UFC Fight Night 21 Preview: The Prelims

Caol Uno vs. Gleison Tibau

The Breakdown: Uno enters this fight in the unusual position of being on the back end of his career while trying to carve out a spot in the UFC all over again. Two fights into his latest stint, Uno remains winless -- a trend the ginormous slab of humanity known as Tibau will look to continue in an attempt to add his name to the growing list of fighters jockeying for title contention.

At one time, this would have been an interesting fight, but Uno’s takedown defense is not what it once was, and Tibau’s shot seems powered by technology that is not supposed to exist. While Tibau’s finishing skills on the mat remain suspect and Uno is notoriously durable, the American Top Team standout managed to beat Josh Neer with nothing but double-leg takedowns at UFC 104.

The grind of trying to stay upright will wear on Uno, and while he will likely pop up from many of Tibau’s takedowns, it will only lead to more takedowns. Modern MMA is not supposed to be quite so straightforward, but there really is not much in the way of surprises when it comes to a guy who wins fights by turning himself into a human spear.

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The Bottom Line: After this fight, there will be plenty of melancholy Shooto fans seeking solace in video of Uno’s better days. A straight-up wrestle-fest will deny him the chance to put any of his offense to use, as Tibau remains content to put in an uneventful 15 minutes of work for another decision win.