I hope you’ve all adequately prepared for an MMA marathon. Between Bellator 71, ONE FC, UFC 147, and UFC on FX 4, there are plenty of ways to waste your weekend while watching violent things happen, and I hope you’ll all join me in so excitingly wasting my time. Seeing as I have to write 14,074 of these small pre-article blurbs this week, I’ll just get down to business with the UFC on FX 4 preliminary card.
–Ken Stone vs Dustin Pague
In the first bout of the evening, Ken Stone, an ATT product, takes on Dustin Pague, who fought just two weeks prior. Stone has the tools to win this fight, and if he can keep this fight standing, he should have no problem doing so. I think he might have some problems doing that though. I expect Pague to take him down, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Stone on the wrong end of a submission.
–Ricardo Funch vs Dan Miller
Dan Miller’s welterweight debut os upon us. Miller almost certainly needs a win to remain gainfully employed, and luckily for him, he’s facing Ricardo Funch. Funch, who was highly touted prior to his octagon debut, has not fared well. Getting ripped to shreds by Johny Hendricks, Claude Patrick, and Mike Pyle have exposed some holes in Funch’s game, and Miller will absolutely exploit them. Miller takes a decision.
–Rick Story vs Brock Jardine
Both these dude are stiffling wrestlers with really, really heavy ground and pound. That’s all you really need to do. Story is better at doing what he does than Jardine is though. Expect a late stoppage, or a decision win for Story.
–Nick Catone vs Chris Camozzi
Despite fighting only once in the last 16 months, Nick Catone is not a firm believer in ring rust. To his credit, he took care of Constantinos Phillippou after 14 months away from the cage, so maybe he’s onto something. I like Camozzi, but Catone is just better. If ring rust is not a factor, Catone handily takes a decision.
–Matt Brown vs Luis Ramos
Matt Brown has really made a case for immortality, at least, in terms of his ability to stay employed. After a good couple of wins, capped off by derailing the Stephen Thompson hype train back at UFC 145, Brown returns to take on Luis Ramos. Ramos has a tough challenge, despite being a relatively impressive prospect, he hasn’t had luck in the UFC, as is usually the case when you face Erick Silva. Brown could very well drop a decision here, but, I expect he smashes Ramos.
–Steven Siler vs Joey Gambino
Steven Siler maybe had some career defining victories after wiping out the Miller brothers, and “Super” has managed to put together six wins in his last seven bouts. While he was originally scheduled to get smashed by Jimy Hettes, he’s taking on Joey Gambino now, who himself is undefeated. A top ranked featherweight prospect, Gambino should be able to take Siler down early and often. Gambino picks up his tenth win with a decision victory here.
–Ramsey Nijem vs CJ Keith
A fan favorite, Ramsey Nijem may have fallen short on TUF 13, but the determined fighter made short work of Danny Downes, and cemented his position on the roster. He takes on undefeated C.J. Keith, who brings three consecutive knockouts into this bout. Keith, while highly touted, doesn’t appear to have much to offer Nijem, and for that reason, Ramsey will submit him.
–Hatsu Hioki vs Ricardo Lamas
Hatsu Hioki knows he’s not quite ready to take on Jose Aldo, but after turning down a fight against the champ, he takes a massive step down in competiton, and takes on Ricardo Lamas. That’s not to say that Lamas is by any means a bad fighter, in fact, his recent performances have shown how good he really is, but Hioki is one of the best 145 pound fighters in the world, and he’ll find a way to win, whether it be by grinding decision, or submission. I’ll take the latter.
The preliminary card goes down tomorrow on Facebook, and FUEL TV sometime around 6pm ET. Check back later for the main card preview, and let me know what you think down below.
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