UFC keeps on staging events, this Saturday being a return to Brazil. The main event features two top welterweight strikers hoping to prove their worth one more crack at a title run. The card also features a long-awaited featherweight rematch and a host of Brazilian nationals looking to gain experience.
What: UFC Fight Night 67 (UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves)
Where: Goiânia Arena, Goiânia, Brazil
When: Saturday, the two-fight Fight Pass preliminary card starts at 7 p.m. ET and the four-fight preliminary card kicks off on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. and the six-fight main card begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Carlos Condit vs. Thiago Alves
I like Alves early and Condit late, basically. Alves isn’t quite the dynamic force he was when he was beating the likes of Matt Hughes, but he’s still pretty potent early. His outside low kick counters are deadly and his output remains uncomfortably high for opposition to deal with. That said, Condit is extremely durable and can pick up the pace as time goes on; that’s something Alves lacks. It’s good this fight is five rounds if you’re Condit. He’ll likely struggle early only to turn it on and seal the deal in the championship rounds.
Pick: Condit
Nik Lentz vs. Charles Oliveira
These two finally meet. I’m going to side with the Brazilian. His offensive striking isn’t necessarily amazing, but he’s much more defensively responsible. But we all know how this fight is going to go. Lentz is going to press Oliveira against the fence, work for a takedown and try to use top control to ride out a decision. Oliveira’s takedown defense is better than ever, but not good enough. Still, I’m not entirely sure it will matter. Even if he gets taken down, his submission savvy or ability to secure sweeps it fantastic. I’m not sure if he submits Lentz, but I do expect him to constantly disrupt his top control while doing more of the damage.
Pick: Oliveira
KJ Noons vs. Alex Oliveira
Noons is obviously clever and deadly with his boxing combinations, but Oliveira is probably too much for him to handle. He has better movement, more attacks at different ranges and, generally speaking, more weapons. Noons is durable, but he’s likely going to come up short trying to score meaningful offense.
Pick: Oliveira
Francimar Barroso vs. Ryan Jimmo
Jimmo can sometimes be all over the place, but I like his chances here. His patience in both engagement and shot selection will essentially give him this contest, as will his ability to be more potent at range. This is entirely Jimmo’s fight to lose.
Pick: Jimmo
Norman Parke vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Parke’s chances are good here. Trinaldo has been ever so slightly slowing down of late. He’s still quite the dynamo, but a manageable task for the Northern Irishman. Parke can stuff Trinaldo’s takedown attempts or even get on top himself with counters inside the clinch. If that doesn’t work, he can work around Trinaldo’s one-note overhand punching, also with punching on the inside. Parke has to be sharp here, but Trinaldo is slowing down. If he can avoid being pulled into any brawl or overwhelmed physically, he should be fine.
Pick: Parke
Wendell Oliveira vs. Darren Till
I’m going to side with Marques here. Till does decent body and leg work from the outside, but the bigger power puncher in the Brazilian is going to be able to advantage of Till’s defensive lapses. I expect a stoppage for Marques inside the distance.
Pick: Marques
From the preliminary card:
Rony Jason def. Damon Jackson
Jussier Formiga def. Wilson Reis
Nicolas Dalby def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Mirsad Bektic def. Lucas Martins
Juliana Lima def. Ericka Almeida
Luiz Dutra def. Tom Breese