A solid little bantamweight matchup tries to keep us awake during Fox's typically time mismanaged broadcast this January 30, 2016 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The Match Up
Bantamweight Iuri Alcântara 33-6-1 vs. Jimmie Rivera 18-1
The Odds
Bantamweight Iuri Alcântara +150 vs. Jimmie Rivera -170
3 Things You Should Know
1. At 7-3-1 NC in the UFC, Alcântara needs better fights. This is one of them.
Alcântara has always been a fighter on the cusp of real relevance without ever really achieving it. The Urijah Faber bout was a real eye opener for those still unsure of his ceiling as a fighter. But losses to fighters like Hacran Dias (a good fighter who zero presence in the casual fan's eye) and Frankie Saenz represent a modest nadir.
This is another that could once again expose the limitations of this ultra talented 35 year old Brazilian. And to think, his opponent never lost a fight in Bellator.
2. Bellator never should have let Rivera go.
Rivera has only one loss in his career, and that was when he was a teenager. Rivera isn't a blue chip talent in the traditional sense. He's the kind of fighter who stews rather than sizzles. He's coming off two solid wins over Marcus Brimage, and Pedro Munhoz. It's hard to say what the stakes are in a fight between two fighters so diametrically opposed, but it'll be a test for both men.
3. This won't be Dillashaw vs. Cruz, but expect a good amount of technical acumen.
Alcântara is deadly on the feet (owns 14 KO's on his resume) because he makes wild, violent boxing look brisk. He has a large arsenal of strikes at his disposal but his essential problem has always been in the way he's unsure when to unpack that yellow punch cake.
He's a talented grappler, with the kind of swift movement not even Faber could resolve. Like his striking, Alcântara uses his grappling to achieve momentum. He's up against a fighter that is very different when it comes to philosophy.
Rivera didn't always look fantastic. The development of his crisp as rice krispie jab has allowed him to pursue with potent offense on the feet, or defend with potent counterstriking. That doesn't mean he's dangerous. He isn't a big puncher. But his jab has allowed the rest of his offense room to breathe, which makes his lack of KO finishes incredibly deceiving.
Prediction
This is a fascinating fight because there are x-factors in different areas. I'm not sure Rivera can handle Alcântara's pressure on the ground, should Rivera be unable to defend the takedowns for prolonged periods. But I also think that Rivera can handle the bout through all three rounds whereas Alcântara's disappearing acts will work against him as Rivera gradually steals the last two rounds. Jimmie Rivera by Split Decision.