UFC Fight Night 61 received a slate of new bouts over the weekend, and for Monday’s Odds and Ends I’ll take a quick look at them all. Rashad Evans vs. Glover Teixeira The main event of UFC Fight Night 61 will be a five-round light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Glover Teixeira. The event takes places February 22 at Ginasio Gigantinho in Porto Algere, Brazil, meaning Teixeira will have hometown advantage for the bout. I don’t know if that will be enough, though, as stylistically Evans should have Teixeira’s number here. The former UFC light heavyweight champion should be able to stuff Teixeira’s takedowns and keep this on the feet where he should be able to use his speed to outbox Teixeira over the course of five rounds. Having said that, Teixeira has knockout power and is a dangerous fighter so it’s difficult to lay juice against him, but I do have to lean towards Evans in this fight. Ivan Jorge vs. Josh Shockley A lightweight bout between Ivan Jorge and Josh Shockley was also added to the card. Both these guys are at the bottom of the lightweight division and I fully expect the loser to get cut. This is a fight I have no interest in betting on, but since Jorge is fighting in Brazil you would have to give him a slight edge, although I definitely think Shockley is live here. Wendell Oliveira vs. TJ Waldburger As well, a welterweight bout between Wendell Oliveira and TJ Waldburger has been booked for the event. Oliveira had a poor UFC debut, getting knocked out in the first round by Santiago Ponzinibbio, but in this fight what he’ll be looking out for is the submission threat of Waldburger, who is one of the slickest fighters on the mat in the entire division. As for Waldburger, he’ll be looking to take this to the ground because his chin likely can’t hold up to the damage Oliveira may inflict on it. This is a close fight, a Pick ’em fight, but Waldburger’s chin is not good enough to take a punch anymore so I’ll lean Oliveira slightly. Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sean Strickland And finally, in a welterweight bout, Santiago Ponzinibbio takes on Sean Strickland, who will be making his 170lb debut. I like Ponzinibbio but I think at 170lbs Strickland could be a contender. He went undefeated at 185lbs so the move to 170lbs is definitely curious, but if he thinks he can go farther in his career because of it then I’m all for it. I lean heavily towards Strickland in this spot and I’ll be interested in seeing the price the public gives after the opening lines are released.
