Preview: UFC Fight Night 131 'Rivera vs. Moraes'

Strawweights
Jessica Aguilar (19-6) vs. Jodie Esquibel (6-3)
Odds: Aguilar (-130), Esquibel (+110)

Aguilar made the jump to the UFC from World Series of Fighting in 2015, where she was the strawweight champ before the UFC even had one. But her transition has not gone smoothly. First, she was thoroughly outmuscled by Claudia Gadelha, then tore her ACL, and finally lost a frustrating fight to Cortney Casey. That was a year ago and “JAG” is now 36, leaving one to wonder how much time she has left in the sport. It didn’t help that she fought two of the more physically imposing strawweights on the roster. Aguilar looked more like an atomweight in comparison to both. The ATT export is high-output and well-rounded. She has a meat-and-potatoes kickboxing game, capable wrestling, and a BJJ brown belt. She draws Esquibel, a strong fighter but one more Aguilar’s size. The Jackson-Wink product drew contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her debut and was soundly outpointed. Esquibel likes to stay at long range before darting in with a two-piece. She then circles out of danger, not waiting around to absorb return fire. Esquibel had some early success with counter overhands, but Kowalkiewicz started picking her off on the way in. Aguilar’s ability to wrestle should be the deciding factor in what is otherwise an inconclusive striking matchup. “JAG” finally gets her first UFC win by decision.

Bantamweights
Johnny Eduardo (28-11) vs. Nathaniel Wood (13-3)
Odds: Wood (-290), Eduardo (+245)

This is the latest example of a classic combat sports trope: feeding the old veteran to the young up-and-comer to try and get him over. Eduardo is 37 and has been fighting once a year for the last half-decade. He still possesses extremely fast hands and whipping kicks. But the Nova Uniao Muay Thai instructor only lands about 2.5 significant strikes per minute and has very little wrestling and grappling to speak of. His takedown defense is serviceable, but he just got slammed and bludgeoned by Matthew Lopez while going for an ill-advised heel hook. Wood is an exciting newcomer. The reigning Cage Warriors bantamweight champion is no stranger to a slugfest, having been badly rocked in at least two of his three CWFC title fights. “The Prospect” is a deceptively powerful puncher who becomes an absolute killer when he gets his opponent’s back to the cage. There, he’ll uncork an endless stream of punches to the head and body while making sure to keep his man pinned in place, shucking off any attempted tie-up. At range, he chops with leg kicks or punctuates combinations with kicks upstairs. The Brad Pickett protégé’s ground game is still a question mark, but Eduardo doesn’t figure to test him. The fast-twitch Brazilian could finally nuke Wood’s oft-tested chin, but it’s tough to pick the inactive guy on the wrong end of a 13-year age gap. Their barnburner is a sleeper for Fight of the Night, and Wood walks away victorious.

Flyweights
Jarred Brooks (12-1) vs. Jose Torres (7-0)
Odds: Torres (-175), Brooks (+155)

“Shorty” Torres is the latest uber-prospect to make the jump to the big show, and there are reasons to believe he could quickly become a fixture. The KHK MMA Team stalwart has extensive Muay Thai and kickboxing experience to go along with his JUCO All-American wrestling pedigree. Torres won multiple titles as an amateur before going pro and capturing Titan FC gold at flyweight and bantamweight. Brooks can claim prospect status of his own, possessing a high-energy yet relentless takedown game. Other than winging big right hands and leg kicks, wrestling is Brooks’ bread and butter. The former Indiana state champion will find the sledding tough versus Torres, though. “Shorty” will take some time to adjust given that he’s taking this fight on about a week’s notice. But he eventually starts getting the better of the exchanges everywhere to take a decision in a successful debut.