UFC Fight Night 38 Preview

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Light Heavyweights

Ilir Latifi (7-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. Cyrille Diabate (19-9-1, 4-3 UFC): Latifi was out of his depth in a short-notice bout against Gegard Mousasi at UFC on Fuel TV 9, as he spent most of the contest on the end of his opponent’s jab. His reward: another chance in the Octagon, this time against the rangy Diabate. Though Diabate is not as versatile as Mousasi, his reach and kickboxing ability could cause problems for the stocky Latifi. Diabate wins by decision.

Middleweights

Mats Nilsson (11-2-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Luke Barnatt (7-0, 2-0 UFC): Barnatt notched a solid victory in his second Octagon appearance, rocking Andrew Craig with a right cross in the first round before submitting his foe with a rear-naked choke in the second at UFC Fight Night 30. The 6-foot-6 Barnatt can fight at range or use elbows and knees in the clinch, and his length makes it easier for him to secure submissions on the mat. A Cage Warriors veteran, Nilsson’s strength is his grappling, whether it is from the clinch, shooting for takedowns or on the mat. That could lead to his downfall here, especially since Barnatt is skilled in close quarters. Barnatt takes it by TKO in round two.

Middleweights

Brad Scott (9-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Claudio Henrique da Silva (9-1, 0-0 UFC): A veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes,” Scott is at his best when he is able to control the pace of his fights through tie-ups and takedowns. He also has a crafty submission game and will attempt to take his opponent’s back once he has achieved dominant position. Da Silva is a high-level grappler who will aggressively pursue submissions and attack with ground-and-pound, but his standup does not provide much of a setup. If he achieves a dominant position, however, he will be difficult to dislodge. Scott wins by decision.

Bantamweights

Roland Delorme (9-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Davey Grant (8-2, 0-1 UFC): Delorme’s ability to scramble and transition makes him a dangerous and exciting fighter on the ground, but he struggles when faced with an opponent who can pressure him in exchanges. Grant should be willing to oblige Delorme’s wish for a battle on the mat, as seven of his eight career triumphs have come by way of submission. Delorme takes this by submission in round two or three.

Welterweights

Igor Araujo (24-6, 1-0 UFC) vs. Danny Mitchell (14-4-1, 0-0 UFC): After a so-so stint on the much-maligned “The Ultimate Fighter 16,” Araujo made a successful UFC debut by taking a hard-fought decision over Ildemar Alcantara in October. Mitchell does some of his best work in the clinch with knees and elbows, and he has been known to get risky with flying submission attempts. However, while, Araujo is somewhat one-dimensional, Mitchell will not be able to consistently expose his lack of striking prowess. Araujo grinds out a decision.

Flyweights

Louis Gaudinot (6-3, 1-2 UFC) vs. Phil Harris (22-11, 1-2 UFC): Gaudinot has endured a rough go of it in the Octagon, as he has been matched against larger and more physical fighters each time out. Still, there is no denying Gaudinot’s skill, as evidenced by his submission of John Lineker at UFC on Fox 5. Harris is a strong flyweight in his own right, capable of shutting down foes in the clinch or working for submissions after landing takedowns. It will be Gaudinot’s job to avoiding a grinding affair or risk his third loss in four UFC outings. Gaudinot wins by decision.

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TRACKING TRISTEN

2014 Record: 51-25
Career Record: 318-183-1
Last Event (UFC Fight Night 37): 3-5
Best Event (“The Ultimate Fighter 18” Finale): 9-1
Worst Event (UFC Fight Night 37): 3-5