The UFC is returning to Mexico City tonight with a loaded card featuring some of the best up and coming talent in the promotion. The event is going to be headlined by a flyweight division attraction as Sergio Pettis takes on Brandon Moreno. Also, Randa Markos looks to keep the momentum going against Alexa Grasso and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans is in action.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Flyweight Division Fight
Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis (15-2-0) vs. Brandon “The Assassin Baby” Moreno (14-3-0)
Pettis enters the fight riding a three fight winning streak, with two of those victories coming over former flyweight title challengers John Moraga and Chris Cariaso. Moreno is currently undefeated under the UFC banner, defeating the trio of Louis Smolka, Ryan Benoit and Dustin Ortiz. Pettis is going to be headlining his first ever UFC card and he has been with the promotion for almost four years. Moreno competed on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 24, but he lost in the opening round of the reality show to Alexandre Pantoja.
Prediction: This one has “fight of the year” written all over it, but Moreno has shown a knack for pulling out submission from out of nowhere. Pettis uses his striking to win a few rounds before Moreno submits him in the fourth round.
Co-Main Event
UFC Women’s Strawweight Division Fight
Randa “Quiet Storm” Markos (7-4-0) vs. Alexa Grasso (9-1-0)
Markos has won two of her last three under the UFC banner, last defeating former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza at UFC Fight Night 105. Grasso has won just one of two fights in the UFC thus far, with that lone win coming over Heather Clark at UFC Fight Night 98. Markos made it to the semi-finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 20, losing to Rose Namajunas in that semi-final fight. Grasso also competed in the Invicta FC promotion, winning all five fights she competed at within the company.
Prediction: Grasso is the far superior fighter here and Markos seemingly finds a way to win fights she shouldn’t win, Grasso gets a close decision win here.
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Alan “Brahma” Jouban (15-5-0) vs. Niko “The Hybrid” Price (10-0-0)
Jouban has won three of his last four fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Mike Perry by decision at UFC On Fox 22. Price has already earned two victories in the UFC, with those wins coming over Brandon Thatch and Alex Morono. Jouban has previously competed for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance Welterweight Title, losing to UFC veteran Mike Rhodes at RFA 10. Price is a longtime veteran of the Fight Time MMA promotion and only one of his professional MMA fights went the distance.
Prediction: These are two of the better strikers in the UFC right now, Jouban is the better combo thrower and he notches a close decision win.
UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Humberto Bandenay (13-4-0-1NC) vs. Martin “Toro” Bravo (11-0-0)
Bandenay is going to be making his UFC debut in this fight and he is doing so on the strength of a five fight winning streak. Bravo has already earned a single victory under the UFC banner, having defeated Claudio Puelles at UFC Fight Night 98. Bandenay has only fought one UFC veteran before in his career, which was a loss to Enrique Barzola at Inka FC 25. Bravo has only seen two of his eleven professional MMA fights go the distance and it has been almost two years since the last time he competed all three rounds.
Prediction: These are two fighters who are well versed on the feet and on the ground, Bravo earns a close decision win here.
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
“Smiling” Sam Alvey (30-9-0-1NC) vs. Rashad “Suga” Evans (19-6-1)
Alvey has won four of his last five fights in the UFC, with notable wins coming over Kevin Casey and Nate Marquardt. Evans is currently winless in the middleweight division, suffering a decision loss to Daniel Kelly at UFC 209. Alvey competed on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 16, suffering a defeat to Joey Cora in the opening round of the reality show. Evans is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, defeating Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 to win the gold.
Prediction: Alvey is a patient striker and Evans chin is highly suspect at this point, Alvey catches Evans coming in for the first round knockout.
UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Alejandro “El Diabilito” Perez (17-6-1) vs. Andre “The Asian Sensation” Soukhamthath (11-4-0)
Perez has won three of five fights under the UFC banner, with those wins coming over Jose Alberto Quinonez, Scott Jorgensen and Ian Entwistle. Soukhamthath is currently winless thus far in UFC competition, dropping a fight to Albert Morales at UFC 209. Perez was the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Latin America 1, defeating Jose Alberto Quinonez in the finals. Soukhamthath is a former CES MMA Bantamweight Champion, defeating Kody Nordby to win the gold at CES MMA 33.
Prediction: These are two fighters who like to stand and bang, Soukhamthath takes home a razor thin decision win here.
Preliminary Card Quick Picks
Jack Hermansson over Brad Scott
Dustin Ortiz over Hector Sandoval
Rani Yahya over Henry Briones
Diego Rivas over Jose Quinonez
Joseph Morales over Roberto Sanchez
Jordan Rinaldi over Alvaro Herrera
