Prelims - 4PM EST Start
ALEXIS DAVIS (20-11) VS JULIJA SOLIARENKO (9-5-1)
Women’s Bantamweight (135)
- Bondar Round 1 ...Gordon is an entertaining, well-rounded fighter whose main issue lies in his chin. Against another aggressive opponent, Gordon lacks the power to keep Bondar off his hips or defensive grappling to escape the Ukranian’s ground and pound. Granted, much of Bondar’s success has come against less than reputable opponents, but his athletic prowess remains clear as day.
- Witt Decision ...Rowe’s freakish 80.5″ reach combines with solid striking and surprisingly functional wrestling to the extent that ‘The Fresh Prince’ deserves a tiny slice of hype behind his name. Unfortunately, Rowe isn’t a one-shot KO machine, but instead grinds opponents down with successive barrages – not ideal against a stronger wrestler.
- Almeida Sub ...Marques is a powerful grappler and submission artist with surprisingly natural ability on the feet, but the Brazilian struggles to last beyond the 1st round. Both subm specialists are decent on the feet, with Marques’ range likely edging the two, but it will be a coin flip on the mat in the first round. If Almeida can keep Marques off his back, the thirty-year-old should be able to impress in his UFC debut.
ALEXIS DAVIS (20-11) VS JULIJA SOLIARENKO (9-5-1)
Women’s Bantamweight (135)
- Davis Decision ...Alexis Davis has aged fairly gracefully, in part due to the poor nature of the division, but also because of a transition to a striking-focused approach. Short boxing combinations, regular low kicks and a sticky top game are designed to consistently deliver decision victories – especially against armbar merchants such as Stoliarenko.
MARC-ANDRE BARRIAULT (13-4) VS CHIDI NJOKUANI (20-7)
Middleweight (185)
Middleweight (185)
- Barriault Decision ...This could well be a terrible stylistic fight in regards to entertainment. A risk-taking brawler against a tentative, patient, risk-averse veteran. Njokuani is unlikely to have the power or fleet footwork to keep Barriault off him, allowing the Canadian to tie him to the cage or mat.
HAKEEM DAWODU (12-2-1) VS MIKE TRIZANO (9-1)
Featherweight (145)
Featherweight (145)
- Dawodu ...Dawodu’s masterful distance control and timing offer a sharp, natural counter-puncher – but the pieces just haven’t fallen into place enough times over the past few years in a ‘highlight reel’ package. While Trizano could replicate Evloev’s success behind a wrestling heavy gameplan, Trizano lacks the Russian’s explosive burst to punish Dawodo’s lazy TDD. Trizano’s pressure kickboxing is functional, but Dawodu has dealt with a solid jab before.
Main Card:
JULIAN EROSA (26-9) VS STEVEN PETERSON (19-9)
Featherweight (145)
JULIAN EROSA (26-9) VS STEVEN PETERSON (19-9)
Featherweight (145)
- Erosa Decision ...If everything goes to plan, Erosa and Peterson should provide a war in the pocket and FOTN bonuses for both men. Under the covers, Erosa has been sharpening his technical tools (gauging distance earlier, timing sharper counters) but the powerful front-foot aggression remains Erosa’s selling point. Peterson’s chin is slowly showing the miles of a long, punishing career and could unravel under the heat of Erosa’s hands, but the career durability is still too sticky to overlook.
BRYAN BATTLE (6-1) VS TRESEAN GORE (3-0)
Middleweight (185)
Middleweight (185)
- Battle Sub ...A TUF match-up several months later, this is the caliber of fight that shouldn’t be featured on a UFC card. A fantastic chin and an opponent willing to eat shots are a decent combination for Gore to claim the scorecards. The edge in experience and activity is too deep to overlook Battle overcoming early adversity.
SAM ALVEY (33-16-1) VS BRENDAN ALLEN (17-5)
Middleweight (205)
Middleweight (205)
- Allen ...Low output, defensively savvy-ish, Sam Alvey allows himself to drop every round while searching to land one shot from his powerful left hand. Allen’s clear grappling advantage will struggle to shine as Alvey has shown a frustrating ability to keep himself standing, leaving Allen to his voluminous striking that torches what little he has in the gas tank. I can’t ever pick Alvey to win a fight at this stage, but if Smilin’ were ever to break his slide, this is a perfect last-minute opponent.
SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV (14-0) VS CARLSTON HARRIS (17-4)
Welterweight (170)
Welterweight (170)
- Rakhmonov Sub ...Carlston Harris is a huge threat considering his unorthodox striking, natural length and wild aggression – but his many flaws will allow Rakhmonov to slowly adapt to the fight. Harris’ superb work from the body lock is intriguing, considering Oliveira’s success in controlling Rakhmonov for periods of their fight. More likely, however, is that Harris’ aggression and liberal risk-taking see him walking in to a finish earlier than Rakhmonov’s chin being broken.
PUNAHELE SORIANO (8-1) VS NICK MAXIMOV (7-0)
Middleweight (185)
Middleweight (185)
- Soriano KO ...Takedown machine, Nick Maximov, requires a huge step-up to survive with his consciousness intact. If Maximov can escape the first-round unscathed, the Oregon native could pin a tiring Soriano to the mat with ease. More likely, however, Soriano returns to his first-round knockout artistry.
Main Event
JACK HERMANSSON (22-6) VS SEAN STRICKLAND (24-3)
Middleweight (185)
JACK HERMANSSON (22-6) VS SEAN STRICKLAND (24-3)
Middleweight (185)
- Strickland Decision ...A fantastic defensive wrestler, Strickland is primed to engage Hermansson in a solely striking match. Even with a long, powerful jab, Hermansson can often get flustered against pressure strikers. Using volume to dictate range, the Swede attempts to keep opponents gun-shy under a barrage of flurries. Strickland, owning the heavier hands and cleaner technicals, should be able to bully Hermansson from the opening bell. Despite representing one of the better MW grapplers, Hermansson will struggle to get Strickland to the mat. Sure, it was Welterweight, but Strickland restricted Kamaru Usman to just 2 of 8 takedowns back in 2017. The only potential is if Hermansson sets an uncomfortable pace early and tests Strickland’s gas tank at this weight. Not likely, but food for thought.
