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Bantamweight’s most fearsome striker meets its most prolific takedown artist this weekend when former champion Petr Yan battles streaking contender Merab Dvalishvili within the UFC Las Vegas headliner, scheduled for this Sat. night time (March 11, 2023) inside The Theater at Virgin Accommodations in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Don’t get too excited, UFC will return to the APEX facility subsequent month for “Pavlovich vs. Blaydes.”
UFC Las Vegas additionally sees heavyweight hurter Alexandr Romanov look to bounce again from his first-ever defeat on the expense of perennial contender Alexander Volkov, not lengthy after Ricardo Ramos battles Austin Lingo at 145 kilos.
Eight “Prelims” bouts this time, all of which precede the principle card, additionally on ESPN+.
Right here’s the primary batch.
125 lbs.: Ariane Lipski (14-8) vs. JJ Aldrich (11-5)
“Violence Queen” battled her method out of a two-fight skid with consecutive wins over Isabela de Padua and Luana Carolina, the latter of which earned her Efficiency of the Night time. She’s but to recapture that kind, shedding three of her final 4 inside the gap. She’s knocked out six professional foes and submitted one other three.
Aldrich quietly labored her method by way of the ranks with a 7-2 run, highlighted by a dominant choice win over Gillian Robertson. Her subsequent effort pitted her towards Erin Blanchfield, who handed Aldrich her first professional submission loss since 2015 by way of guillotine. She stands an inch shorter than Lipski at 5’5”.
I actually did wish to see Lipski succeed, and I held onto hope for the longest time that she’d repair what ailed her. Getting outslugged by Priscila Cachoeira has me pondering it’s time to chop bait. That’s to not say that she will’t overpower Aldrich on the toes, simply that I don’t belief her to execute towards a seasoned, well-rounded striker with the wrestling to take advantage of Lipski’s without end weak backside sport.
My fingers are crossed that Lipski, who’s nonetheless simply 29, can dwell as much as her potential. That’s simply my coronary heart, although, and my head says Aldrich takes the trail of least resistance and wrestles her method to victory.
Prediction: Aldrich by unanimous choice
135 lbs.: Victor Henry (22-6) vs. Tony Gravely (23-8)
Henry’s years of success on the Japanese circuit lastly led to a UFC debut in January 2022, and “La Mangosta” made the a lot of the alternative by upsetting Raoni Barcelos at UFC 270. Then got here Raphael Assuncao, who handed Henry an upset defeat of his personal 9 months later. He’s the taller man by two inches however faces a one-inch attain drawback.
Gravely rebounded from his Combat of the Night time UFC debut loss to Brett Johns with wins in 4 of his subsequent 5, together with a bonus-winning knockout of Anthony Birchak. He managed to win the primary spherical towards fast-rising prospect Javid Basharat final outing, however in the end discovered himself outworked down the stretch for his third Octagon defeat. 10 of his 13 professional stoppage wins have come by knockout.
As with most of his fights, Gravely has the instruments to win comfortably. He’s a good bit sooner and extra highly effective than Henry on the toes and boasts a a lot superior wrestling pedigree. The query is how lengthy Gravely can hold it collectively; he’s pale late and thrown away winnable fights earlier than, which is a nasty behavior to have towards somebody as sturdy, seasoned, and protracted as Henry.
I’m leaning Henry’s method, although simply barely. His takedown protection held up pretty properly towards Barcelos and he’s expert sufficient off of his again to no less than make Gravely spend very important energy making an attempt to carry him down. The tide turns proper across the center of the second spherical, permitting Henry’s quantity to take over late and safe a slim win.
Prediction: Henry by break up choice
125 lbs.: Tyson Nam (21-12-1) vs. Bruno Silva (12-5-2)
Nam’s two-fight knockout streak got here to an finish by the hands of Matt Schnell, who edged out a break up choice in January 2021. An almost 19-month layoff adopted, which Nam resulted in dramatic trend with a one-punch Efficiency of the Night time knockout of Ode Osbourne. All however one in every of his 14 professional finishes have come by (T)KO..
Silva, a former TUF: Brazil 4 competitor, struggled his method to an 0-2 (1 NC) UFC begin. Subsequent efforts proved extra fruitful, as he knocked out JP Buys and Victor Rodriguez for back-to-back bonuses. He fights for the primary time in virtually 22 months.
Everyone knows the Tyson Nam script at this level. He’s, at 39 years previous, the identical Tyson Nam he’s at all times been: heavy-handed, sturdy, tough to take down, and disinclined to throw extra punches than absolutely the minimal wanted to render his opponent unconscious. Preventing him is a take a look at of composure greater than anything; he received’t make his personal alternatives, however you’d rattling properly higher not give him any.
I believe Silva’s as much as the duty. He’s stood as much as heavy hitters earlier than and affords sufficient selection in his putting and grappling to maintain Nam from lining up a counter. He walks the tightrope properly sufficient to outwork Nam for a cushty choice win.
Prediction: Silva by unanimous choice
170 lbs.: Carlston Harris (17-5) vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (17-3-1)
Harris adopted his shock upset of Saygid Izagakhmaev with first-round UFC finishes of Christian Aguilera and Impa Kasanganay. He then signed to face Shavkat Rakhmonov, who put “Moambique” away with a wheel kick late within the first. He’s knocked out and submitted 5 professional foes apiece.
Nurmagomedov’s prolonged stint in WSOF/PFL got here to an finish in October 2018 when he battled UFC veteran Bojan Velickovic to a draw. He’s fought simply 3 times since, most just lately out-dueling Gadzhi Omargadzhiev at UFC 280. He offers up 4 inches of attain to Harris.
A lot of enjoyable storylines right here, from Nurmagomedov making an attempt to avenge Izagakhmaev to the final stylistic conflict between Nurmagomedov’s more and more polished total sport and Harris’ semi-improvisational violence. Although I genuinely imagine Nurmagomedov has improved significantly throughout his time within the Octagon, I’m nonetheless leaning in direction of Harris; he’s by far the higher finisher, can maintain his personal within the grappling, and packs sufficient energy to make up for his technical deficiencies on the toes.
Nurmagomedov may need what it takes to stroll the tightrope towards Harris, however between Harris’ potential to finish a combat out of nowhere and his success towards a really related fighter in Izagakhmaev, odds are he’ll discover Nurmagomedov’s neck earlier than too terribly lengthy.
Prediction: Harris by first-round submission
4 fights to go, together with two UFC debuts from a pair of “Contender Collection” standouts.
Similar time tomorrow, Maniacs.
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your entire UFC Las Vegas combat card right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET, adopted by the remaining foremost card stability (additionally on ESPN+) at 6 p.m. ET.
To take a look at the newest and best UFC Las Vegas: “Yan vs. Dvalishvili” information and notes make sure to hit up our complete occasion archive right here. For the up to date and finalized UFC Las Vegas combat card and ESPN+ lineup click on here.
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