Andre Winner vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Odds: ( Winner / Oliveira)
In the opening bout of the evening, recent Ultimate Fighter finalist Andre Winner will look for his second consecutive win inside the Octagon against well-rounded Brazilian Rafaello Oliveira. Both men are coming off wins, but both are on the bottom rung of the crowded Lightweight ladder, and with the division seemingly getting more stacked every day, this is a must win for both men if they want to secure their UFC futures.
Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira, a tough and well rounded fighter who trains at AMA Fight Club with the Miller Brothers and a host of other well-regarded competitors, is 1-1 so far in his UFC career. Overall, he has amassed a very respectable record, but his level of competition has not been high and Winner almost definitely represents his stiffest test to date. Oliveira has a good skill set, with decent boxing and wrestling and a solid ground game that improves continually.
His opponent, Andre Winner, is also a well-rounded competitor. Winner trains out of the very successful Team Rough House with top contenders like Dan Hardy and Paul Daley, as well as Ross Pearson, who defeated him in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter. On The Ultimate Fighter, Winner showed dangerous standup and a really strong clinch game. He is also very strong and athletic, which should help him against Oliveira.
I think this fight is Winner’s to lose. His standup game is better, he has more power, and he will control the fight in the clinch. On the ground, neither man is a dynamo, but the edge probably goes to Oliveira, although Winner is not terrible on the ground by any stretch of the imagination. Still, I expect Winner’s dangerous striking to be too much for Oliveira, who will take the T/KO loss.
Prediction: Andre Winner via second round T/KO.
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