Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Silva vs. Bisping’

Bantamweights

Francisco Rivera (11-5) vs Brad Pickett (24-11)

THE MATCHUP: Rivera has great head movement and smooth defensive footwork, both of which allow him to set up devastating counter shots. That defensive acumen seems to be the product of necessity, unfortunately, as Rivera’s chin has been cracked numerous times in his career, most notably in his tooth-and-nail brawl with John Lineker in September.

Pickett has been hurt as well -- he was also knocked out in his most recent bout -- but he is typically the more durable fighter; and though Rivera’s defense is born of a suspect chin, Pickett’s granite jaw does not make him reckless. On the contrary, head movement is built into the mechanics of his punches, making him a serious threat in exchanges.

Rivera tends to play the part of the counterpuncher. He will pick away with low kicks and body kicks from long range, slipping or side-stepping when the opponent charges in to attack and then countering with his heavy right hand. Pickett, on the other hand, uses his evasive techniques as a way to safely bridge the space between himself and his opponent, drawing counters only to slip past them and go to work with his menacing left hook.

Pickett and Rivera fall on opposite sides of the grappling fence. Rivera usually avoids the ground at all costs, though he will drop for guillotines when already locked into a grappling exchange. Pickett is a willing wrestler, whose boxing know-how translates into some well-timed takedowns: Recall the time he shut out Demetrious Johnson with his wrestling. Rivera plays a traditional jiu-jitsu game on the mat, while Pickett’s ground game is more “traditional MMA.” He is not passive in an opponent’s guard, but he will make the most of the opportunity, smashing away with elbows and short punches, a la Tito Ortiz.

THE ODDS: Rivera (-205), Pickett (+175)

THE PICK: Rivera’s tendency to wait on his opponent could be very troublesome here. Pickett is a smart fighter with a good corner, and he is durable enough to absorb Rivera’s counters for the round or so that it might take for him to pick up on the patterns. When he does, his combination of boxing and wrestling could prove bothersome for Rivera in the same way that Takeya Mizugaki did; and if Pickett can get Rivera down, he will have a significant advantage from top position. Rivera is no slouch in exchanges but he is a little too easy to suck into a brawl, and Pickett has proven time and again how difficult he is to deal with in a firefight. This might be the hardest fight to call on the whole card, but Pickett by unanimous decision is the pick.

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