The UFC went on a fight-announcing spree on Thursday, and for Friday’s MMA Odds and Ends, I’ll give you the rundown on all of the new fights booked. Alex White vs. Clay Collard, UFC 181 There has been a late addition to UFC on FOX 13, and it’s a fantastic featherweight bout between bangers Alex White and Clay Collard. The event takes place December 6 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and White vs. Collard will be on the preliminary card. I’m expecting a really good, action-packed fight between these two youngsters with great chins and heavy hands. I believe White is a bit more technical on the feet, but Collard is a bit more effective and keeps a higher pace. This is a really close fight and could go either way, but I slightly lean towards Collard, and I think he may be a very slight favorite here following a strong showing in his UFC debut against Max Holloway. Claudio Gadelha vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, UFC on FOX 13 A terrific women’s strawweight fight between Claudia Gadelha and Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been booked for UFC on FOX 13, which takes place December 13 at U.S. Airways Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Gadelha vs. Jedrzejczyk could decide the next title challenger after this season of TUF is over, but even with that in mind this fight will likely be on the preliminary card. Gadelha is an excellent grappler but her striking needs a lot of work, and Jedrzejczyk could definitely give her fits in this fight as she has excellent takedown defence and superior striking. Gadelha probably does get this fight on the ground, but I’m not totally sold on her as much as some others are, and think Jedrzejczyk has just as high a ceiling in the sport. With that being said, Gadelha has all the hype behind her and I am expecting her to be the favorite entering this fight. Dan Miller vs. Daniel Sarafian, UFC Fight Night 58 A welterweight bout between Dan Miller and Daniel Sarafian has been added to UFC Fight Night 58, which takes place December 20 at Ginaso Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil. Both fighters are coming off of losses and the loser of this fight will most likely be cut. Miller hasn’t fought in a while but he’s still a tough veteran and is a good test to see if Sarafian is good enough to stick in the UFC. Conversely, if Miller can’t beat a disappointment like Sarafian he shouldn’t be in the UFC, either. This fight could go either way but I am expecting Sarafian to be the favorite heading into it. Jake Collier vs. Vitor Miranda, UFC Fight Night 58 Also added to UFC Fight Night 58 is a middleweight bout between Jake Collier and Vitor Miranda. I don’t know much about Collier, but Miranda is interesting because he is dropping down two weight classes after competing on TUF Brazil 3 as a heavyweight. I don’t know enough about Collier yet, but based on the fact he was the RFA middleweight champ, he could enter this fight as a small favorite despite it being in Brazil. Jared Cannonier vs. Shawn Jordan, UFC 182 The UFC has signed a new heavyweight named Jared Cannonier and in his promotional debut he will take on Shawn Jordan at UFC 182, which takes place January 3 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. I haven’t seen Cannonier fight before but he has a solid record fighting on the Alaskan regional circuit. The UFC must not think very highly of Jordan to be giving him a UFC newcomer, and I can’t blame Joe Silva as I don’t think highly of Jordan either. Again, I haven’t seen Cannonier fight before, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he could clip Jordan’s chin and finish him, although I do expect Jordan to be the favorite. Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Louis Gaudinot, UFC 182 In addition to Cannonier vs. Jordan, UFC 182 also received a flyweight bout between Kyoji Horiguchi and Louis Gaudinot. This is a kind of a mismatch if you ask me. I like Gaudinot and he has a solid record in the UFC, but Horiguchi is a future champion at 125lbs and I am fully expecting him to win this fight in dominant fashion, and I believe he deserves to be a heavy favorite entering it. Thiago Alves vs. Jordan Mein, UFC 183 A welterweight bout between Thiago Alves and Jordan Mein has been added to UFC 183, which is set to take place January 31 in Las Vegas. Alves returned from a two-year layoff and in his last outing beat Seth Baczynski in a Fight of the Night performance, while Mein returned from a long layoff himself last year and picked up two wins over Hernani Perpetuo and Mike Pyle. This is a really good fight and I could see either guy winning it. I’m expecting a line that’s close to even here, and I’m having a hard time deciding who I lean. I guess Alves should be favored slightly because of his name, but this is a winnable fight for Mein for sure. Thiago Santos vs. Andy Enz, UFC 183 And finally, a middleweight bout between Thiago Santos and Andy Enz was also added to UFC 183. With both fighters coming off of losses and with both men being TUF veterans who didn’t win the show, I expect the loser of this fight to be cut. I never thought very highly of Santos but he has looked pretty good his last two fights, while Enz has been nothing but a disappointment so far in the UFC. I lean Santos here, and I am expecting him to the be favorite.
