The UFC will unify its heavyweight title this weekend at UFC 270 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California as current champion Francis Ngannou defends the belt against interim champion Cyril Gane in a battle between former sparring partners and gym teammates.
UFC 270 will be co-headlines by the flyweight title fight between champion Brandon Moreno and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo, in the third fight between these two combatants. Also on the main card is a welterweight showcase between Michel Pereira and KO artist Andre Fialho.
But before these big names take the Octagon a loaded prelims undercard will precede the show. Let’s take a look at the fights in the UFC 270 prelims and make our predictions.
Rodolfo Vieira is a four-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion and seven-time World Cup champion. The 32-year old Brazilian is considered one of the best grapplers in the UFC. Vieira started his career at Shooto Fights before joining AFC. He entered the UFC scene in 2019 and is coming off a submission win over Dustin Stolzfus last July 17th.
Vieira has a record of 8-1 with one knockout and seven submission wins. He stands six feet tall with a reach of 73 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.
Wellington Turman started his career in his native Brazil and fought for promotions like Curitiba Fight Pro, Gladiator Combat Fight, Immortal FC, and Brave FC before joining te UFC in 2019. Under the UFC, he lost three out of his first four bouts but is coming off a split decision win over Sam Alvey at UFC Vegas 35.
Turman is 17-5 with 4 knockouts and seven submission wins. He stands six feet tall with a reach of 72 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.
Turman relies heavily on his grappling prowess and his physical abilities but at his best, he is no match for Vieira in those two departments. Turman may have the slight advantage on the feet but given Vieira’s strength, it won’t be long until he will be able to bulldoze his way through Turman and take this fight to the ground where this becomes a one-sided affair.
The UFC wants to build Vieira up but picking Turman as opponent may be too overcautious. I think Vieira is too good for Turman and he’s going to have his way in this fight. I’m going with Vieira via submission.
Prediction: Rodolfo Vieira
Raoni Barcelos is a former three-time Resurrection Fighting Alliance featherweight champion. The 34-year old from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was a five-time Brazilian National wrestling champion. He joined the UFC in 2018 and won his first five UFC bouts before suffering his first UFC defeat against Timur Valiev who beat him via majority decision.
Barcelos is 16-2 with 8 knockouts and two submission wins. He stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 67 inches and fights out of th orthodox stance.
Victor Henry fought under Pancrase, KOTC, Deep Impact, and Rizin before joining LXF and winning a world title there. The 34-year old from Los Angeles, California known as La Mangosta, will be making his first UFC appearance against Barcelos. Henry is coming off a submission win over Albert Morales and has won nine out of his last 10 bouts.
Henry has a record of 21-5 with six knockouts and eight submission victories. He stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 68 inches and is a switch-hitter.
Henry may be biting more than he can chew here. The former LXF champion made his name in the Japanese circuits but we’ve seen him get touched up by strikers inferior to Barcelos, taken down and out grappled by opponents whom Barcelos would easily beat.
I’m not saying that Henry is out of his league in the UFC. He’s done things to deserve his current UFC contract. However, Barcelos has plenty in the arsenal and can win fights in different ways. I think the bigger question here is if Henry will go the distance, which I think he won’t. I like Barcelos to take the fight down, get top position, and pound Henry out with punches.
Prediction: Raoni Barcelos
Ilia Topuria started his career in Spain where he fought for promotions like West Coast Warriors and Mix Fight Events. He also fought fo Cage Warriors where he once challenged for the bantamweight title but was ineligible to win the belt on fight night after failing to make weight. He also fought under Brave FC before joining the UFC last year and is a perfect 3-0 inside the Octagon.
Topuria is 11-0 with three knockouts and seven submission wins. He is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 69 inches.
Charles Jourdain is a former TKO Major League double champion, winning the featherweight and lightweight belts under that promotion. The 25-year old from Montreal, Canada joined the UFC in 2019 but has struggled with a 3-3-1 UFC record. In his last bout, Jourdain defeated Andre Ewell via unanimous decision.
Jourdain is 12-4 with eight knockouts and three submission victories. He is a switch hitter who stands 5-9 tall with a reach of 69 inches.
Props to Jourdain for taking this fight on two weeks notice after Movsar Evloev withdrew from the bout. But then again, the guy recently signed a new contract with the UFC and he may be trying to impress the bosses. Either way, this isn’t likely going to end out well fo him.
Topuria has the offense to exploit Joudain’s weak takedown defense. Once the fight goes to the ground, Topuria’s elite submission skills will take care of business. And even if Topuria decides to stand and bang with Jourdain, his improved striking and punching power will still give him the advantage. More likely however, he’s going to take Jourdain down and work his way to a neck crank.
Prediction: Ilia Topuria
Jack Della Maddalena fought under Eternal MMA and Cage Warriors before entering the Contender Series last September where he defeated Ange Loosa via unanimous decision to earn his UFC contract. The Perth, Australia native has won 10 consecutive bouts and has not lost since losing his first two MMA bouts in 2016.
Della Maddalena is 10-2 with eight knockouts and one submission win. He stands 5-11 tall and has a reach of 73 inches while fighting as a switch hitter.
Pete Rodriguez made his name fighting in Jorge Masvidal’s iKon Fighting Federation where he went undefeated. He is a relative newcomer to the sport with no other MMA experience under his belt. He also has not fought past the first round so experience will be a big issue here for Rodriguez.
He is 4-0 with four first round knockouts. He is also a switch-hitter who is 5-9 tall with a reach of 73 inches.
Rodriguez takes this fight on short notice after Warlley Alves pulled out of the bout. The iKon Fighting Federation veteran has decent boxing and possesses some pop in his punches. However, he has not fought a slugger in the mold of Maddalena.
No question, Rodriguez has the puncher’s chance to win this. However, Maddalena is just better with his technical skills and throws the more accurate punches. He is also the more proven fighter who has faced better opponents in the past. Not that Rodriguez isn’t good but Maddalena’s experience will take him to deep waters.
Prediction: Jack Della Maddalena
Michael Morales fought under Oro Fighting Championship, Troncal Fighting Championship, and EMMA before joining the Contender Series last year where they picked up a unanimous decision win over Nikolay Veretennikov. The 21-year old from El Oro, Ecuador will be making his UFC debut in this bout.
Morales is an orthodox fighter who stands six feet tall with a reach of 79 inches. He has a record of 12-0 with nine knockouts and one submission win.
Trevin Giles fought under Legacy FC, Fury Fighting, and LFA among others before joining the UFC in 2017. The 29-year old from San Antonio, Texas went 4-2 in his fist six Octagon assignments but is coming off a knockout loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 264 last July 10th.
Giles has a record of 14-3 with six knockouts and five submission victories. He is an orthodox fighter who is 6-0 tall with a reach of 74 inches.
Morales owns a significant five-inch reach advantage. The Contender alumnus has good long-range striking and is a decent wrestler. Although it’s obvious that he has plenty of physical gifts, his MMA game is still developing.
Giles has had an underwhelming UFC career. Since his return, he’s shown little of the fluidity and knockout power that he got known for when he first arrived. He is also fighting at a new weight class so this could be tricky for him. However, I think Giles still has the sharper combinations that’s going to earn the decision. Experience beats potential here.
Prediction: Trevin Giles
Matt Frevola is a veteran of WSOF and Titan FC. The 31-year old from Huntington, New York joined the Contender Series in 2017 where he submitted Jose Flores to earn his UFC contract. Frevola is 2-3-1 in the UFC and is coming off back to back losses to Arman Tsarukyan and Terrance McKinney.
He is 8-3 with one knockout and three submission wins. Frevola stands 5-9 tall with a 71-inch reach and fights out of the orthodox stance.
Genaro Valdez is a veteran of EXF, Welcome to the Cage, and Combate Americas. He joined the UFC last year after picking up a win over Patrik White in the Contender Series. Valdez will be making his UFC debut in this bout.
Valdez is undefeated in 10 bouts with seven knockouts and three submission victories. He is 5-9 tall with a reach of 72 inches and is an orthodox fighter.
Valdez showed tremendous durability against White and that could be a factor if these two get into a war. However, his takedown defense, or the lack thereof, could fail him again here like it has before.
Overall, Frevola is the better wrestler and the more dynamic striker. He also has the takedown offense to prevent Valdez from turning this fight into a an all-out brawl. Valdez has the momentum but Frevola is the more polished fighter who has the experience to take Valdez to the deep waters.
Prediction: Matt Frevola
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