What?: The last instalment of ‘Fight Island’ during this current season will take place with a record number of fights taking place at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
When and how?: The early preliminary fights will start on BT Sport at 11 o’clock until 1am making that 6pm on the east coast. The main card will commence at 1am with a total of seven cards to get through on the main and eight on the prelim stage which could create a potential delay in timings.
Why?: There are a number of fights on the card that could have huge implications on their respective divisions and the future of the UFC. From weight class transitions to undefeated streaks – this card has it all and with 15- fights you are more than getting your money’s worth.
Highlighted prelim bout: Movsar Evloev v Mike Grundy
Both men may be on the undercard but make no mistake these two fighters are high level athletes and separating the pair is almost impossible. Their stare down at the UFC face-off’s is enough to drum interest in this spectacle with impressive records for both men.
Movsar Evloev has amassed a 12-0 record in professional mixed martial arts with two wins already in the UFC, back in February of this year the Russian was expected to make his third appearance in the octagon but a motorcycle accident ruled him out just ten days out.
The pair were supposed to do battle back in 2019 but Mike Grundy withdrew due to injury – now however the former M1 Global champion will be looking to extend his streak. The eastern European will be hoping to keep the fight standing and avoid the dangerous submission game from his opponent.
Grundy may not be undefeated but he boasts just one blemish on his 12-1 record which occurred in 2015 but he since gone on to win all his following bouts – even picking up the Aspera FC Featherweight championship in Brazil in 2017.
The Wigan born has a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling at the commonwealth games and made a statement with his one and only appearance in the UFC so far with his one and only TKO victory back in March 2019 over Nad Narimani – to add to his eight submission victories.
Prediction: Grundy by submission.
Kamzat Chimaev v Rhys McKee
What a story that Kamzat Chimaev has, after dominating in his UFC debut just 11 days ago – the Swedish middleweight demanded a second fight while he remained on Fight Island and Dana White granted him his wish.
The Swede made little work of John Phillips, as he simply took the Welshmen down and unleashed a flurry of punches through round one and then the same story in the following round the British fighter submitted– it was clear that most viewers saw a future Welterweight/Middleweight contender in the making and a short notice fight gets him that one step closer.
Hoping to end the hype of his opponent will be Rhys McKee – the Irishman is undefeated in his last three fights and his upcoming bout will be his UFC debut. The former Bamma lightweight champion would likely appear the smaller man but he will give up just one inch and matched up in height well against his foe during their face-off, but the short notice opportunity plus expected jet lag may play a part.
McKee will much prefer to keep this fight standing after seeing Chimaev easily takedown Phillips but he will need to find his range quick against a man that gets the fight to his most comfortable position quite early – Chimaev has proven himself to be a dangerous opponent and if he gets the takedown and secures a favourable position it may be too much for his counterpart to fend off.
Prediction: Chimaev by TKO
Alex Oliveira v Peter Sobotta
Both men were once heralded as future welterweight challengers but a serious of losses hit them hard both despite their record – both men are just exciting to watch as ever.
Alex Oliviera has fought a murderers’ row list of fighters including Mike Perry, Gunnar Nelson, Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone and Gilburt Burns and with a total of 20 wins and 8 losses he is still a dangerous man to square off against. The Brazilian boasts a heavy kick and can come out of the blocks aggressively but his most recent performances have shown a more reserved fighter that is often easier to telegraph with a gas tank that empties into the third.
Peter Sobotta last fought in March 2018 in a losing effort to Leon Edwards but now returns to create one of the most exciting fights on Fight Island – the 34-year-old has been a part of the UFC since 2014 and in that time a lot of his wins have come in similar ways – a well timed punch before putting his top game into play and looking for the TKO win.
Prediction: Peter Sobotta by Decision.
Paul Craig v Gadzhimurad Antigulov
Both men will enter the octagon with a point to prove – having both held world championships in the light heavyweight division in other promotions their time in the UFC has not gone to plan.
Paul Craig entered the UFC with a 9-0 record and extended his win-streak to 10 in his debut back in 2016 over Henrique Da Silva but lost his following two bouts and has since amassed a 4-4-1 record in the Dana White owned company – interestingly the only draw he has ever earned was against Mauricio Shogun Rua in Brazil in his last fight in 2019.
The 32-year-old has won 11 of his 12 victories by way of submission but will often stand and trade with his opponent which has cost him in the past –a second spinning back kick resulted in him losing balance and being pounced on by Alonso Meinfold who knocked him out on the ground. He often backs up to allow his opponent to come to him and work on his top ground game and look for a submission.
Gadzhimurad Antigulov will have one gameplan and one gameplan only and that will be to get a hold of his opponent’s single leg as quickly as possible – his last outing against Michal Oleksiejczuk saw him emply this tactic in devastating circumstances as he was dropped on numerous occasions as he wrecklessly looked to grab hold of the eventual victor.
Of his 20 wins in MMA, 15 have come by way of submission, his last win however came in May 2017 over Joachim Christensen in much the standard way of strikes to engage and then a takedown before wearing down his opponent and not letting them breath – make no mistake this fight will almost certainly end on the ground.
Prediction: Antigulov by Submission.
Carla Esparza v Marina Rodriguez
In 2020 one of these women are riding a three-fight win-streak and the other has never lost a professional MMA fight – a win for either strawweight could create a potential match up for a future 115lbs title shot at current champion Zhang Weili.
Carla Esparza made history between January 2013 and December 2014 as she won the inaugural Invicta FC Strawweight championship before defeating Rose Namajunas to capture the inaugural Strawweight UFC title. Her place in MMA history is already set but a revitalised veteran has found a new lease of life having defeated Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso and most notably Michelle Waterson in her last three outings.
The 32-year-old boasts 16 wins and just six losses in her career and while often a one dimensional fighter – her style has worked since 2010 with a relaxed demeanour and a heavy preference on ground control which has worked against her when battling ground heavy fighters such as Tatiana Suarez.
Marine Rodriguez was expected to fight Esparza at UFC Fight Night 172 but the Brazilian tested positive for Covid-19 so their pairing was pushed back until a result came back negative - currently she is undefeated in 14 professional MMA bouts with wins over Jessica Aguilar and Tecia Torres; her most recent outing saw her draw with Cynthia Calvillo – having only began her career in 2013 to initially improve her physical health she could soon become a World title challenger.
Her style puts preference on stand up and is as happy on the backfoot as she is pressing forward with her opponent; she will often throw vicious knees and elbows learned from her muay thai background – she is a dangerous striker who managed four TKO wins in her first six fights.
Prediction: Rodriguez by TKO.
Alexander Gustafsson v Fabricio Werdum
A fight that has garnered little attention – a step up in weight for a former multiple time lightweight title challenger against a legend in the twilight of his career, these interesting match-ups are rare in UFC and could be the most intriguing pairing on the heavy card.
Alexander Gustafsson may just be one of the best fighters in the UFC to have never won a World Title having had a Hall of Fame bout with current champion Jon Jones back in September 2013 a 3-4 record following that fight ensued prompting the Swedish fighter to retire in 2019 following his loss to Anthony Smith.
The 33-year-old has plenty of years left in him if he can find the desire to continue and will no doubt be the quicker fighter in his current match-up with a two inch reach advantage he will be hoping to keep the fight on the fight against the former Jiu-Jitsu gold medallist. His last win came against Glover Teixeira in a hit and move style against the veteran and it paid dividends with his patience resulting in a knockdown in the third before a finish in the fifth round from a series of uppercuts wobbling his foe then putting him down with a right straight.
Fabricio Werdum may appear a shadow of the fighter defeated Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt, Walt Harris and Fedor Emelianenko but he will possess all the tools to cause Gustafsson many problems if he can execute his well-travelled game-plan; with his UFC career coming to an end with this being his final contract in the promotion he will hope to end with a victory in the win column having last having his hand raised in 2017 against Marcin Tybura.
Werdum at 42-years-old no longer has the speed advantage on his opponents – while power is heralded as the last to leave a fighter his ability to land a clean strike has largely faded with his last showcase of explosivity coming in his TKO win over Mark Hunt back in 2014. He will throw a series of beautiful kicks but will largely look to get the fight to the ground to work for a submission but against a man with a 85% takedown record that is easier said than done.
Prediction: Gustafsson via decision.
Mauricio Rua v Antonio Noguira
The third meeting of the pair and what you would hope is the last – with both men past their prime, there is little on the line in terms of future prospects except pride.
Mauricio Rua heads into the contest as a 38-year-old but a veteran with two wins already over his opponent, albeit their most recent square off occurred in 2015 and their first meeting took place in 2005 (PRIDE) but having had the number of his dance partner on two occasions it should serve as some form of confidence if anything.
Shogun has been slightly active in the last five years compared to his counterpart, fighting just on just four occasions since their last meeting winning three, losing just once to Anthony Smith and a draw to Paul Craig. His aggressive style has changed very little and while he lost some speed his power remains with TKO victories over Tyson Pedro in 2018 and Gian Villante the year previous.
Antonio Noguiera is a pride veteran with wins over Overeem, Guy Mezger and Dan Henderson, however one man seems to have always had his number in Rua. His last outing was a losing effort to Ryan Spann in what was a poor outing from Lil Nog who was dominated by his much younger counterpart with the difference in speed very noticeable.
The 44-year-old is expected to leave the UFC following this fight with his contract expiring following the fight and with nothing left to prove a trilogy with Shogun will serve as his swansong and final hurrah all wrapped up in one.
Prediction: Rua by TKO.
Main Event: Robert Whittaker v Darren Till
A fight with huge implications for the middleweight division with one man a former champion and another stepping up in weight for second 185lbs clash and dreams of a future title opportunity.
Robert Whittaker is the man who went toe-to-toe with Yoel Romero twice and lived to tell the tale, the Australian embodied a champions spirit and provided exciting fights whenever he stepped into the octagon – while losing to current champion Isreal Adesanya in 2019 he fought a much more different fight to his previous events. The 29-year-old was on a nine-fight win streak prior to most recent loss and a win over a high-profile Englishman could prompt him back into the title picture.
The former champ is able to change his game-plan to suit his opponent and against a technical foe he will be looking to utilise his well rounded game and opt for patience and timing rather than an aggressive flurry which could leave him caught against an elite striker for a second time.
Darren Till made headlines when he defeated Kelvin Gastelum via decision in 2019, the Scouser has been calling for a match-up with Whittaker for months and following a disappointing two fights prior to this he will be desperate for a win to fast track him on the way to UFC Gold in what he says is a ‘dream’ match up for him.
The 27-year-old has a great strike accuracy of 46% but if he is hoping for a knockout he will have to be wary of the power his foe possesses in all of his limbs but having subdued his last opponent, Till will feel much more confident at his natural weight – his left hand may be one of the most deadly in the UFC and his muay thai background will see him look to walk down Whittaker and finish Bobby Knuckles with some well timed punches on the ground.
Prediction: Darren Till by Decision.
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