UFC Fight Night Preview & Predictions: UFN 21 Predictions

Pro Fighting Fans is the home of UFC fans across the world and we now bring you the best place to find the latest UFC Fight Night previews & predictions. Along with the main UFC events on Pay Per View, the UFC features up-and-coming fighters several times each year on UFC Fight Night televised live and for free on SpikeTV.

The next Fight Night event for UFC will be UFC Fight Night 21 (UFN 21), held on March 31, 2010, live on Spike TV from Charlotte, North Carolina, and our UFN 21 preview is now posted below for UFC fans across the globe to enjoy.

For more UFC events to be held in 2010 and lists of which Mixed Martial Artists are schedule to fight, be sure to check out the future UFC fight cards.

Charlie Brenneman vs. Jason High

Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman (10-1) will go head-to-head against Affliction and DREAM vet Jason High (9-2) at Fight Night 21. This preliminary card bout consists of two UFC first timers who want to establish themselves in the welterweight division. Brenneman was in action in October earning a TKO victory over Phillip Wyman. High participated in the 2009 DREAM welterweight tournament finishing in the runner up position last July.

Brenneman, 29, is a Pennsylvania native who began fighting in 2007 with organizations like Extreme Challenge, Sho XC, Ring of Combat and the United States Fight League. He won his first five bouts before losing his lone fight to date. He retreated to some small organizations closer to his home and produced victories in his last five chances to earn a UFC contract. He has compiled five KO victories, 1 submission, and 4 decisions over the course of his career.

High, 28, is from the west coast where he trains at Bodyshop Fitness Team in California. He debuted in 2005 and fought for a variety of mid-level promotions. His only loss came in his only Affliction bout against Jay Hieron. He took his game to Japan after the loss and came home with a runner-up finish at the 2009 DREAM welterweight grand prix. His last bout was in July when he lost to Marius Zaromskis via brutal head kick.

Prediction – High over Brenneman via decision

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Gerald Harris vs. Mario Miranda

The Ultimate Fighter 7 veteran Gerald Harris (14-2) will try and make it two in a row when he takes on UFC rookie Mario Miranda (11-0) on the UFC Fight Night 21 preliminary card. Both middleweights are coming off of stoppages in their most recent fights. Harris used strikes to TKO John Salter at Fight Night 20 in January while Miranda submitted Lorenzo Hood at Alliance Fights in August.

Harris, 30, is an Oklahoma native that trains with Grudge Training Center. He began his career in 2006 going on to fight for several notable promotions including C3 Fights and Shark Fights. He was also involved in The Ultimate Fighter 7, although a contract didn’t evolve from the show. His only two losses in his career both came while fighting for the IFL. Since the losses, he has posted eight straight victories including his debut in the octagon.

Miranda is a Brazilian born fighter who now trains in the great Northwest at Seattle’s AMC Pankration. He made his professional debut over three years ago and fought for Sportfight, Carnage at the Creek, Icon Sport and other promotions. He picked up five KO’s, 4 submissions, and 2 decisions in less than four years of fighting. He does own notable victories over UFC veterans Joe Vedepo and Rick Story.

Prediction – Harris over Miranda via TKO

Yushin Okami vs. Lucio Linhares

Japan’s Yushin Okami (23-5) will bring his veteran status to the UFC Fight Night 21 preliminary card against Brazilian-born M-1 Challenge journeyman Lucio Linhares (13-5). Okami has been out of action for almost six months, fighting last at UFC 104 in a loss to Chael Sonnen. Linhares fought in December at UFC 107 getting submitted by Rousimar Palhares.

Okami, 28, is a wrestler, judo practitioner, and kickboxing specialist who has eight years of professional fighting experience. He put together a record of 16-3 while fighting for Cage Force, Pride, Pancrase, Superbrawl, K-1, Rumble on the Rock, and M-1. When he made it to the UFC, he registered victories over his first four opponents to earn a shot at the number one contender position. He dropped his UFC 72 fight against Rich Franklin but then posted victories over his next three opponents. He was approaching contender status once again when he dropped a UFC 104 bout against Sonnen.

Linhares, 36, fights out of Finland at the Alliance jiu-jitsu gym. Debuting in 2004, Linhares fought in organizations both in Brazil and Finland as well as M-1 Challenge. He put together five consecutive victories from November 2008 through August 2009 while fighting for M-1 and Fight Festival promotions. On the strength of the 5-fight streak, Linhares joined the UFC in December and was submitted by Rousimar Palhares.

Prediction – Okami over Linhares via decision

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Caol Uno vs. Gleison Tibau

Caol Uno (27-12-5) is looking for his first victory inside the octagon since returning last June. Uno will be facing Gleison Tibau (20-6) in a lightweight bout on the UFC Fight Night 21 preliminary card. Uno fought Fabricio Camoes to a majority draw in November at UFC 106. Tibau’s last action was in October at UFC 104 earning a unanimous decision over Josh Neer.

Uno, 34, began his career in 1996 and made it to the UFC five years later. He fought for both the bantamweight and lightweight titles within his first five UFC bouts, failing each time. He bolted the UFC for his homeland after a UFC 44 loss to Hermes Franca and fought primarily for K-1. It wasn’t until his semi-final finish in the DREAM lightweight grand prix that he returned to the UFC. He lost at UFC 99 last June before his UFC 106 majority draw.

Tibau, 26, is an American Top Team fighter with over ten years of MMA experience. He fought fifteen times, winning thirteen, before getting a UFC contract in late-2006. He won three of his first four before dropping back to back bouts in 2008. He has since got back on track with three victories in his last four fights, including his upset of Neer five months ago.

Prediction – Uno over Tibau via decision

Robert Emerson vs. Nik Lentz

The Ultimate Fighter 5 cast member, Robert Emerson (9-8-1) will try and put back to back victories together when he takes on Minnesota Martial Arts Academy’s Nik Lentz (17-3-1) at UFC Fight Night 21. Emerson is coming off of a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Phillipe Nover at UFC 109 in February. Lentz fought Thiago Tavares to a majority draw at UFC Fight Night 20 in January. This bout will take place on the preliminary card in the lightweight division.

Emerson, 28, is a Ruas Vale Tudo fighter who made his professional debut in 2002. He lost his first four fights and six of his first eight overall, however, after winning his next four, he earned a slot at The Ultimate Fighter 5 tournament. He came out of TUF 5 with a seldom-seen no contest after he and his TUF 5 Finale opponent, Gray Maynard, both were knocked out. He recovered from the No Contest with back to back victories over Manny Gamburyan and Keita Nakamura. However, after suffering back to back losses against Kurt Pellegrino and Rafeal dos Anjos, he needed a victory to stay in the UFC. He did just that at UFC 109 with a decisive unanimous decision over Nover.

Lentz, 25, also known as “The Carny”, has been fighting for five years with numerous organizations in the Midwest. He won six straight from 9-07 through 5-09, including a decision victory over former UFC fighter Drew Fickett, to earn a UFC 103 bid. He defeated Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 103 but fought Thiago Tavares to a standstill draw at Fight Night 20 in January.

Prediction – Emerson over Lentz via TKO

Jacob Volkmann vs. Ronnys Torres

Minnesota Martial Arts Academy’s Jacob Volkmann (9-2) will move down a division into the lightweight division after two fights as a welterweight to take on Brazilian Ronnys Torres (14-2) at UFC Fight Night 20 on the preliminary card. Volkmann last fought in January at UFC 108 losing by submission to Martin Kampmann. Torres made his debut at UFC 109 in February losing a unanimous decision against Melvin Guillard.

Volkmann, 29, made his professional debut in 2007 and won his first nine bouts fighting for organizations such as Xtreme Fighting Organization, Max Fights and Bellator FC. He debuted at UFC 106 in November losing a unanimous decision against feared striker Paulo Thiago. He didn’t get much of a break in his next bout losing against Kampmann two months later.

Torres fights under the name “Jungle Boy” and trains with the world renowned Nova Uniao team. He made his debut in 2006 and fought fifteen times in his homeland of Brazil winning fourteen. He was on an eight-fight win streak when he fell in his UFC 109 debut against Guillard this February.

Prediction – Volkmann over Torres via decision

Andre Winner vs. Rafaello Oliveira

The Ultimate Fighter 9 lightweight runner-up, Andre Winner (10-3), jumps back in the octagon trying to make it two wins in a row by taking on Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Rafaello Oliveira. Oliveira is also trying to win back-to-back fights after defeating John Gunderson at UFC 108 in January. Winner is coming off of a UFC 105 victory in November.

Winner, 28, is a British knockout artist that trains out of Rough House in England. He debuted as a professional in the summer of 2006 and recorded a record of 9-2-1 fighting for three different British organizations. At the TUF 9 finale, he fought Ross Pearson for the lightweight contract, however, was outscored on the cards in unanimous fashion. He recovered with a much-needed victory at UFC 105 knocking out Rolando Delgado in the 1 st round.

Oliveira, 28, is a Brazilian fighter who has made the move to Premier Martial Arts in Tennessee. He debuted in 2004 and fought five times in Brazil before coming to America. He participated with Rumble on the Rock, Sho XC, XFC, and CCF organizations winning four of five before getting the call from the UFC. He lost to Nik Lentz in his UFC 103 debut but turned it around with his unanimous decision over John Gunderson at UFC 108.

Prediction – Winner over Oliveira via decision

UFC Fight Night 21 Predictions - Main Spike TV Televised Card:

Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver

The Ultimate Fighter 9 lightweight winner, Ross Pearson (10-3) is back in action going for three consecutive victories against Germany’s Dennis Siver (15-6), who has put together four straight wins going in to their UFC Fight Night 21 main card bout. Pearson won in November at UFC 105 with an action-packed TKO of Aaron Riley. Siver was victorious on the same November card defeating Paul Kelly via TKO.

Pearson, 25, is a Team Rough House fighter with over six years of professional experience. He fought in six different British promotions, building an 8-3 record, prior to coming into the TUF 9 house. He cruised through the TUF 9 lightweight tournament winning at the finale over fellow countryman, Andre Winner. He was victorious again at UFC 105 after putting a beating on Aaron Riley.

Siver, 31, is a six-year MMA veteran and a member of the OC Fight Team. He fought overseas in England, Sweden, Germany, and Slovenia while building a record of 9-3. He came to the UFC in April of 2007, however was unsuccessful in three of four bouts. He left the organization, picked up a victory in a mid-level show, and returned at UFC 93 in January 2009. Since his return, he has put together victories in three of four fights. He owns octagon victories over Nate Mohr, Dale Hartt, and Paul Kelly.

Prediction – Siver over Pearson via submission

Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera

Nate “Rock” Quarry (12-3) and Jorge Rivera (17-7) will meet in a UFC Fight Night 21 main card bout in the middleweight division. Quarry earned fight of the night for his September unanimous decision victory over Tim Credeur at UFC Fight Night 19. Rivera picked up his latest win at UFC 104 in October via TKO over Rob Kimmons.

Quarry, 38, debuted in 2001 and went on to fight for Extreme Challenge, Gladiator Challenge, KOTC, and the IFC over the next two years building a 5-1 record. He put his name on the map with his The Ultimate Fighter 1 appearance, which he did not finish because of injury. He did hang on with the organization winning five of his first six and losing only to Rich Franklin at UFC 56 in November 2005 for the middleweight title. He battled injuries over the next couple of years; however he has picked up back-to-back victories after his last two fights. He defeated Jason MacDonald at UFC 97 and Credeur at UFC Fight Night 19 for his sixth and seventh octagon victories.

Rivera, 38, also debuted in 2001 and bounced around several different organizations including the UFC. He won six of his first seven bouts including his UFC 44 debut in September 2003 over David Loiseau. After losing his next two, he parted ways with the promotion. He returned two years later and split a pair of bouts until leaving again. He returned for good after The Ultimate Fighter 4, also his third stint with the UFC. He has since won four of his six fights including his last two against Nissen Osterneck and Rob Kimmons.

Prediction – Quarry over Rivera via TKO

Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve

Roy “Big Country” Nelson (14-4) will build off the strength of his UFC debut with a co-main event bout against Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve (19-3) at UFC Fight Night 21. Nelson won The Ultimate Fighter 10 with a KO of Brendan Schaub in December. Stefan Struve upset Paul Buentello in December at UFC 107 with a majority decision victory.

Nelson, 33, is a Las Vegas-based fighter who has experience with several notable organizations. He fought for Bodog Fight, WEF, and Fight Force before joining the International Fight League. He won his last five IFL bouts which included the Heavyweight championship. He dropped back-to-back fights against Andrei Arlovski and Jeff Monson before entering the TUF 10 tournament. He breezed through the heavyweight tournament and easily finished Brendan Schaub to earn the contract.

Struve, 22, is a Dutch born striker who trains with Team Schrijber. He debuted in 2005 and over the next 3 ½ years compiled a 16-2 record. He dropped his UFC 95 debut against Brazilian striker Junior dos Santos losing via TKO but then put together three consecutive victories. He submitted Dennis Stojnic at UFC 99 and Chase Gormley at UFC 104 before grinding out the decision over Buentello.

Prediction – Nelson over Struve via TKO

Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi

“The Fireball Kid,” Takanori Gomi (31-5) will make his UFC debut against Kenny Florian (12-4) at UFC Fight Night’s main event. Gomi comes to the UFC after a much-heralded career in Japan over the last twelve years. Florian rebounded from his title loss to submit Clay Guida at UFC 107 in December.

Gomi, 31, debuted in 1998 and won fourteen in a row to begin his career including winning and defending the Shooto welterweight title. After losing back to back bouts against Joachim Hansen and BJ Penn, he won his next ten which included the PRIDE lightweight title. He recently has been fighting for Sengoku and Shooto. After losing his opportunity for the Sengoku lightweight title, he recovered with two consecutive victories, the last in December over Tony Hervey.

Florian, 33 is a Boston-native who made his name on The Ultimate Fighter 1. He had a 2-1 record before earning the runner-up position at TUF 1. After losing to Sean Sherk at UFC 64 for the vacant lightweight title, he earned six straight victories to get a crack at BJ Penn’s lightweight title. He lost to Penn at UFC 101 but wasted little time getting back in the cage, defeating Guida four months later.

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

Past UFC Fight Night Previews & Projections:

• UFC Fight Night 20 Predictions: Maynard vs Diaz
• UFC Fight Night 19 Predictions: Diaz vs Guillard
• UFC Fight Night 18 Predictions: Kampmann vs Condit
• UFC Fight Night 17 Preview: Lauzon vs Stephens
• More UFC predictions & fight previews from ProFighting-fans.com
• More MMA news articles from ProFighting-fans.com