UFC Fight Night ‘Munoz vs. Mousasi’ Preview

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Featherweights

Maximo Blanco (9-6-1, 1-3 UFC) vs. Andy Ogle (9-4, 1-3 UFC): As unreliable as Blanco can be, the Sengoku veteran is the more explosive fighter in this pairing with Ogle, an “Ultimate Fighter 15” cast member who is, at the very least, always tough and game in his bouts. Assuming he can avoid any significant blunders, Blanco wins via TKO or decision.

Lightweights

Nick Hein (10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Drew Dober (14-5, 0-1 UFC): Hein is a skilled judo practitioner, having won titles Germany and across Europe. He is also a powerfully built lightweight who began his MMA career at 170 pounds. Dober’s UFC debut came at welterweight, as he was taken apart by the superior striking of Sean Spencer at “The Ultimate Fighter 18” Finale. While Germany still has a ways to go when it comes to matching the United States in terms of MMA training, the UFC would like Hein to have some success so it can use him as a promoting tool. In other words, he is not being set up to fail. Hein wins by decision.

Middleweights

Magnus Cedenblad (11-4, 1-1 UFC) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (11-4, 1-0 UFC): Jotko was victorious over Bruno Santos in his first Octagon appearance, taking a unanimous verdict at UFC Fight Night “Hunt vs. Bigfoot.” The Polish prospect is not a dynamic finisher, but the southpaw did floor Santos with a short left in their December encounter. However, he is generally more comfortable on the ground. Cedenblad submitted Jared Hamman to earn his first Octagon triumph -- and eighth win in nine fights overall -- at UFC 164. Like Jotko, the Swede is at his best on the ground, but he is much more of a finisher, with all but one of his 11 career triumphs coming inside the distance. Cedenblad takes it by TKO or submission.

Bantamweights

Iuri Alcantara (29-5, 4-2 UFC) vs. Vaughan Lee (14-9-1, 3-3 UFC): Lee looked impressive on the feet in a lopsided unanimous decision win over Nam Phan in March, but he has his work cut out for him here. Alcantara, a southpaw with a five-inch reach advantage, earned recognition for putting Urijah Faber in serious trouble in the opening frame of their clash in August. Since then, the Brazilian rebounded to capture a hard-fought split verdict over Wilson Reis in February. Alcantara’s blend of aggressive striking and grappling should get the job done. “Marajo” wins by decision or submission.

Welterweights

Peter Sobotta (13-4-1, 0-3 UFC) vs. Pawel Pawlak (10-0, 0-0 UFC): After three straight losses in the Octagon in 2010, it is unlikely the masses were clamoring for Sobotta’s UFC return. However, Sobotta is German, and this is a UFC event in Germany, so there you go. In addition, Sobotta has won five straight since his initial termination, including three in one night at a Casino Fight Night event in November 2012. He did not fight at all in 2013. Meanwhile, Pawlak has not faced the greatest level of competition in fashioning an undefeated record, but the fact that he has finished all but one of his opponents is encouraging. Both fighters are at their best on the mat -- Sobotta with submissions and Pawlak with ground-and-pound -- but have limited standup repertoires. Sobotta walks out with a decision or submission.

Heavyweights

Viktor Pesta (9-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ruslan Magomedov (11-1, 0-0 UFC): The quest for new heavyweight talent continues in the UFC. Pesta, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound native of the Czech Republic, is at his best in close quarters, where he can do damage with dirty boxing or knees in the clinch. He is also capable of landing vicious ground-and-pound from top position, including elbows. Magomedov, meanwhile, has the more notable resume, which includes recent triumphs over Tim Sylvia, Mike Hayes and Ricco Rodriguez. The 6-foot-5 Russian, who holds part of his camps at Jackson-Wink MMA, can land punches and kicks well in combination, although he has not displayed devastating knockout power consistently. He will be better off controlling the distance against Pesta, but his camp should be able to design a sound game plan to maximize his talents. Magomedov wins by decision.

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TRACKING TRISTEN

2014 Record: 102-65-1
Career Record: 369-223-2
Last Event (UFC 173): 6-6
Best Event (UFC Fight Night “Minotauro vs. Nelson”): 7-0
Worst Event (UFC Fight Night “Shogun vs. Henderson 2”): 1-9-1