JOE'S PICKS AND ANALYSIS FOR UFC ON FUEL TV PRELIMINARY CARD
By Joe Lebeau on 2/13/2012 4:50 PM
Before the main card of UFC on FUEL gets underway, the preliminary card, which airs live on Facebook, features four exciting fights. Featuring UFC newcomers and veterans alike, the preliminary card promises to deliver some interesting matches. Here is a look at what I believe will happen on Wednesday afternoon.
Lightweight bout: Tim Means (16-3-1) vs Bernardo Magalhaes (11-1)
The King of the Cage vet Means steps into this fight with 13 finishes in his last 14 wins, including a 30 second knockout of Tye Brown just last month. On the other side, the often boring Magalhaes is on a five fight win streak of his own. With nine decisions in his eleven wins, he's not necessarily known for his finishing ability.
Despite stepping in on short notice, I like Means in this fight. If he can avoid being put on his back by the decision friendly Australian, Means could punish him on the feet en route to a TKO victory.
Tim Means defeats Bernardo Magalhaes via TKO in round one.
Lightweight bout: Anton Kuivanen (16-4) vs Justin Salas (9-3)
The Finnish fighter Kuivanen enters the octagon on the strength of a nine fight winning streak. He brings a solid striking game, as well as some good ground skills, into this tilt. On the other hand Salas, a great wrestler, has 3 wins by TKO, 3 by submission, and 3 by decision, so he is clearly well-rounded. Salas has come into his own in the last two years, and the prospect looks to make a splash in his UFC debut.
As with many European fighters, Kuivanen lacks solid takedown defense. Against a wrestler like Salas, that could be his downfall. Look for Salas to take him down again and again, and win a dominate and boring decision.
Justin Salas defeats Anton Kuivanen via unanimous decision.
Middleweight bout: Buddy Roberts (11-2) vs Sean Loeffler (25-5)
Jackson's MMA fighter, Buddy Roberts, makes his promotional debut on this card. Having not fought since July 2011, Roberts looks to build on his five fight winning streak with a big victory against Loeffler. Loeffler, the more experienced of the two fighters has faced a lot of fighters, but a majority of them were cans. His record is definitely padded. Despite having 25 wins, he has lost to every single mid-level fighter he has fought.
Roberts has experience against bigger fighters, has won a five round fight, and arguably has more potential than Loeffler. I'm going to go with the underdog here and pick Roberts, as I just have a hard time buying Loeffler as a legitimate threat, however, it could go either way.
Buddy Roberts defeats Sean Loeffler via unanimous decision.
Featherweight bout: Jonathan Brookins (12-4) vs Vagner Rocha (7-2)
The final bout on the preliminary card features the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 12, Jonathan Brookins. Known for his wrestling, and BJJ, the long-haired Brookins has a lot of potential. Rocha, a former Bellator fighter who is 1-1 in the UFC, comes into this fight with some confidence in his grappling ability. The ADCC vet most recently defeated Brookins' friend and training partner Cody McKenzie at UFC Fight Night 25. In this fight, he makes his featherweight debut.
Both men are not necessarily adept in the striking game, with the slight edge going to Brookins. While Rocha is a better straight BJJ practitioner, Brookins is a great grappler who mixes BJJ and wrestling. To me, this should be a clear cut decision win for The Ultimate Fighter champ.
Jonathan Brookins defeats Vagner Rocha via unanimous decision.
Check back tomorrow as I break down the six fight main card for UFC on FUEL TV, featuring Jake Ellenberger vs Diego Sanchez, as well as Stefan Struve vs Dave Herman.
