The UFC is jetting off to Brazil this weekend for another blockbuster instalment of the UFC Fight Night series. Two of the Lightweight division’s most prolific finishers are set to lock horns for five rounds of mayhem this Saturday when Kevin Lee sets to battle it out with local favorite Charles Oliveira inside Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil.
Before the curtain-raiser commences, Fight Night 170 features another mouth-watering bout to set the main stage in the form of Demian Maia vs Gilbert Burns. Demain Maia is edging closer to his big welterweight fight and Burns will be the man to stop him in this long-awaited showdown. March is set for another Fight Night extravaganza and Bet Today USA has all your UFC predictions and MMA odds.
Main Event: Kevin Lee (-148) Vs Charles Oliveira (+118)
Both men are as lethal on their feet as they’re on are the mat — when they meet in Brasilia this Saturday as Kevin Lee looks to end Oliveira’s six-fight winning streak in hostile territory. ‘The Motown Phenom’ enters this clash with an 18-5-0 career record and will be eyeing up an extra tally in the Win section.
Lee flies out into the enemy territory rejuvenated after moving back down to lightweight in the chance to thrive at his perfect weight. Lee has lost three out of four after getting submitted by Tony Ferguson, losing a decision to Al laquinta and suffering another submission to Rafael at welterweight.
However, the American announced his turn in form in spectacular fashion taking on a feared and unforgiving Gregor Gillespie. Lee came out flying out of the blocks with a flurry punches nullifying Gillespie’s attacks, but Gillespie’s undoing was a devastating head kick that sent the wrestler’s chin into orbit, swiftly dropping him to the canvass in a first-round TKO.
Lee now has another hurdle to jump taking on a different beast who many have been swerving, Charles Oliveira. ‘De Bronx’ has been putting opponents to the sword of late, after he has dished out four submissions over Clay Guida, Jim Miller and David Teymur and knockouts over Nik Lentz and Jared Gordon in his last fight. The Brazilian is in the form of his life dispatching top fighters across the board and possesses the UFC record for most submissions, the most performance of the night awards and highest finished win percentage.
Kevin Lee is showcasing what he is capable of and whatever Oliveira touches turns to gold, so this is turning into a fascinating contest. The Brazilian’s only loss comes in the form of Paul Felder, who utilised his size and power to overwhelm Oliveira and Lee has the same advantage. Apart from wrestling, the Brazilian has a stronger fight game in his locker and will be avoiding fighting it out on the canvass — looking to use his strike game to stop the American. MMA predictions show that Lee, on the other hand, will be expected to enforce his powerful wrestling to quash Oliveira’s powerful fight game to come home with a win on his record.
Demian Maia (+151) vs Gilbert Burns (-190)
Following a three-fight losing streak in 2017 into 2018 to Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman, 'The Blanket of Sorrow' jolted back into action with three straight wins heading into this fight. Gilbert Burns, also riding a wave of momentum with a four-fight winning streak under this belt, has targeted Maia as his number five-win streak victim. Although the Brazillian is 42, Maia is no pushover and is arguably the best grappler in the UFC with a menacing fight game in his locker. Maia is as dangerous as they come on the floor, with 14 of his 28 pro wins coming in the form of submission, nine of them via rear-naked chokes. His striking is fairly simple, throwing long-range strikes and overhands to attempt to close the gap and initiate his favoured grappling.
In his own right, Burns possesses strong grappling skills and it's hard to neglect that, with eight of his seventeen pro wins coming via submission. Burns demonstrates more of an explosive striking element to his fight game but has huge reluctance and hesitation to throw. UFC predictions show that Maia will thrive on home soil and the Brazilian crowd are sure to arm the native with an extra boost in this eagerly awaited showdown.
Amanda Ribas (-295) vs Randa Markos (+225)
Amanda Ribas will be hoping to remain undefeated in the UFC as she prepares to do battle against Randa Markos. Ribas, who has two wins over Emily Whitmire and Mackenzie Dern in 2019, will be aiming to champion that sort of style against Randa Markos. The Brazilian will also ride the home advantage wave by using the crowd as a catalyst in her fight game, while Markos will be aiming to prove a point on hostile turf. The Canadian has UFC experience under her belt, most recently with wins over Ashely Yoder and Angela Hill and will be searching for a third on the coast of South America.
'The Quiet Storm' is a suffocating fighter, refusing her opponents any room to work as she closes the distance looking to grapple. Markos also does a good job of throwing a flurry of punches and has a high percentage of successfully landed combinations on her feet when she engages. The Canadian does exhibit an Achilles heel when she throws strikes, letting her hands down and leaving her vulnerable to exposing counters. Ribas, on the other hand, is more of a refined striker with fantastic footwork and instinctive head work that allows the Brazilian to avoid much more damage than her counterparts. She likes to bully her opponents and constantly throws jabs to frustrate opponents hoping to throw a power punch or seek a takedown.