Coming out the dumpster fire leading up to UFC 223, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has extinguished the flames and moved on to Glendale, AZ for UFC on FOX 29. This is scheduled to be an outstanding card featuring some of the UFC‘s top contenders and rising stars. With only 2 finishes and 7 decisions at UFC 223 the worlds, top MMA promotion is aiming to give a more fan-friendly viewing experience, finishes. I expect them to deliver!
Prelims
JOTKO VS TAVARES
Kicking off the Fox prelims will be a fight of top 15 ranked middleweights, #13 Krzysztof Jotko (19-3) Vs #15 Brad Tavares (16-5). Both fighters have had long UFC careers suffering losses to only élite level UFC contenders. The Ultimate Fighter 11 winner, Tavares has never fulfilled his hype as TUF 11 winner. Losses to champion Robert Whitaker(19-4), Tim Boetsch (21-11) and Yoel Romero (13-2) have largely derailed his championship aspirations. Jotko (6-3 in UFC) is coming off back to back defeats in 2017 to #10 Uriah Hall (13-8) and # 8 David Branch (21-4) top-ranked middleweights. Once considered a top polish MMA prospect Jotko needs this fight more than Tavares coming off 3 straight decision wins. The story here is both fighters lose to top-ranked fighters and neither guy seems to have a killer instinct to finish a fight(22 combined decisions). Look for both guys to look for an early finish and gas out to a decision, Jotko on the cards.
REIS VS MORAGA
In the 2nd of 4 FOX prelims, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt #6 Wilson Reis(28-2) will take on fellow flyweight contender, the upset-minded #10 John Moraga(18-6). Both men once considered championship contenders at flyweight, this is an important fight in determining the UFC future for both men in the talent-starved division.Regardless of this outcome, both fighters will still have to do some work to once again be considered championship material in the flyweight division. Reis is coming off 2 consecutive losses to Champion Demetrious”Mighty Mouse” Johnson(27-2) and #2 Henry”The Messenger” Cejudo(12-2). (Look out for a Johnson Vs Cejudo rematch this summer) Moraga is coming off a career highlight victory, an impressive TKO of Magomed Bibulatov (14-1) where many experts feel Moraga was fed to a shark and was not expected to win. With both fighters being extremely hungry and competitive I expect lots of great scrambles and submission attempts with Reis’ Jiu-jitsu being too strong and a submission late via arm triangle or rear naked choke.
SALIKHOV VS RAINEY
The 3rd fight of the evening will feature veteran welterweight fighters with limited UFC experience. Making his 2nd UFC appearance. Muslim”King of Kung Fu” Salikhov (13-2) will face Ricky”The Sniper ” Rainey(13-4). Rainey a 7 fight Bellator MMA veteran comes to the other side of the street to make his UFC debut. With both fighters lacking star power and looking to make a name in the UFC I expect fireworks early. Both men not being huge on grappling should come out firing leather. The difference here being Rainey is stepping in on 2 weeks notice and Salikhov was training for war with a killer Abdul Razak Alhassan (9-1, 9 KO). “The King of Kung Fu” will make short work of Rainey and improve his UFC record to 1-1 with an impressive KO!
BOETSCH VS CARLOS JR
In a middleweight fight, 18 fight UFC veteran Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (21-11) will go to war with 9 fight UFC veteran and BJJ Black Belt Antonio”Cara de Sapato” Carlos Jr (9-2). Both men enter this contest at opposite ends of the career spectrum. The 37-year-old Boetsch come into action having dropped 7 of his last 12 UFC fights, clearly on his last MMA leg. The 28-year-old Carlos Jr is primed and ready having won his last 4 fights including 3 by rear naked choke, clearly entering his MMA prime. I anticipate more of the same, an over the hill Boetsch struggling with Carlos Jr takedown attempts and grappling. Boetsch will tire early, Carlos Jr will push the pace and finish Boetsch via Kimura early in the second.
Main Card
WATERSON VS CASEY
The only ladies matchup on the fight card will be a high energy high action banger in the UFC Strawweight division. Fan favourite #7 Michelle”The Karate Hottie” Waterson (14-6) is scheduled against #10 Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey (7-5) in a fight that will provide some clarity in the middle of the 115lb division. Waterson a former Invicta FC fighter is 2-2 in the big league and will feature high-level striking that compliments her 9 submission victories. Casey is as advertised, “Cast Iron” having only been finished 1 time by submission. “Cast Iron” is coming off a controversial split decision loss to #8 Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig (14-7) at UFC218. Casey will be aggressive looking to avenge the loss to Herrig and should dispatch Waterson from the octagon losing her 3rd straight.
ADESANYA VS VETTORI
In a fight that is sure to feed our MMA appetites 2 of the UFC‘s top middleweight prospects will face off. Internet hype machine Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya (12-0) and Marvin “The Italian Dream” Vettori (12-3) will explode in Glendale this Saturday. With Adesanya coming off an impressive debut in the octagon and keeping his 100% stoppage rate intact Vettori could be in for a short night? Vettori has never been finished inside of a cage with all 3 loss by way of decision. Things are subject to change. “The Last Stylebender” will say sweet dreams to “The Italian Dream” laying him down to sleep in another highlight KO finish in round 1 sure to break Twitter.
CONDIT VS OLIVEIRA
UFC Glendale should prove to be all about the fans, this fight is no exception! After a switch of opponents, several weeks out #12 Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit (30-11) will man up against an underrated Welterweight for Alex “Cowboy” Oliviera (17-5-1-2). “Cowboy ” gallops into the duel as a late replacement for “The Immortal” Matt Brown (21-16) who suffered a torn ACL in training. “The Natural Born Killer ” has been anything but, once rumoured to be retired now losing 3 in a row and 6 of last 8. “Cowboy” on the other hand is coming off 2 wins and a close loss. His loss is a Fight of The Night against Yancy Medeiros (15-5) at UFC 218 that was one of the top fights of 2017. “Cowboy” Oliveira is a veteran that will not be bothered by the short call up and will devastate a past his prime Condit who appears to have hung on too long.
POIRIER VS GAETHJE
The much anticipated main event has everything fight fans could ask for. Warriors of the lightweight division #5 Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (22-5) will knuckle up with #6 Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (18-1). Any time these guys show up in a cage violence is not far behind. This pattern will hold form in Glendale. Gaethje always looks to brawl with his biggest attributes being his chin and his heart. Poirier is a much more well-rounded fighter with similar skills to Gaethje. Gaethje in the past has admitted to not working hard and showed up to his fight against Eddie”The Underground King” Alvarez (29-5) at UFC218 clearly not in peak physical condition. Poirier is a savage and poised to make a title run in the UFC. I doubt this fight will see the 25-minute mark with “The Diamond” coming out sparkling being able to put away a fading Gathje late via strikes.
This will prove to be an exciting action-packed card for UFC fans. UFC Glendale is truly stacked from top to bottom and is a must-see event even for a casual MMA fan. DO NOT MISS THIS CARD!!!!!
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