UFC Shanghai predictions: Can Gastelum rebound against a former champ?

Prior to Saturday's UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the morning's main-card bouts.

Middleweight

Michael Bisping (20-8 UFC, 30-8)
vs.
Kelvin Gastelum (8-3 UFC, 13-3)

In the first stoppage loss of his career, Gastelum was repeatedly wrestled to the mat by Chris Weidman before tapping to an arm-triangle choke. He won't have to worry about the takedown when he meets Bisping.

Given the Brit's aversion to going to the ground - much less staying there - Saturday's headliner should remain a striking match, with Gastelum churning out one-twos, and Bisping riding his jab and keeping his volume high. Between the now-former champ's alarmingly quick turnaround and Gastelum's much-improved footwork and boxing, don't be surprised if the latter closes the distance against yet another longer foe and makes the former rue his decision to step in on short notice with a TKO.

THE PICK: Gastelum

Welterweight

Li Jingliang (5-2 UFC, 13-4)
vs.
Zak Ottow (2-1 UFC, 15-4)

If this stays upright, Jingliang should make it four in a row.

Ottow hasn't consistently imposed his will with his wrestling over three UFC contests, and none of the men he's faced in the Octagon could make him pay for his limited striking the way Jingliang can. Should the durable Ottow shy away from his grappling once again, expect the hard-nosed Jingliang to walk him down and throw everything short of the kitchen sink his way for a win on points in front of his fellow countrymen.

THE PICK: Jingliang

Featherweight

Wang Guan (0-0 UFC, 16-1-1)
vs.
Alex Caceres (8-8 UFC, 13-10)

For someone with a knockout-riddled resume comprised mostly of fighters scared senseless of a striking match, Guan doesn't let his mitts fly nearly as often as he should.

That won't serve him well against Caceres, whose key to success lies in volume, variety, and unpredictability. From the double punches to the spinning techniques, "Bruce Leeroy" will overwhelm Guan with a bevy of foreign looks en route to a stuffed stat line and a lopsided decision.

THE PICK: Caceres

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Welterweight

Muslim Salikhov (0-0 UFC, 12-1)
vs.
Alex Garcia (4-3 UFC, 14-4)

This one comes down to which version of Garcia shows up in Shanghai.

If the Tristar product rides his wrestling against a veritable sniper in Salikhov, odds are he'll get his hand raised. If he remains bound to his granite mitts in unholy matrimony, he'll be in for a rough day in the cage, as the ever composed Salikhov won't have much trouble slipping Garcia's telegraphed haymakers before sending him to dreamland, as he's done to many a man.

Garcia's tape in his fights with Mike Pyle and Tim Means says the wrong incarnation will take the cage Saturday.

THE PICK: Salikhov