UFC on Fox 19: Preview and Predictions
from Riley Kontek - FanSided
Glover Teixeira vs. Rashad Evans
The main event will be a pivotal light heavyweight showdown, as Rashad Evans looks to prove he can still compete with the top dogs when he fights veteran Glover Teixeira. Evans has been slowed by injuries and a long UFC career. He has fought just once since 2013, as knee issues have plagued the former champion. Teixeira has been more active, but he has shown he can be controlled by wrestlers. If Evans has his wrestling on point, he can definitely score a victory here. If he’s content to stand, Teixeira is going to work him. I think Evans will play cautious due to his injuries from the past and earn enough takedowns to take this fight on the scorecards.
Lyoto Machida vs. Dan Henderson
In a rematch that pretty much nobody asked for, Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson will meet again, this time at middleweight. Henderson has shown his age in recent bouts, as well as a deterioration in a legendary chin. He is content with being patient on the feet and looking to land his one huge punch, something that may not be wise against a counterstriker like Machida. That’s why this matchup is not the most exciting, in that both men will be waiting on one another. Machida is definitely quicker and more precise. I think Henderson needs to use clinch and wrestling to be successful, but I don’t think he will do that. I think Machida wins another sleeper here on the scorecards.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Darrell Horcher
From main event to second fight on the main card, it’s been another tough break for Khabib Nurmagomedov. He will now fight Darrell Horcher, a UFC newcomer, on the main card, as opposed to the now-injured Tony Ferguson. I think Horcher is a very good prospects and a guy who has staying power on the UFC roster, but this is too much for his debut on short notice. Nurmagomedov, despite the huge slew of injuries, is vastly superior at this point. His wrestling and grappling is too much for most in the world at 155 to handle. He is going to ground Horcher and beat him up. He will win relatively easy here and set up another bout with Ferguson in the summer.
Rose Namajunas vs. Tecia Torres
Rose Namajunas and Tecia Torres have fought before, but they will do it again in the main card opener. Back in their Invicta days, the two ladies fought as top prospects, with Torres earning a close decision victory. The two have grown greatly since, which should make this bout a fun one. Torres is still the precision striker that can do good work from the top position. Namajunas likes to strike as well, but her ground game is vastly overlooked. She can tap out anybody, and seeing what she did to Paige vanZant, she can do some savage beating up with her fists on the ground as well. I think Namajunas is going to extract some revenge here and earn a win over Torres, potentially earning her the next shot at the title once Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha settle their beef in the Octagon.
Beneil Dariush vs. Michael Chiesa
Two of lightweights finest young up-and-comers are set to duel, as the rapidly ascending Beneil Dariush takes on the always tough Michael Chiesa. Both men like to wrestle, but Chiesa has made a living grinding guys down and breaking their spirits on the ground. He’s also strong in the clinch, where he wears on guys and beats them up. As for Dariush, he is probably the better striker of the two and can wrestle a bit himself. The problem is the decision he won over Michael Johnson was very controversial and showed a crack in the armor. I don’t think Chiesa can exploit that weakness like Johnson did, though, so I will take Dariush by decision.
Bethe Correia vs. Raquel Pennington
Former title challenger Bethe Correia looks to get back on the horse for the first time since getting downed by Ronda Rousey when she takes on the vastly improved Raquel Pennington. Correia is going to be the smaller fighter here, so she will need to use her quickness. She is technical, but not very powerful, which is why she goes to decision so often. Pennington is one of the most improved bantamweights in the UFC, showing off better striking and takedown defense in her recent fights. I will take Pennington in the upset here, who will outwork Correia.
Court McGee vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
A pair of talented welterweights will look to move up the ladder in the next bout, as Argentina’s Santiago Ponzinibbio meets up with grinder Court McGee. This is going to be a striker vs. grappler matchup. Ponzinibbio is a technical striker with power that has won some good bouts in the UFC. McGee is a wrestler with heavy top position, not letting guys up after he’s downed them to the mat. Whoever imposes their game plan is going to succeed here. I think McGee is going to show the Argentine what fighting a grinder is all about, as McGee scores another decision victory in workmanlike fashion.
Cub Swanson vs. Hacran Dias
Brazil’s Hacran Dias remains one of the best under-the-radar fighters in the UFC. He will get a tough matchup against top-10 featherweight striker Cub Swanson, who is looking to jump back into title contention. Dias is a ground fighter and is most comfortable when he takes guys down and controls them from the top. That will be tough against Swanson, who has stout takedown defense and vastly superior striking. I think Swanson is a tad above Dias in terms of overall skill level. He is going to finish Dias late with strikes, putting his name back in the hat of top 145-pound contenders.
John Dodson vs. Manvel Gamburyan
Capping off the Fight Pass prelims are the bantamweights, as former flyweight title challenger John Dodson looks to return to the division in successful fashion against the always tough Manvel Gamburyan. Dodson moves to 135 again after a long stint at 125, where he unsuccessfully challenged Demetrious Johnson for the title twice. He saves himself the weight cut and moves up, where he will be probably the quickest fighter in the division. His striking is superior to Gamburyan’s and he has some of the best takedown defense around. This should be a good fight for Dodson, who outguns Gamburyan to a finish.
Randy Brown vs. Michael Graves
A pair of top welterweight prospects will square off next, as Randy Brown makes his sophomore UFC effort against fellow second-fight vet Michael Graves. Graves and Brown are two top fighters with two very different styles, as Brown prefers to bang on the feet and Graves is more of a wrestler. Graves is extremely durable and aggressive, which tends to make opponents uncomfortable. Brown is a quick, athletic striker that can stick and move, as well as down opponents with his power. He is a huge welterweight for the weight class, which will give Graves some problems. However, I think the durability and wrestling of Graves will pay dividends, as he pulls out a close decision win.
Drew Dober vs. Islam Makhachev
The durable Drew Dober is going to have a big challenge on his hands in the next bout, as he has the duty of taking on top Russian prospect Islam Makhachev. Dober likes to strike and does so successfully with his granite chin. He will need to be on his guard for this bout, as Makhachev is an aggressive wrestler with a killer ground game. The Russian slipped in his last bout to the criminally underrated Adriano Martins, but before that, looked like a man on fire. He will ground Dober early and often and suffocate him, eventually running away with the fight and finishing it via submission.
Cezar Ferreira vs. Oluwale Bamgbose
Cezar Ferreira is looking like this is his last chance to stick around the UFC in the next bout, as he meets fellow middleweight Oluwale Bamgbose. Ferreira looked like a top prospect when he won TUF Brazil, but consistency has failed him in recent times. He has been exposed via the chin, as he has been knocked out in three of his last four outings. That’s not especially encouraging seeing as Bamgbose is a powerhouse striker that is aggressive from bell to bell. Bamgbose destroyed Daniel Sarafian in his last fight, showing off that violent style. When it’s all said and done, late notice will matter not, as Bamgbose will personally hand Ferreira his pink slip after he regains consciousness.
Elizeu Zaleski vs. Omari Akhmedov
Kicking off this card is a fun welterweight offering, as Brazilian Elizeu Zaleski is set to meet up with Dagestan native Omari Akhmedov. Zaleski was the Jungle Fight Welterweight Champion, a big achievement for any fighter competing in the Brazilian MMA circuit. He is well-rounded, though he likes to strike and gain the knockout. Akhmedov can strike to, but would benefit from a clinch-grappling combination on the Brazilian. He has good power and can test Zaleski’s chin if he gets right to work. This could be a toss up fight, but I will take Akhmedov with his more well-rounded attack.
