Preview: UFC on Fox 25 ‘Weidman vs. Gastelum’

Here, you will find my “Super 8” fight ratings for UFC on Fox 25. Every UFC card is a mixed bag, and often the highlights are sprinkled throughout the entire lineup. However, fight night is always full of distractions for the home viewer. You know how it is: You need to make a beer run, pay the pizza delivery guy or head to the bathroom every half hour. In order to time your intermissions wisely, please consult this helpful list, wherein I have ranked the top eight fights -- the Octagon has eight sides, of course -- on the card from most promising to least, based on relevance, style matchup and the promise of action:

1. Jimmie Rivera vs. Thomas Almeida
For me, this is the most fascinating fight on the card, one in which both combatants have clear paths to victory and in which both paths involve throwing hard punches. I should say, however, that this may not be an outright war. Though Almeida is known for action, he has worked diligently to develop a more patient style and Rivera is his most dangerous opponent since Cody Garbrandt. This will be his opportunity to demonstrate that he is more than just a swarmer. If he has his way, however, I suspect that he will end up swarming anyway. Rivera’s expert counterpunching suggests this is going to be a fascinating fight with the potential for a very sudden end.

2. Chris Weidman vs. Kelvin Gastelum
While this fight deserves to be the main event, it does not excite me quite as much as the Rivera-Almeida matchup. This is probably because it feels just a touch more predictable. Weidman seems very clearly to be on a downturn, and while the potential for a glorious comeback adds some flavor to this fight, it seems more likely that Gastelum will add the weight of Weidman’s name to his growing career momentum. Weidman will do what he can to reverse the tide, but Gastelum is a dynamo and tends to win in eye-popping fashion.

3. Lyman Good vs Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
It is good to see Good back in the Octagon, but dos Santos has spent the former Bellator champion’s absence quietly transforming into a hard-hitting action staple. Good’s technical brilliance against dos Santos’ wild-haired will to win? I’m in.

4. Shane Burgos vs. Godofredo Castro
Burgos is a man on the rise. He has faced two surprisingly competitive opponents in the UFC, and while his inability to destroy those opponents outright made it clear that Burgos was still in need of development, he demonstrated his capacity for adaptation when he finished Charles Rosa in the third round. Castro is a similar kind of opponent but more aggressive and potent. Watch this one with an eye for Burgos’ continued growth, and you will either be satisfied or pleasantly surprised by the end.

5. Brian Kelleher vs. Marlon Vera
These two men match up well. Vera has been quietly improving over the last few years, and Kelleher just announced himself loudly with an upset win over Iuri Alcantara -- in his short-notice UFC debut, no less. Kelleher has a way of imposing his will, but Vera plays the part of spoiler quite comfortably.

6. Dennis Bermudez vs. Darren Elkins
Elkins is not a man who cares whether his fights are fun to watch. Sometimes, they are ugly as sin, especially for those who lack the patience for methodical groundwork. I know Elkins will have to walk through some killer strikes and confront a lot of explosive wrestling from Bermudez. There may be portions of grinding, but Bermudez and Elkins are known for their tenacity and it should be interesting to watch their wills collide.

7. Patrick Cummins vs. Gian Villante
There is a good chance this fight looks like a mess, but I would be surprised if it were not a fun mess to look at. Styles will clash and journeymen will bash. Shut up and enjoy the madness.

8. Chris Wade vs. Frankie Perez
While this may not be a barnburner, Wade and Perez are both excellent grapplers and underrated strikers. Watch and be entertained by the clever sweeps and quick reversals of both men.

Connor Ruebusch is an analyst of striking and boxing technique for Sherdog.com, as well as BloodyElbow.com and BadLeftHook.com. He has written hundreds of articles examining fighting form and strategy, and he is not done yet. Every Wednesday he talks about the finer points of face-punching on his podcast Heavy Hands. Though he dabbles in fantasy MMA, he is not a regular gambler, nor is he an expert in the field. If you use these predictions as a betting guide, please do so in combination with your own best judgment and a healthy pinch of salt. It is your money.