UFC Fight Night 42 Date: June 7, 2014 Arena: Tingley Coliseum City: Albuquerque, NM Bantamweight bout: Bryan “Kid Lightning” Caraway (+110) vs Erik “Goyito” Perez (-120) Fight Breakdown: Getting the action going for UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque will be a bantamweight contest between The Ultimate Fighter season 14 veteran Bryan “Kid Lightning” Caraway and Albuquerque’s own, Erik “Goyito” Perez. Caraway is barely an underdog in this bout at +110 ($100 to win $110), with Perez being a slight betting favorite to win at -120 ($120 to win $100) at Several Bookmakerss. Bryan “Kid Lightning” Caraway (18-6 MMA MMA, 3-1 UFC) is coming off a layoff of over one year, having last seen action at April 2012’s UFC 159, where he scored a third round guillotine-choke submission victory over fellow The Ultimate Fighter season 14 cast-member Johnny Bedford. The victory put him back in the win column at 135-pounds, after coming short against Takeya Mizugaki via controversial split decision, in a fight I personally scored for Caraway. The 29-year old is a talented grappler who works solid takedowns and is dominant from top position. He has an excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game, owning an impressive 16 of 18 professional mixed martial arts career victories by way of submission. “Kid Lightning” has been making significant improvements in his striking game, and I expect it to have gotten better during his year-long layoff. He works solid outside leg kicks and has a nice uppercut. He possesses a good chin and is capable of taking a punch, so he isn’t afraid to test his skills on the feet against his opponents. Caraway generally has pretty good cardio, so even with the extended layoff, I think he will be able to go 15-minutes in high-altitude against Perez, should the fight go the distance. Erik “Goyito” Perez (14-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is coming off a very dominant unanimous decision victory over Edwin Figureoa nearly seven months ago, and will be looking to make it two-in a row with a win in his current hometown of Albuquerque, NM. After this bout, I’m sure the Mexican’s next appearance will be in his home-country of Mexico for the Velasquez vs Werdum card in Mexico City this November, so it would mean a five-month break from action for Perez. The 24-year old is a well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist who continues to improve in every department of the game. He is a talented striker who moves well on the feet. He loves throwing haymakers with both hands, and packs power in both. He prefers the overhand right, but also has a solid hook and a great uppercut. He works some great leg kicks and has a nice push kick. The Mexican puts together some effective, albeit wild at times combinations on the feet. He delivers some damaging blows to the body, too. Perez likes implementing his elbows, and especially his knees. He really loves going for the flying knee. “Goyito” works solid takedowns and has an excellent double-leg. He is powerful and dominant from top position, as well as from inside the clinch against the cage. Training out of Jackson-Winklejohn MMA in Albuquerque, NM, Perez generally has good cardio, and I expect it to be in its best form, considering this is the UFC’s first trip to his current hometown. Gabe’s Thoughts: The only blemish on both of these bantamweights’ professional Mixed Martial Arts career resumes has been a split decision loss to the same opponent in Takeya Mizugaki. Both decisions could have very likely gone the other way. I believe Caraway is the better grappler of the two, and feel his superior Jiu-Jitsu will be the difference in this bout. At some point, I see him catching Perez while Perez looks to wrestle. Perhaps a guillotine going in, but I think he has a good chance of locking up a triangle or armbar, or a combination of the two- off his back. Should he fail to secure a submission and find himself waiting to hear the judges’ scores, I think he will have a fairly good chance of taking the decision. I feel this will be a competitive fight, but because Caraway’s edge in the submission game, I am favoring him for the play. Gabe’s Call: Caraway by Submission (triangle-armbar, 2:55, round 3) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Bryan Caraway (+110) 2u to win 2.2u
