We’ve seen too many UFC events suffer with injuries and pull outs but perhaps we’ve never seen one get as depleted as Saturday night’ UFC Fight Night 137 at the Geraldo Jose de Almeida Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil
When Neil Magny was pulled out from the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 137 so that he could headline an upcoming event in Buenos Aires, the UFC thought it would not change the entire picture. But within a week, the Antonio Carlos Jr vs Elias Theodorou and the Tonya Evinger vs Ketlen Vieira bouts were removed due to injuries. The main event was changed after the UFC removed Glover Teixeira from his date with Jimi Manuwa. Thiago Santos replaced Teixeira but earlier this week, Manuwa got injured and the UFC changed the main event a second time by inserting Eryk Anders to face Santos.
We still have a couple of days and the weigh-ins coming up so keep your fingers crossed and let’s hope this event takes no more further damage. Luckily, the UFC has plenty of fighters in its roster and despite the names that were added and subtracted, we are still in line for an exciting fight week.
Let’s preview the key fights of UFC Fight Night 137:
After two changes, it’s Thiago Santos and Eryk Anders who will fight in the main event of UFC Fight Night 137. These are two former middleweights who are currently unranked at light heavyweight. Although this fight won’t help their rankings, being in the main event should will give the winner more exposure and bigger opportunities ahead.
Thiago Santos is stepping in for Glover Teixeira after the UFC figured that a main event between two 38 year olds could bomb out. Santos gladly took the fight knowing that the 5th ranked Manuwa could be his stepping stone to contendership. However, Manuwa got hurt on fight week and Santos is now facing a younger opponent who like him is a known knockout artist.
Santos is a powerful striker whose best weapons are his leg kicks. Santos enters this event with a record of 18-6 with 12 wins by knockout. He is 11-4 under the UFC with three of his losses via stoppage including two by knockout. Santos has fought thrice already this year, going 2-1 with his loss a first round stoppage against David Branch.
Eryk Anders enters this bout with nothing to lose. Just as Thiago Santos replaced Glover Teixeira in this bout, Eryk Anders replaced Jimi Manuwa too. Anders enters this fight with an 11-1 record with 7 knockouts and 1 submission. He is 3-1 in the UFC with 2 knockouts and his only loss was a five round unanimous decision to Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 125, his first UFC headliner.
Like Santos, Anders is a knockout artist with a 64% knockout rate. The main difference between them is that Anders has a much better ground game as he averages 1.56 takedowns landed per 15 minutes. Anders has landed at least one takedown in three of his four bouts, including three against Machida. T
I was going to pick Thiago Santos against Jimi Manuwa but with Manuwa being replaced by Eryk Anders, I’m changing my mind. Sure, Anders is taking this fight on short notice but he is coming off a fight a month ago and should still be in good shape. However, Santos was preparing for Manuwa in a fight that would have made him a contender. Now he’s facing a younger and hungrier opponent who has nothing to lose. Replacement fighters are dangerous when they have nothing to lose. Just ask Luke Rockhold when he fought Bisping.
No question, Santos is the more powerful striker here. But his aggressiveness may backfire against Anders who like him has knockout power. Santos has a tendency to get easily knocked out as half of his six losses are via stoppages. Not only that, Anders has better cardio, is more durable and has a big advantage in wrestling. Sure, Santos’ 72% takedown defense is going to help him keep this fight on his feet. But with the constant threat of getting taken down, Santos is going to think twice. I think this is a 50-50 fight and I’ll take the plus money and bet on the underdog. Prediction: Eryk Anders by knockout.
Alex Oliveira looks to continue his move up the rankings as he faces promotional newcomer Carlo Pedersoli in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 137.
After he was rushed by the UFC to a main event bout with the promotion’s other Cowboy, Alex Oliveira has slowly built a solid career for himself in the UFC. Since losing to Donald Cerrone two and a half years ago, Cowboy Oliveira has racked up a 5-1 record with one no-contest. In his most recent win, Oliveira submitted former welterweight title challenger Carlos Condit.
Oliveira is known for his ground game an elite submission skills but if you take a look at his record, he is also an excellent knockout artist. He has a record of 19-4-1 with two no contests. 11 of his wins are by knockout and 4 by submission. He isn’t a volume striker with just an average of 2.96 strikes landed per minute. But he doesn’t take much punishment at just 2.07 strikes absorbed per 15 minutes. Whether it’s standing up or on the ground, Oliveira has the edge here because he’s fought better competition and that’s why he’s a big favorite here.
While Alex Oliveira knows what it feels to be “rushed” into the spotlight, that may be what Italian newcomer Carlo Pedersoli is about to find out. Pedersoli just made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night Liverpool back in May where he took out Brad Scott. Now, the UFC is giving him a much more experienced opponent in Oliveira. Like in his UFC debut, he is taking this fight on short notice. But this time around, he’s going to have his hands full against the UFC’s 14th ranked welterweight.
Pedersoli is an athletic and well rounded fighter. But if you take a look at his game closely, there is nothing special that stands out. At 25 and just starting out in the UFC, it may be too early to judge him. In his UFC debut though, he landed three takedowns and outstruck his opponent by five strikes. He won the fight via split decision. For whatever it’s worth, Pedersoli’s record is 11-1 with 3 knockouts and 4 submissions.
Pedersoli enters this event with an impressive eight fight winning streak. However, he is taking a huge step up in his level of competition in fighting Cowboy Oliveira who’s held his own against some of the best in the business. Pedersoli is a well-rounded fighter who hasn’t shown too many weak spots. However, Cowboy has been around for some time and has both the experience and skill to pull this one off.
Oliveira is going to dictate where this fight goes. If he chooses to stand and strike with Pedersoli, this may turn into a close fight. However, if this one goes to the ground-and you bet Oliveira wants this more, Cowboy’s natural advantages will shine. Pedersoli landed three takedowns in his first UFC bout so there’s a chance that this one is going to the ground. I’ll take Cowboy’s grappling and submission skills in this contest. Prediction: We’re picking Alex Oliveira to beat Carlo Pedersoli Jr. by submission.
Sam Alvey gets an opportunity of a lifetime as he faces Brazilian legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in a three round light heavyweight feature.
Sam Alvey enters this fight with a 33-10 record with one no-contest. Known as “Smile N”, Alvey has a record of 33-10 with one no-contest. 19 of his wins have come via knockout and of his five UFC losses, only one was via knockout. Alvey recently moved up to 205 pounds and it appears that this is the right division for him. He is on a two fight winning streak and will get the chance to finally retire a legend in Little Nog.
Since July 2016, Alvey has won seven of nine bouts. During that period, he earned wins over the likes of Nate Marquardt, Rashad Evans and Gian Villante. Aside from being a knockout artist, Alvey has an excellent takedown defense of 82%. If he can keep this fight on his feet and avoid wrestling with Little Nog, this should be an easy win for Alvey.
I was really surprised why the UFC brought back Minotouro especially since he hasn’t fought since 2016 when he was abused by Ryan Bader. Nogueira was taken down 5 times and oustruck 129-12 in his last UFC appearance and now here he is fighting at 42 against a young and hungry lion. Nogueira has fought just four times in the last five years with just one win during that period.
I’m not sure what’s left of him but we’ll find out on Saturday night. If he wins here, he will remain in the lean 205 pound roster. Nogueira still has his elite boxing skills and the grappling prowess of the Nogueira name. But as it has been in the last five years, he is no longer the same fighter he was in his prime. The oddsmakers are giving him too much respect at +290.
No doubt this will be a stand up battle. Between Alvey who is currently on a tear and Little Nog who hasn’t fought in two years and has only one win in the last five years, it’s easy to pick a fighter here. Nogueira will try to land a big shot early because that appears to be his only chance at winning this fight. Alvey is a durable fighter and should withstand the first minute of flurry or so and then take it from there. The last time Little Nog fought, it ended up ugly. This one may end the same way or even worse.I was really surprised why the UFC booked Alvey who is on a two fight winning streak and who may be an up and coming contender at 205 pounds against a 42 year old dinosaur like Nogueira. I mean the UFC is sending Alvey to Brazil to knock out one of its legends. I love Little Nog but his time was up a long time ago. Alvey is going to pick up the biggest name in his resume. Prediction: We’re picking Sam Alvey to beat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by knockout.
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