Preview: UFC 258 Prelims

There's the tap!

Rodolfo Vieira getting it done in ONE. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/o2hqnTdRo6

— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020

Middleweight

NR | Rodolfo Vieira (7-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. NR | Anthony Hernandez (7-2, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Vieira (-400), Hernandez (+325)

Vieira is one of the more interesting prospects in the UFC’s middleweight division. One of the most decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners on the roster, Vieira has the submission wizardry to live up to his “Black Belt Hunter” nickname, so rounding out everything else will determine whether he becomes a championship contender or simply a dangerous gatekeeper. Early returns are promising, though Vieira certainly remains a work in progress. He has shown some solid wrestling and his muscular build gives him some natural striking power, but he is still not particularly comfortable on the feet and may have some cardio issues. While he eventually outclassed Saparbek Safarov on the mat, that fight did show some positives and negatives. While Safarov showed a willingness to take damage in the name of taking over the fight, it was a bit worrying that he had to do so against an opponent as unskilled as Safarov. To its credit, the UFC is giving him the right step up here against Hernandez—another opponent who is willing to stay aggressive and apply pressure, for better or for worse. Hernandez is certainly more skilled than Safarov, but his formless aggression usually means that “Fluffy” needs to have some sort of wrestling or grappling advantage to get every part of his game truly clicking. While Hernandez might be able to catch Vieira on the feet and make it tough going for the Brazilian, he is just as likely to dive right into danger. The pick is Vieira via first-round submission.

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