UFC Fight Night: Predictions For Carlos Condit-Thiago Alves, Rest Of Card

That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another educational edition of the Downes Side. School may be out for summer, but the Nostradamus of MMA is always teaching lessons.

Way more interesting than a microeconomics lecture, the UFC is back in Brazil for a Fight Night. Live from the Goiania Arena, the main event features welterweights Thiago “Pitbull” Alves and Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit. In the co-main event of the night, Nik Lentz and Charles Oliveira fight for positioning in the crowded 145-pound field. Be sure to take copious notes, it’s fight time!

Wendell Oliveira vs. Darren Till
We open in the welterweight division with Wendell Oliveira and Darren Till. Oliveira is a big-hitting Brazilian who lost his UFC debut against Santiago Ponzinibbio back in September. Primarily a striker, he owns 13 career KOs. Darren Till makes his UFC debut, stepping in for an injured TJ Waldburger. The Brazil-based Brit has a Muay Thai background and 8 career KOs.

I have a soft spot in my heart for pale, rangy strikers. You can’t let emotions get in your way, though. I’d pick against my own father if he were a fighter (mostly because he has terrible cardio). The 22-year-old Till has a lot of upside, but I doubt he’ll be able to handle Oliveira’s initial onslaught. Till takes a slower, methodical approach and Oliveira comes out guns blazing. He takes it by second round TKO.