Final Combating Championship (UFC) Heavyweight prospects Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy will battle this weekend (Sat., March 5, 2022) at UFC 272 inside T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After a tough (1-2) begin to his UFC profession, Spivak rattled off a three-fight win streak to actually set up himself contained in the Octagon. That win streak additionally earned him an enormous alternative vs. high prospect Tom Aspinall, who proved an excessive amount of for the Moldovan “Polar Bear.” Hardy’s profession trajectory has been fairly comparable. After struggling to seek out his footing early, Hardy put some wins collectively and took a step up in competitors. The end result? A pair of knockout losses, and Hardy enters this most important card opener on the ultimate battle of his UFC contract.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the keys to victory for every man:
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GRUDGE MATCH! Final Combating Championship (UFC) returns to T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the primary time in 2022 with a extremely anticipated Welterweight match up that can see No. 1-ranked contender, Colby Covington, conflict with former teammate and pal, No. 6-seeded Jorge Masvidal. In UFC 272’s pay-per-view (PPV) most important occasion, former Light-weight champion and No. 6-ranked Rafael dos Anjos will battle rising No. 11-seeded Rafael Fiziev in an intriguing 155-pound contender bout.
Serghei Spivak
Document: 13-3
Key Wins: Tai Tuivasa (UFC 243), Aleksei Oleinik (UFC Vegas 29), Carlos Felipe (UFC Struggle Island 2), Jared Vanderaa (UFC Vegas 19)
Key Losses: Tom Aspinall (UFC Vegas 36), Walt Harris (UFC Struggle Evening 151), Marcin Tybura (UFC Struggle Evening 169)
Keys To Victory: Spivak isn’t an incompetent striker, however he has but to indicate the one-punch knockout energy a lot of his friends convey to the desk. As an alternative, Spivak aggressively chains collectively clinch takedown makes an attempt, and as soon as in high place, he’s an actual menace with each his punches and submissions.
If — and it is a large if — Spivak lands a takedown, this battle might be over. Hardy has confirmed himself a reasonably depressing backside grappler on a number of events, and Spivak has the abilities to make him pay for that weak point shortly. The issue, nevertheless, is that Hardy is usually fairly tough to floor.
The percentages of Spivak hitting his first takedown try of the battle aren’t nice. What’s essential is that he continues to wrestle, conserving the battle within the clinch and draining his opponent. Worst-case, if Spivak is unable to journey or drag his opponent to the mat, he can search for riskier strategies, just like the head-and-arm throw he repeatedly used vs. Tai Tuivasa.
With that kind of sacrificial throw, Spivak should still persuade Hardy to observe him to the canvas if it fails. After the primary spherical, the takedown ought to come simpler as Hardy fatigues.
Greg Hardy
Document: 7-4 (1)
Key Wins: Maurice Greene (UFC Vegas 12), Yorgan de Castro (UFC 249), Juan Adams (UFC on ESPN 4), Dmitry Smolyakov (UFC Struggle Evening 150)
Key Losses: Tai Tuivasa (UFC 264), Marcin Tybura (UFC Vegas 17), Alexander Volkov (UFC Struggle Evening 163), Allen Crowder (UFC on ESPN+ 1)
Keys to Victory: Hardy is a brawler making an attempt to battle like a kickboxer. He doesn’t fairly know the way to keep his distance and throw with energy, so he tends to decide on one or the opposite and remains to be determining the way to mix these worlds.
He hasn’t been combating for all that lengthy, so it’s not precisely a shock.
Oddly sufficient, both technique stands a good shot at working. Hardy is much larger and extra highly effective than Spivak, so bull-rushing him within the hopes of an early end isn’t a horrible concept. On the similar time, if Hardy can keep disciplined, he has the vary instruments to choose Spivak aside for 3 rounds and keep away from the clinch.
Which path to decide on? Effectively, staying disciplined has traditionally been tough for Hardy. That is the person who has given fights away by way of unlawful strikes and inhales. Reasonably than depend on staying good for the complete quarter-hour towards a extra skilled grappler, making an attempt to overwhelm Spivak out of the gate appears the higher transfer.
Backside Line
That is the compulsory Heavyweight battle on a pay-per-view. It’s not nice, however hopefully it’s enjoyable!
Spivak is firmly in the course of the Heavyweight ranks proper now, capable of out-grapple lesser Heavyweights with out situation however struggling towards that higher echelon. Fortuitously, he’s simply 27 years of age, which is exceptionally younger for a Heavyweight together with his expertise stage. Although a win over Hardy would definitely assist his place and set him up for future high-profile fights, Spivak has some respiration room and time to develop additional.
The stakes are greater for Hardy, who might discover himself unemployed with a third-consecutive defeat right here. UFC has pushed Hardy persistently and paid him nicely, however at a sure level, he has to choose up wins to justify his presence on most important playing cards.
At UFC 272, Sergey Spivak and Greg Hardy will open the principle card. Which man earns the victory?
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