Fight fans have been blessed with a surprisingly decent Fight Night card as a parting gift from the UFC before a two-week break. The UFC San Antonio Prelims Predictions has unfortunately seen it’s overall quality take a hit, however, after Manuel Torres was forced off the card due to “weight management issues”. The kill-or-be-killed Lightweight misses an opportunity to win over a vocal Texan crowd at the AT&T Center – but if you don’t make the weight, you ain’t destined to be great.
But, before we kickstart the MMA Predictions, a quick shout-out to Alex Perez ahead of his long-awaited return to the octagon. The 31-year-old has been tasked with toppling a resurgent Manel Kape. It is a brutal piece of match-making but the Flyweight war has all the trimmings of a FOTN.
Where are the UFC San Antonio Prelims taking place?
The Preliminary Card will take place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, United States, on March 25 2023.
What time does the UFC San Antonio Prelims start?
The UFC San Antonio Prelims are scheduled to start at 3PM ET in the US and 8PM GMT in the UK.
Where can I watch the UFC San Antonio Prelims?
The UFC San Antonio Preliminary Card can be streamed on ESPN+ in the US and BT Sport in the UK. You are advised to use official streams for the card and avoid using buffstreams, crackstreams or Reddit streams.
UFC San Antonio: Preliminary Card
Daniel Pineda vs Tucker Lutz
Daniel Pineda has an argument for the funkiest MMA record in recent memory. Before the 37-year-old veteran moved to the UFC, his back-to-back first-round finishes in the PFL were overturned to NCs because of PEDs. A win over Herbert Burns and a loss to Cub Swanson in the UFC preceded yet another no-contest – this time as a result of an accidental eye poke against Andre Fili.
Pineda’s lethal finishing is no joke, but his age and ‘natural approach’ will hit a wall against the relentless pace of Tucker Lutz. A hard grafter from the opening bell, Lutz will force the veteran to match his intensity throughout. Add in Top Gun’s durability and it seems like a tough night’s work for Pineda.
Pineda vs Lutz Prediction: Luts Decision
Steven Peterson vs Lucas Alexander
Steven Peterson’s hell-for-leather journeyman style almost saw him pick up a career scalp over Julian Erosa last time out. Ocho’s body is unlikely to hold up much longer at Featherweight after a career of big weight cuts and inviting damage. There may be another day in the sun for the old dog against Lucas Alexander, however. The Brazilian carries a solid punch but not to the extent that it will earn Peterson’s respect in the opening exchanges.
Peterson vs Alexander Prediction: Peterson Decision
Trevin Giles vs Preston Parsons
Trevin Giles’ chin looked spent after back-to-back KO losses to Dricus Du Plessis and Michael Morales. Fighting for his UFC career, Giles banked early rounds with the surprisingly adept use of his rounded striking and grappling chops. Mental errors have consistently plagued the Texan, though. Such mistakes would be costly against a slick submission artist ala Preston Parsons. Parsons was unceremoniously welcomed to the UFC via Daniel Rodriguez’s KO power but picked up a W over Evan Elder to underline his credentials. A close fight for all the wrong reasons – backing Giles’ restored durability to bumble him through to a split decision.
Giles vs Parsons Prediction: Giles Decision
CJ Vergara vs Daniel da Silva
A potential loser leaves town match-up between the (1-2 UFC) CJ Vergara and (0-3 UFC) Daniel da Silva. The simplest take is that Vergara is tough enough to ride out Da Silva’s first-round threat before capitalising on the exhausted Brazilian. Da Silva’s knack for sprinting out of the blocks at 100mph will eventually see him sneak a win, however. I’m a fan of the heavy-handed, all-action Flyweight. Unfortunately, Da Silva’s style does him few favours against an experienced opponent with technical know-how.
Vergara vs Da Silva Prediction: Vergara TKO Round 2
Vinicius Salvador vs Victor Altamirano
Rolling into the octagon off a second-round KO on the DWCS, Vinicius Salvador looks set to inject venomous power into the Flyweight division. Losses to Jafel Filho and Rafael Costa on the regional scene stemmed from glaring gas tank issues, however. This will remain a problem area until he adopts a more mature approach on the feet. Considering Victor Altamirano will happily oblige in a firefight early doors, it may not prove an issue in his debut. El Magnifico has a knack for pulling rounds back late but the result feels entirely reliant upon his ability to weather an early Salvador storm.
Salvador vs Altamirano Prediction: Altamirano Submission Round 3