(click here for a breakdown of the UFC 147 event)
The Fighters
Felipe Arantes (14-4-2) has made himself a mainstay of the UFC’s frequent trips to Brazil.
Making his promotional debut at the UFC’s much-hyped return to Brazil, Arantes lost a split decision to fellow UFC 147 fighter Yury Alcantara in an unspectacular affair.
Then, he picked up his own decision versus Antonio Carvahlo at UFC 142 in January. Now he stands at 1-1 in the UFC.
Arantes only has one submission loss in his career, being finished by a triangle choke in 2009, by TUF: Brazil alumni Rony Mariano.
Even so, he will have to be careful of Vieira’s strong jiu-jitsu game if he hopes to come out victorious.
Arantes is a tough fighter with crisp striking and a questionable game off his back, having been controlled for most of the first round during his most recent win against Antonio Carvalho.
If all goes in his favour, he should be able to use his superior striking to keep Vieira at bay— controlling the distance and winning the fight.
Milton Vieira has fought most of his career on the regional circuit in Brazil, and he is probably most well-known as the inventor of the anaconda choke. Vieira has a fairly ho-hum record of 13-7-1 and, even worse, he lacks wins over any high-quality opponents.
It isn’t good news for fight fans that his most relevant win is a submission victory over current UFC fighter Johnny Eduardo. It came back in October of 2006.
Nevertheless, he is a strong grappler, even if he hasn’t fought many high-level fighters over the last several years. Even so, Vieira is a very dangerous fighter on the ground and will be looking to lock in a submission victory in his UFC debut.
What to Expect
This should be a fairly spirited contest, with Vieira looking to exploit his submission skills. Nine of his 13 wins come by way of submission.
Arantes will try to keep the fight standing in hopes of landing a knockout blow.
Vieira-Arantes is shaping up to be a classic striker versus grappler matchup, and the fighter who can get the fight where he wants it will likely come out on top.
If Arantes can use his striking to keep his opponent at bay, Vieira will be in for a long night. Likewise, if Vieira gets this to the ground, Arantes will have to be careful not to get caught in a submission.
The Bottom Line
Frankly, this is the sort of fight you would expect to see on a regional promotion, not on a UFC main card (although the fight might be relegated to the preliminaries once the schedule is shored up).
This match-up reminds me of the random throwaway fights between low-ranked Canadian fighters. They always seem to litter the preliminaries of every Toronto card.
As it stands, the UFC 147 card is still not confirmed with less than two weeks to go.
Still, Vieira-Arantes could certainly end up being a spirited fight, especially if both men are looking to put on a good show for the hometown crowd.
Remember—sometimes these under-the-radar fights end up being mini-classics.
Prediction: Arantes via Unanimous Decision
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