What?: The UFC are back in the big time as they roll out in Las Vegas, Nevada just seven days after their successful Fight Night affair to mark their fifth event back in production following a two-month hiatus due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
When and how?: On Sunday 7th June, in the United Kingdom the prelims will begin at 1am on BT Sport with an early prelimary show available via UFC Fight Pass at 12am. The main show will commence at 2am.
Why?: While many sports around the world have paused operation, the UFC have done anything but stop. Dana White and co. have managed to hold four events since May 9, and already have others lined up for the future, with few others high profile sports available the MMA scene continues to be the most exciting currently in existence.
Highlighted Prelim Bout - Alex Caceres v Chase Hooper
As quickly as his skills within the octagon became apparent, the quick wit and savvy social media skills of Chase Hooper also gained worldwide fame - however he will face his ultimate challenge in veteran Alex Caceres.
The featherweights move like no other weight category and these two 145lbs have the ability to steal the show come Saturday night, as they are both at different stages in their careers, they are both looking to take a step closer to a potential future title shot - one that may be way down the road.
Hooper has showcased an unusual durability that quickly garnered mass attention notably following his war with Canaan Kawaihae that featured on Dana White's Contender Series, the bout saw the 20-year-old endure a lot strikes but eventually outlasted his opponent to get the unanimous decision.
Caceres, at 31-years-old has been around the block a few times more than his upcoming foe, having stepped up against the likes of Urijah Faber, Sergio Pettis, Jason Knight and Yair Rodriguez, often on the losing end however, but the former Ultimate Fighter has racked up the best significant strike accuracy while he was competing in the bantamweight division.
While Hooper currently boasts an impressive nine wins and one draw in his young career, the list of notable competitors is few, and despite Caceres maintaining a less than stellar 15-12 record, his experience is vastly superior giving him the edge in this unique pairing. While 'The Teenage Dream' will have a respectable height advantage over his foe - he may be up against too much this early in his career.
Prediction: Caceres by TKO.
Wineland v O'Malley
Both 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley and Eddie Wineland are two truly exciting fighters to open up the historic UFC 250 main card and one that has the potential to for either man to take one step closer to a potential title bout in the near future.
Eddie Wineland's record speaks for itself, all the way back in 2006 at just 21-years-old, he defeated Antonio Banuelos for the inaugural World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight championship, making history and at 35-years-old he is just as durable as he is still competing at a high level.
On the other side of the cage stands a young fighter at just 25-years-old who many believe to be one of the most elite performers in his division garnering 11 straight victories with his most recent coming just a few months ago in March.
Out of Sugar's near perfect record he has finished all but three, but in spite of his perception he is fresh off a lay off for a suspected doping violation as Ostarine was located within his system, he received hip surgery during his time off.
Both men have something to prove however, and despite both maintaining a great record in their careers, there has been little to suggest that anything Wineland can throw at O'Malley, he would not be able to handle.
Prediction: O'Malley by KO.
Magny v Rocco Martin
For those of whom enjoy a technical masterclass then this event was made for you as two high class welterweights with well renowned gas tanks will go toe-to-toe in the 170lbs division.
Neil Magny put on a clinic in this return bout against Li Jingliang winning via unanimous decision after 16 months away from the octagon to tally his record to 15 wins as a Welterweight behind just Matt Hughes (16) and Georges St-Pierre (19), the 32-year-old originally tested positive for a banned substance and stepped away from the sport to contest USADA's findings and ultimately reform their protocol.
Anthony Rocco Martin had a rough start to life in the UFC, losing his first two match ups to Rashid Magomedov and Beniel Dariush, but has since found his footing, losing just twice in his last 10 outings often via unanimous decision.
Prediction: Magny by Decision.
Sterling v Sandhagen
The peoples' fight to determine the number one contender to the future bantamweight champion, that either one of these men could have fought for, with a lot riding on the line you could be witnessing a soon-to-be UFC Champion.
Aljamain Sterling was a man many believed would be fighting Petr Jan for the current vacant Bantamweight championship, however it was the legendary Jose Aldo who got the nod.
With four straight wins in his division, Sterling has a right to feel aggrieved after having his hand raised over Pedro Munhoz and Jimmy Rivera; his style of fighting is unique in that he loves to exchange quickly then create space, but he may be facing off against the most dangerous striker on Saturday.
His dance partner Cory Sandhagen is a man who is yet to lose on UFC Soil having knocked off the likes of John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao - while the 28-year-old may not have tangoed with the same level of opponent he is a true threat and one with a potential skillset to upset Sterling.
Prediction: Sandhagen by Decison.
Assuncao v Garbrandt
While this pairing offers little in terms of potential future for either fighter with any title shot seemingly a distant thought at this point in their careers, their style will be one that would have had fans on their feet - making this unique match up a unique tragedy.
Assuncao at one point in time was on a rocket heading for a title opportunity with a win over TJ Dillashaw and Pedro Muhroz before stalling in his rematch against TJ and then amassing four wins on the trot with Moraes and Sterling on that list; however the 37-year-old has since lost his previous two match ups, with Moraes claiming a win back, and Sandhagen storming through.
Garbrandt fairs little better, with three losses in a row including two to former teammate Dillashaw, it was hard to see how 'No Love' could bounce back following a run that saw him amass an 11-0 record with his eleventh win resulting in a bantamweight Championship win over legendary 135 pounder Dominick Cruz when just 25-years-old.
Both men like to leave it out there in the octagon, and often the former champion will get caught up in the emotion of a clinch and stand toe to toe with his opponent which has resulted in three TKO/KO losses in a row, while Garbrandt has showcased ability few others have reached, most notably in his match up with Cruz, if he could fight smarter and utilise his full range of skills instead of head hunting and looking for the dangerous exchange similar to Darren Till's performance over Kelvin Gastelum, he could may well be a champion once more.
Prediction: Garbrandt by Decision.
Nunes v Spencer
The greatest female mixed martial artist of all time once again puts it on the line as she goes toe-to-toe with a women who went the distant with Cris Cyborg back in 2019.
Amanda Nunes has little left to prove in this sport after amassing 10 straight victories and two World Titles along the way with a list of victims including Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg and Germaine De Randemie; now however she will defend her featherweight title for the first time.
Stepping up to the plate is the former Invicta Women's Featherweight Champion Felicia Spencer, a 29-year-old with just one loss on her record to Cyborg back in July 2019; the Jungle MMA fighter is yet to face a notable list of opponents, however she has only seen the full length of a bout on three occasions with wins coming via submission through her rear naked choke as well as TKO's in her first ever outing and most recently in 2020.
Prediction: Nunes by Decision.
Summary: Spencer went toe-to-toe with one of the hardest hitting women in professional Martial Arts and still kept pushing forward even when the fight was lost, while Nunes has proven her striking to be an effective skill time and time again, she may have to hit hard, land and constantly move to avoid her foe's ground game.
Disagree with this writer's opinion? Get in touch via twitter at @JLampkinMedia and discuss UFC 250 and more.
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