Kingdom MMA preview UFC Fight Night 42 - The Prelims

UFC Fight Night 42 Henderson vs Khabilov preview and predictions

by Alex Dillon @_alexdillon_

We look ahead and offer a detailed preview on this weekend’s upcoming UFC Fight Night 42 card taking place at the Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico which includes an intriguing main event lightweight clash between Benson Henderson and Rustam Khabilov.

Preliminary card (Fight Pass)

Light Heavyweights:  Patrick Cummins (4-1, 0-1 UFC) vs Roger Narvaez (6-0, 0-0 UFC)

Patrick Cummins burst onto the UFC scene when he was drafted in as replacement for Rashad Evans to face former training partner and UFC Light Heavyweight Olympian Daniel Cormier. Although he got dominated and beat in the first round it wasn’t really ever a fight as Cormier is far superior at this present time.

Cummins with great wrestling credentials himself should be looking to make a statement in this fight against newcomer Narvaez who is undefeated. Both fighters boast good records which should lead to a good scrap. It’s worth noting that Narvaez is known for being a Middleweight and with this contest being at Light Heavyweight may be too much for him.

Prediction: Cummins

Preliminary Card (FS 1, BT Sport 1)

Lightweights:  John Tuck (7-1, 1-1 UFC) vs Jake Lindsey (9-0, 0-0 UFC)

These two lightweights kick off the fox prelims in another intriguing matchup. Tuck looked impressive in his UFC debut but suffered his first loss at the hands of Norman Parke back in Manchester in October.

Newcomer Lindsey will be looking to make a statement in his first outing especially as he is riding a three win KO streak.

Prediction: Lindsey

Flyweights:  Scott Jorgensen (14-9, 3-5 UFC) vs Danny Martinez (16-5, 0-1 UFC)

In my eyes, this fight is make or break for Scott Jorgensen in the UFC, he’s on a 3 fight losing streak. Yes he’s fought solid opponents in his last 3 outings but he’s been in the sport professionally since 2006 and you have to wonder whether or not he has it anymore at the top level. 

His opponent Martinez, is 0-1 in the UFC, courtesy of a loss to Chris Cariaso, although boasting a decent record, Martinez in the past has come unstuck against top level fighters (Benavidez & Hominick) It should be a fun fight all in all.

Prediction: Jorgensen

Welterweights:  Bobby Voelker (24-11, 0-3 UFC)  vs Lance Benoist (6-2, 1-2 UFC)

This welterweight fight in my opinion is ‘loser gets cut’. Both fighters are on losing streaks, Voelker (0-3) and Benoist (0-2). To be fair to Voelker, one of his losses was a replacement fight against welterweight contender Robbie Lawler but he is on a 3 fight skid so this has to be the last chance saloon for him.

Benoist hasn’t fought for nearly two years dating back to September 2012 and this could be problematic for him.

Prediction: Voelker

Bantamweights: Yaotzin Meza (20-9, 1-2 UFC) vs Sergio Pettis (10-1, 1-1 UFC)

This bantamweight fight rounds off the prelims and promises to be an exciting scrap. Sergio Pettis racked up an impressive record and an RFA title before being signed by the UFC, winning his first fight before losing in a FOTN bout to Alex Caceres last time out. Meza has had mixed fortunes in the UFC so far going (1-2) in the promotion.

Pettis has shown he has what it takes to be at the top level and if you’ve ever seen him fight or even spar you know his skill set is of high quality. The main problem with Pettis I believe is that I don’t think he is fighting at his natural weight class at bantamweight, he has had more fights at flyweight and it makes sense for him to go back down there especially when a fighter gets to the big leagues the weight divisions are stacked. Having said that Pettis should have too much for Meza come fight night.

Prediction: Pettis