UFC Fight Night 137: Santos vs. Anders - Predictions and Picks

#2 Alex Oliveira vs. Carlo Pedersoli Jr

Alex Oliveira is a ruthless finisher

‘Cowboy’ Oliveira – one of the most exciting and ruthless finishers on the UFC roster – was initially pegged to take on top ten contender Neil Magny here, but when Magny stepped in to fight in the main event of the upcoming UFC Fight Night 140, he was left without an opponent. Now he’s set to fight Carlo Pedersoli Jr, who picked up his first UFC victory back in May over the UK’s Brad Scott.

Pedersoli Jr has a solid enough record – 11-1, with his last pre-UFC victory coming over a solid fighter in Nicolas Dalby – but it is telling that both the Dalby and Scott wins came by split decision. The fact that his style appears to be that of a jack-of-all-trades – but master of none – is worrying, because Oliveira is equally ruthless on the feet and on the ground too.

Essentially, this looks like a one-sided fight in favour of the Brazilian Cowboy. Judging on his one UFC outing I wouldn’t give Pedersoli the advantage over Oliveira in any area – and in fact, since moving to Welterweight the only weakness that Oliveira really seems to possess is a potentially questionable gas tank at times. But he’s coming off his biggest win to date – over Carlos Condit – and it’s hard to see him losing to a relative UFC newcomer like Pedersoli even if he tires.

The pick: Oliveira via second round submission