Preview: UFC Fight Night 142 ‘Dos Santos vs. Tuivasa’

Welterweights

Yushin Okami (35-11) vs. Alexey Kunchenko (19-0): Kunchenko has some impressive skills and came in with a bunch of hype, but it is still unclear how much success he will enjoy in the UFC. At his best, Kunchenko can be an entertaining knockout artist, but at his worst, he will put on a performance like his UFC debut, where in a plum spot on the UFC’s inaugural event in Russia, he was content to win an unmemorable range kickboxing match against Thiago Alves. He will hope to look better this time around against a former middleweight title contender in Okami who has been plying his trade down at 170 pounds. Okami is physically diminished and his durability is now a concern, but his last bout against Dhiego Lima was a reminder that he can still grind out a win. Maybe Okami’s wrestling is at a level that can test Kunchenko, but this looks like a second chance to make a first impression for the Russian, as Okami is slow and fragile enough to find himself in a lot of trouble here. The pick is Kunchenko via second-round knockout. ODDS: Kunchenko (-320), Okami (+260)

Flyweights

Wilson Reis (22-9) vs. Ben Nguyen (16-7): If the UFC’s flyweight division is indeed fading away, at the least one of its last bouts is an interesting one. Reis has long been a shining example of well-rounded competency, but he could badly use a win here. Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo made their cases as elite fighters by taking apart Reis, and the Brazilian was on the losing end of one of John Moraga’s career-best performances in his most recent appearance. He takes on adopted Australian Nguyen, who has been a reliably fun standout whenever the UFC swings Down Under. Nguyen is a surprisingly effective athlete and a bit of a frontrunner, relying on getting the offensive advantage but just as capable of having his opponent go on a run against him. This is a close fight. Reis is probably the more well-rounded fighter, but Nguyen’s athleticism should carry the day in a dark horse contender for “Fight of the Night” honors. The pick is Nguyen via decision. ODDS: Nguyen (-130), Reis (+110)

Welterweights

Keita Nakamura (33-9-2) vs. Salim Touahri (10-2): Nakamura has made his second UFC stint count much more than the first. Over a decade ago, Nakamura had an unsuccessful three-fight run with the promotion but earned his way back in 2015 and has hung around as a solid welterweight gatekeeper since. Nakamura is a solid and willing kickboxer but sometimes a bit too willing, as the best part of his game is his scrambling submissions; two of Nakamura’s last three wins have seen him snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a sudden rear-naked choke. Nakamura takes on Poland’s Touahri, who is a mildly interesting prospect. Touahri did not get to show much in a late-notice debut against Warlley Alves in 2017, but he is a solid power puncher and a strong athlete. However, the weakest part of his game is his grappling defense. Nakamura is not the best wrestler, but if he presses his advantages, he should be able to get something done. The main concern is that Nakamura is often too content to have a standup fight, which could get him into trouble here. With that said, the pick is Nakamura via second-round submission. ODDS: N/A

Flyweights

Elias Garcia (6-1) vs. Kai Kara-France (17-7): One of the first omens that the UFC might drop flyweights came in 2016, when the promotion built an entire season of “The Ultimate Fighter” around 125-pound champions from across the globe, only to leave most of them unsigned when the season was over. One of the more glaring fighters the UFC overlooked was New Zealand’s Kara-France. He is young enough to have some upside, and even if he does not develop, he is an exciting power puncher who could easily make a mark as a cult favorite. After Kara-France fought around Asia and Oceania for a year-plus, the UFC finally gave the Kiwi his chance just as the division seems to be closing. His debut comes against late replacement Elias Garcia, a cousin of the Pettis brothers. He favors a wild, aggressive style that should provide a tougher challenge than original opponent Ashkan Mokhtarian. Garcia’s submission skills in particular could give Kara-France trouble, but the latter looks like the more physical talent and should keep the fight standing, where he should be able to hit the harder shots. The pick is Kara-France via decision. ODDS: N/A

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