UFC Betting Guide: Fight Night on ESPN+2

The Bet UK MMA tipster is back, having predicted 3 out of the 5 main card fights on the last UFC Fight Night. Follow him again for more tips and analysis using Bet UK UFC betting markets and odds

UFC Fight Night on ESPN+2 will take place 2nd February 2019 in MMA's motherland, Brazil. As you would expect the UFC are taking a stacked card to entertain the mature audience of the samba nation. Raphael Assunção takes on Marlon Moraes in their rematch from last year after Assunção won via split decision. José Aldo returns in the co-main event against a young savage in Renato Moicano, who's only loss has come from Brian Ortega. Submission specialists Maia and Oliveira also face worthy opponents.

Raphael Assunção vs. Marlon Moraes

This is a pivotal bantamweight bout to see who will be given the next shot at the gold. Moraes will get his wish, as he has expressed that his fellow fighters are not stepping up to fight him. Assunção, one of the toughest guys in the division has a win over his foe and he has a fantastic record, only having lost once in 12 appearances. With that loss coming by close decision to the current champion TJ Dillashaw. Moraes has won his last three fights in the Octagon against top-ranked opponents. There's no denying these two are very closely matched and are both on the best winning streaks of their career. This is going to be a close call but I am going to set a benchmark for the rest of my predictions and go with experience here. Assunção is also the bigger guy and will come into the fight heavier.

José Aldo vs. Renato Moicano

The retirement road has been laid out for the former featherweight champion and MMA legend, José Aldo. Since Conor Mcgregor stiffened him in 13 seconds the Brazilian cuts a trodden figure. Undefeated for 14 years, he's lost against Max Holloway twice via TKO, notching up only two wins since 2015. Having said all this it's not all doom and gloom because he came back to beat Jeremy Stephens in a vintage performance. But Aldo has claimed he wants to fight three times in Brazil this year and then retire. This is the first stanza in his three-step retirement plan, but first he has Renato Moicano standing before him, a young hungry lion that's been touted in MMA circles as the next Aldo. The narrative in this story deserves a main event slot but here we are. Both fighters have dynamic striking and chopping leg kicks. Both fighters have the killer instinct and love finishing fights. Aldo also comes in as a big underdog but I don't believe the changing of the guard is going to happen just yet. Aldo proved against Stephens, who was only one win away from a title shot that he's still got the fire.

Demian Maia vs. Lyman Good

Maia will be looking to get back in the win column after falling to a 3 fight skid. The Brazilian and former title challenger is set to meet Lyman Good. Maia has had an illustrious career taking wins over notable MMA stars like Carlos Condit and Matt Brown. Good defeated tough striker Ben Saunders by TKO in his last outing but his tenure with the UFC over the last three years has been inconsistent. Maia has been offered up a feast here in front of his home crowd, I don't see fight going more than two rounds. Maia has become an all-rounder over the years, he's perhaps the best ever submission artist we have ever seen but he's also improved his striking tenfold.

Charles Oliveira vs. David Teymur

Oliveira makes a rapid turnaround after defeating Jim Miller in just 75-seconds to solidify his UFC record of the most UFC submissions. That gave him three straight wins all by submission. Teymur will be looking to stay unbeaten and extend his winning streak to nine. The Muay Thai expert took The Ultimate Fighter road into the UFC and has proved his worth ever since. Although Oliveira is a grappler his striking is creative, but on the feet Teymur is by far the superior fighter and on the canvas it's the Brazilian. The Swede has taken wins over Lando Vannata and Nik Lentz so he's been fighting tough guys. I'm going with experience once again, the submission game of Oliveira is too good to bet against.

Johnny Walker vs. Justin Ledet

There's something great about a Brazilian with the most English name in the world, 'Johnny Walker' there's more too, like John Lineker the bantamweight. Anyway, this light heavyweight bout sees 26-year-old Brazilian, Walker take on Ledet after his spectacular clinch display and knockout of Khalil Rountree. Walker, who sees himself as an English patriot thanks to the help he gets from the country will usually walk out with a British flag, not Brazilian. Walker has the perfect body type to cause trouble in this division, he's strong, long and very athletic. He's also finished every fight but one throughout his 15 wins during his career. Ledet compiled a three-fight winning streak in the UFC before being halted by Aleksander Rakic in 2018. He will be looking to put another run together coming back down to the light heavyweight division. I believe Johnny Walker is the emerging talent in this division who's going to really make a name for himself in 2019. I can't see past another nasty Walker finish.

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