UFC Fight Night: Lee Vs. Oliveria Main Card Preview And Predections

Who will leave Brasilia with another W on their resume?

Kevin Lee
Credit: Jay Anderson

This Saturday, March 14, 2020, the UFC heads to Brasilia, Brazil, for what should be a very intriguing card.

UFC Fight Night 170's main event will feature 'The Motown Phenom' Kevin Lee taking on Brazilian submission ace Charles 'Do Bronk' Oliveira. Oliveira is currently in the midst of a six-fight winning streak, while 'The Motown Phenom' is coming off of the most impressive knockout win of his career.

The co-main will pit former title challenger and ageless wonder Demian Maia taking on the always dangerous Gilbert Burns. Burns will be looking for his fifth consecutive victory inside the cage, while Maia will try and add another name to his Hall of Fame-worthy resume.

UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveria will mark the return of the always entertaining Johnny Walker, who will attempt to get back on track against Ukrainian light heavyweight Nikita Krylov.

After consecutive losses to Jose Aldo and 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung respectively, Renato Moicano will move up to lightweight in an effort to right the ship when he goes head to head with Damir Hadzovic.

Now that we've covered the talking points let's get to the picks.

5. Francisco Trinaldo (24-7) Vs. John Makdessi (17-6)

The night starts out with what should be a fun scrap between two guys that love to throw hands.

41-year-old Francisco Trinaldo is a former kickboxer out of Amarante, Piaui, Brazil. He has been part of the UFC roster since 2012 and is 3-3 over the course of his last six fights.

His opponent, John Makdessi, is a dynamic striker from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Roufus Sport's product has won his last three bouts and could be on the verge of entering the top fifteen with an impressive win here.

This should be a fun brawl between two fighters that can take a punch. At 41, Trinaldo's age is a bit of concern, but he hasn't shown any sign of slowing down to date. Makdessi is the flashier striker, while the Brazilian would appear to have the power advantage.

It should be a competitive contest, but keep in mind they're fighting in Brazil. When Trinaldo lands a shot in front of his home crowd, look for the audience to respond in a big way, which could sway the judges if its a close fight that goes the distance

That being said, Trinaldo's power and grappling edge should be enough to get past Makdessi even without any help from the judges.

The Pick: Trinaldo via unianimious decision.

 
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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.