The UFC 273 prelim card features eight bouts, the first four of which will be previewed in this post. It a bout between veteran heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik (pictured above) and Jared Vanderaa, initially slated to take place two weeks ago. All win probabilities are based on a fighter’s CC Rating and their place in the CC Rankings.

Julio Arce vs. Daniel Santos (Men’s Bantamweight)

Julio Arce

• Record: 17-5-0
• Division Ranking: 22/78 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: -195 (Favorite)

Daniel Santos

• Record: 10-1-0
• Division Ranking: 52/78 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: +165 (Underdog)

Prior to joining the UFC, Arce compiled a 15-2 record, with the only two blemishes being Ring of Combat title fight losses against fellow future UFC bantamweight, Brian Kelleher. Arce would move up to featherweight and still back up the hype with two straight wins right off the bat in the UFC including over contender Dan Ige (NR CC, #10 UFC). However, he’s since alternated wins and losses and has now moved back down to 135 pounds. His last outing saw him get knocked out by phenom, Song Yadong (#7 CC, #9 UFC). Arce is a capable finisher though, with three finishes in his four UFC wins.

It’s been over two years since Santos last fought professionally, awaiting his UFC debut. He was close last October, but two fights with Timur Valiev and Marcelo Rojo each fell through. Barring any last minute issues, it looks like he’ll finally get in. With seven finishes and ten wins at the age of just 27, it’s not difficult to tell why the UFC is excited about Santos.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Arce has been around and fought top tier competition. Santos will also be facing ring rust due to his extended layoff.

Editor’s Pick: Arce

Piera Rodriguez vs. Kay Hansen (Women’s Strawweight)

Piera Rodriguez

• Record: 7-0-0
• Division Ranking: 19/44 strawweights
• Vegas Odds: -120 (Favorite)

Kay Hansen

• Record: 7-5-0
• Division Ranking: 40/44 strawweights
• Vegas Odds: +100 (Underdog)

Rodriguez makes her debut in the UFC carrying an undefeated 7-0 record. Rodriguez is a brawler, keeping the fight on the feet and getting into heavy-handed exchanges. As her record shows, she always wins these exchanges and often clearly enough to end fights. Rodriguez carries five knockouts in her career. The Venezuelan is looking to put the UFC strawweight division on notice after she took home the LFA strawweight title via first round KO.

Hansen returns to strawweight in dire need of some momentum. This will be her fourth consecutive fight against someone making their UFC debut. She’s 1-2 in her endeavors thus far, having lost each of her last two. Hansen is typically a ground fighter, but showed some real vulnerability in her most recent matchup with Jasmine Jasudavicius, who dominated on the canvas. Going against a pure striker like Rodriguez, Hansen should feel comfortable getting back to the grappling that made her an exciting prospect in the first place.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Hansen has battled through some adversity with a chance to show it’s made her better. The key will be getting this fight to the ground. If she does it, she should be able to control the bout. Count on her finding a way to avoid losing a third straight.

Editor’s Pick: Hansen

Anthony Hernandez vs. Josh Fremd (Men’s Middleweight)

Anthony Hernandez

• Record: 8-2-0
• Division Ranking: 47/69 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: -200 (Favorite)

Josh Fremd

• Record: 9-2-0
• Division Ranking: 56/69 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: +170 (Underdog)

Hernandez found early success in his career, jumping out to a 6-0 start, including winning the LFA middleweight title over Brendan Allen (#14 CC, NR UFC). He scored a KO win in his DWCS appearance, but had it overturned due to a positive marijuana test. He earned a contract nonetheless and is now 2-2 in the UFC. Hernandez is a superior grappler, with six of his eight career wins coming by way of submission. He is, hwoever, vulnerable to finishes, having never lost a fight by decision in his career.

Fremd fills in on relatively short notice after Dricus Du Plessis stepped up to take on Kelvin Gaselum instead of Hernandez (that bout has since fallen through). He is a more interesting stylistic matchup, as he is also very comfortable on the mat. Fremd is also well-rounded, with four KOs to go along with his three submissions. Fremd stands at 6′ 4″ and will be the longer fighter in the cage.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: This matchup could cause problems for Hernandex ordinarily. However, with the short notice nature of this bout, Hernandez’s takedown hunting will likely be more successful and easier to wear Fremd down.

Editor’s Pick: Hernandez

Aleksei Oleinik vs. Jared Vanderaa (Men’s Heavyweight)

Aleksei Oleinik

• Record: 59-16-1
• Division Ranking: 17/37 heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: -105 (Underdog)

Jared Vanderaa

• Record: 12-7-0
• Division Ranking: 34/37 heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: -115 (Favorite)

Oleinik is one of the most dangerous submission artists in the history of MMA, let alone the UFC. Oleinik boasts a stunning 59 career wins, with a whopping 46 of those wins coming by way of submission. At 44, Oleinik has certainly slowed a bit and is loser in each of his last three bouts. But, once the fight gets to the ground, it’s his world and difficult to think of any man who can best him in a grappling bout.

Vanderaa takes this fight after Ilir Latifi dropped out. He’s lost each of his last two and is a disappointing 1-3 in his UFC career. Vanderaa does have a ground game of his own, landing about 80 percent of his takedown attempts. He carries seven KOs and three submissions through 12 career wins.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Vanderaa should have the speed advantage, being the much younger fighter, but his last bout saw him lose to the longest tenured fighter in the whole of the UFC, Andrei Arlovski. So, not even that can be counted on to put him over the edge in a fight he’s taking on short notice.

Editor’s Pick: Oleinik

Photo Credit: First Round Management