The UFC travels to Belém, Brazil, this weekend for UFC Fight Night 125: Machida vs. Anders.
The event, which will be held on Saturday, February 3, will be headlined by a middleweight matchup between Lyoto Machida and Eryk Anders. Machida, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, will look to get things back on track in front of his Brazilian fans after a disappointing return to competition in October last year when he lost to Derek Brunson. Machida was stunned by Brunson early in the contest and the referee stopped the contest just 2:30 into the first round.
It does not get any easier for him at UFC Fight Night 125, either. Machida will be facing the undefeated Eryk Anders who has taken the UFC by storm since arriving in July last year. With consecutive wins over Rafael Natal and Markus Perez, Anders has quickly stood out and is now hoping to score a ‘big name’ win over Lyoto Machida in this main event.
Prediction: Eryk Anders by KO/TKO – Round 1
In the co-main event, two talented bantamweights will do battle as John Dodson meets Pedro Munhoz. Dodson is experiencing somewhat of a downward slide at the moment after recording two losses in his last three contests. After losing to John Lineker, Dodson would bounce back with a victory over Eddie Wineland at UFC Fight Night 108. However, in his most recent bout, Marlon Moraes outworked him over three rounds and defeated Dodson by split decision.
Dodson now faces the surging Pedro Munhoz, who has now recorded three straight victories after losing to Jimmie Rivera at UFC Fight Night 77. Three of Munhoz’s last four wins have come via way of “Performance of the Night” worthy submissions. Also of note is that Munhoz has recorded two underdog victories in his last three bouts and his most recent was a first-round submission of the highly-talented Rob Font in Brazil.
Prediction: John Dodson by unanimous decision
Moments before the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will battle UFC newcomer Priscila Cachoeira. Shevchenko, who was one of the best women’s strawweight fighters in the organization will make her debut in the women’s flyweight division at UFC Fight Night 125 after losing a championship bout with Amanda Nunes.
Despite the disparity in experience and level of opponents, Shevchenko will be up against the wall when facing Cachoeira in front of thousands of Brazilian fans. “Pedrita” has never fought outside of Brazil through her eight-fight career and has never suffered defeat. No matter the case, it’s going to be a fascinating matchup with significant outcomes for the newly created flyweight division.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision
Also on the main card is what is sure to be an exciting scrap between Michel Prazeres and Des Green. The 36-year-old Michel Prazeres has risen to a new level after recording five-straight victories dating back to November 2015.
He’ll look to continue his streak against the ferocious Des Green. Green had his five-fight winning streak snapped by Rustam Khabilov in his last bout and now looks to break the momentum of another fighter when he meets Prazeres in Brazil.
Prediction: Michel Prazeres by unanimous decision
A heavyweight bout will feature on the main card of UFC Fight Night 125 as Timothy Johnson meets the undefeated Marcelo Golm.
Johnson was most recently beaten up by the striking capabilities of Junior Albini at UFC on FOX 25 in July last year. The defeat was his third in just five fights. Johnson will face 6-0 Marcelo Golm, who scored a first-round submission victory against Christian Colombo in his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 119.
Prediction: Marcelo Golm by unanimous decision – Round 2
And to get the main card started, Thiago Santos will go to war with Anthony Smith in a middleweight contest. Santos has quickly got back on track after shockingly losing to Eric Spicely at UFC Fight Night 95. Since then, he’s scored wins over Jack Marshman, Gerald Meerschaert, and Jack Hermansson.
Santos will meet Anthony Smith who has also enjoyed a three-fight winning streak recently. With just one loss in the last 4 years and last 11 contests, Smith has now managed three KO/TKO victories in the past 13 months.
Prediction: Thiago Santos by unanimous decision
UFC Fight Night 125 Fight Card
UFC Fight Night 125 begins on UFC Fight Pass from 7:00 pm ET (12:00 am GMT) on Saturday, February 3.
Main Card
Pay-per-view (10:00 pm ET / 3:00 am GMT)
- Lyoto Machida vs. Eryk Anders
- John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Valentina Shevchenko vs. Priscila Cachoeira
- Michel Prazeres vs. Desmond Green
- Timothy Johnson vs. Marcelo Golm
- Thiago Santos vs. Anthony Smith
Prelims
FS1 (8:00 pm ET / 1:00 am GMT)
- Sergio Moraes vs. Tim Means
- Alan Patrick vs. Damir Hadzovic
- Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Marlon Vera
- Iuri Alcantara vs. Joe Soto
Fight Pass Prelims
UFC Fight Pass (7:00 pm ET / 12:00 am GMT)
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Morales
- Maia Stevenson vs. Polyana Viena
