Preview: UFC 184 ‘Rousey vs. Zingano’

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MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Mark Munoz (13-5, 8-5 UFC) vs. Roan Carneiro (19-9, 2-3 UFC): This is an interesting fight between two crafty, veteran middleweights. Munoz is likely close to the chopping block after being finished in three of his last four outings, with only a decision victory over Tim Boetsch standing in his favor. Carneiro, a UFC veteran, makes his return to the Octagon after a six-year absence following three victories in a one-night tournament in October. Munoz’s strength remains his wrestling, and he packs a tremendous punch along with a surprisingly technical grappling game, but he is past his athletic prime and his never-great chin has further deteriorated. Carneiro is well-rounded and has a sheen of veteran polish to his game, which focuses on suffocating wrestling and top-control grappling, with an eye to getting his opponent’s back. This is a close fight, but I lean toward Munoz on the basis of his proven wrestling and physical tools. The pick is Munoz by slow-paced decision.

BANTAMWEIGHTS

Norifumi Yamamoto (18-6, 0-3 UFC) vs. Roman Salazar (9-3, 0-1 UFC): Living legend “Kid” Yamamoto returns to the Octagon after an absence of more than three years. His run in the UFC has gone terribly, yielding a 0-3 record, and there has been little evidence to suggest he can still compete on this level. At his best, Yamamoto leaps into range with big straight lefts, right hooks and explosive blast doubles and throws in the clinch, but his chin has declined and so has his once-incredible athleticism. Salazar, a part-time fighter, likes a movement-based style at range and shifts nicely between striking and wrestling. While Yamamoto is way past his prime and is coming off a long layoff, I have to think he is still better than Salazar. “Kid” by decision is the pick.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Dhiego Lima (10-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Tim Means (22-6-1, 4-3 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 19” finalist Lima gets veteran Means in a solid welterweight matchup. Lima is an excellent athlete with good physical tools and well-rounded skills, preferring a crisp jab, long right hand and cracking low kicks at range. He wrestles well and is hard to shake off from top position. Means likes to work behind a long jab, cross and front kick at range, but his wheelhouse is the clinch, where he drops elbows and knees with regularity. I think Lima is a little better everywhere but especially in terms of takedowns and top control. Lima by clear decision is the pick.

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Derrick Lewis (11-3, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ruan Potts (8-3, 0-2 UFC): A pair of big ol’ heavyweights will liven up the undercard action with the near-certainty of a knockout. Lewis blew away Jack May and Carlos Augusto Filho in his first two UFC outings but got pasted in turn by Matt Mitrione in his last bout. Meanwhile, Anthony Hamilton and Soa Palelei have stopped Potts in his two UFC appearances. Potts, a native of South Africa, has a decent submission repertoire and so-so takedowns but not much else. Lewis’ game revolves around his physicality, with single shots and short combinations at range and a strong clinch game. This is pretty straightforward, and the pick is Lewis by knockout in the first round.

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Valmir Lazaro (12-3, 0-1 UFC) vs. James Krause (21-6, 2-2 UFC): This should be a barnburner between a pair of talented strikers. Lazaro, a Nova Uniao product, was fairly hyped prior to the somewhat underwhelming decision loss in his debut against James Vick. Krause has split four fights in the UFC, most recently dropping a decision to Jorge Masvidal and winning via injury against Jamie Varner. Lazaro can fight from either stance and throws slick punch-kick combinations with special skill on the counter and enough wrestling skill to add another dimension to his game. Krause is the biggest lightweight I have ever seen at a thick 6-foot-2, and he relies on that length with a nice arsenal of long jab-cross combinations mixed in with front and round kicks. I think Lazaro’s surprising wrestling acumen will be the difference here, as the striking should be relatively even. The pick is Lazaro by decision.

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Masio Fullen (9-4, 0-0 UFC) vs. Alexander Torres (2-1, 0-0 UFC): Two contestants from “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” open the show at UFC 184, as Mexico’s Fullen takes on Colombia’s Torres. Fullen is not particularly fast or athletic, but he knows how to put his hands together in solid combinations and he can wrestle a bit. Torres is not a great striker, to put it mildly. He can wrestle fairly well, though, and scrambles nicely on the ground. While Fullen holds an edge in experience, I think Torres has more upside and physical tools. The pick is Torres by decision.

Follow Sherdog.com preview expert Patrick Wyman on Twitter.