UFC Fresno predictions: Will Ortega stay perfect vs. a perennial contender?

Prior to Saturday's UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno, Calif., theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's noteworthy bouts.

Featherweight

Cub Swanson (10-3 UFC, 25-7)
vs.
Brian Ortega (4-0 UFC, 12-0)

As one of the featherweight division's top Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, Ortega can usually trade bombs from the pocket with reckless abandon, knowing a trip to the mat will spell doom for his foe.

But Swanson is no Renato Moicano.

The top-five fixture's porous submission defense has often done him in, but he can rest easy knowing he's the strongest striker Ortega has faced. As long as he can keep the action standing, Swanson should cut angles and give the undefeated Ortega a bevy of different looks before scoring a late knockout.

THE PICK: Swanson

Featherweight

Jason Knight (4-2 UFC, 20-3)
vs.
Gabriel Benitez (3-2 UFC, 19-6)

Fight fans have affectionately dubbed Knight "Hick Diaz" for a reason.

The 25-year-old always comes to throw down and boasts downright nasty skills on the mat - hence the comparisons to the beloved Diaz brothers - but he'll meet an equally gritty dance partner and submission artist in Benitez. Whether it's Knight or Benitez who takes the fight to the ground, expect the former to flash his edge in transitional grappling and secure a tapout to get back in the win column.

THE PICK: Knight

Bantamweight

Marlon Moraes (1-1 UFC, 19-5-1)
vs.
Aljamain Sterling (6-2 UFC, 14-2)

In what could result in yet another split verdict, Sterling's wrestling and unorthodox movement should extend his win streak to three.

Moraes often takes the center of the cage and picks off his more mobile foes with power shots, but Sterling's speed and awkward lateral movement could give him fits like the diminutive John Dodson couldn't. The 28-year-old Sterling should score primarily with a steady stream of kicks from the outside and ride his wrestling to steal every round with some well-timed takedowns.

THE PICK: Sterling

Lightweight

Scott Holtzman (3-2 UFC, 10-2)
vs.
Darrell Horcher (1-1 UFC, 13-2)

Horcher submitted a gritty, workmanlike performance against Devin Powell in his return to action this past June, and he'll have to replicate it to get past Holtzman.

The 34-year-old Holtzman's fast starts haven't translated to stoppages in his handful of UFC bouts, and Horcher's wrestling should sap his already meager gas tank much more quickly than usual. Look for Horcher to make it a grinding affair with some clinch work against the fence, then wrestle a fatiguing Holtzman to the canvas and pepper him with ground-and-pound en route to a W on points.

THE PICK: Horcher

Middleweight

Eryk Anders (1-0 UFC, 9-0)
vs.
Markus Perez (0-0 UFC, 9-0)

In this clash of undefeated middleweights, technique and movement will get one over on power.

As Rafael Natal can confirm, Anders owns cinder blocks for fists, which should prompt Perez to methodically work from the Octagon's outside, circle away from the southpaw's power left, and chip away at his base with low kicks. That plan of attack won't produce many fireworks, but it'll keep the former LFA champion's brain matter - and the zero on his record - intact.

THE PICK: Perez

Bantamweight

Albert Morales (1-2-1 UFC, 7-2-1)
vs.
Benito Lopez (0-0 UFC, 8-0)

Luckily for Lopez, his first UFC dance partner won't be looking for a dogfight like his last foe, Steven Peterson.

The highly touted Team Alpha Male product gets a favorable stylistic matchup for his promotional debut in Albert Morales, who should oblige him with a striking duel - at least for the first two rounds. Lopez's jab can piece Morales up for an early lead on the scorecards, and if he can stuff his foe's last-ditch efforts to bring the fight to the mat - as Morales did late against Andre Soukhamthath - he'll get his hand raised in his maiden voyage to the Octagon.

THE PICK: Lopez

Related: Why you should be excited about Benito Lopez's UFC debut

Featured preliminary bout

Women's flyweight

Alexis Davis (5-2 UFC, 18-7)
vs.
Liz Carmouche (3-3 UFC, 11-5)

Unless she can keep the fight on the feet, Davis will be in for a rough night against the anvil that is Carmouche.

Armed with a Muay Thai background, the 33-year-old owns the edge in the striking department, but it won't be a factor in her rematch with Carmouche, a ball of muscle who'll waste little time fishing for takedowns. If Carmouche can close the distance and wrestle Davis to the mat, her top control should prove enough to even the score with the Ontario native, who bested her by decision four years ago.

Carmouche on points.

THE PICK: Carmouche