Raoni BarcelosvsMontel Jackson

Remember when he slept Da'Mon Blackshear in 18 seconds? That left hand is nasty. He's also shown he can go three rounds and grind when he needs to, like that unanimous decision over Daniel Marcos where he landed 67 strikes and controlled over three minutes. But Barcelos is tough as hell and knows how to win close fights. He's been in there with killers and found ways to get the judges' nods. The matchup comes down to whether Jackson can catch Barcelos early with that speed, or if the Brazilian's pressure and durability force this into deep water.

Barcelos has that submission game too. He choked out Cristian Quinonez in the third round, so he's dangerous everywhere. Jackson needs to be sharp because Barcelos doesn't give you easy moments. This feels like a crossroads fight for both guys. Jackson wants to prove that Figueiredo loss was just a tough night in Brazil and defend his #15 ranking. Barcelos wants to keep climbing and show he belongs in the rankings conversation.