The UFC has revealed a number of new matchups for upcoming fight cards. Here they are, along with my quick thoughts on all of them: Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau, UFC 184 Due to an injury to Yancy Medeiros, Tony Ferguson will now face replacement opponent Gleison Tibau at UFC 184, which is set for February 28 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Both of these fighters are looking to break into the top 15 of the lightweight division but only one will. I’m thinking that Ferguson will continue his hot streak and get his hand raised here, but there’s no doubt Tibau is a solid fighter who could pull off the upset. Still, I expect Ferguson to be favored. Jake Lindsey vs. Joseph Duffy, UFC 185 A lightweight bout between Joseph Duffy and Jake Lindsey has been added to UFC 185 following an injury to Vagner Rocha, who Lindsey is replacing. UFC 185 takes place March 14 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, and this is going to be one of the earlier matches on the fight card because it’s just not a good fight. Look for Duffy to steamroll Lindsey in this one, and I expect him to be a massive favorite heading into the contest. Anthony Hamilton vs. Daniel Omielanczuk, UFC Fight Night 64 A heavyweight bout between Anthony Hamilton and Daniel Omielanczuk has been added to UFC Fight Night 64, which takes place April 11 at Krakow Arena in Krakow, Poland. This is just a filler fight and the loser will undoubtedly be cut from the UFC. I could see either guy winning the fight and I expect plenty of split opinions of this fight to result in a line close to even, but my slight lean would be towards the hometown fighter in Omielanczuk. Takeya Mizugaki vs. Aljamain Sterling, UFC on FOX 15 A bantamweight bout between Aljamain Sterling and Manny Gamburyan was scratched due to an injury to Gamburyan, and now veteran Takeya Mizugaki has agreed to step in and fight Sterling at UFC on FOX 15, which takes place April 18 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. This is the biggest fight of Sterling’s career to date, but I believe he will win this fight. I think his size, strength and athleticism will prevail over Mizugaki’s experience and technique, and I’m just hoping to get Sterling at a reasonable price come fight night. George Sullivan vs. Kenny Robertson, UFC on FOX 15 As well, a welterweight bout between George Sullivan and Kenny Robertson was also added to UFC on FOX 15. It’s a fight between two veterans who are routinely counted out and it could turn into a pretty fun fight when it’s all said and done. It’s a close fight on paper, but at this point betting against Robertson is a bad idea and I believe he should be a slight favorite here. John Makdessi vs. Abel Trujillo, UFC 186 A lightweight matchup between John Makdessi and Abel Trujillo was added to UFC 186, which takes place April 25 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This is a solid fight between two strikers that should provide a lot of entertainment for the fans, but it’s a tough one to call. I definitely think Makdessi is the more technical of the two fighters, but Trujillo has massive power that you can’t sleep on. This is a really close fight that I could see going either way. I expect the line to be close to a Pick ’em. Thomas Almeida vs. Yves Jabouin, UFC 186 And finally, a bantamweight bout between highly-touted prospect Thomas Almeida and veteran Yves Jabouin was also added to UFC 186. I like Jabouin and he’s been one of the most underrated bantamweights in the UFC for a long time, but this is a very bad matchup for him. Almeida is longer, younger, and more powerful, and I expect him to find Jabouin’s chin at some point in this fight and finish him. I think Almeida should be a big favorite here, and getting him at anything under 3-to-1 would have value.
