Penick's Take
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 67 PREVIEW: Penick's main card quick thoughts and predictions for "Condit vs. Alves" event
May 30, 2015 - 9:50:05 AM UFC FIGHT NIGHT 67 PREVIEW: Penick's main card quick thoughts and predictions for "Condit vs. Alves" event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Fight Night 67 hits Fox Sports 1 on Saturday night, featuring the return of former Interim UFC Welterweight Champ Carlos Condit, and a few intriguing matchups on the night's main card. Let's take a look at what's on tap for the fans in Goiania, Brazil.

Carlos Condit vs. Thiago Alves (Welterweight): Condit enters the cage for the first time since March of last year, where he blew out his knee in a fight he was already losing to Tyron Woodley. That served as his third loss in four fights, two of which came to Georges St-Pierre and the man who would hold that title briefly in Johny Hendricks.

Alves returned to action last April for the first time in more than two years, and he's scored two straight wins since then. The first was an uninspired decision over Seth Baczynski, while he came back from near defeat against Jordan Mein to score a TKO win in the second round.

If Condit is back to form following knee surgery and the rehab he's undergone over the last year, this should be a fight he wins nine out of ten times. He's a much more dynamic and creative striker, his cardio is significantly better than that of Alves, and he's got a submission game that Alves just hasn't shown. Alves always has power, and he showed against Mein that he's capable of stopping fights even if he looks out of it, but I don't expect Condit to have much trouble with him in this one.

It's likely to be a violent and entertaining battle for however long it lasts, but I struggle to see where Alves can beat an even 80% healthy Condit in 2015. There are too many ways for Condit to pick up this win, and not nearly enough on Alves' side to have any confidence he'll do much here. Condit via TKO in the third round.


Nik Lentz vs. Charles Oliveira (Featherweight): This rematch comes nearly four years after the two of them faced off at lightweight, and both come in as much better versions of themselves in the featherweight division.

Sporting a new hipster Ragnar Lothbrok look, Lentz is ready to finally step back in the cage following a layoff that was mostly out of his hands. He was supposed to face Oliveira last September, only for Oliveira to get forced out due to illness the day of the event. Then he himself fell ill the day of weigh-ins for a fight in February.

He finally gets back in the cage just over a year after his last fight, and he hopes to showcase the improvements he's made in that time. He's gone 4-1 thus far at featherweight, dominating with his wrestling game in victory while falling short in a tough fight against top contender Chad Mendes.

As for Oliveira, following a KO loss to Cub Swanson and a one-sided beating at the hands of Frankie Edgar, he's won three straight, submitting two in that stretch. He's a very talented young fighter, and his submission game is a real edge against most. He can be ground out, but he's always dangerous on the ground, and has some quick and powerful hands on the feet.

This is bound to be a close fight, as both have a number of areas in which they excel. If Lentz can dictate the pace and deliver punishment on the ground, he absolutely can win this fight. If he fails to do that, Oliveira has a slightly better striking game, and remains dangerous at all times on the ground. I expect a good fight out of the two, and I'm not entirely sure what to expect. Lentz by decision.


K.J. Noons vs. Alex Oliveira (Lightweight): Noons has won two of his last three, with the third in that equation ending in a no contest when he poked Daron Cruickshank in the eye several times. Oliveira makes his second UFC appearance after a mostly impressive short notice effort against Gilbert Burns. Unfortunately, while he was winning that one clearly, he got caught late by an armbar.

We know what Noons brings to the table. He's mostly intent on utilizing his boxing, and he does manage to out-strike a number of his opponents. However, he can be hit, and he at times has a tendency to get a little lazy in the cage and not put forth as much offense as he perhaps should.

Oliveira is active, and he's got some solid skills in all facets of the game. His submission defense may have left a little to be desired last time out, but he still looked good through the first 13 and a half minutes or so of that matchup. While Noons is the one with more experience here, I liked a lot of what we saw out of Oliveira in his debut, and think he might be able to follow up on that here. Oliveira by decision.


Francimar Barroso vs. Ryan Jimmo (Light Heavyweight): Ryan Jimmo hasn't fought since he injured his arm in a loss to Ovince St. Preux last June. He's also in desperate need of a win, as he put himself out on the edge by speaking out publicly on the UFC's Reebok deal. It's been even longer since Barroso's last fight, as he's been out since a split decision loss to Hans Stringer last March.

Jimmo's shown some definite flaws in his game since entering the UFC, but he's still a very good wrestler, and he's got some knockout power. He's also highly unlikely to get stopped by a guy like Barroso, so if he's healthy enough into this return, this should be his fight all the way. He's got the better wrestling game and can control the pace, while at the same time possessing power enough to finish it on the feet as well. Jimmo via TKO in the second round.


Norman Parke vs. Francisco Trinaldo (Lightweight): This pits two fairly durable lightweights against one another, with neither all that apt to getting finished often, and in the UFC at least, not apt to stopping fights themselves. Each has managed to finish some opponents in the Octagon, but as of late they've been featured in full length fights, relying on the judges' scorecards.

For Parke, that's mostly worked for him, with just one loss in his UFC run thus far. That came in his most recent outing by split decision to longtime UFC vet Gleison Tibau. Trinaldo has gone 3-1 since a submission loss to Piotr Hallmann, with each of those fights going the distance as well.

Both are comfortable enough in their striking, and both are fairly decent from top position on the ground, along with some submission skill and defense as well. Parke isn't one to get put on his back often, so if the fight goes to the ground, he's more than likely to be the one to initiate it. Trinaldo's ground game is much better from the top than the bottom, so if it's Parke on top, he's going to be much better off. I'd imagine the two of them will have a competitive fight, but I don't know that either of them is finishing the other off here. Parke by decision.


Wendell Oliveira vs. Darren Till (Welterweight): Oliveira's in his tenth year as an MMA fighter, and he's put a lot of fights on in that time. At 24-8, he came back from a bad start to his career to win a large number of fights over the last five to six years, giving him an opportunity in the UFC. However, he was knocked out in just over a minute in that debut last September. As for Till, the English fighter makes his own UFC debut with a perfect 12-0 record, having stopped ten of his career opponents.

Oliveira said this week he was embarrassed with his performance in his UFC debut, and he'll be in front of a home crowd. However, Till's shown some good durability and finishing instincts in his own right; so if he gets Oliveira hurt, he's likely to take advantage. Till by TKO in the second round.