UFC Charlotte predictions: Will Jacare spoil Brunson's homecoming?

Prior to Saturday's UFC on FOX 27 in Charlotte, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's noteworthy bouts.

Middleweight

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (7-2 UFC, 24-5)
vs.
Derek Brunson (9-3 UFC, 18-5)

The pair's second meeting should play out much like their first.

Souza has accrued some mileage since he trounced Brunson in just 41 seconds under the Strikeforce banner over five years ago, but Brunson has yet to shake the often fatal habit of charging in to strike with his chin ripe for the tapping. His recent showings opposite Dan Kelly and Lyoto Machida offered cause for optimism, but Jacare can still work around Brunson's stout takedown defense and send him to the mat with his mitts before pouncing for his 15th career submission win.

THE PICK: Souza

Featherweight

Dennis Bermudez (9-5 UFC, 16-7)
vs.
Andre Fili (5-4 UFC, 17-5)

If Fili's track record offers any indication, Bermudez should be the one getting his hand raised.

The equally promising and frustrating Fili has failed to mount a winning streak over nine UFC bouts, but luckily, the often reckless Bermudez will provide him more than one opportunity to do so. Boasting an eight-inch reach advantage and sneaky power in his strikes, Fili should do what many a man has done and put Bermudez on his hind parts before long, and if he can keep his hips out of arm's reach to stifle Bermudez's takedown attempts, he'll soon own his first string of consecutive victories in over four years.

THE PICK: Fili

Lightweight

Jordan Rinaldi (1-1 UFC, 13-5)
vs.
Gregor Gillespie (3-0 UFC, 10-0)

Gillespie's endless motor has guided him to victory 10 times in as many pro contests, and Saturday's date with Rinaldi won't be the exception.

The undefeated lightweight has flashed every wrinkle in his arsenal over a trio of walks to the Octagon, riding his wrestling, striking, and submission skills in equal measure. He'll have to let it all hang out against Rinaldi on fight night, trading leather long enough to set up his takedowns and depriving his foe of any respite once on the mat to earn a decision and keep the "0" on his record intact.

THE PICK: Gillespie

Welterweight

Drew Dober (4-4 UFC, 18-8)
vs.
Frank Camacho (1-1 UFC, 21-5)

In a clash of converted lightweights, volume should get the nod over power.

Each of Dober's last two wins have come by first-round KO, but he'll find himself overwhelmed by a busier and cleaner striker in Camacho. In his hard-fought November win over Damien Brown, the 28-year-old Camacho repeatedly initiated the leather exchanges and gave the Aussie no chance to settle into a rhythm. Look for him to stage a repeat showing and make it two in a row with a victory on points.

THE PICK: Camacho

Featured Preliminary Bout

Lightweight

Erik Koch (4-4 UFC, 15-5)
vs.
Bobby Green (4-3-1 UFC, 23-8-1)

Green has betrayed a tendency to sit back and wait for openings to counter of late, and damning as the habit has proven over his winless drought, it may serve him well on fight night.

Assuming Koch takes the center of the cage and looks to draw first blood - as he's been wont to do - Green's patience should soon be rewarded with openings for rebuttals. If the converted featherweight's mitts begin finding a home on Green's dome, expect the Strikeforce alum to keep him honest with an active jab before piecing combinations together late for his first win since July 2014.

Green by TKO.

THE PICK: Green