The preliminary fight card for UFC Vegas 37 features 8 bouts. The card was originally slated to feature 9 prior to the cancellation of Motta vs. VanCamp, a fight that would have featured two men making their UFC debuts.

Emily Whitmire vs. Hannah Goldy (Women’s Flyweight)

Emily Whitmire

• CC Rating: 1470.8
• Division Ranking: 40th out of 44 strawweights
• Overall Ranking: 114th out of 121 strawweights

Hannah Goldy

• CC Rating: 1502.6
• Division Ranking: 36th out of 44 strawweights
• Overall Ranking: 103rd out of 121 women

The first fight of the night features two women who previously fought in the strawweight division moving up a weight class. Both have had a rough go as of late. Whitmire is coming off a stretch of two fights where she was finished within the first two rounds each time, albeit against very respectable opponents (Polyana Viana and Amanda Ribas).

Goldy is still searching for her first victory inside the UFC octagon in her third bout. One advantage she may have over Whitmire in this one is that Goldy had previously fought in the flyweight division before moving down to strawweight. We will see if the move back up in weight brings any success and if the move for either fighter is permanent or temporary.

The forecast gives a slight edge to Goldy, given her past record of success before entering the UFC and likely due to the fact that her losses have come by decision, whereas Whitmire is on a streak of being finished early.

CC Projection: Hannah Goldy (54.6%)

Gustavo Lopez vs. Alateng Heili (Men’s Bantamweight)

Gustavo Lopez

• CC Rating: 1568.1
• Division Ranking: 62nd out of 83 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: T-386th out of 501 men

Alateng Heili

• CC Rating: 1506.6
• Division Ranking: 76th out of 83 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: 473rd out of 501 men

This bout features two men with mixed records of success in the UFC. Heili began his UFC career with two decision victories (one split, one unanimous) before dropping a unanimous decision to Casey Kenney in his most recent bout.

Lopez, on the other hand, began his career with a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili. This has become a little more excusable as Dvalishvili is currently on a six fight win streak that has vaulted him into the #11 contender spot in the official UFC rankings (Cage Calculus has him ranked as the #19 contender). Lopez bounced back with a first round submission in his next bout before dropping his most recent contest by a third round KO.

The forecast gives Lopez the advantage in this one.

CC Projection: Gustavo Lopez (58.8%)

Impa Kasanganay vs. Carlston Harris (Men’s Welterweight)

Impa Kasanganay

• CC Rating: 1588.8
• Division Ranking: 60th out of 73 welterweights
• Overall Ranking: 349th out of 501 men

Carlston Harris

• CC Rating: 1604.1
• Division Ranking: 54th out of 73 welterweights
• Overall Ranking: 308th out of 501 men

It is a shame that Impa Kasanganay’s claim to fame is that he was on the receiving end of Joaquin Buckley’s highlight reel spinning back kick that may very well end up being the knockout of the decade. Kasanganay boasts a 9-1 record, with the Buckley fight being his one blemish. He’s since moved down to welterweight where he secured a submission win in his debut.

Harris is riding a four fight win streak, with his last two coming by way of submission. Kasanganay has also netted three submission wins in his 10 fight career. This fight between two men who have relied on submissions may come down to who has the better stand up game.

The projection was narrow, but the forecast gives Harris the razor thin edge.

CC Projection: Carlston Harris (52.2%)

Erin Blanchfield vs. Sarah Alpar (Women’s Flyweight)

Erin Blanchfield

• CC Rating: 1540.0
• Division Ranking: 34th out of 45 flyweights
• Overall Ranking: 87th out of 121 women

Sarah Alpar

• CC Rating: 1478.8
• Division Ranking: 43rd out of 45 flyweights
• Overall Ranking: 111th out of 121 women

Erin Blanchfield finally makes her UFC debut after her most recent attempt fizzled after her opponent, Norma Dumont failed to make weight at 135 lbs. Now, Blanchfield comes down to flyweight to face Sarah Alpar. Blanchfield’s final two fights in Invicta earned her performance of the night bonuses. She’ll look to replicate that here.

Alpar, on the other hand, had a mixed 8-4 record prior to making her UFC debut almost exactly a year ago. She was knocked out in the third round in that bout by Jessica-Rose Clark at bantamweight. Alpar too is making the move down to 125 lbs in hopes of turning it around and spoiling Blanchfield’s debut by getting her own inaugural UFC victory.

The forecast is impressed enough with Blanchfield’s prior performance to make her a decent favorite in this one.

CC Projection: Erin Blanchfield (58.7%)

JP Buys vs. Montel Jackson (Men’s Bantamweight)

JP Buys

• CC Rating: 1510.1
• Division Ranking: 75th out of 83 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: 472nd out of 501 men

Montel Jackson

• CC Rating: 1647.9
• Division Ranking: 37th out of 83 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: 218th out of 501 men

Montel Jackson is making his 7th appearance in the UFC octagon looking to improve on his 4-2 record thus far. Jackson is coming off an impressive first round knockout win in last bout. Jackson is a touted prospect who came into the UFC undefeated out of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) back in August 2018.

JP Buys, also a DWCS product, is still searching for his first UFC win. He lost his most recent bout in the flyweight division via a second round knockout. Buys is making the move up to bantamweight for this one, where the talented Jackson waits to welcome him to the division.

The forecast makes Jackson the biggest favorite of the night, giving him a substantial edge.

CC Projection: Montel Jackson (68.9%)

Rongzhu vs. Brandon Jenkins (Men’s Lightweight)

Rongzhu

• CC Rating: 1578.9
• Division Ranking: 65th out of 84 lightweights
• Overall Ranking: T-358th out of 501 men

Brandon Jenkins

• CC Rating: 1530.0
• Division Ranking: 79th out of 84 lightweights
• Overall Ranking: 448th out of 501 men

This fight features two men each looking for their inaugural UFC win. Rongzhu rode an impressive 10 fight win streak into his UFC debut at UFC 261 in April. However, the fun ended there as he lost a split decision to Rodrigo Vargas. Zhu missed the lightweight limit for this fight, weighing in at 158 lbs.

Brandon Jenkins makes his UFC debut on this card, riding a three fight win streak. One of those netted him the Caged Aggression MMA Catchweight (165 lbs) title. We’ll see if he can keep that success going into a bigger promotion like the UFC.

The forecast gives Rongzhu a decent edge to get his first UFC win.

CC Projection: Rongzhu (57.1%)

Raquel Pennington vs. Pannie Kianzad (Women’s Bantamweight)

Raquel Pennington

• CC Rating: 1613.8
• Division Ranking: 11th out of 29 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: 36th out of 121 women

Pannie Kianzad

• CC Rating: 1605.1
• Division Ranking: 12th out of 29 bantamweights
• Overall Ranking: 41st out of 121 women

This bout features a pair of women vying to break into Cage Calculus’ Top 10 female bantamweights. Ranked 11th and 12th, this promises to be a high stakes affair on the prelim card. Former title challenger Raquel Pennington looks to continue her journey back to title contention after securing a win over Marion Reneau in her last fight. She is 2-2 in her 4 fights since losing her title bid to the #1 pound-for-pound female in the world, Amanda Nunes.

Pannie Kianzad is on the rise in the bantamweight division, winning each of her last four fights, all by unanimous decision. A win over Pennington would be her biggest statement to date and would earn her a shot at someone higher in the rankings.

This fight lives up to its billing with the second thinnest margin of the night. The forecast gives the nod to Pennington as the slight favorite.

CC Projection: Raquel Pennington (51.3%)

Tafon Nchukwi vs. Mike Rodriguez (Men’s Light Heavyweight)

Tafon Nchukwi

• CC Rating: 1544.4
• Division Ranking: 37th out of 43 light heavyweights
• Overall Ranking: 423rd out of 501 men

Mike Rodriguez

• CC Rating: 1518.0
• Division Ranking: 39th out of 43 light heavyweights
• Overall Ranking: 464th out of 501 men

While this featured prelim bout may center on two men trying to climb out of the basement of the light heavyweight rankings, it may not be without its fireworks. It has been over two years since a Mike Rodriguez fight went the distance. He is 1-3 in his last 4 fights.

Tafon Nchukwi boasts an 80% finishing rate. After winning his UFC debut in December of last year, Nchukwi dropped his most recent bout to Jun Yong Park in May. He’ll look to avoid starting a losing streak of his own by handing Rodriguez his third straight defeat.

The forecast gives the advantage in this one to Nchukwi

CC Projection: Tafon Nchukwi (53.8%)