
Campbell, unanimous decision
Sydnie Jones
Oh, who can say? I don't know. Krause's greater experience is going to help him out here, I guess.
Krause, submission, Round 2
Scott Harris
Krause has great size for a lightweight at 6'2", but he's been awfully inconsistent throughout his UFC career. Give me Campbell's muay thai striking to carry the day. It certainly brings the greater promise for excitement.
Campbell, unanimous decision
Chris Camozzi vs. Joe Riggs
2 of 6
Rondina
Neither Chris Camozzi nor Joe Riggs has much of a future in the UFC. The company knows it, too, so it's having them face off in a straight-up throwaway fight. When it comes to predictions, there's little to nothing to be hopeful about when it comes to Riggs, so I'm expecting Camozzi to dig deep and score an ugly, forgettable decision win.
Camozzi, unanimous decision
McCarter
Ugh. Why?
Camozzi, unanimous decision
Amos
It was nearly 12 years ago that Riggs first stepped into the Octagon. It makes you a little nostalgic to see him fighting on a UFC main card, no? It makes me nostalgic. It doesn't make me confident, though.
Camozzi, unanimous decision
Jones
This is apparently a super hot take, but I'm going with Riggs. Let's hope he doesn't hurt his neck again.
Riggs, unanimous decision
Harris
Can you believe Riggs is only 33? His age in MMA career years may not be estimable. He'll try to make this a fun brawl for the fans, but he'll go down at some point. Camozzi would seem not to have the striking acumen to make it a knockout, but still...down.
Camozzi, TKO, Round 2
Dennis Bermudez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
3 of 6
Rondina
This is a pro wrestling-style matchup. A solid young fighter is in desperate need of a win, and there's an aging stud right there who can give it to him. It's sad, but one has to imagine Tatsuya Kawajiri (37) is going to go out there and do the job for Dennis Bermudez.
Bermudez, unanimous decision
McCarter
This should be a fun fight but not one that will last incredibly wrong. When Kawajiri gets aggressive with his hands, he leaves a lot of openings, and he isn't too difficult to hit. That's trouble against the Mack-truck hitting of Bermudez. He'll ice the Japanese star within five minutes.
Bermudez, KO, Round 1
Amos
Bermudez's once rising star has descended after two straight losses, but he has a chance to salvage some momentum with a good showing here. Kawajiri is a tough, but beatable, opponent.
Bermudez, unanimous decision
Jones
Poor Bermudez had a seven-fight win streak going before Ricardo Lamas guillotined him in November 2014. Eight months later, he lost to Jeremy Stephens via TKO. But now, facing Kawajiri? The Japanese fighter's revivification in the UFC will fail here.
Bermudez, unanimous decision
Harris
If it wasn't for Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald, Bermudez's fight with Jeremy Stephens would have been the fight of UFC 189 and maybe the year. Bermudez lost by knockout but not before showing stretches of scary dominance with striking and wrestling. Kawajiri has a puncher's chance but not much else.
Bermudez, TKO, Round 3
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Cody Garbrandt vs. Augusto Mendes
4 of 6
Rondina
Augusto Mendes looks very similar to Cody Garbrandt on paper, but Garbrandt has found success against much stiffer competition. Barring something crazy happening, he should win this one without too much trouble.
Garbrandt, submission, Round 3
McCarter
I'm still mourning the loss of Linker to this card. The UFC's replacement won't do much to Garbrandt, who is a great talent.
Garbrandt, TKO, Round 1
Amos
Garbrandt vs. Lineker was going to be a fun matchup. Garbrandt vs. Mendes might not last long enough to be much fun.
Garbrandt, TKO, Round 1
Jones
Garbrandt has an impressive professional record—six KOs and one decision. He seems to be a finishing machine. He's never faced a grappler as skilled as Mendes, and no one has taken him down in the Octagon. If Mendes can get and keep Garbrandt down, the American won't be able to contend with his opponent's Brazilian jiu-jitsu. However, I don't anticipate that happening; Garbrandt is just too fast a scrambler and too fierce a striker.
Garbrandt, TKO, Round 2
Harris
Mendes is what we think he is: a late injury fill-in to keep a popular fighter on the card. Garbrandt will win to keep his momentum going, but we won't learn much we didn't already know about the powerful Team Alpha Male bantamweight.
Garbrandt, KO, Round 1
Derek Brunson vs. Roan Carneiro
5 of 6
Rondina
Roan Carneiro is good, but let's not forget that he should be fighting at 170 pounds. While he managed to get through a broken-down Mark Munoz, that probably won't fly against a big buck like Derek Brunson. He should be able to grind out Carneiro en route to a handy decision win.
Brunson, unanimous decision
McCarter
Brunson, at 32 years old, is in a great spot to capitalize on this aging division. If he is impressive in the co-main event, he should begin to enter the area of contender bouts, and he has all the skills to make a legitimate run toward the top. Carneiro isn't an easy out, but he's just one of many over-35 fighters Brunson needs to oust on his way toward a title shot. He'll do it.
Brunson, TKO, Round 1
Amos
After confirming the UFC's promotion of this fight as a co-main event was not a mistake, I shrugged and said to myself, "Brunson is actually pretty awesome, I guess." Then I took a sip of my smoothie and tried to determine how and when he wins the fight.
Brunson, TKO, Round 2
Jones
Brunson is a beastly middleweight, and his last two losses (of three in his career) were to high-level fighters Yoel Romero and Jacare Souza. Carneiro's return to the UFC may have been impressive, but he won't answer what Brunson brings.
Brunson, submission, Round 3
Harris
Brunson has the wrestling to overwhelm Carneiro's grappling and the power to make Carneiro pay. Brunson pounds him out. An emphatic win could get him "in the mix," as they say.
Brunson, TKO, Round 2
Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira
6 of 6
Rondina
Cerrone vs. Means was an interesting matchup. Cerrone vs. Oliveira? Not so much. Cerrone should take this without any difficulty.
Cerrone, TKO, Round 1
McCarter
This has the chance to be a fun fight, and Oliveira may be a bit undervalued. Yet, you won't catch me picking him for the upset. Cerrone should be the superior fighter in the cage Sunday. Oliveira will fade quickly, which will allow Cerrone to turn up the volume for a TKO.
Cerrone, TKO, Round 2
Amos
Just because they share a nickname does not mean these two are equal. Oliveira is a terrific fighter, but Cerrone is a big step up in competition. The American Cowboy will...I swear I had something for this.
Cerrone, submission, Round 2
Jones
What is Cerrone doing?! He fought barely two months ago and got knocked out in short order, and now he's back? He had four fights last year; that's more than some fighters get in twice that time. Nevertheless, I don't believe Oliveira has faced competition like Cerrone, and the American will come back from his loss with fearsome pizzazz.
Cerrone, TKO, Round 2
Harris
I'll have to go with Cowboy to win this. Ah, that's great. But seriously, Oliveira is a fearless brawler and will make this entertaining. Ultimately, though, Cerrone's attack is just too varied. It will be interesting to see how the higher weight class and smaller weight cut affect his power and gas tank. Personally, I'm imagining a Cerrone special: head-kick knockdown followed by choke-out on the ground.
Cerrone, submission, Round 1
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