Glover Teixeira – TKO Round 3 (Since Gustafsson slept Teixeira with a peachy combination back in 2017, Teixeira’s chin has been second-guessed in the lead-up to every fight. This will be no different, albeit, due to Hill’s clubbing power rather than the clutches of Father Time. Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and Thiago Santos all met their fate from a single strike by Hill. The power stems from Hill’s tendency to plant his feet, yet he is exceptionally sloppy when resetting between combinations. It’s difficult to see Teixeira avoiding ample opportunities to shoot on Hill)
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Deiveson Figueiredo – Decision (At 29 years old, Moreno is physically peaking at the right time. The Mexican already possessed an everlasting gas tank, yet there are now signs of more significant pop in his strikes – particularly a tighter kicking game. There is decent room to question Moreno’s preparedness in the lead-up, however, following James Krause’s gambling-enforced camp changes. Without a determined game plan of wearing Figueiredo down via the mat, Moreno will find himself on the wrong end of early exchanges too often. There is always a risk of Figueiredo mentally switching off and failing in the pursuit of high-risk opportunism, but as seen in the trilogy fight, the Brazilian can sit behind his best weapons when required)
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Gilbert Burns – Decision (It’s been close to a year since we’ve seen Gilbert Burns in the octagon since his barn-burner FOTN with Khamzat Chimaev. Durinho was the first fighter to neutralise Chimaev’s oppressive grappling, as well as drop him at the end of the second round with a huge right overhand. Neil Magny is Welterweight’s biggest banana-skin gatekeeper, however. The Haitian Sensation better utilised his long frame in his last outing against Daniel Rodriguez – showing more intensity on the feet from the opening bell)
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Jessica Andrade – TKO Round 3 (39-year-old Lauren Murphy should have considered retirement after the one-sided championship loss to Valentina Shevchenko. Murphy had climbed close to the top before hitting her head on an athletic and technical ceiling. Murphy is solidly built and well-rounded, but she lacks the technical supremacy to contain Andrade’s explosive offence)
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Paul Craig – Submission Round 1 (There’s no denying Craig’s outrageous submission chops – the issue has always been figuring out how to coax fighters into his guard. For all the natural physical gifts of Johnny Walker, he was not blessed with a fighting brain. If any fighter were to hurt Craig and dive straight into Craig’s clutches – it would be a John Kavanagh-trained Johnny Walker. Of course, Craig’s chin is not uncrackable, but Walker’s strangely patient counter-striking will work against him in this bout)
Ihor Potieira – TKO Round 1 (This is a strange piece of UFC match-making as it begs the question of whether the UFC is looking to push Ihor Potieria. The 26-year-old has little fanfare behind him, while his paper record was exposed in his UFC debut against Nicolae Negumereanu. Even so, Potieria as the less weathered fighter has the natural power and speed to abruptly end Shogun Rua’s dreams of a fairytale ending)
Gregory Rodrigues – Submission Round 2 (Undefeated Brazilian, Bruno Ferreira, is riding a career stoppage streak, having never reached the third round in his career. As a Middleweight of shorter stature, Ferreira’s power is impressive – yet he is yet to have shown the quality required to handle Rodrigues’ BJJ base if called upon)
Thiago Moises – Submission Round 1 (Until Thiago Moises faces a fighter of note, his claim to fame will revolve around hitting a takedown on Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. Still, Melquizael Costa is an athletic prospect who runs (or spins) head-first into danger – Moises should be able to find a way to Costa’s back relatively early)
Gabriel Bonfim – Decision (Former LFA Welterweight Champion, Gabriel Bonfim, has earned his stripes against solid competition in Brenner Alberth and Eduardo Garvon. Tunisian, Mounir Lazzez, is of a similar quality as his grasp of distance control often keeps prospects at bay. A close-knit affair with Bonfim’s athletic edge to prove the difference)
Jailton Almeida – TKO Round 1 (After operating as one of the underrated stalwarts of the Heavyweight division throughout 2016-2019, Abdurakhimov’s UFC career appears to have run its course. Three straight stoppages to Curtis Blaydes, Chris Daukaus and Sergei Pavlovich are terminal on paper – yet the drop in speed and punch resistance on tape are far more incriminating)
Luan Lacerda – Decision (Stamann is finally settling into his role as a Bantamweight gatekeeper. The stout wrestler is capable of controlling most prospects on the mat, but a lack of a finishing instinct often leaves avenues for opponents to regain a foothold. The 33-year-old is difficult to finish, yet Lacerda’s arsenal on the mat should not be written off)
Terrance McKinney – TKO Round 1 (DWCS alumni, Ismael Bonfim, is not a scrub thrown to the lions as is typical for UFC matchmakers. Bonfim has plied his trade professionally for over a decade, including sharing the ring with Renato Moicano back in 2014. As a decision merchant, Bonfim owns the gas tank to punish McKinney outside of the first round, but it’s easier said than done)
Nicolas Dalby – Decision (Alves never kicked on to the heights of the sport expected for a fighter who stopped Colby Covington. Rather, the 32-year-old has struggled to set up traps for deadly power on the feet. Dalby is nearing his 40s yet his grinding wrestling style seems tailor-made to control Alves on the mat)
Josiane Nunes – TKO Round 1 (It’s a surprise that the UFC has attempted to make matches for an 0-2 fighter for nearly three years. Granted, Fairn is an unknown quantity after spending so long outside of the octagon. Let’s be honest though, this stinks of a Nunes can-crushing job)
Daniel Marcos – Decision (Both fighters are equally sloppy, with Marcos’ plus athleticism identifiable as an edge. Oliveira’s submissions are based around punishing sloppy takedowns, however, an area that Marcos needs to tighten up before climbing the UFC rankings)
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