The UFC Vegas 55 main card features five bouts, all of which will be previewed in this post. It will be capped by a pivotal women’s bantamweight showdown between former champion Holly Holm and rising contender Ketlen Vieira. All win probabilities are based on a fighter’s CC Rating and their place in the CC Rankings. You can find the previews for the prelim card HERE.

Eryk Anders vs. Jun Yong Park (Men’s Middleweight)

Eryk Anders

• Record: 14-6-0
• Division Ranking: 34/71 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: +170 (Underdog)

Jun Yong Park

• Record: 13-5-0
• Division Ranking: 57/71 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: -200 (Favorite)

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Both men are coming off of tough losses. Anders’ advantage will be on the feet in the power department, looking for a show-stopping KO. Park has just shown he’s vulnerable. However, expect Park to go back to his technical style and resort to his grappling that has proven very effective in the past.

Editor’s Pick: Park

Polyana Viana vs. Tabatha Ricci (Women’s Strawweight)

Polyana Viana

• Record: 12-4-0
• Division Ranking: 19/45 strawweights
• Vegas Odds: +105 (Underdog)

Tabatha Ricci

• Record: 6-1-0
• Division Ranking: 29/45 strawweights
• Vegas Odds: -125 (Favorite)

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: This fight will feature two experts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Ricci may have more experience in the grappling department, but Viana has eight submissions to her name. If this ends up being a standup game, Viana has a significant reach and frame advantage. Expect that to be the difference maker in an otherwise evenly matched bout.

Editor’s Pick: Viana

Chidi Njokuani vs. Dusko Todorovic (Men’s Middleweight)

Chidi Njokuani

• Record: 21-7-0
• Division Ranking: 28/81 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: -280 (Favorite)

Dusko Todorovic

• Record: 11-2-0
• Division Ranking: 43/81 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: +230 (Underdog)

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: This is a surefire fight of the night contender, provided someone doesn’t get KO’d early. Njokuani finished his UFC debut in just 16 seconds. Todorovic has two finishes in two UFC wins himself. Njokuani has momentum and power on his side. The only thing to watch out for is being taken down. His power will likely keep Todorovic at bay enough to stope the takedown.

Editor’s Pick: Njokuani

[11] Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Michel Pereira (Men’s Welterweight)

Santiago Ponzinibbio

• Record: 29-5-0
• Division Ranking: 12/82 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: +120 (Underdog)

Michel Pereira

• Record: 27-11-0
• Division Ranking: 35/82 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: -140 (Favorite)

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Pereira is one of the wildest fighters in the whole UFC, let alone the welterweight division. Expect fireworks. However, Ponzinibbio (#11 CC, #14 UFC) will be the stiffest competition he’s faced by far. Expect the Argentinian to avenge his split decision loss and be ready for Pereira’s antics inside the octagon.

Editor’s Pick: Ponzinibbio

[4] Holly Holm vs. [5] Ketlen Vieira (Women’s Bantamweight)

Holly Holm

• Record: 14-5-0
• Division Ranking: 5/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: -260 (Favorite)

Ketlen Vieira

• Record: 12-2-0
• Division Ranking: 6/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: +210 (Underdog)

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Vieira (#5 CC, #5 UFC) has used her height and length to her advantage, as she did in her last bout, which raised her to a second straight main event slot. However, she’s struggled against longer fighters. Holm (#4 CC, #2 UFC) will actually carry the slim reach advantage and will come in with her wealth of striking experience. That should mitigate Vieira’s weapons. The only wild card is how the long layoff between bouts will impact Holm. It didn’t in her last bout. No reason to think otherwise tonight.

Editor’s Pick: Holm

Photo Credit: UFC.com