Before UFC 160‘s marquee fights get underway on pay-per-view, the organization will offer seven fights for free that will be available via Facebook or on FX.
While these matchups may not offer the same name recognition of a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva, there are plenty of matchups that should affect the landscape in their respective divisions.
Featuring an intriguing welterweight collision between Mike Pyle and Rick Story, there are a slew of fighters who will be trying to climb the ladder with entertaining and decisive wins. Here’s a look at the compete schedule along with quick picks for the biggest prelims on the card.
FX Card (Starting at 8 p.m. ET)
Welterweight Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
Featherweight Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
Welterweight Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo
Facebook Card (Starting at 6:35 p.m. ET)
Welterweight: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Stephen Thompson
Bantamweight: Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
Featherweight: Estevan Payan vs. Jeremy Stephens
Predictions
Mike Pyle Continues Winning Ways Against Rick Story
Thirty-seven-year-old Mike Pyle is making the most out of the latter parts of his career. The longtime UFC vet is making his way to the main card scene with three straight first-round finishes, and a win here could propel him to the highest heights he has seen in his career.
Story is always a dangerous underdog—his wins over Johny Hendricks and Thiago Alves are nothing to laugh at. But he’s been mediocre since those wins, posting a 2-3 record in his last five fights.
Look for Pyle to continue his recent winning streak with another spectacular knockout.
Nurmagomedov Redeems Weigh-In Mishaps With Win Over Abel Trujillo
Khabib Nurmagomedov may have a bright future in the UFC, but his antics at the weight can’t help him.
Nurmagomedov showed up to the weigh-ins wearing a goofy wig. Which wouldn’t have been a big deal if he hadn’t missed weight. And if he hadn’t pushed Abel Trujillo at the staredown for no reason. As Bleacher Report’s Duane Finley and Jeremy Botter point out, the whole performance just wasn’t a good idea:
Fortunately for Nurmagomedov, he has the skills in the Octagon to ensure he doesn’t receive the harsh backlash that may come with losing. He’s 19-0 for a reason. The man has knockout power on the feet and the ability to win with submissions on the ground.
Nurmagomedov will finish this fight.
Jeremy Stephens Will Make His Last UFC Appearance Against Estevan Payan
It feels like Jeremy Stephens should be 37. He’s not, he’s 27.
He made his UFC debut in 2007 and has been a fixture in the organization ever since, but it looks like his time in the Octagon might be done. Stephens has never been an elite fighter, but he’s now riding a three-fight losing streak and finds himself on the Facebook prelims.
He’s making his debut at featherweight, but even dropping weight might not be enough. Estevan Payan may not be a well-known name, but he’s coming off of a TKO win in Strikeforce.
Another loss and it’s hard to envision Dana White keeping Stephens around.
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