Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is simply in the future away from the upcoming UFC Vegas 71 blended martial arts (MMA) occasion, which is about to go down tomorrow evening (Sat., April 22, 2023) on ESPN+ from contained in the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, that includes a heavyweight primary occasion between Top 5 title hopefuls Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes, a five-round headliner with severe title implications for late 2023 and past.
Earlier than we dive into the primary and co-main occasions, which incorporates the bantamweight collision between Ricky Simon and Song Yadong the middleweight scrap between Brad Tavares and Bruno Silva, take a look at Patrick Stumberg’s breakdowns for the UFC Vegas 71 preliminary card — which he wrote whereas locked inside a Coachella Porta Potty — by clicking here and here. For the newest “Pavlovich vs. Blaydes” odds and betting strains courtesy of our fiscal pals over at Draft Kings go here.
For the remainder of the UFC Vegas 71 primary card predictions click on here.
265 lbs.: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes
Sergei Pavlovich
Report: 17-1 | Age: 30 | Betting line: +140
Wins: 14 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 3 DEC | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 0 DEC
Peak: 6’3“ | Attain: 84” | Stance: Southpaw
Important Strikes Landed Per Minute: 8.07 | Putting accuracy: 51%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.30 | Putting Protection: 48%
Takedown Common: 0.00 (0% accuracy) | Takedown Protection: 66%
Present Rating: No. 3 | Final battle: Knockout win over Tai Tuivasa
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes
Report: 17-3, 1 NC | Age: 32 | Betting line: -165
Wins: 12 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 5 DEC | Losses: 3 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 0 DEC
Peak: 6’4“ | Attain: 80” | Stance: Orthodox
Important Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.54 | Putting accuracy: 51%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 1.70 | Putting Protection: 59%
Takedown Common: 6.05 (53% accuracy) | Takedown Protection: 33%
Present Rating: No. 4 | Final battle: Technical knockout win over Tom Aspinall
Sergei Pavlovich is being positioned as the following large risk at 265 kilos, very like Ciryl Gane was earlier than he obtained uncovered by Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. The Russian bruiser has been in a position to blast his method into the No. 3 spot within the heavyweight rankings on the energy of 5 straight wins, all of which ended by the use of first-round knockout. That appears nice on paper and he’s definitely demonstrated his ending energy, I simply suppose it’s price noting that three of these middling opponents are now not signed to the UFC roster. As well as, Derrick Lewis has misplaced three straight and 4 of his final 5 and I’m undecided his destruction of Tai Tuivasa sounds as spectacular after watching Gane do it the battle earlier than. The one time we noticed Pavlovich face a bona fide title contender, versus only a heavy-handed slugger, he went down in flames by the hands of Alistair Overeem. Historical historical past? Possibly, however it could have been good to see him examined towards a extra dependable heavyweight like Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov, particularly if we’re speaking a few reliable risk to the highest of the pecking order, the place killers like Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones await.
Curtis Blaydes has three losses in UFC and two of them got here towards the since-departed Ngannou. There was additionally that tactical error in judgment towards Lewis once they headlined UFC Vegas 19, a fight-ending state of affairs that would repeat itself if he’s not cautious this weekend in “Sin Metropolis.” I don’t suppose it’s any large secret that Blaydes — who holds division data in High Place Time, Management Time, and Takedowns Landed — shall be seeking to neutralize the hulking Russian together with his wrestling and prime management. Just like the critique levied towards Pavlovich, it could have been good to see how Blaydes stacked up towards Aspinall to measure his skills when paired with a new-school heavyweight. Sadly, the Brit blew out his knee and the battle was over in lower than a minute. Blaydes has serviceable putting however not the type of palms to face and bang with a killer like Pavlovich. The large query is whether or not or not “Razor” can slice via the Russian’s protection to safe the leg(s) with out consuming a Lewis-esque uppercut on entry. You don’t get to 62 takedowns by sheer luck; Blaydes is among the finest wrestlers within the division. We additionally obtained to see Pavlovich taken down one time in his UFC profession and it led to him getting pounded out. I’m anticipating his guard to be a bit stingier this time round however I’m not anticipating it to alter the end result. Blaydes goes to battle sensible, tire out his opponent, and add to his already-impressive wrestling totals.
Prediction: Blaydes def. Pavlovivh by unanimous determination
Word: the next prediction was written by Andrew Richardson earlier than Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva was elevated to co-main occasion. The middleweights take over for bantamweight bruisers Yadong Track and Ricky Simon, who now headline UFC Vegas 72 (details here).
185 lbs.: Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva
Brad Tavares
Report: 19-7 | Age: 35 | Betting line: -160
Wins: 5 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 12 DEC | Losses: 3 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 4 DEC
Peak: 6’1“ | Attain: 74” | Stance: Orthodox
Important Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.30 | Putting accuracy: 43%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.01 | Putting Protection: 56%
Takedown Common: 0.86 (26% accuracy) | Takedown Protection: 80%
Present Rating: Unranked | Final battle: Unanimous determination loss to Dricus Du Plessis
Bruno “Blindado” Silva
Report: 22-8 | Age: 33 | Betting line: +130
Wins: 19 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 3 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 6 SUB, 1 DEC, 1 DQ
Peak: 6’0“ | Attain: 74” | Stance: Orthodox
Important Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.31 | Putting accuracy: 48%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.58 | Putting Protection: 44%
Takedown Common: 0.66 (18% accuracy) | Takedown Protection: 71%
Present Rating: Unranked | Final battle: Submission loss to Gerald Meerschaert
It’s type of wild to think about that Tavares debuted contained in the Octagon at 5-0 a full 13 years in the past. He’s develop into one of the constant and established Middleweights on the roster, combating a “Who’s Who” of the 185-pound division over time. He’s a top quality kickboxer with a wonderful calf kick and really strong takedown protection, which is why the Hawaiian has been in a position to stick across the High 20 or so for such a very long time.
Silva, in the meantime, is a brawler with concrete in his fists, notably if in a position to achieve prime place. Nineteen of twenty-two wins by way of knockout doesn’t occur accidentally, however his final defeat to Gerald Meerschaert was extremely regarding. Silva went from giving Alex Pereira an actual problem on the ft to getting completely picked aside by a submission ace — it was a perplexing efficiency.
I’ll be sincere: that loss actually eliminated my confidence in Silva. On his finest day, he’s completely a problem to Tavares, just because he hits a lot tougher. On the heels of two losses — one in all which noticed him trying fairly gun shy — it’s laborious to belief that finest model of Silva to indicate up. As an alternative, count on Tavares to maintain his distance, chop up the lead leg, and work easily to a call win.
Prediction: Tavares def. Silva by determination
Holland’s two cents: Tavares has been knocked out thrice in his UFC profession and Silva has the hammers to make it 4. Like Richardson, my confidence was rattled by the Brazilian’s lame-duck efficiency towards Meerschaert. Not like Richardson, I feel he had a foul evening and shall be coming again with one thing to show. I count on Tavares to search out his rhythm early and get snug on the ft … just a bit too snug towards a murderous energy puncher like “Blindado.”
I’m taking Silva by knockout.
Don’t overlook to take a look at the remainder of the UFC Vegas 71 primary card predictions RIGHT HERE.
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To take a look at the newest and best UFC Vegas 71 information and notes be sure you hit up our complete occasion archive here. For the up to date and finalized “Pavlovich vs. Blaydes” battle card and ESPN+ line up click here.
