UFC Fight Night 167 Preview & Predictions

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Main Event: Corey Anderson vs. Jan Blachowicz

Both guys have ways to win as usual, but Anderson is definitely the better fighter on paper here, especially based on what we saw from Jan in his last fight. Jan really did not beat Jacare. Don't get me wrong, I am not out here to dispute the decision, but it wasn't a fight anyone really won. He was not able to stop Jacare from clinching him up all the time, and that is what I think will be his demise against Anderson.

Corey puts a fast pace, showed he has good pace as well, has much more reach than Jacare had to land shots and to grab hold of his opponent. That's why you gotta feel Jan is going on his ass a few times in this fight.

Obviously Jan has decent takedown defence and good power, so there is a chance he stuffs shots enough to find the perfect counter that puts Anderson out. Corey has been knocked out before, so it definitely can happen. Longer if goes on though, the more it will work to Anderson's advantage.

Corey Anderson via UD.

Co-Main Event: Diego Sanchez vs. Michel Pereira

At the moment, Pereira stands at the top of the mountain as the fighter that has cost me most money when betting on him since I started the tracking few months ago. That makes me hesitant to pick him here. Obviously the guy is crazy athletic, and the commitment to entertaining people is admirable, but at the same time tactically it's idiocy. 

So yea he gassed doing flips last time out against a natural lightweight. Guess Sanchez is not much bigger than his last opponent either, but he does put even higher pace and is even better grappler. What he does not have though is a solid chin to absorb shots. 

You kinda feel Pereira has to do better this time around, so the most likely outcome is that Pereira pulverizes Sanchez in first 3 minutes. Yes, Diego can grapple for his life and tire Pereira out, but surely lightning does not hit twice in the same place? It's not like Connelly did not absorb some hard shots, and Diego just does not have that same durability any more.

Pereira via 1st round KO.

Devin Clark vs. Dequan Townsend

Hard fight to predict. I guess overall Clark is the slightly better fighter. Better wrestler, just a little bit cleaner strikers. Dequan has power and can take a shot though. Either way, it's bottom of the pile middleweights, both desperately need a win.

Townsend being a big underdog... how could I resist? Townsend via 1st round KO.

Montana De La Rosa vs. Mara Romero Borella

It's a well-matched fight, hard to say off the cuff who is the better fighter, but just like in the fight above, both of these fighters desperately need a win. Both also have their strengths in similar areas with both being better grapplers than they are strikers. These girls' matches often times are decided with who is better grappler, especially in case like this where both lack power. As for that, they are pretty equal.

De La Rosa is the younger fighter here that also did not get viciously finished last time, so I am inclined to think she has this one.

De La Rosa via UD.

Ray Borg vs. Rogério Bontorin

Very even fight. Borg has the experience advantage and is a great scrambler, but Bontorin has more power and is himself a very competent grappler. Both are also young fighters with still lot of potential for improvement. That being said, Borg's weight problems continuing is not a great look. Still as far as this fight goes, it's a pick 'em for me. I guess Bontorin would have advantage early on, but the longer the fight goes on, Borg would have more and more success.

My guess is Bontorin via UD.

Brok Weaver vs. Rodrigo Vargas

There's really two ways this might go. Either Weaver stands and trades with Vargas and gets knocked out, or wears Vargas down by constantly staying on his face. Either way Vargas is clearly the more athletic, stronger one, but Weaver has the length and volume on his side.

Generally, volume guys tend to beat these powerful low-level guys. So Brok Weaver via UD.

Yancy Medeiros vs. Lando Vannata

Pretty even fight on paper. In the past I think I have overrated Lando, he seems more flash than substance on the feet, but at the same time, he is still dangerous guy, you cannot forget he dropped Tony Ferguson on short notice. That lost fight still seems one of the brightest highlights of his career.

Medeiros chin is a bit gone which is not that great precedent for someone who fights so aggressive style. If he is to win this fight, he will need to jam Vannata's offense by staying on his face. He definitely can win that way, but it seems more likely that Vannata catches him with something.

Vannata via 2nd round KO.

Tim Means vs. Daniel Rodriguez

Tim Means obviously the more experienced guy by a lot, but surprisingly Rodriguez is only couple of years younger. Means has more miles on his system though, and that might come into play if Rodriguez connects one of those big left hands he likes to throw. 

Means does look a little bit the sharper of the two and has the reach, but given the power D-Rod has, it's not hard to imagine him winning either. Either way it is unlikely to make it all the way to a decision, and with that being the case, Rodriguez has never been KO'd, so...

Rodriguez via 1st round KO.

John Dodson vs. Nathaniel Wood

I kinda feel Dodson is over the hill, but not over the hill like lot of old fighters are... He obviously was still competitive in loss against Yan, which means he is still top tier fighter, just has lost that little bit of edge that would make him a legit contender. 

Wood is an exciting prospect who mixes his offense very well, has capability to match Dodson with his hands but is also more of a grappling threat. It's a big step-up in competition for Wood, but they do seem like they would have a tight fight, and since Dodson is the guy on his way out and Wood the up-and-comer, I have to feel Wood has this.

Wood via UD.

Scott Holtzman vs. Jim Miller

Miller is the better fighter here and he isn't too much older than Holtzman, but he has miles on him, and if Holtzman lands the heavy shots he put on Ma in his last fight on Miller, there will be a KO. Miller has good chance of finishing him on the other hand by grappling him to a decision or submission, or catching him in stand-up, which is possible cause Holtzman is all offense little defence kinda guy. But I trust on his chin much more...

Holtzman via 1st round KO.

Casey Kenney vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Kenney has a solid recent record and good skills, but he does tend to tire out a little, and if there is anything Dvalishvili does well, it's putting on extremely high pace. Kenney might be able to snatch two rounds with good grappling, but he is in danger here of getting worn out and dominated to a decision.

Dvalishvili via UD.

Macy Chiasson vs. Shanna Young

Not a very deep analysis here, there's little tape - that I could find - of Young, and she is very unproven in terms of competition, so I am going to go for Chiasson winning this. Yes, she was found out against Lansberg, but that does not all the sudden turn her into a bad fighter. She is still a prospect in women's MMA with some solid UFC level experience.

Chiasson via 2nd round submission.

Mark De La Rosa vs. Raulian Paiva

I don't know, it's getting late. We have more info on De La Rosa. He seems... alright. Only elite flyweights really survive in UFC though, and I am not sure if he is elite. As for Paiva, he did not really get a fair shake after receiving nasty cut last time out which forced him out of the fight. He had hurt his opponent before that and who knows how fight would have gone if it kept going.

As for who wins, I have no idea here. Both have holes in their game, and Paiva does not defend takedowns too well, so functional wrestleboxing of De La Rosa might just win the day.

De La Rosa via UD.