Jim Miller will have a significant edge in experience. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Jim Miller (24-5, 13-4 UFC) vs. Beneil Dariush (10-1, 4-1 UFC): Longtime top-10 lightweight Miller draws the surging Dariush on short notice. Miller was viciously knocked out by Donald Cerrone in his last outing, but prior to that had taken two straight over Yancy Medeiros and Fabricio Camoes; Dariush won his most recent fight against Daron Cruickshank only a month ago. Miller is a wrestle-grappler at heart with a slick arsenal of submissions in transition, but he also throws powerful if infrequent punching combinations from his southpaw stance. Dariush is a wizard on the mat with a black belt from Romulo Barral, but he also wrestles surprisingly well and throws a vicious southpaw kick at all levels. I think Dariush is better on the ground and a little more diverse on the feet. The pick is Dariush by decision.LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Ovince St. Preux (17-6, 5-1 UFC) vs. Patrick Cummins (7-1, 3-1 UFC): Two of the more promising up-and-comers in the light heavyweight division meet in a compelling fight. St. Preux got back on track after losing a five-round decision to Ryan Bader by knocking out Mauricio Rua in convincing fashion in November, while Cummins has won three in a row since dropping his UFC debut to Daniel Cormier on short notice. St. Preux is an outstanding athlete with a limited but effective wrestling game and a preference for leaping in and out of range with powerful single punches and kicks on the feet. Cummins, a decorated wrestler, relies on his takedowns to work from top position, but he also has a sneaky transitional game on the feet that uses the threat of his shot to land punches upstairs. This is a close fight, but I think Cummins’ ability to cover his takedowns with strikes and strike off failed takedowns will be the difference. The pick is Cummins by decision.LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Gian Villante (12-5, 2-2 UFC) vs. Corey Anderson (5-0, 2-0 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 19” winner Anderson returns to action against Chris Weidman training partner Villante in a solid light heavyweight bout. Anderson is a decorated wrestler and has taken to MMA like a fish to water under the direction of Mark Henry and Ricardo Almeida, blending his takedowns with strikes and vice versa while building a punishing clinch game to boot. Villante, too, is a wrestler at heart, but he is durable, game, and willing -- perhaps too willing -- to engage on the feet. Given both fighters’ wrestling skills, this seems likely to play out in the clinch and at range, and in that scenario, I favor the developing Anderson over the extremely hittable Villante. The pick is Anderson by decision.BANTAMWEIGHTS
Aljamain Sterling (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (20-8-2, 7-3 UFC): One of the UFC’s brightest prospects gets a tough veteran test in an excellent bantamweight scrap. Sterling, a Serra-Longo Fight Team product, has won both of his fights in the UFC in convincing fashion and gets a big step up against Mizugaki, who won five straight prior to a drubbing at the fists of Dominick Cruz in September. The Japanese fighter is good everywhere, with a nice mixture of combination boxing, clinch takedowns and suffocating top control. Sterling is a marvel of athleticism and transitional brilliance who blends his rangy kicking game with quick takedowns and an affinity for taking the back in scrambles. Mizugaki is tough, game and well-rounded, but Sterling has the potential to become something truly special. In a fight that consists of a few striking exchanges and a lot of work in the clinch and on the ground, the pick is Sterling by rear-naked choke submission in the second round.WELTERWEIGHTS
George Sullivan (16-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. Tim Means (23-6-1, 5-3 UFC): This is a sneaky-fun matchup. Sullivan debuted against hyped prospect Mike Rhodes on late notice and took a close decision and then blasted Igor Araujo in his second engagement in September. Means has been on a nice run since returning to the UFC as a welterweight, with his most recent win over Dhiego Lima less than two months ago. Sullivan is big, strong and fights mean, with solid skills and real finishing ability in every area. Means is also a nasty fighter, with a nice pressure game consisting of punch-kick combinations at range and vicious knees and elbows in the clinch. This is a close fight, but I think Means is just a bit more technical and diverse. The pick is Means by decision.FEATHERWEIGHTS
Diego Brandao (18-10, 4-3 UFC) vs. Jim Hettes (11-2, 3-2 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner Brandao draws tough grappler Hettes in a good featherweight matchup. Brandao was on a nice three-fight winning streak but has since suffered consecutive first-round knockout losses to top featherweights Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor. Hettes, meanwhile, was stopped by Dennis Bermudez in an uncompetitive outing in March 2014. Brandao is well-rounded, athletic and dangerous everywhere, with power in his winging shots on the feet, technical shot takedowns and finishing skills from both his guard and top position; however, he lacks cardio and is defensively suspect. Hettes is a wrestle-grappler with excellent trips and throws from the clinch, a suffocating top game and an array of submissions on the mat, but he has yet to develop much in the way of striking skills. This should be a fun scrap; while Brandao will likely put his hands on Hettes early, the American is durable, and if he survives the early storm, he should put it on Brandao late. The pick is Hettes by decision.MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Eddie Gordon (7-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Chris Dempsey (10-2, 0-1 UFC): “The Ultimate Fighter 19” winner Gordon attempts to rebound from a knockout loss to Josh Samman against Chris Dempsey, who dropped a short-notice debut to Ilir Latifi last summer. Gordon, a former football player, is a fantastic athlete with huge power and limited skills, though he can strike, wrestle and grapple with a modicum of ability. Dempsey, too, can do a bit of everything, but he is plodding, hittable and relies too much on his durability. The pick is Gordon by knockout in the first round.Follow Sherdog.com preview expert Patrick Wyman on Twitter.