Wilson Reis once held EliteXC gold. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Bantamweights
Wilson Reis (17-4, 1-0 UFC) vs. Iuri Alcantara (28-5, 3-2 UFC): Alcantara briefly put a scare into Urijah Faber at UFC Fight Night 26, mounting the Team Alpha Male standout and threatening with an armbar early in the opening stanza. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt could not maintain that pace, however, and Faber gradually asserted his will over the course of the fight to win a decision. No shame there: Faber has shellacked all comers in non-title bouts, so going the distance was something of an accomplishment. Reis, meanwhile, played the part of the grizzled veteran in his Octagon debut by outpointing Ivan Menjivar at UFC 165. The former EliteXC champion and Bellator MMA alum will find it difficult to win grappling exchanges against his larger opponent. Alcantara wins by decision.Lightweights
Joe Proctor (8-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Cristiano Marcello (13-5, 1-2 UFC): If you pined for a Proctor-Marcello showdown during Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” your prayers have finally been answered. Proctor has not competed since December 2012, when he dropped a unanimous verdict to Ramsey Nijem in an entertaining bout at UFC on Fox 5. The Joe Lauzon protégé has some of his teacher’s tendencies, most notably aggressive forward movement and an active submission game, if not the overall skill. Marcello, of course, will always be known as the former jiu-jitsu coach of the vaunted Chute Boxe team. Marcello’s willingness to engage in a firefight, as well as his suspect takedown defense, could prove costly. Proctor wins by decision or TKO.Lightweights
Rodrigo Damm (11-6, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ivan Jorge (25-3, 1-0 UFC): Jorge’s streak of six consecutive choke-related submissions came to an end in his UFC debut, as he outpointed Keith Wisniewski at UFC Fight Night 28. Despite being a submission fighter, Jorge struggled to mount any significant threat in the clinch or via takedowns for the better part of two rounds; a late surge sealed his victory. Damm, meanwhile, returns to 155 pounds after suffering kidney stones during his weight cut prior to UFC Fight Night 29. Damm is well-rounded enough to mix striking and takedowns and capture a decision.Lightweights
Francisco Trinaldo (13-3, 3-2) vs. Jesse Ronson (13-3, 0-1 UFC): Trinaldo is a powerful lightweight, but physical advantages become less useful if he fatigues quickly, as he did in a second-round submission loss to Piotr Hallmann in September. Before that, however, Trinaldo had won three of his first four in the Octagon and was establishing himself as a promising 155-pound talent. Ronson is not particularly large for the weight class and, with wrestling and grappling as his biggest weak points, he could be in for a rough night. Trinaldo takes this one by decision or submission.Featherweights
Felipe Arantes (15-6-1, 2-2-1 UFC) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-5-1, 1-2 UFC): With Blanco, you never really know what you are going to get. While he is inconsistent and erratic, there is always the hope that the wrecking machine from the Japanese circuit will surface come fight night. Arantes has proven himself to be a well-rounded competitor who can land a variety of strikes on the feet or sweep and reverse to advantageous positions on the mat. Provided he can handle Blanco’s bursts of offense, Arantes is a safer bet. He wins via decision.Welterweights
Ildemar Alcantara (19-6, 2-1 UFC) vs. Albert Tumenov (12-1, 0-0 UFC): After two straight victories to begin his UFC tenure, Alcantara appeared to tire down the stretch in a loss to Igor Araujo at UFC Fight Night 29. The rangy Brazilian relies on kicks and straight punches to maintain distance standing, and he has a crafty submission game when the opportunity presents itself. Tumenov, who has won six straight fights via knockout, figures to be the better all-around striker. His accuracy, power and countering ability give him a significant edge on the feet; how he responds if taken down is the biggest concern. Tumenov wins by KO or TKO in round two.Featherweights
Zubair Tuhugov (15-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (22-0, 0-0 UFC): A Russian combat sambo national champion with skilled hands, the 23-year-old Tuhugov could be an intriguing prospect in the 145-pound division. He was originally slated to face Thiago Tavares, a tough veteran foe for a debut. An injury pits the Chechen against another newcomer in Andrade, who owns 18 of his 22 victories by KO or TKO. Andrade’s record is impressive, but Tuhugov’s polished hands and sambo background make him difficult to pick against. Tuhugov takes it by decision.***
TRACKING TRISTEN
2014 Record: 29-16Career Record: 296-174-1
Last Event (UFC 169): 9-3
Best Event (“The Ultimate Fighter 18” Finale): 9-1
Worst Event (UFC Fight Night 33): 4-5-1