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Johnny Walker and Anthony Smith will function this weekend’s co-main occasion at UFC Charlotte and followers and media members are excited for the struggle.
The struggle isn’t the primary occasion, however it’s protected to make the argument that it’s the folks’s primary occasion.
Forward of the struggle, let’s take a deeper have a look at the matchup with a breakdown and a prediction. (The breakdown and prediction and in addition be seen within the video above.)
Breakdown
Each Smith and Walker are well-known and are thought-about fan favorites as they’re all the time combating in large matchups, on primary playing cards and even combating in primary occasions.
The 2 are additionally making an attempt to creep nearer to a title shot and the winner ought to have the ability to try this as the 2 are ranked fifth and seventh throughout the official UFC mild heavyweight rankings.
Smith is a former title challenger and he’s posted victories in three of his final 4 fights. In his final outing, he suffered a loss to Magomed Ankalaev, however that’s a loss that isn’t unhealthy on the report as Ankalaev fought for the UFC mild heavyweight title at UFC 282 and lots of felt he ought to have gained the title that evening.
In the meantime, Walker has appeared nice since 2022. He began that yr off on shedding finish of a viral knockout. That loss, like Smith’s loss, isn’t a nasty one because it was now UFC mild heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill who knocked Walker out.
Walker rebounded properly from that loss as he’s coming off back-to-back stoppage wins over Ion Cutelaba and Paul Craig.
Earlier within the week, Walker spoke to MyMMANews in an interview by which he credit these wins to the work he’s been placing in at SBG Eire and he mentioned simply now, in his final two fights, that issues are lastly beginning to click on and sink in from his new fitness center and he’s now a whole fighter.
Story of the Tape
Numerous upside to Walker whenever you view the story of the tape. He’s youthful, taller and longer.
Smith is large himself, nevertheless it’s uncommon to see him being smaller inside the octagon.
Walker will come into the struggle with a six-inch attain benefit and if Smith goes to brawl and make issues a canine struggle like he likes to, he might should eat a couple of photographs coming in.
Prediction: Johnny Walker wins
Oddsmakers are torn. As of Tuesday, DraftKings, Fan Duel and Unibet have the struggle as a decide ‘em struggle. Sport Betting just about has the has a decide ‘em, however Walker has the slight edge of their eyes.
For me, I like Walker to get the win right here.
Positive there’s the upside within the story of the tape, however that’s not simply it for me.
Walker simply appears to be lastly coming into his personal.
There was a time that many media members and followers had him pegged as a future champ, however then he misplaced 4 out of 5 fights.
These day possibly over with now due to SBG Eire. Walker mentioned it earlier within the week that every little thing he’s been studying from the nice coaches in that fitness center are lastly beginning to click on.
He seems like a whole fighter for the primary time in his profession and also you noticed that in his final two outings as he’s gotten it executed on the toes and on the bottom.
Not solely that, however have a look at his private life proper now. He was just lately married, and he’s by no means been happier there as nicely.
An awesome combine between work life and private life is a giant factor in knowledgeable athlete’s profession. Does it imply its a slam dunk win? No. However it simply looks like all roads are main in the direction of a Walker win and the Brazilian reentering the highest 5.
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