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‘The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4’ Lightweight Final

Glaico Franca Moreira (12-3; 0-0 UFC) vs. Fernando Bruno (15-2; 0-0 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: The lightweight final of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” Season 4 is less interesting than its bantamweight counterpart, but it could still be a fun fight as Nova Uniao product Bruno draws the largely unknown Moreira. Bruno took out favorite and former Bellator MMA competitor Nazareno Malegarie to reach the final, while Franco beat Erick da Silva and Joaquim Silva.

Moreira is an enormous lightweight with great strength and athleticism. His skills are diverse and dangerous, with an aggressive arsenal of combination punches at range, vicious knees in the clinch, well-timed and authoritative takedowns and a smooth ground game. Nova Uniao’s Bruno can strike a bit, with decent combinations from the southpaw stance, but his focus is a stifling wrestling and grappling game that features slick chokes in transition.

BETTING ODDS: Moreira (-160), Bruno (+140)

THE PICK: Bruno is more skilled, while Moreira is younger, the vastly better athlete and more dangerous, particularly on the feet. Still, I think Bruno’s diversity and willingness to grind will see him through. The pick is Bruno by decision.

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