Kyle Kingsbury wants to get back on track after losses at UFC 139 and UFC 146. | Photo: Sherdog.com
Light Heavyweights
Kyle Kingsbury (11-4, 4-3 UFC) vs. Jimi Manuwa (11-0, 0-0 UFC): Kingsbury has been overwhelmed in back-to-back outings against Stephan Bonnar and Glover Teixeira, but the American Kickboxing Academy product remains a good athlete who just needs to put a few things together in order to become a more complete mixed martial artist. He will face a heavy-handed light heavyweight in Manuwa, who has finished all but one of his victims by knockout or technical knockout, many of them inside of a round. Kingsbury’s ability to use wrestling and knees in the clinch gives him a slight edge, as he wins by TKO in round two.
Featherweights
Akira Corassani (9-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Andy Ogle (8-1, 0-0 UFC): This is an “Ultimate Fighter” fan’s delight, as Season 14’s Corassani meets Season 15’s Ogle in a battle of UFC debutantes. Corassani has not seen action since February 2011, when he lost to Paul Reed via second-round TKO. Ogle was forced off “The Ultimate Fighter 15” Finale due to a concussion suffered in a semifinal loss to Al Iaquinta on the reality show. Both men have plenty to prove here, but look for Ogle’s toughness and determination to carry him to a decision victory.
Middleweights
Tom Watson (15-4, 0-0 UFC) vs. Brad Tavares (8-1, 3-1 UFC): A former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts middleweight champion, Watson has excelled outside the UFC, winning 11 of his past 12 fights, including three title defenses. Tavares last appeared at UFC on Fuel TV 3, where he took a unanimous nod against Dongi Yang. Watson has solid kickboxing but can be susceptible to good wrestlers. Tavares is more of a brawler, but he has shown improved awareness in his wrestling of late. The Hawaiian wins via decision.
Welterweights
Gunnar Nelson (9-0-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. DaMarques Johnson (15-11, 4-5 UFC): A Renzo Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt, Nelson returned after nearly a year and a half away from the cage to submit Alexander Butenko in February. The Iceland native has not gone the distance since a draw with John Olesen in his professional debut. Johnson steps in for the injured Pascal Krauss on two weeks’ notice; “Darkness” has lost three of his last four bouts in the Octagon. Nelson is a cool customer on the mat and has the look of a fighter whose best is yet to come. He submits Johnson in the third round.
Featherweights
Jason Young (9-5, 1-2 UFC) vs. Robbie Peralta (15-3, 1-0 UFC): Young rode takedowns and ground-and-pound to a victory over Eric Wisely at UFC on Fuel TV 2. He will want to do more of the same against Peralta, who generally tends to land more consistently and with more volume than the Englishman on the feet. Peralta will slow Young’s advances with low kicks and impress with his aggression en route to a three-round verdict.