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

Lightweights

Mizuto Hirota (18-9-2) vs. Christos Giagos (15-7): It still seems a bit odd that Giagos is back in the UFC. He probably did not deserve to be cut in the first place but also did not really improve much during his time outside the promotion before getting re-signed; things even out in a way. At any rate, Giagos is a well-rounded fighter and a strong athlete but does not have much structure to his game. He will usually look to wrestle, and a lot of his success is dependent on that athleticism to get things done. He faces a well-regarded Japanese veteran in Hirota, who has looked solid in his infrequent UFC appearances but might be hitting the point of diminishing returns after two straight losses. Hirota is another fighter defined by his well-roundedness, which makes this a close bout. Giagos should be able to handle Hirota’s wrestling, and if this turns into a slow-paced kickboxing match that either man can win, he figures to be quicker on the draw. The pick is Giagos via decision. ODDS: N/A

Lightweights

Alex Gorgees (6-0) vs. Damir Ismagulov (16-2): This is one of those slots on the card that completely changed as it evolved. What was originally a lightweight bout between Ross Pearson and Joseph Duffy morphed into this battle of UFC newcomers after both men were injured. Riding an 11-fight winning streak, M-1 lightweight champion Ismagulov has been knocking on the door of the UFC for a while, and stepping in as a late replacement for Pearson allows him to make some well-deserved history as Kazakhstan’s first UFC fighter. He takes on Australian prospect Gorgees, a tall striker who has some interesting potential but is still way too raw for this level, fighting for only two years against weak competition. Gorgees is better than the phrase “Mokhtarian brothers protégé” would suggest, but he is out of his depth here, particularly if Ismagulov decides to take this to the mat. The pick is Ismagulov via conservative decision, but if Gorgees gets too reckless, a finish is far from out of the question. ODDS: N/A