UFC Fight Night 28 takes place in Brazil tomorrow evening and you can see our predictions for all the fights below.
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Main Card:
Glover Teixeira vs. Ryan Bader
Bader’s got good power in his hands, but he’s a little one-paced and predictable so I think he’ll have a hard time on the feet against Teixeira’s dynamic, aggressive, hard-hitting offense.
So, Bader will have to utilize his wrestling here if he hopes to emerge with the win, but I think he can be lured into a striking battle that’ll prove costly for him as Teixeira roughs him up and earns a TKO stoppage.
Glover Teixeira to win by TKO in Rd2.
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Yushin Okami vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
I’m interested to see how this one plays out. Okami’s normally very dominant operating on the mat from top control, stifling his opponents, but he’ll be tested like never before there against ‘Jacare’ who’s a genuine, world class BJJ talent.
Meanwhile, both men have made improvements to their stand-up, but ‘Jacare’ has developed the most so keeping this fight standing could be to his advantage. I think that’s the difference in this extremely close fight, so I’m going to go for Souza to do just enough to earn a close decision win, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it goes the other way due to Okami’s wrestling prowess.
Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza to win by decision.
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Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier “Formiga” da Silva
Benavidez hasn’t had much luck in title fights, but outside of that he continues to be a step ahead of the rest of most other fighters in the division’s he’s competed in.
I don’t see any reason to doubt that will be the case again tomorrow night. ‘Formiga’ is a respectable fighter, but there’s no area of this fight that he holds an advantage. Benavidez power should be the most noticeable difference here and I’m tipping him to control the action and get a late TKO victory.
Joseph Benavidez to win by TKO in Rd3.
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Francisco Trinaldo vs. Piotr Hallmann
Tough first fight for Hallmann here, fighting a very capable Brazilian in Trinaldo on his home turf.
He’s a got a solid record fighting in Europe, but I don’t think he’s faced anybody on Trinaldo’s level, and I see him getting overwhelmed by both the occasion and his opponent’s pressure, resulting in a first round stoppage due to submission.
Francisco Trinaldo to win by submission in Rd1.
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Rafael “Sapo” Natal vs. Tor Troeng
Troeng is another Scandanavian fighter featuring on the main card and up against an opponent with considerably more Octagon experience in Natal.
Troeng’s at his best on the mat, but I don’t see him catching Natal out with a submision, and I see ‘Sapo’ getting the better of this one both on the feet and on the mat to earn a decision win.
Rafael Natal to win by decision.
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Marcos Vinicius vs. Ali Bagautinov
The theme of match-up Brazilian’s with European’s continues with the final fight on the main card. Bagautinov is again someone who’s pieced together a solid record on the Euro circuit, but he’s also got excellent credentials outside of MMA with a decorated background in Sambo competition amongst other disciplines.
Vinicius drops down a division for the second time in just a few fights here as he tries to find his ideal weight class, but while 125lb may be it, I think he’s going to have a tough night against Bagautinov who’ll match his intensity and get the better of the striking and wrestling to claim a decision victory.
Ali Bagautinov to win by decision.
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Prelims:
Felipe Arantes vs. Edmilson Souza
Lucas Martins vs. Ramiro Hernandez
Joao Zeferino vs. Elias Silverio
Keith Wisniewski vs. Ivan jorge
Yuri Villefort vs. Sean Spencer
