UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez main card preview & top picks

The main card for UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez is highlighted by a mix of emerging talent and durable veterans. Ryan Spann will be out to rediscover his winning ways against hard-hitting newcomer Bogdan Guskov, Ariane Lipski squares off with Karine Silva in a women’s flyweight matchup with potential contender implications, and battle-hardened Tim Means faces the emerging Uros Medic. Read on for our analysis and predictions.

Matheus Nicolau vs Alex Perez fight preview

Matheus Nicolau vs Alex Perez

Two top-10 flyweights will finish off the night in the main event. See the Matheus Nicolau vs Alex Perez fight preview here.

Ryan Spann v Bogdan Guskov fight preview

Ryan Spann vs Alex Perez

Ryan Spann (21-9-0) runs hot and cold in his UFC contests based on motivation, the quality of his training camp, and weight cuts. The 32-year-old has dropped his last two contests and needs to rediscover his mojo. He gets that opportunity against a big strong opponent who does not possess the same depth of MMA talent. Spann has a well-rounded skill set and should be compelled to press for a finish and avoid the scorecards after losing a controversial split decision to Anthony Smith in late 2023.

Bogdan Guskov (15-3-0) has fought twice at UFC level with one win and one loss after building a strong record with regional promotions. The Serbian throws hard, straight shots and is reluctant to retreat from any opponent. The 31-year-old’s experience looks a little limited in the wrestling facet of the game and he will be anxious to remain upright and land one of his heavy blows from the opening bell. If Guskov does hit the canvas, his neck is sure to be attacked by the guillotines of Spann.

Ariane Lipski v Karine Silva fight preview

Ariane Lipski vs Karine Silva

Ariane Lipski (17-8-0) has landed three straight wins at women’s flyweight to propel her name into the division’s top 15. She has adopted a more elusive strategy in recent years after a run of KO losses, and now tries to avoid the wild exchanges in favour of more calculating approach. The Brazilian has a solid submission arsenal and boasts four professional wins via that method. The 30-year-old can look a little stiff and rigid at times leaving her chin exposed, which will be a big mistake against a technical opponent with a dangerous striking game.

Karine Silva (17-4-0) is on an eight-fight win streak and has earned a perfect 3-0 record in the UFC, all coming via submission. The 30-year-old appears to have the skills that may one day see her contend for the title and might be the most rapidly improving fighter in the division. With both Lipski and Silva being proficient in the grappling department, this might be separated by the stand-up portion where the latter has a clear edge.

Austen Lane v Jhonata Diniz fight preview

Austen Lane vs Jhonata Diniz

Austen Lane (12-4-0) suffered a quick KO loss against Justin Tafa at UFC 293 in 2023 after the pair met three months earlier and an eye poke rendered it a no-contest. The 36-year-old is not the most athletic fighter, but at heavyweight, this can be overcome by an ability to plant the feet and land a knockout blow. Lane has 11 professional wins via that method, but after succumbing quickly to Tafa, might be a little gun shy on his return.

Jhonata Diniz (6-0-0) makes his UFC debut here after scoring an early knockout win in front of Dana White on the boss’s contender series. The Brazilian can throw heavy offense moving forward or backward and might have superior footwork in this matchup. If this fight makes it beyond the opening round, it might descend into an untidy brawl where cardio endurance determines the outcome, but Diniz looks like a dangerous proposition.

Tim Means v Uros Medic fight preview

Tim Means vs Uros Medic

Tim Means (33-15-1) bounced back from a three-fight losing sequence with a third-round TKO win over Andre Fialho at his most recent outing in September 2023. The 40-year-old is a tough stand-and-trade type fighter with 20 professional knockouts on his record. When a finish is not forthcoming, Means is also capable of impressing the judges and emerging with a decision victory. With a career spanning 50 MMA fights that started back in 2004, his durability cannot be questioned.

Uros Medic (9-2-0) emerged from Dana White’s Contender Series with a first-round KO to land a UFC contract in 2020. He has since fought five times in the UFC with three wins and two losses, with both defeats coming via submission. He drops from the 185-pound division for this welterweight bout and should have a significant size advantage on fight night. The 30-year-old walks forward and throws heavy shots and will be out for a quick stoppage result here.

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