Preview: UFC Fight Night 196 Prelims

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Flyweights

NR | Jeff Molina (9-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. NR | Daniel Lacerda (11-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Molina (-160), Lacerda (+140)

Molina’s victory on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 was solid if unspectacular. He showed a lot of poise and skill and kept up a pace but never quite took things into a second gear. That was still enough to earn a contract, and Molina’s proper UFC debut against Qileng Aori in April was an absolute barnburner. Aori fought like a maniac, and Molina matched him every step of the way, eating damage but also keeping pace and winning enough exchanges to walk away with the decision in one of the UFC’s best fights of the year. He gets a similar task here, facing another all-action newcomer in Brazil’s Daniel Lacerda. There is not much tape available on Lacerda, but what is there backs up his record on paper, showing him as a wild finisher with a penchant for ending fights early. If there is any flaw thus far for Molina, it is that he can be too calm, particularly in allowing opponents to take him down, so there is a chance that Lacerda can find a submission in short order. With Molina having shown enough to outlast Aori, the surest bet is that he can do much the same against another opponent unproven against better competition in deeper waters, hopefully in a fight that is as exciting as his last one. The pick is Molina via decision.

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