UFC Fight Night 222 looks like a good card for betting, with lots of closely lined matches and an intriguing heavyweight title eliminator for a main event.

Here are my UFC Fight Night predictions for the main card.

Jeremiah Wells vs. Matt Semelsberger

Standing 5’9 at welterweight, Jeremiah Wells is heavily muscled and supremely dangerous in the early stages of a fight.

Wells loads up on his punches and swings from wide angles. It’s not how you’d teach a young student to strike, but his power is undeniable.

The Pennsylvania native is also a proficient grappler with an aptitude for back takes, although his wrestling is not at the same level as his ground game.

Given how energy inefficient he is, I’d be surprised if he can maintain the same frantic pace when dragged into deep waters against a skilled opponent.

Matt Semelsberger is an imposing athlete, but his skill set is crude. He has some heat on his right hand and throws heavy low kicks, but leaves his chin high and relies on his toughness a little too much.

Despite a background in wrestling, Semelsberger’s takedown defense is porous and he is vulnerable to being controlled against a good top-position grappler.

I’m concerned that Semelsberger will get knocked unconscious or put on his back in the early stages of the contest, but I think he can take over if we see the second and third rounds.

I’ll pick Matt Semelsberger to win, but this is a fight I’m looking to live bet.

Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker

Iasmin Lucindo was involved in one of the best female fights in recent years when she dropped a highly competitive decision to Yazmin Jauregui in her UFC debut.

At 24-years-of-age, Lucindo has a bright future in the sport and she’s being matched up favorably here.

I’d describe Lucindo as a technical brawler. She throws big clubbing hooks in the pocket as well as vicious middle kicks to the body.

Her grappling looks serviceable and I think she’ll have a significant strength advantage when the fighters tie up.

Brogan Walker is functional everywhere, but nothing about her game stands out. She will be at a massive speed disadvantage standing and I’m not convinced she will have a grappling path either (although I expect her to try and grind Lucindo against the fence).

I can’t argue with Iasmin Lucindo being lined as a heavy favorite.

Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon

I feel bad for Jared Gordon. He got robbed against the most notorious prospect in MMA and is now taking on a much tougher assignment in Bobby Green.

Gordon is slow and undersized at lightweight, but he’s reliable to fight for your money and will dig deep when the going gets tough.

I like Gordon’s left hook and he may have success ripping body shots against an opponent who slips and rolls with the punches – but I think the speed difference will look pronounced.

Furthermore, Gordon won’t be able to lean on his wrestling. Despite losing to Islam Makachev, Green has excellent takedown defense and is extremely difficult to hold down.

Green likes to fool around in the cage and makes fights closer than they should, but his jab, stance switches and countering ability should give Gordon fits.

Bobby Green is a hard guy to trust as a strong favorite, but this is a great fight for him on paper. 

Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva

Bruno Silva looked like a shell of himself in his last fight with Gerald Meerschaert. Either he was carrying an injury or the many wars in his career have finally caught up to him.

The Brazilian is an unsophisticated striker, yet effective due to his durability and power. If you exchange with him in the pocket, you’re probably going to wake up with your back on the canvas.

Brad Tavares is the superior technician, but he never puts his foot on the gas. He is typically content with cruising to a decision by firing his jab and low kicks for fifteen minutes.

I suspect the Hawaiian will be the minute winner, but he could be on a decline after a lengthy career.

Tavares had a good start against Dricus Du Plessis, then looked ragged in the second and third rounds – which was uncharacteristic of him. He moved straight backward with his chin high and kept absorbing heavy shots.

We’ve seen Tavares get sparked unconscious on numerous occasions and Silva is a plus hitter for a middleweight.

I’d take Bruno Silva at +140 if I was forced to place a wager, but this is not a fight I want to get involved with.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes

If you’ve been following my content for a while, you’ll know I often preach skepticism when assessing a fighter who racks up quick knockout victories.

Sergei Pavlovich has the fastest hands I’ve seen at heavyweight. He has a good lead hand and consistently beats opponents to the punch during exchanges, where he is able to to slip and return with blistering power.

His grappling is still a question mark. Digging through his regional footage, you can see strong hips, a fast sprawl and some nice Greco-Roman techniques from the clinch.

However, he looked woeful when put on his back against Alistair Overeem and it’s unclear how his cardio will hold up in a gruelling style of fight.

Curtis Blaydes is the best wrestler in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He has good trips from the clinch, but I expect him to look for the reactive double leg whenever Pavlovich is throwing punches and his hips are square.

Pavlovich may be able to time an uppercut on a level change since Blaydes doesn’t always set up his entries well, but the Russian is in major trouble if he ends up on the mat at any point. The crushing top control, wrestling rides and mat returns of Blaydes should drain the gas tank of Pavlovich rapidly.

Furthermore, Blaydes is looking more fluid on the feet in recent fights. He is second-best in a striking contest, but the threat of the takedown should help to even things up a little.

Curtis Blaydes must remain defensively aware, but I expect his wrestling advantage to earn him the victory this weekend.