UFC 108 Preview: The Prelims

Rafaello Oliveira vs. John Gunderson

The Breakdown: Why Gunderson continues to fight at lightweight despite being a natural featherweight is anyone’s guess, but it’s a decision that Oliveira will be all too happy to capitalize on. Gunderson is hardly a terrible lightweight, but he isn’t a very good one either and Oliveira’s reasonably well-rounded game should be enough to keep Gunderson from gaining any traction as the fight progresses.

The X-Factor: Experience is Gunderson’s greatest advantage, and it’s one he must use to the fullest against Oliveira. Young fighters generally don’t like being forced to work harder than they feel they need to in the cage, and if Gunderson can turn this fight into a grind, he’s halfway to a win.

The Bottom Line: Don’t expect many fireworks with this one, as Oliveira takes a unanimous decision in a milquetoast bout. Of course, that prediction all but guarantees the wildest fight since the opening battle of “300.”