By TXMMA Staff | Photo by UFC.com, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC Fight Night 29 features top welterweight contest in Barueri, Brazil
October 9, 2013 – The UFC returns to free cable television tonight with UFC Fight Night 29 being broadcast on the FOX Sports 1 network from Barueri, Brazil.
Tonight’s headlining bout features two of the top welterweights in the world in Jake Shields and Demian Maia facing off in a five round main event – potentially to decide a future title contender opposite the winner of GSP vs. Johny Hendricks later this year. Two more welterweight face off in the co-main event as well with “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim taking on Brazilian bomber Erick Silva.
Check out the full card below and proceed on for our in-depth UFC Fight Night 29 Predictions.
UFC Fight Night 29 – Main Card (FOX Sports 1)
170 lbs.: Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields
170 lbs.: Dong Hyun Kim vs. Erick Silva
205 lbs.: Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva
205 lbs.: Joey Beltran vs. Fabio Maldonado
185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Pierce
145 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao vs. T.J. Dillashaw
UFC Fight Night 29 – Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)
170 lbs.: Igor Araujo vs. Ildemar Alcantara
170 lbs.: Yan Cabral vs. David Mitchell
125 lbs.: Chris Cariaso vs. Iliarde Santos
155 lbs.: Alan Patrick vs. Garett Whiteley
UFC Fight Night 29 Predictions – Main Card
170 lbs.: Demian Maia (18-4) vs. Jake Shields (28-6-1)
At one point in time both Demian Maia and Jake Shields were considered top contenders at middleweight and title contenders overall at 170/185. The former had his shot but fell short against Anderson Silva while the latter had his own shot and lost against GSP. With both working their way back with a couple of wins in a row, this fight between the two will determine who gets to climb that much closer to a shot at the top of the mountain once more.
Stylistically both Maia and Shields obviously can count on grappling as the strength. They’re both considered top-of-the-food-chain type of guys in that aspect of the fight but as the saying goes, when you put two grapplers against each other in an MMA fight, what sometimes results is more of a striking contest. Will that be how does one goes? It remains to be seen but it wouldn’t be a surprise.
All in all we believe Demian Maia has the edge on this one. He’s shown marked improvement in his striking throughout the years and in no way is Jake Shields out-grappling him. He’s also been on a roll since dropping down to welterweight and should be able to outstrike or outlast Shields in this one.
Prediction – Demian Maia over Jake Shields by unanimous decision.
170 lbs.: Dong Hyun Kim (17-2-1) vs. Erick Silva (15-3)
Two more would-be contenders are fighting for that next rung on the ladder in the co-main event as well with Brazilian Erick Silva taking on Korean “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim.
Stylistically these guys are very different with Erick Silva being the more dynamic of the two on the feet and on the ground while Dong Hyun Kim has historically been the much more methodical fighter as of late, preferring to control and smother his opponents for the victory.
Either fighter could win this one with Kim likely to take a decision if it turns into a protracted battle while Silva could end the fight any time with his go-for-broke style if that opportunity presents itself. This one is hard to choose but we’re going “Stun Gun” in a very close fight.
Prediction –Dong Hyun Kim over Erick Silva by split decision.
205 lbs.: Matt Hamill (11-4) vs. Thiago Silva (15-3)
Two long-time UFC light heavyweights return in this one with Matt “The Hammer” Hamill looking for his second win in a row versus Thiago Silva. It’s been over a year since Hamill last stepped into the octagon, scoring a decision win over Roger Hollett and it’s a mystery as to how much desire he has left after already retiring once, citing the loss of his competitive spirit. Meanwhile Silva has his own career issues after two failed drug tests. The good thing for him in this one is that he’s also coming in with a win after knocking out Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in his last bout.
How this one goes down should be surprise to anyone. Hamill will try and wrestle Silva to the ground and beat him there while Silva will try to keep in on the feet to knock out his opponent. Thiago might be put on his heels early but he’s the more explosive of the two and should be able to land eventually. When he does, that’ll be all she wrote in this one.
Prediction – Thiago Silva over Matt Hamill by TKO, RD2
205 lbs.: Joey Beltran (14-8) vs. Fabio Maldonado (19-6)
This one looks like a “loser leaves town” type of match with Joey Beltran and Fabio Maldonado combining for two wins (one each) in their last eight combined fights.
Both of these light heavyweights lean on their punching power as their greatest attribute but they haven’t been able to leverage that into consistent wins. The good thing (for the fans) is that both these guys will likely be gunning after each other on their feet in this one to gain favor with their bosses. In that type of fight I like Maldonado by just a little bit due to his technical boxing ability.
Prediction – Fabio Maldonado over Joey Beltran by unanimous decision.
170 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares (14-5) vs. Mike Pierce (17-5)
The first battle is over for Rousimar Palhares after “Toquinho” safely made the welterweight limit for the first time officially yesterday at the UFC Fight Night 29 weigh-ins. He’ll be taking on underrated fighter Mike Pierce in his divisional debut at UFC Fight Night 29.
Obviously one of the main things the underrated American will have to watch out for in this one is Toquinho’s submissions, his main strength. The brawny Brazilian is not afraid to attack the leg at any time, to the tune of finishing 7 out of his 14 victories by either wrenching the ankle or twisting the knee. The question that remains here is will he have the cardio to go 15 minutes following what may have been a tough weight cut to get down to 170. Currently 9-3 in the UFC, Mike Pierce is riding a 4-fight win streak heading into this fight and 2 of those have been by KO/TKO so he’s proved he’s more than just a grinding wrestler. As opposed to Rousimar there are no questions about his cardio but will he be able to avoid getting his leg tore off in time to beat his opponent? Toquinho is no doubt a monster in that department but it’s not Halloween yet and Pierce is likely to win this one.
Prediction – Mike Pierce over Rousimar Palhares by TKO, RD1
145 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao (20-4) vs. T.J. Dillashaw (8-1)
Rounding off the main card will be a featherweight contest pitting another American wrestler in T.J. Dillashaw versus Brazilian BJJ ace Raphael Assuncao.
A veteran of TUF 14, T.J. Dillashaw has done well since exiting the show to the tune of four straight victories. Meanwhile Raphael Assuncao will come into this fight as clearly the most experienced fighter between the two and he’s won four straight himself.
It should be a dynamic contest but if Dillashaw can keep the fight on the feet then he should have the edge with his striking. If it hits the floor then Assuncao should have the advantage but Dillashaw is no scrub there either.
Prediction – T.J. Dillawshaw over Raphael Assuncao by unanimous decision
UFC Fight Night 29 – Undercard Quick Picks
170 lbs.: Igor Araujo (23-6) vs. Ildemar Alcantara (19-5)
Ildemar Alcantara will be coming into this fight with 2 UFC wins in a row while Igor Araujo makes his UFC debut. Don’t know too much about Igor but Alcantara has shown good hands and solid grappling in his time with the org already. Plus debuts in the UFC are historically pretty tough for incoming fighters.
Prediction – Ildemar Alcantara over Igor Araujo by TKO, RD1
170 lbs.: Yan Cabral (10-0) vs. David Mitchell (12-3)
The Brazilian Yan Cabral did well on TUF Brazil’s season 3 heading into this one. He’ll face a decent enough fighter in David Mitchell but one he should be able to beat in his official debut.
Prediction – Yan Cabral over David Mitchell by submission, RD2
125 lbs.: Chris Cariaso (14-5) vs. Iliarde Santos (27-8-1-1)
Both guys are coming off losses in this flyweight contest but Iliarde Santos did well before succumbing to former title contender Ian McCall in his last fight. Meanwhile Cariaso has a 3-3 record in the UFC having fought at both flyweight and bantamweight. He also has notable losses to John Moraga and Jussier “Formiga” da Silva. Hard to say who wins this one but we’ll go with Santos with the home country advantage.
Prediction – Iliarde Santos over Chris Cariaso by decision
155 lbs.: Alan Patrick (10-0) vs. Garett Whiteley (7-0)
This battle of two undefeated fighters should be interesting. Garett Whiteley is the faster-starting of the two and has finished 6 out of 7 in the first round and we like him in this fight.
Prediction – Garett Whiteley over Alan Patrick by TKO, RD1