By TXMMA Staff // Emil Fischer // Photos by UFC.com via Getty Images
UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens a pivotal one for featherweight contenders
Read on for preview and predictions for every single fight on the card!
UFC Fight Night 44 – Main Card Preview and Predictions (FOX Sports 1)
145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens
As the headline fight, Cub Swanson (20-5) will be facing off against a dangerous Jeremy Stephens (23-9). Stephens is on a three fight win streak and is looking to solidify his place in the featherweight division in this battle with the wild, unpredictable and extremely talented Cub Swanson. Swanson has finished four of his last fights by knockout or TKO and is on a 5 fight win streak, expect fireworks. Given the caliber of Swanson’s recent opponents and his propensity for putting them to sleep, there is a strong likelihood that Swanson will continue his trend.
Prediction – Cub Swanson over Jeremy Stephens by TKO in Rd. 2
170 lbs.: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nicholas Musoke
Welterweight Kelvin Gastelum (8-0) has yet to face failure in his UFC Career, on Saturday night Nicholas Musoke (12-2) is looking be Kevin Gastelum’s first loss. Musoke may not have the 8-0 record that Gastlum boasts but he does have substantially more experience. Gastelum seems to have a knack for finding his opponents weaknesses and capitalizing on them, finishing 6 of his eight wins with 3 KO’s and 3 submissions. That said, given Musoke’s seeming lack of glaring weaknesses, expect to see a decision for Gastelum.
Prediction – Kelvin Gastelum over Nicholas Musoke by Unanimous Decision
185 lbs.: Cezar Ferreira vs. Andrew Craig
Houston based Middleweight Andrew Craig (9-2) is looking to make a statement in his fight against Cezar Ferreira (7-3). If Craig is able to avoid Ferreira’s world class grappling skills and use his striking acumen he may be able to score a knockout. Ferreira’s key to success is going to be to try to control the fight and take it to the ground. All of this said, chances are this fight is going to go the distance with the more experienced and successful Craig as the decisive victor.
Prediction – Andrew Craig over Cezar Ferreira by Unanimous Decision
145 lbs.: Ricardo Lamas vs. Hacran Dias
Ricardo Lamas (13-3) is coming off of a disappointing loss in his title fight against Jose Aldo. Unfortunately for Lamas he is going to need to prove himself once again to make his way back to the top of the card to fight for the belt. Hacran Dias (21-2) may be relatively new to the UFC but in spite being 2 years younger than Lamas has been fighting for longer (since 2005). Lamas is has the more impressive wins but Dias has the more impressive numbers. The staggering difference between these two fighters is preferred method. Dias is a submission artist with more submissions than KO’s while Lamas seems willing and able to finish the fight wherever it goes. While he may be the underdog, there is a good chance fans will get to see an exciting submission victory for Hacran Dias in this featherweight matchup.
Prediction – Hacran Dias over Ricardo Lamas by Submission in Rd. 2
185 lbs.: Clint Hester vs. Antonio Braga Neto
Antonio Braga Neto (9-1-1) is one of the most dynamic and successful grapplers in the UFC but he will have his hands full on Saturday when he fights heavy hitting Clint Hester (10-3) in a fantastic middleweight matchup. This is a 2014 version of the classic striker vs. grappler scenario only in this case the striker knows a thing or two about grappling. Hester has won 7 of his 10 victories by KO and Neto has won 7 of his 9 victories by submission. Given the overwhelming skills that Neto has expect to see him win by submission.
Prediction – Antonio Braga Neto over Clint Hester by Submission in Rd. 2
170 lbs.: Joe Ellenberger vs. James Moontasri
Joe Ellenberger (14-1) is Jake Ellenberger’s brother who suffers from a rare and often fatal blood disease but is a successful UFC fighter in spite of this unfortunate reality. On Saturday night he will face his 16th opponent in James Moontasri (7-1). Ellenberger has enjoyed a very successful fighting career thus far only losing once by decision. Moontasri similarly has only lost by decision. Taking all of this into account, expect the more experienced fighter to win by decision in this lightweight battle.
Prediction – Joe Ellenberger over James Moontasri by Split Decision
UFC Fight Night 44 – Preliminary Card Preview and Predictions (FOX Sports 1)
155 lbs.: Colton Smith vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
At the top of the preliminary card Ford Hood Texas based lightweight Colton Smith (3-3) will be facing the super talented Brazilian fighter Carlos Diego Ferreira (9-0) in what is sure to be an exciting battle. Both Ferreira and Smith have found most of their success by submission but given the long list of victories that Ferreira has it may be wise for smith to try to score a knockout victory. Smith is very likely under considerable pressure given his difficult two fight loss streak that he is on, and fans should expect him to pull no punches. This one could go either way.
Prediction – Pick’em
135 lbs.: Johnny Bedford vs. Cody Gibson
The last time fans saw Fort Worth Texas based Johnny Bedford (19-10) he missed out on his opportunity to beat up Rani Yahya due to an accidental head butt. This time he’s missing out on the same opportunity for undisclosed reasons, but instead he will be facing Cody Gibson (11-4) in this bantamweight war. Bedford has a knack for finishing wherever he wants, and two of Gibson’s losses came from submissions, don’t be surprised to see Bedford hand Gibson his first TKO loss.
Prediction – Johnny Bedford over Cody Gibson by TKO in Rd. 3
185 lbs.: Marcelo Guimarães vs. Andy Enz
Middleweights Andy Enz (7-1) and Marcelo Guimaraes (8-1) are both looking to solidify their positions in the UFC. Saturday night fans will get to see an intriguing bout between an Alaskan grappler and a Brazilian brawler. Twenty years ago saying something like that wouldn’t have made sense, it is amazing how the sport has developed! Enz has become a very skilled and creative submission artist and will likely win this fight by submission in the first round.
Prediction – Andy Enz over Marcelo Guimarães by Submission Rd. 1
125 lbs.: Ray Borg vs. Shane Howell
Starting off a night full of amazing submission fighters, flyweights Ray Borg (6-1) and Shane Howell (13-7) will likely put on a display more akin to a Jiu Jitsu competition than an MMA fight as both have a definite propensity for ground fighting. Given how fresh and determined Borg is, and how experienced Howell is, don’t expect a finish in this fight. The more experienced fighter will earn a close split decision.
Prediction – Shane Howell over Ray Borg by Split Decision
UFC Fight Night 44 – Preliminary Card Preview and Predictions (UFC Fight Pass)
265 lbs.: Oleksiy Oliynyk vs. Anthony Hamilton
Perhaps the most interesting fight on the card isn’t on Fox Sports 1 card at all. Heavyweight grappler Oleksiy Oliynyk (48-9) is coming over to the UFC after fighting for a variety of organizations. He is perhaps the longest fighting fighter of the UFC having started his career back in 1997, and of his 48 wins 39 are by submission. On Saturday night he is making his UFC debut against heavy hitting newcomer Anthony Hamilton (12-2). Oliynyk is only 3 years older than Hamilton but has been fighting for 13 years longer. What makes this fight interesting is the apparent mismatch. Expect to see a fast submission victory for the vastly better prepared Oliynyk.
Prediction – Oleksiy Oliynyk over Anthony Hamilton by Submission Rd. 1