UFC Fight Night 96: Dodson vs. Lineker Predictions
Saturday night, the UFC comes to Portland with UFC Fight Night 96. Live on Fox Sports 1, the card features top bantamweights in the main event, as well as a former Bellator champion in the co-main feature.
Headlining UFC Fight Night 96 are John Dodson and John Lineker, both of whom are vying for a potential title shot at Dominick Cruz. It’s a power vs. precision matchup, where Lineker represents the power and Dodson represents the precision. Both are also former flyweights who moved up to ditch the weight cut.
In the co-feature, former Bellator king Will Brooks is set to take on the criminally underrated Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. Brooks is looking to continue to make his mark in the UFC, in hopes of one day grabbing a UFC title shot, as was his goal when coming over from Bellator.
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Also on the card are names such as Hacran Dias, Josh Burkman and Louis Smolka, among others. It should be a strong night of fights for fans to enjoy. With that, let’s take a look at the card and make some predictions for fight night.
Main Card
John Lineker vs. John Dodson
In the main event, former flyweights turned bantamweights collide in a potential title eliminator, as powerhouse Brazilian John Lineker takes on former title challenger John Dodson. Lineker’s best chance to win this fight is to land a home run punch, but hitting Dodson is like trying to cut a diamond with a plastic spoon. Dodson’s movement and speed allow him to avoid damage while inflicting his own. That’s the problem for Lineker here. If he can’t hit Dodson or inflict damage, he finds himself in trouble. Dodson wins a convincing decision.
Will Brooks vs. Alex Oliveira
In the co-main event, lightweights collide, as former Bellator champ Will Brooks meets up with lightweight-welterweight floater Alex Oliveira. Oliveira is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC, and is a well-rounded fighter. He will want to strike with Brooks, though, since Brooks holds the wrestling edge. Brooks can strike, but he’s not as diverse as “Cowboy.” He will clinch and take Oliveira down, running a decision win to get into the title picture.
Josh Burkman vs. Zak Ottow
On late notice, Zak Ottow gets the call to the UFC in the lightweight division, but in his way is longtime UFC and WSOF veteran Josh Burkman. Ottow is a grappler that enjoys the submission game, which explains why most of his wins come from that method. That will be tough against a crafty vet like Burkman, though, who is a strong wrestler and an underrated striker. He’s also tough as nails. Ottow seems to be a decent fighter, but on short notice against Burkman, he will find himself in over his head.
Louis Smolka vs. Brandon Moreno
On late notice, TUF 24 participant Brandon Moreno gets the call to the UFC in place of Sergio Pettis, when he takes on Hawaiian slugger Louis Smolka. Moreno looked very good in defeat in the first round of TUF 24, when he took Alexandre Pantoja to the limit. However, he is taking on an experienced, scrappy fighter in Smolka who has beat some tough talent. Moreno is tough, but on late notice, he gets handled by Smolka.
Preliminary Card
Joachim Christensen vs. Frank Waisten
Light heavyweights early in their UFC careers will meet up next, as Denmark’s Joachim Christensen takes on Brazilian Frank Waisten, aka Luiz Henrique da Silva. Waisten made a victorious debut in his last bout, knocking out Jonathan Wilson late in their scrap. His striking is obviously his best tool, whereas Christensen is more well-rounded and more accomplished on the mat. Waisten’s best chance is to knockout the Dane, but I think Christensen makes a victorious debut in what should be a solid scrap.
Hacran Dias vs. Andre Fili
On late notice, Andre Fili steps into a tough matchup, as the Team Alpha Male member takes on Brazilian Hacran Dias. Dias is a grinder who has won some big bouts in the UFC, including over the likes of Iuri Alcantara and Darren Elkins. Most of his bouts have come against top-20 talent, showing he is clearly a top fighter in the featherweight division. Fili has been a tad more disappointing, though he’s still the same old exciting fighter he’s always been. All of his losses in the UFC come by finish, while he’s finished two of his three wins himself. Fili could surprise us, but Dias is easily the favorite here for a reason.
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Walt Harris
Heavyweights are set to collide in the Octagon, as Russian Shamil Abdurakhimov takes on American Walt Harris. Harris is a big, powerful striker that has struggled in the UFC, though he finally got the win he was coveting in the promotion over Cody East in his last fight. Abdurakhimov fell in his UFC debut, but came back strong in his sophomore outing, besting Anthony Hamilton. He is a sambo guy, so he will want to drag Harris to the mat and beat him up. That happens, as the Russian thrives in victory.
Keita Nakamura vs. Elizeu Zaleski
Japan meets Brazil in the welterweight division, as Keita Nakamura takes on Elizeu Zaleski in neutral territory. Zaleski prefers to strike and earns knockouts frequently, as seen in his last bout against Omari Akhmedov. Nakamura is the grappler here, possessing strong submission skills and the grappling chops to outgun a lot of welterweights. He earned two submissions in his last three fights against Jianliang Li and Kyle Noke, showing he’s still got it. This is an exciting fight and a toss up, but I think Nakamura outlasts Zaleski to a decision.
Nate Marquardt vs. Tamdan McCrory
The middleweights are set to clash next, as longtime vet Nate Marquardt takes on a resurgent Tamdan McCrory. Both men are very well rounded. Both can strike with power and technique, while possessing a strong ground game. I think Marquardt’s jiu-jitsu is stronger, though. This could go either way, but I think Marquardt earns the slight edge in victory.
Jonathan Wilson vs. Ion Cutelaba
Strikers collide in the light heavyweight division, as Moldovan Ion Cutelaba looks for his first UFC win against Jonathan Wilson. Both men are big, powerful strikers. I think the judges are gonna be allowed to take a smoke break here, as neither man is known to let a fighter off the hook when they hurt them. That said, this will be a matter of who lands first. My guess is Cutelaba, who scores a knockout in brutal fashion.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Cody East
Heavyweights are set to square off next, as wrestler Curtis Blaydes takes on bruiser Cody East. Whoever employs their game plan first is likely to dominate this fight. Blaydes is more athletic and has a wrestling edge, so he will try to plant East on his back. Otherwise, on the feet, East has a power and technique advantage. Who pulls this off? My guess is Blaydes, who wears down East to a convincing decision.
Kelly Faszholz vs. Ketlen Vieira
The ladies kick off the card in the bantamweight division, as 3-1 Kelly Faszholz takes on undefeated Brazilian Ketlen Vieira. Vieira runs with Nova Uniao, so you know she’s got a solid ground game and some power. She will need to use that against Faszholz, who is a tough-as-nails fighter. She’s not the most technically gifted striker, but she’s tough. She’s also a good submission fighter, which has led to her three victories. This fight could go either way, but I will take the upset and Faszholz for the win.
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