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411’s MMA Roundtable Preview – UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes

June 1, 2018 | Posted by Dan Plunkett
UFC Fight Night 131

WELCOME:
Bantamweight contenders Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Maraes duel in the main event of UFC Fight Night on FS1! In the co-main event, Gregor Gillespie looks to remain unbeaten when he faces Vinc Pichel. At heavyweight, Walt Harris takes on Daniel Spitz. In welterweight action, Jake Ellenberger fights Ben Saunders. Plus, Julio Arce goes up against Daniel Teymur, Gian Villante vs. Sam Alvey, and more!

THE STAFF:

  • He’ll lock you in the guillotine, Robert Winfree!

  • He’s 411’s Jack of All Trades, Jeffrey Harris!

    Preliminary Card
    UFC Fight Pass
    Flyweight Bout: Jarred Brooks vs. Jose Torres
    Bantamweight Bout: Johnny Eduardo vs. Nathaniel Wood
    Strawweight Bout: Jessica Aguilar vs. Jodie Esquibel

    Fox Sports 1
    Lightweight Bout: Desmond Green vs. Gleison Tibau
    Welterweight Bout: Belal Muhammad vs. Chance Rencountre
    Lightweight Bout: Nik Lentz vs. David Teymur
    Flyweight Bout: Sijara Eubanks vs. Lauren Murphy

    THE MAIN CARD:
    Light Heavyweight Bout: Gian Villante vs. Sam Alvey

    Robert Winfree: Sam Alvey, TKO, Round 2
    Jeffrey Harris: Sam Alvey, Decision


    Featherweight Bout: Julio Arce vs. Daniel Teymur

    Robert Winfree: Julio Arce, Decision
    Jeffrey Harris: Julio Arce, Decision


    Welterweight Bout: Jake Ellenberger vs. Ben Saunders

    Robert Winfree: Why are these two still in the UFC? Ellenberger is 2-7 in his last nine and on his second two fight losing streak in his last four fights. Saunders has lost his last two and looked pretty darn lost when doing so, especially after getting hit a few times. I’m just picking the most hilarious outcome.

    Winner: No Contest, double knockout

    Jeffrey Harris: It looks like Jake Ellenberger is getting one more shot in the UFC. I got to go with Ben Saunders here. Jake Ellenberger is really just a shell of the top-level welterweight fighter he once was. Ben Saunders is in no ways a world beater, but he has some impressive submission skills and kickboxing work, where I believe he’s going to put away Ellenberger, who has had really an abysmal record lately. Ellenberger is pretty lucky for the most part to still even have a spot on the roster.

    Winner: Ben Saunders, Submission, Round 1


    Heavyweight Bout: Walt Harris vs. Daniel Spitz

    Robert Winfree: I have no idea why this is on the main card. Harris should be the better fighter but he’s on a two fight losing streak and is coming off of a DQ loss, which is hilarious in and of itself. Just let it end quickly.

    Winner: Walt Harris, TKO, Round 1

    Jeffrey Harris: Walt Harris getting a main card spot here is pretty questionable. His UFC record is nothing to write home about. He got submitted in just over a minute by Fabricio Werdum. His fight with Mark Godbeer resulted in a DQ loss after Harris used an illegal headkick. Hopefully, this fight will at least end quickly. Harris faces the 1-1 heavyweight, Daniel Spitz, who I don’t see as becoming anything special for this division either. Harris is a mediocre, low-level heavyweight. However, he does have some knockout power and some heavy hands. With that in mind, I am hoping he’s capable of beating Spitz.

    Winner: Walt Harris, TKO, Round 1


    Lightweight Bout: Gregor Gillespie vs. Vinc Pichel

    Robert Winfree: Finally, a relevant fight. Gregor Gillespie has been emerging as a top prospect for the lightweight division, his wrestling background is amazing and he’s developed his hands over his last few fights. This fight represents the next reasonable step for him, Vinc Pichel is no pushover but also hasn’t yet demonstrated truly elite level ability. Pichel has good power and good hips for blocking takedowns, so we’ll find out if Gillespie can overcome those obstacles and if he’s fixed some of his stiff head movement and defensive liabilities. I tend to favor Gillespie here, but every prospect runs into that roadblock that forces them to re-evaluate at some point and I won’t be shocked if that’s Pichel in this case.

    Winner: Gregor Gillespie, Decision

    Jeffrey Harris: This is a good fight for the lightweight division. The undefeated prospect Gregor Gillespie faces the surging prospect Vince Pichel. Both men are on four-fight winning streaks and are incredibly tough. I expect a great fight here, but I think Gregor Gillespie will be able to edge it out and win the decision after a grueling, back-and-forth battle. Both fighters are good, but Gillespie is coming to the table with a Division I NCAA wrestling background, and he’s also an NCAA wrestling champion. That will give him the edge he needs to take the victory.

    Winner: Gregor Gillespie, Decision


    Bantamweight Bout: Jimmie Rivera vs. Marlon Moraes

    Robert Winfree: I’m really looking forward to this fight, the winner here should be the number one contender for the bantamweight title in fact. Jimmie Rivera has been rock solid, well rounded, and a relentless competitor. Rivera’s strength comes from his ability to find an area or two where he’s better and try to force the fight into those areas constantly, if he’s the better wrestler he’ll mix things up enough to get your down or if he’s better on the outside he’ll snipe you as you miss him. The big issues with Rivera so far have been his defense, he’s on the hittable side, and that stoicism. Rivera has yet to display an ability to rapidly switch gears, favoring the methodical approach and relying his hard-nosed attitude to carry him through moments of adversity. By contrast Moraes switches rapidly, he fires hard kicks at distance and tries to regulate explosion. The way these two match up intrigues me to no end, will the relentless hard-nosed and well-rounded ability of Rivera overcome the speed and dynamism that Moraes brings? I don’t know, and my biggest reservation about picking Rivera centers on his head movement or lack thereof once exchanges begin. When entering the pocket Rivera is mindful about his head but once things start popping off he tends to settle on the center line a little too reliably. I’m favoring Moraes by the smallest of margins and am really looking forward to an exciting bout.

    Winner: Marlon Moraes, Decision

    Jeffrey Harris: At the very least for this card, this is a fantastic main event. It will be five rounds and likely produce a top contender for the bantamweight title after TJ Dillashaw faces Cody Garbrandt. Both fighters are very tough and resilient. Rivera has had a meteoric rise in the UFC, going 5-0 since his debut. Marlon Moraes has rebounded after some early bumps in the road in his UFC, losing to Raphael Assuncao. I think the one thing going against Rivera, as strong and well-rounded as he is, he’s not much of a finisher. I’m favoring Jimmie Rivera for this fight. Both men are high-level fighters, and I could see Moraes taking some rounds, but Rivera will use his superior striking, boxing, and wrestling to out-point Moraes and take the decision. With this win, Rivera will likely be in line for a shot at the UFC bantamweight title.

    Winner: Jimmie Rivera, Decision


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