UFC Fight Night: Almeida v Lewis main card preview & top picks

UFC Fight Night heads to Ibirapuera Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for a fun card that is stacked with local talent. Surging middleweight prospect Gabriel Bonfim will square off against the experienced Nicolas Dalby, and we are excited by the prospect of Abus Magomedov facing local hero Caio Borralho. Read on to see BettingPlanet’s top UFC picks and fight predictions for the night.

Jailton Almeida v Derrick Lewis

Jailton Almeida vs Derrick Lewis

Can veteran heavyweight Derrick Lewis spring an upset when he takes on a red-hot Jailton Almeida in enemy territory? See our UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs Lewis main event betting preview here.

Gabriel Bonfim v Nicolas Dalby

Gabriel Bonfim vs Nicolas Dalby

Gabriel Bonfim (15-0-0) is a Brazilian prodigy with a perfect MMA record. He has never been defeated or even faced the judges’ scorecard. Some 12 of his professional wins have come via submission, with the remainder coming by way of knockout. With a partisan crowd at his back and a chance to shine in a co-main event, this looks like a perfect opportunity for the 26-year-old to make his mark.

Nicolas Dalby (22-4-0) has drawn a tough assignment but should be confident based on some solid recent performances. The Dane has won four of his last five fights, with the loss occurring against wily veteran Tim Means. The 38-year-old holds an experience advantage and has faced higher-ranked competitors than his young opponent, but we are inclined to follow the money and back in the young Brazilian.

Rodrigo Nascimento v Don’Tale Mayes

Rodrigo Nascimento vs Don’Tale Mayes

Rodrigo Nascimento (10-1-0) has suffered just a single loss inside the octagon. The heavyweight has a solid ground game and choked out this opponent when they met back in 2020. The 30-year-old is less impressive when forced to stand and strike for three rounds and can wane in the latter portions of each stanza. If he can avoid his opponent’s heavy hands and secure an early takedown, Nascimento should be able to control the action without testing his less-than-stellar gas tank.

Don’Tale Mayes (10-5-0) has enjoyed a resurgence since losing to Nascimento, recording three wins, one loss, and one no-contest. The 31-year-old has shared the cage with some big names in the 265-pound division, including Ciryl Gane and Andre Arlovski. Mayes will enjoy a four-inch height advantage and will need to carefully pick his shots from long range to prevail here.

Caio Borralho v Abus Magomedov

Caio Borralho vs Abus Magomedov

Caio Borralho (14-1-0) is another up-and-coming Brazilian talent with an impressive record. The 30-year-old is unbeaten in four UFC appearances after earning his contract via Dana White’s Contender Series. Borralho is a flashy fighter who strings together effective striking combinations. He has a solid ground game but is not blessed with knockout power, and most of his professional wins have come via the judges.

Abus Magomedov (25-5-1) last fought against current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The Russian was favoured to prevail, but after a competitive opening round, he was unable to handle the relentless pressure of the American. Magomedov will be looking to bounce back from that disappointment and should have a decent experience and power advantage. We are surprised at the generous odds being offered and will be obliged to accept them.

Rodolfo Vieira v Armen Petrosyan

Rodolfo Vieira vs Armen Petrosyan

Rodolfo Vieira (9-2-0) will need to be at his rugged best against a tricky opponent in this matchup. The 34-year-old Brazilian is 2-2 from his last four appearances and lacks complete MMA polish. He is a destroyer on the mat, with eight of his nine wins coming via submission. Vieira’s arm triangle choke is especially dangerous and appears to be his most likely route to victory here.

Armen Petrosyan (9-2-0) is a tall and rangy striker with a 3-1 UFC record. The loss was a competitive decision result against Caio Borralho, who also fights on this card. The Armenian-Italian has powerful kicks in his arsenal but may be tempted to focus on his punching given the superior ground game of his opponent. If Vieira catches one of the head or body kicks coming in his direction, a trip to the canvas is bound to follow.

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