UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira- Preliminary Card Prediction and Analysis

UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira is set for November 7, 2020, at the Apex Centre in Las Vegas. Light heavyweights Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira will duke it out in the main event to decide the next contender. What’s more, the card plays host to several fan-friendly match-ups that will take place on the preliminary card.

UFC middleweights: Trevin Giles vs Bevon Lewis

Trevin ‘The Problem’ lives up to his moniker in the cage and is coming off a win over James Krause in February. He managed to break a two-fight skid with his most recent win and will be keen to continue his forward momentum. He brings in close-range boxing that is often looked upon favorably by the judges when scoring points.

Bevon Lewis has had a similar schedule to his opponent and has gone 1-2 in his last three outings. He defeated former UFC middleweight Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision and remains a solid prospect. Although Lewis has the tendency to be overzealous, his durability has been the deciding factor in the past.

Prediction: Trevin Giles to claim a unanimous decision victory

UFC featherweights: Giga Chikadze vs Jamey Simmons

Giga Chikadze is undefeated in the UFC and is on a six-fight winning streak as a professional. What’s more, he’s scalped some impressive names at featherweight and utilizes his varied skill set to great effect. Moreover, Chikadze is heavily favored to come out victorious due to his ability to out-point his opponents with high activity.

Jamey Simmons is a new entrant into the UFC’s ranks and is a sizeable underdog on key placement lines. ‘The Afro Samurai’ is a dynamic finisher who has only seen the scorecards on one occasion thus far. He’ll certainly have a testing time to maneuver through the traps that Giga sets throughout the scheduled bout.

Prediction: Giga Chikadze to claim a submission victory in the second round.

Heavyweights: Alexandr Romanov vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima

The aforementioned heavyweights have been on a collision course for a while and will finally settle the score. Romanov is looked at as a clear-cut contender in the division with a diverse skillset on the ground and on the feet. He’s undefeated at 12-0 and is coming off a lucid arm-triangle win over Roque Martinez.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima has gone 4-4 in his last eight fights, splitting wins and losses consecutively. The heavy-handed Brazilian will have to gain some continuity to his performance in order to break into the heavyweight ranks.

Prediction: Alexandr Romanov to claim an RNC submission win

Featherweights: Darren Elkins vs Luiz Eduardo Garagorri

Darren Elkins is likely fighting for his job at UFC Vegas 13 as he’s suffered four straight losses. ‘The Damage’ throws caution to the wind when he fights, however, his chin doesn’t quite hold up. Additionally, his footwork plots forward without much variation as the third-round draws near.

He’s facing 13-1 striker in Eduardo Garagorri who has shown great diversity in his skill set. Although he’s coming off a loss, Luiz Eduardo will look to tactically dismantle Elkins who’s under high pressure going into the fight.

Prediction: Luiz Eduardo Garagorri to claim a third-round TKO

UFC welterweights: Max Griffin vs Ramiz Brahimaj

Max ‘Pain’ Griffin has had a tough go in the UFC going 1-4 in his last five outings. He’ll have to bring forth his A-game when facing a well-rounded threat in Brahimaj. Ramiz Brahimaj is a brute once the fight hits the ground, and the consensus is that Griffin would be unmatched.

Furthermore, it’s vital to Max Griffin’s game that he be dialed in to the counters that Ramiz is well-known for. The 8-2 fighter out of Fortis MMA is clinical with his counter hooks going backward when facing a pressure-based fighter.

Prediction: Ramiz Brahimaj to claim a unanimous decision victory

Bantamweights: Gustavo Lopez vs Anthony Birchak

Gustavo Lopez will face late-replacement fighter Anthony Birchak, who returns to UFC after a long-lay-off. The former Combate Americas champion in Gustavo integrates leg kicks into his arsenal and is a force at 135-pounds.

Birchak last fought in the UFC back in 2016 and suffered a slew of unfortunate losses. The returning veteran is now on a hot streak and believes he has what it takes to topple Gustavo. Although he’s adept at range-fight, his path to victory lies in dirty clinch boxing and bolo uppercuts.

Prediction: Anthony Birchak to claim a unanimous decision victory

Also Read: UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira- Thiago Santos vs Glover Teixeira: Prediction and Analysis