Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Hunt vs. Miocic’

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FEATHERWEIGHTS

Hatsu Hioki (27-8-2, 3-4 UFC) vs. Daniel Hooker (11-5, 1-1 UFC): Japanese mainstay Hioki takes on New Zealand’s Hooker in a solid featherweight bout. Hioki has underwhelmed since moving to the UFC, with losses -- some of them controversial -- in four of his last five appearances. Hooker elbowed Ian Entwistle into oblivion in his UFC debut but got beaten up badly by the mercurial Maximo Blanco in his second outing. Hioki is a grappler by trade, with a slick guard passing game and some submission skill, and he hits nice trips from the clinch. He can also strike a bit, with an emphasis on his rangy jab and front kick. Hooker is down to throw on the feet and defends takedowns fairly well, but that is really the extent of his game; and he is exceptionally hittable. While Hioki is likely past his prime, I still do not think Hooker is on his level. The pick is Hioki by decision.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Kyle Noke (20-7-1, 4-3 UFC) vs. Jonavin Webb (8-0, 0-0 UFC): Australian veteran Noke draws the debuting Webb on short notice after Andreas Stahl was forced to pull out with an injury. Webb is a talented prospect with great upside that relies on his slick combination of wrestling and grappling. He kicks well, but his punches are designed solely to cover his level changes and clinch entries, and he struggles when his initial shot gets stuffed. Noke is well-rounded but his long career (13 years) is starting to catch up with him, and he struggles to defend takedowns these days. The pick is Webb by wrestling-heavy decision.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Sam Alvey (25-6, 2-1 UFC) vs. Daniel Kelly (9-0, 2-0 UFC): The hard-punching Alvey draws Australian judoka Kelly in a solid middleweight clash. Alvey dropped his short-notice debut to Tom Watson but has since picked up a pair of knockout wins, most recently over Cezar Ferreira in February. A veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter Nations,” Kelly submitted Luke Zachrich in November and took a less-than-thrilling decision from Patrick Walsh in February. Alvey is essentially a one-note puncher but one blessed with great durability, ridiculous power and outstanding timing on his preferred counter hooks. Kelly was an Olympic judo competitor, and he has the slick clinch takedowns and strong top game you would expect; however, he is also a willing and durable southpaw striker. The Australian’s willingness to bang it out should spell his demise here. The pick is Alvey by knockout in the second round.

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS

Bec Rawlings (5-4, 0-1 UFC) vs. Lisa Ellis (15-9, 0-1 UFC): Australia native Rawlings takes on fellow “Ultimate Fighter 20” competitor Ellis in a decent strawweight scrap. Ellis is a veteran at the end of her tether, while Rawlings’ actual performances have never really matched the level of publicity she receives, as evidenced by her underwhelming debut against Heather Clark. Rawlings has a decent grappling and striking repertoire but does her best work in the clinch with knees and elbows. Ellis is mostly a grappler, and not a bad one, but her head and heart do not really appear to be in the fight at this stage. The pick is Rawlings by submission in the first round.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Dylan Andrews (17-6, 2-2 UFC) vs. Brad Scott (9-3, 1-2 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 17” faces off against “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes,” as New Zealander Andrews takes on England’s Scott. Andrews is athletic and well-rounded, with real pop in his combination punching and authoritative takedowns. Scott is a decent defensive wrestler but struggles to get the fight to the mat, and while he is down to throw on the feet, he is hittable and not terribly dangerous. While Andrews might be more skilled and more powerful, Scott is younger and seems to be improving from fight to fight. The pick is Scott by decision.

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS

Alex Chambers (4-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Kailin Curran (3-1, 0-1 UFC): Two strawweights collide with a pink slip potentially on the line after both women dropped their first fights in the promotion. Curran dropped hers to rising star Paige VanZant, while “The Ultimate Fighter 20” contestant Chambers was submitted by Aisling Daly. Chambers is a quick athlete with great hand speed and slick submissions but little wrestling skill. Curran has excellent takedowns and really scrambles nicely, and she can crack a bit on the feet. The pick is Curran by decision.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Vik Grujic (6-4, 1-2 UFC) vs. Brendan O’Reilly (5-1, 0-1 UFC): Grujic and O’Reilly were Team Australia teammates on “The Ultimate Fighter Nations,” and both desperately need a win to stay in the UFC. Grujic is decent at everything but slow and not terribly durable. O’Reilly is athletic, throws a nice 1-2 and has some takedown acumen, but his defensive wrestling and grappling are woefully bad. This is not a great matchup, but I think O’Reilly’s speed and striking should be enough to win him a decision.

FLYWEIGHTS

Alptekin Ozkilic (9-3, 1-2 UFC) vs. Ben Nguyen (13-5, 0-0 UFC): Two flyweights open the show in a solid matchup, as Turkish Long Island, N.Y., resident Ozkilic takes on the debuting Nguyen, who has won seven straight. Ozkilic won his debut against Darren Uyenoyama but dropped his next two to Louis Smolka and John Lineker. Nguyen is a viral video star with big power in his southpaw punching combinations and decent takedown defense. Ozkilic has a background in Greco-Roman wrestling that lends itself to strong clinch takedowns, but he also has a nice striking game that features crisp jabs and low kicks. The Turk should be able to grind down Nguyen in the clinch and work takedowns, so the pick is Ozkilic by decision.

Follow Sherdog.com preview expert Patrick Wyman on Twitter.