5 Under The Radar Matchups For UFC 212
5 Under The Radar Matchups For UFC 212
FloCombat writer James Lynch picks five matchups to keep on eye on at UFC 212 Saturday night from Rio.
UFC 212 takes place this Saturday at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and all eyes will be focussed on the main event which pits featherweight champion Jose Aldo against interim champ Max Holloway. In addition, the co-main event features Cláudia Gadelha vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a crucial matchup for the strawweight division, while Vitor Belfort looks for his first win since November 2015.
All of these fights have overshadowed some great matchups on this card, but here at FloCombat we’ve got you covered. Here are five under the radar matchups for UFC 212.
In what has all the makings of a “Fight of the Night” slugfest on paper, Medeiros looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2014 as he takes on Brazilian favorite Silva. Medeiros (14-4) has alternated between wins and losses in his last four fights, including a second-round submission victory over Sean Spencer at UFC 203 in his last bout.
The 29-year-old Hawaiian doesn’t like getting paid by the hour as he boasts six wins by knockout and four by submission. Silva (19-7 NC) avoided a pink slip from the UFC in his last fight, earning a third-round submission victory over Luan Chagas at UFC Fight Night 95. The 32-year-old has only gone the distance once in his last nine fights, so don’t expect this matchup to hit the judges’ scorecards. Both welterweights have had a bit of a layoff as neither have competed since September 2016.
Former WSOF bantamweight champion Moraes makes his highly anticipated UFC debut against fellow Brazilian standout Assuncao. Moraes (18-4-1) heads into his promotional debut on a 13-fight win streak, including six wins by knockout. The 29-year-old hasn’t lost since 2011 and competes in Brazil for the first time since 2010. Assuncao (24-5) has quietly amassed an impressive one of the most impressive records in the bantamweight division, going 8-1 since dropping his UFC debut against Erik Koch at UFC 128 in 2011.
The Atlanta native, by way of Recife, Brazil boasts wins over TJ Dillashaw, Bryan Caraway and Aljamain Sterling, who he defeated by split decision UFC on FOX 23 in his last fight. As the bantamweight division waits on the injury status of current champion Cody Garbrandt, the winner of this matchup could find themselves close to title contention.
Remember when Spicely was thought to be another bust from The Ultimate Fighter after losing his promotional debut to Sam Alvey at UFC Fight Night 91? Someone forget to tell him that, as the Rhode Island native heads into this matchup off back-to-back first-round submission victories. Spicely (11-1) has spent this camp training at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas with fellow TUF cast members Josh Stansbury and Khalil Rountree. The 30-year-old has finished 8 of his 12 career opponents and hasn’t gone the distance in a fight since October 2015.
Carlos Junior (10-2) also heads into this middleweight matchup with some momentum, winning his last two fights. After starting his UFC career at 2-2 with one no contest, the TUF 3 Brazil heavyweight winner has earned two-straight victories over Leonardo Augusto Guimarães and Marvin Vettori. While the crowded middleweight division sorts itself out, whoever emerges victorious in this fight could find themselves a big-name opponent in their next outing.
An intriguing bantamweight fight takes place on the prelims as Brazilian fighter Eduardo battles Team Genesis product Lopez. Eduardo (28-10) is coming off a second-round TKO victory over Manvel Gamburyan at UFC Fight Night 100 in November and has only fought four-times since 2012. The 36-year-old is 3-2 in the UFC, with his losses coming to bantamweight standouts Raphael Assunção and Aljamain Sterling. Lopez (9-1) is coming off his first win in the UFC, defeating Canadian Mitch Gagnon at UFC 206 this past December.
The 30-year-old, who trains with former WSOF champion lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, has only gone the distance twice in his 10-fight career. It will be very interesting to see what happens when this fight hits the mat, as combined these two bantamweights have 17-career submission victories between the two of them.
Two of the strawweight division’s brightest prospects clash this Saturday, as 23-year-old Pereira battles TUF 23’s Moyle. Pereira (12-0) is coming off the biggest win of her career back at UFC 206, as she took out former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau in her promotional debut. Moyle (4-1) lost by majority decision on The Ultimate Fighter to Amanda Bobby Cooper, but rebounded in her UFC debut taking out Kalin Curran at the TUF 24 Finale this past December.
The Las Vegas native competes in Brazil for the first time in her career and has never been finished in five-career fights. This matchup will give a glimpse into what the future of the 115-pound women’s division looks like.
All of these fights have overshadowed some great matchups on this card, but here at FloCombat we’ve got you covered. Here are five under the radar matchups for UFC 212.
Yancy Medeiros vs. Erik Silva
In what has all the makings of a “Fight of the Night” slugfest on paper, Medeiros looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2014 as he takes on Brazilian favorite Silva. Medeiros (14-4) has alternated between wins and losses in his last four fights, including a second-round submission victory over Sean Spencer at UFC 203 in his last bout.
The 29-year-old Hawaiian doesn’t like getting paid by the hour as he boasts six wins by knockout and four by submission. Silva (19-7 NC) avoided a pink slip from the UFC in his last fight, earning a third-round submission victory over Luan Chagas at UFC Fight Night 95. The 32-year-old has only gone the distance once in his last nine fights, so don’t expect this matchup to hit the judges’ scorecards. Both welterweights have had a bit of a layoff as neither have competed since September 2016.
Marlon Moraes vs. Raphael Assuncao
Former WSOF bantamweight champion Moraes makes his highly anticipated UFC debut against fellow Brazilian standout Assuncao. Moraes (18-4-1) heads into his promotional debut on a 13-fight win streak, including six wins by knockout. The 29-year-old hasn’t lost since 2011 and competes in Brazil for the first time since 2010. Assuncao (24-5) has quietly amassed an impressive one of the most impressive records in the bantamweight division, going 8-1 since dropping his UFC debut against Erik Koch at UFC 128 in 2011.
The Atlanta native, by way of Recife, Brazil boasts wins over TJ Dillashaw, Bryan Caraway and Aljamain Sterling, who he defeated by split decision UFC on FOX 23 in his last fight. As the bantamweight division waits on the injury status of current champion Cody Garbrandt, the winner of this matchup could find themselves close to title contention.
Eric Spicely vs. Antonio Carlos Junior
Remember when Spicely was thought to be another bust from The Ultimate Fighter after losing his promotional debut to Sam Alvey at UFC Fight Night 91? Someone forget to tell him that, as the Rhode Island native heads into this matchup off back-to-back first-round submission victories. Spicely (11-1) has spent this camp training at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas with fellow TUF cast members Josh Stansbury and Khalil Rountree. The 30-year-old has finished 8 of his 12 career opponents and hasn’t gone the distance in a fight since October 2015.
Carlos Junior (10-2) also heads into this middleweight matchup with some momentum, winning his last two fights. After starting his UFC career at 2-2 with one no contest, the TUF 3 Brazil heavyweight winner has earned two-straight victories over Leonardo Augusto Guimarães and Marvin Vettori. While the crowded middleweight division sorts itself out, whoever emerges victorious in this fight could find themselves a big-name opponent in their next outing.
Johnny Eduardo vs. Matthew Lopez
An intriguing bantamweight fight takes place on the prelims as Brazilian fighter Eduardo battles Team Genesis product Lopez. Eduardo (28-10) is coming off a second-round TKO victory over Manvel Gamburyan at UFC Fight Night 100 in November and has only fought four-times since 2012. The 36-year-old is 3-2 in the UFC, with his losses coming to bantamweight standouts Raphael Assunção and Aljamain Sterling. Lopez (9-1) is coming off his first win in the UFC, defeating Canadian Mitch Gagnon at UFC 206 this past December.
The 30-year-old, who trains with former WSOF champion lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, has only gone the distance twice in his 10-fight career. It will be very interesting to see what happens when this fight hits the mat, as combined these two bantamweights have 17-career submission victories between the two of them.
Vivian Pereira vs. Jamie Moyle
Two of the strawweight division’s brightest prospects clash this Saturday, as 23-year-old Pereira battles TUF 23’s Moyle. Pereira (12-0) is coming off the biggest win of her career back at UFC 206, as she took out former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau in her promotional debut. Moyle (4-1) lost by majority decision on The Ultimate Fighter to Amanda Bobby Cooper, but rebounded in her UFC debut taking out Kalin Curran at the TUF 24 Finale this past December.
The Las Vegas native competes in Brazil for the first time in her career and has never been finished in five-career fights. This matchup will give a glimpse into what the future of the 115-pound women’s division looks like.