The event is on Saturday & can be seen on UFC Fight Pass at 3:30PM EST with the Fox Sports 1 Prelims from 5-8PM EST & the Main Card on Fox starting at 8PM EST. This should be an entertaining event with a handful of big names. I definitely like some dogs & think that this card is PPV worthy. I will post my suggested plays after all the lines are up at my book because they are a little late on them since the 1st half of the 13 fight card have quite a few of debuts & returns.
Prelims
265lbs - Derrick Lewis (9-2-0 1NC) vs Jack May (7-0-0)
It's always tough to pick between 2 fighters making their UFC debuts & it's even harder since their both heavyweights. Both men possess big power but Lewis is simply more athletic, has the much better cardio, & has fought the much better competition. Both men will swing for the fences early but as May starts to wear down, Lewis will land that big right hand that will end the fight. I won't bet my house on it but Lewis should definitely walk out with the W. My prediction is Derrick Lewis to defeat Jack May by KO/TKO.
145lbs- Mirsad Bektic (7-0-0) vs Chas Skelly (11-0-0)
This fight should be a barn burner that could really go either way. Skelly has fought the better competition & will definitely have the edge if this fight hits the floor but Bektic has very good takedown defense & should really pick Skelly apart on the feet. This should be a good back & forth battle with the winner being the man that can best utilize their strengths & implement their game plan. I'm going to take Bektic to neutralize Skelly's takedown game & simply outpoint him en route to the small upset victory. My prediction is Mirsad Bektic to beat Chas Skelly by decision.
125lbs - #13 Dustin Ortiz (12-3-0) vs Ray Borg (6-0-0)
This is a very interesting matchup as Borg is coming in as a highly touted prospect & Ortiz has proven that he can hang with the big boys after everyone but 2 of the judges at cageside saw him beat John Moraga in January. Both men fight at an extremely high pace but I believe that Borg is just a little more refined than Ortiz. I look for Borg to use his speed & kicks to set up taekdowns in order to work towards submissions. I don't think that Borg will be able to finish Ortiz but I do look for him to outpoint him in a very exciting & close fight. My prediction is Ray Borg to beat Dustin Ortiz by decision.
170lbs - Jordan Mein (27-9-0) vs Hernani Perpetuo (17-3-0 1NC)
This should be a good old fashioned WWF type squash match. Perpetuo is a decent prospect but I look for Mein to overwhelm him with an early flurry & finish the fight inside the 1st round. Perpetuo really won't see it coming as Mein will quickly hurt & finish him off in a blink of an eye. I will give Perpetuo credit if he can get out of the 1st round. My prediction is Jordan Mein to defeat Hernani Perpetuo by KO/TKO.
185lbs - Caio Magalhaes (7-2-0) vs Luke Zachrich (13-2-0)
Zachrich is making his UFC debut on short notice & unless he can catch Magalhaes then I don't see him having much of a chance. This should be a very boring fight as Magalhaes will continuously take Zachrich down & do just enough to score a unanimous decision. Magalhaes is very boring & overrated but his takedowns & top control will be good enough to pick up the victory. This is the perfect fight to schedule a bathroom break or a beer run. My prediction is Caio Magalhaes to defeat Luke Zachrich by decision.
145lbs - Estevan Payan (14-5-0 1NC) vs Alex White (9-0-0)
Payan is coming off back to back losses & is more than likely fighting for his UFC career but Alex White is the wrong prospect for him to be going up against. I look for this to be a standup battle with it going back & forth for the first round or 2 but sooner or later White will land a huge counter that will end Payan's night. I believe this fight will be close throughout & even if White can't finish Payan, he will do enough to win at least 2 rounds & get his hand raised. My prediction is Alex White to defeat Estevan Payan by KO/TKO.
155lbs - Jorge Masvidal (25-8-0) vs Pay Healy (31-17-0 1NC)
Healy was a very good grinding fighter but I believe that his time is over. Masvidal looked great at the weigh-ins & I believe that he's going to continuously hit Healy with some strong counters until he finally hurts Healy. Bam Bam has had a nice career but Masvidal should pick him apart on the feet & easily outpoint him. I doubt Healy will even be able to win a round. My prediction is Jorge Masvidal to defeat Pat Healy by decision.
170lbs - Thiago Alves (24-8-0) vs Seth Baczynski (18-8-0)
On paper this should be all Pitbull but he is coming off a 2 year layoff due to injuries. Baczynski's only chance is by really drawing this fight out testing the cardio & cage rust of Alves. I honestly don't see that happening because Alves is just too strong & aggressive. Alves will more than likely make short work of Baczynski with a vicious knockout that'll earn him the 50K for Performance Of The Night. My prediction is Thiago Alves to defeat Seth Baczynski by KO/TKO.
155lbs - #5 Rafael dos Anjos (20-6-0) vs #7 Khabib Nurmagomedov (21-0-0)
This is by far the fight that I am most excited to see. The winner of this fight should get a title eliminator fight against Benson Henderson later on this year. Dos Anjos is a great grappler with big power & Nurmagomedov is a cardio machine that pushes an unruly pace. Nearly everyone in the lightweight division has been ducking Nurmagomedov because up to this point he has looked invincible. I give Dos Anjos the edge on the mat but Nurmadomedov definitely has the power edge on the feet & he is so persistent in seeking takedowns that it is near impossible to win rounds against him unless you can counter with a takedown of your own, sweep him, or hurt him with a big shot. This should be a fairly close fight but I look for Nurmagomedov to simply outwork & outpoint Dos Anjos en route to a decision victory. My prediction is Khabib Nurmagomedov to defeat Rafael Dos Anjos by decision.
Main Card
185lbs - Brad Tavares (12-2-0) vs Yoel Romero (7-1-0)
Tavares is a very good striker but when facing an opponent as dangerous & strong as Romero he will need to fight smart. Tavares should look for the takedowns & simply try to grind out a decision victory. Romero may not have the best cardio but he has one punch knockout power unlike anyone not named Dan Henderson or Roy Nelson. Romero was easily losing his last fight against Brunson & he knew he needed the knockout so he went out there & knocked Brunson senseless. I do think the better all around fighter is Brad Tavares but Romero is just too powerful & athletic for me to go against. It'll be all Tavares until Romero knocks him unconscious midway through the 2nd round. It's always tough when you're relying on a 1 trick pony since Romero never uses his wrestling but I will take the plus money with The Soldier Of God. My prediction is Yoel Romero to defeat Brad Tavares by KO/TKO.
155lbs - Donald Cerrone (22-6-0 1NC) vs Edson Barboza (13-1-0)
I know that everyone is loving Cerrone right now but he does seem to come up small in his biggest fights. The only way I see Cerrone pulling off the victory is if Barboza either gets caught with a head kick or falls into a submission. Barboza is better on the feet & I believe he will severely hurt Cerrone with those devastating kicks before he finishes him inside of 2 rounds. It'll be back & forth for a while but sooner or later the power of Barboza will prove to be too much as he finishes the Cowboy. My prediction is Edson Barboza to defeat Donald Cerrone by KO/TKO.
Ladies 135lbs - Meisha Tate (13-5-0) vs Liz Carmouche (8-4)
This is a battle between 2 fading female MMA stars that are basically running on fumes. Carmouche is 1-2 in the UFC & 3-4 in her last 7. Tate is 0-2 in the UFC, 1-3 in her last 4, & should be on a 4 fight losing streak but she was able to tap out Julie Kedzie late in the 3 round of a fight that she was obviously losing. Tate put on a great show last time around against Rousey & Carmouche came the closest of any woman to actually beat Rousey. I look for this to be an all out exciting back & forth war but in the end I trust the power & IQ of Carmouche. I believe that it'll be close on the feet but Carmouche will land the harder punches & she will also get enough takedowns late in the rounds to steal the round. Tate has been known to gas & Carmouche will take advantage as she outpoints Tate & gets the much needed upset victory. My prediction is Liz Carmouche to beat Meisha Tate by decision.
265lbs - Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1) vs Travis Browne (16-1-1)
I don't think this fight will be as good or last as long as most people believe. Despite beating Big Nog in his last bout, Werdum did not look very good & I don't expect him to look any better in this fight. Werdum will unsuccessfully go for an early takedown & within the first few minutes Browne will find his opportunity to unload and finish this fight. I didn't like how small Werdum looked at the weigh-ins & Browne will make him pay with another devastating knockout. Cain Velasquez better be ready because Travis Browne is coming for that title! My prediction is Travis Browne to defeat Fabricio Werdum by KO/TKO.