UFC Fight Night 32 Preview

---

Featherweights

Rony Mariano Bezerra (13-3, 3-0 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (21-9, 8-8 UFC)

The Matchup: These have not been the easiest of times for Stephens. In the midst of the first three-fight losing streak of his career, “Lil Heathen” was jailed prior to a scheduled UFC on FX 5 appearance due to a felony charge in his native Iowa. One or the other is often enough to derail a career. Dealing with both a slump and legal issues at the same time is even more difficult.

Things are looking up for Stephens, however. The Victory MMA representative ended his rough stretch in the Octagon at UFC 160, taking a blood-soaked unanimous verdict over Estevan Payan in his first featherweight outing with the promotion. In July, the felony charges against Stephens were dropped in favor of a plea bargain. In short, the 27-year-old knockout artist should be rejuvenated and refocused as he continues his MMA career.

Thus far, Bezerra has made a name for himself in the UFC by dispatching cast members from assorted seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter.” While “Jason” has been mostly impressive in victories over Godofredo Castro, Sam Sicilia and Mike Wilkinson, there is a large gap between besting a reality show leftover and someone as experienced as Stephens. Though his win-loss record is a mixed bag, Stephens has faced a plethora of top-notch competition, including Anthony Pettis, Melvin Guillard, Donald Cerrone, Sam Stout, Rafael dos Anjos and Cole Miller, to name a few.

Although it seems as though Stephens has been around forever, Bezerra is two years older. At this point, the Brazilian also appears to have the higher ceiling. With 14 knockouts or technical knockouts among his 21 pro triumphs, Stephens’ finishing power is well-known. It is also no secret that his striking arsenal is not particularly diverse. Other than the occasional leg kick and left hook, the Victory MMA representative spends most of his time swinging for the fences.

While Bezerra cannot quite match his opponent’s knockout track record, he is a noted finisher himself -- all but one of his victories has come inside the distance. He has good power in his hands, especially in his counter right and lead left hook, and his muay Thai skills allow him to attack with effective knees in the clinch.

If Stephens elects to try and bully Bezerra through takedowns and heavy ground-and-pound, the Brazilian has shown good composure on the mat. He is comfortable working from guard and can counter Stephens’ aggression by framing a triangle choke, one of his favorite submissions.

The Pick: There is always a chance that Stephens connects with a lethal right hand, but those instances have become less frequent over the years. A more versatile Bezerra wins via decision.

Last Fights » The Prelims