UFC 163’s preliminary card features a number of Brazilian fighters who are unknown to most casual fans in North American, but there’s also a few recognizable names on the docket that are known to put up exciting fights, making this preliminary card worth your time and while.
Watch four UFC 163 preliminary card fights Saturday on Sportsnet 360 starting at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT plus watch three bonus online prelims at sportsnet.ca starting at 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Here is a breakdown with predictions for the UFC 163 preliminary card.
Vinny Magalhaes vs. Anthony Perosh
In the featured bout of the prelims, Brazilian light-heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes takes on Anthony Perosh in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. Both fighters are entering this bout coming off of losses, and with the loser likely getting cut from the roster, expect both men to be very motivated to pick up a win and that bodes well for the fans.
Both of these fighters are finishers and there’s no way this fight goes the distance. Both men are solid on the ground as well, but with the hometown edge, better striking, and having a solid 12-year youth advantage, I really think this is Magalhaes’ fight to lose and I see him stopping Perosh with ground-and-pound.
Prediction: Magalhaes via TKO
Amanda Nunes vs. Sheila Gaff
The lone women’s bantamweight fight on the card is a matchup between Brazil’s Amanda Nunes and Germany’s Sheila Gaff, a fight that promises to deliver as one of these ladies is most certainly going to be knocked out.
Both of these women pack lots of power in their punches, but with Nunes holding a size advantage, I believe she can get the takedowns just like Sara McMann did to Gaff in her last fight at UFC 159, get Gaff to the ground and beat her up there so badly that the referee has to stop the fight.
Having said that, a flash KO delivered by Gaff wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest because she’s extremely aggressive and powerful, but I have to go with Nunes here in another fight where I believe the Brazilian will come through with the W.
Prediction: Nunes via TKO
Sergio Moraes vs. Neil Magny
Up next is a middleweight bout between Sergio Moraes of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil season 1 and Neil Magny of TUF 16, a fight that is flying under the radar but one which could provide a nice finish.
Although Magny is a lot younger and has more years left in the sport, I don’t believe he has the power in his fists that can hurt Moraes and I don’t think his takedown defence will be good enough to keep the fight on the feet, anyways.
Look for the veteran Moraes to get the takedown at some point in the middle of the fight and sink in a fight-ending submission.
Prediction: Moraes via submission
Ian McCall vs. Iliarde Santos
The first fight of the Sportsnet 360 prelims is a flyweight bout between fan favorite Ian McCall and Brazilian Iliarde Santos, who is fighting at 125 pounds for the first time in the UFC. With both fighters entering the bout coming off of losses, it’s likely that both are in a must-win situation.
Although Santos will have the hometown edge, this is one of the rare matchups on the card where I believe the foreigner has the advantage. Look for McCall to be dominant with his wrestling, score some big takedowns throughout the fight, and end up winning a clear-cut decision.
Prediction: McCall via decision
Rani Yahya vs. Josh Clopton
The feature bout of the online prelims is a featherweight matchup between Rani Yahya and Josh Clopton, a fight that, when it was announced, left a lot of people scratching their heads.
With Yahya currently on a two-fight win streak over Mizuto Hirota and Josh Grispi, and with Clopton not having fought since the TUF 14 finale nearly two years ago, it sure looks like the American is being brought in here to lose in front of the Brazilian crowd.
Look for Yahya to get the takedown on Clopton early in the fight and sink in a submission in the first round, possibly a submission that we’ve never even seen before; it’s that big of a mismatch.
Prediction: Yahya via submission
Bristol Marunde vs. Viscardi Andrade
This welterweight matchup between TUF 16’s Bristol Marunde and TUF Brazil 2’s Viscardi Andrade is definitely one of the least-anticipated fights on the card between two fighters who are barely UFC calibre.
I can’t imagine this being a good fight but with a huge edge in experience, I’m going to lean towards Marunde eking out a close decision here, but you never know how the Brazilian judges will see the fight and if it is as close as I think it will be, there could be a robbery here.
Prediction: Marunde via decision
Ednaldo Oliveira vs. Francimar Barroso
Kicking off the night, light-heavyweight Ednaldo Oliveira welcomes newcomer Francimar Barroso to the Octagon.
This is a fight that can go either way, but since Barroso took it on short notice after an injury to Robert Drysdale I have to lean towards Oliveira, and I think he has what it takes to win the fight via TKO.
Prediction: Barroso via TKO
