UFC on Fuel TV 2 Preview: The Main Card

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Prelims

Welterweights
Papy Abedi (8-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. James Head (7-2, 0-1 UFC)

Abedi entered the UFC with an impressive record compiled against less-than-stellar competition. Promotion officials threw him to the wolves by pairing him with Thiago Alves for his Octagon debut, and the Stockholm native was submitted inside of a round. Head, who fell to Nick Ring at UFC 131, did some damage on the feet but faded late in his promotional debut. Abedi manages to keep his hands up better than he did against Alves and takes a decision.

Light Heavyweights
Cyrille Diabate (17-8-1, 2-2 UFC) vs. Tom DeBlass (7-0, 0-0 UFC)

A world-class kickboxer with a limited ground repertoire, Diabate has become a staple of the UFC’s international cards. Expect the Frenchman to use reach and experience to handle DeBlass, a 29-year-old Ring of Combat champion, and earn a late stoppage or decision.

Middleweights
Francis Carmont (17-7, 1-0 UFC) vs. Magnus Cedenblad (10-3, 0-0 UFC)

A Tristar Gym representative, Carmont was impressive against “TUF 11” veteran Chris Camozzi at UFC 137, dominating the encounter with superior striking and takedowns. Cedenblad is riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak in which he has finished all but one of his victims. Carmont dictates the location of the action and wins by submission in round two.

Lightweights
Reza Madadi (11-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Yoislandy Izquierdo (6-0, 0-0 UFC)

A teammate of Alex Caceres at the Young Tigers Foundation in Miami, Izquierdo is unbeaten in six appearances, with his signature win coming against Patrick Cenoble in December. Madadi owns notable victories over Junie Allen Browning, Carlo Prater and Rich Clementi in his last three outings. Madadi outgrapples his foe and gets the nod from the judges.

Welterweights
Simeon Thoresen (16-2-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Besam Yousef (6-0, 0-0 UFC)

Yousef will attempt to keep his unblemished record intact against the submission specialist Thoresen, who has elicited tapouts in 14 of his 16 career victories. Yousef has yet to beat anyone with a winning record, so expect him to submit to a Thoresen arm bar or choke in the opening frame.

Featherweights
Jason Young (8-5, 0-2 UFC) vs. Eric Wisely (19-7, 0-1 UFC)

After consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Michihiro Omigawa, it’s likely pink slip time for Young unless he can defeat Wisely. A replacement for injured “TUF 14” alumnus Akira Corassani, Wisely is probably best known for falling prey to Charles Oliveira’s calf slicer at UFC on Fox 2. Accurate striking will carry Young to a decision here.