Final Preventing Championship (UFC) has lastly left the Apex with a “Struggle Evening” occasion set at UFC Atlantic Metropolis inside Boardwalk Corridor in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey, that includes Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fio. Lott’s ladies’s flyweight match will probably be held. Within the co-main occasion, Vicente Luque will tackle Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight scrap.
What’s sizzling:
For the second week in a row, the ladies’s flyweight division will see Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fioroto sq. off in what needs to be a title battle to find out who will get the subsequent likelihood on the belt presently held by Alexa Grasso. Will probably be the middle of the match that will probably be fought over. In fact, the winner must wait a bit for a possible title shot. Meaning a protracted wait, as Grasso is ready to teach Valentina Shevchenko within the subsequent version of The Final Fighter. That mentioned, there is a good likelihood the winner of this battle will face Rose Namajunas. However that is placing the cart earlier than the horse they usually have extra urgent duties to cope with for the time being if they’re to get a win tonight.
This match is a fair match and may very well be among the finest matches in ladies’s MMA going ahead, together with the title battle. Blanchfield is presently ranked No. 2 within the division and has gained all six of her fights within the UFC, extending her win streak to 9 and enhancing her total report to 12-1. Alongside the way in which, “In Chilly Blood” defeated Jessica Andrade, Molly McCann, and most not too long ago Tyra Santos in August 2023. Blanchfield is the true deal and has confirmed to be a reliable risk to the 125-pound fighter when the time comes for her to problem for that title, no matter who’s sitting there.
As for Fiorotto, she’s simply as sizzling, beginning her UFC profession with six straight wins and driving an 11-fight win streak. In truth, her greatest win throughout that interval was towards her aforementioned Rose Namajunas, who spoiled her “Thug Rose” debut at 125 kilos in September 2023. Oops. Now ranked No. 3 in his division, the fighter is out to show he deserves the title. She achieved victory over a formidable opponent who additionally had championship ambitions.
What will not be:
Chidi Njokuani has misplaced three straight contained in the Octagon and Rhys McKee is getting back from a loss to Ange Roosa, however UFC matchmakers thought the 170-pound bout deserved a spot on the principle card. . Name me loopy, however Crazy Godinez vs. Vilna Jandirova might be the most suitable choice, contemplating each fighters are on nice win streaks for the time being and are not preventing for his or her UFC lives. Would deserve a spot.
Unique card and actual card:
Sean Brady was initially scheduled to headline the battle towards Vicente Luque, however the determination was in the end canceled as a consequence of considerations a couple of lingering harm, however he insists he by no means signed on the dotted line within the first place. ing. This paved the way in which for Blanchfield and Fiorotto to take over headlining duties. Pat Sabatini withdrew from his scheduled battle towards Nate Landwehr for undisclosed causes and was changed by Jamall Emmers. Landwehr not too long ago had his three-fight win streak snapped by Dan Ige at UFC 289, whereas Emmers was final seen defeating Dennis Buzkuja by technical knockout in November 2023.
harm:
Except for Brady’s harm, Dominick Reyes missed his scheduled mild heavyweight bout towards Carlos Wolberg as a consequence of his personal well being points. In consequence, Wolberg was paired with Alonzo Menifield, however the bout was moved to UFC St. Louis on Might eleventh.
New blood:
Regardless of shedding the match, Contender sequence Quick ahead to September 2023, and Angel Pacheco will not less than get the possibility to show himself another time in his UFC debut towards Caolan Laurent, however he’ll have one other likelihood to show himself six months in the past in his UFC debut towards Taylor Lapilas. Sadly, it did not come shut. Earlier than that, he began his MMA profession with eight straight wins.
Ivo Aslan earned a spot on the UFC roster with a first-round knockout win. Contender sequence“The Final Ottoman” has gained 4 consecutive first-round knockouts. In truth, all of Aslan’s 12 wins have been by knockout, with 11 of his wins coming within the first spherical. He has confirmed to be an aggressive fighter and can look to construct on that repute towards Anton Turkari, who has struggled mightily throughout his promotion, shedding all three fights. He may very well be launched if he loses another sport.
Connor Matthews is the opposite one. Contender sequence The alum has been making an attempt to get consideration from the start. He’ll face submission specialist Dennis Bazukuja, who’s in determined want of a win after shedding his first two fights since being promoted.
“Preliminary” scenario:
Andre Petroski and Jacob Marcon did not come shut of their final bouts, shedding to Michel Pereira and Cody Brundage, respectively. Whereas Petroski was on a five-fight successful streak earlier than the loss, Malkoon was solely in a position to amass a 3-3 report beneath the UFC banner.
Undefeated (8-0, 2-0 UFC) ladies’s flyweight contender Viktoria Dudakova will intention for her ninth straight win in a head-to-head battle with Melissa Gatto. That is actually questionable matchmaking contemplating Dudakova is constant her sturdy type whereas Gat is on a two-game shedding streak.
Herbert Burns is off to a robust begin within the UFC, successful his first two fights by stoppage, knocking out Nate Landwehr within the first spherical and placing Even Dunham in a rear-naked choke in lower than two minutes. However since then, Burns has been stopped in two straight fights, leaving him in a scenario the place he wants a win towards Julio Arce, a fighter he has gained and misplaced over the previous six years. That is by no means going to place him within the rankings, so he must step up and be extra constant about choosing up wins.
Crazy Godinez has actually discovered her groove recently, successful her final 4 fights together with massive wins over Cynthia Calvillo and Tabatha Ricci. The Mexican-born fighter faces considered one of her hardest checks to this point when she faces Vilna Jandirova, who’s coming off back-to-back wins over Angela Hill and Marina Rodriguez. Jandiroba is presently ranked No. 5 within the strawweight division, however Godinez has been making an attempt to take that spot from her because the No. 10 spot.
Individuals who desperately want a win:
Chris Weidman, like many nice former champions, is clearly in decline. It is prefer it occurred in a single day. He began his profession 13-0, defeating Anderson Silva in back-to-back title fights and making two defenses towards Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort earlier than happening a downward pattern. After being KO’d by Luke Rockhold in his fourth try to defend his title, his report since then is 2-6, together with two failures to this point. As he approaches 40 years outdated, it’s extremely unlikely that he’ll come again youthful and have a shot on the title, particularly since this division is getting youthful. He’ll intention to get again on monitor towards fellow middleweight contender Bruno Silva, who has additionally suffered a two-fight droop and misplaced 4 of his final 5 fights. A loss can be devastating for both fighter, but when “The All-American” loses once more, particularly by knockout, his profession might finish, both voluntarily or on the recommendation of Dana White. The brash head honcho is a long-time veteran who at all times does that. I preserve shedding.
Curiosity degree: 6/10
Within the co-main occasion, Vicente Luque will face welterweight powerhouse Joaquin Buckley, aiming for his first consecutive win in three years. Luque ended a two-fight drought with a unanimous determination victory over Rafael dos Anjos. Buckley, alternatively, is on a two-fight win streak and is seeking to break into the highest 15 by defeating the No. 11 fighter in his division. The winner of this match has an opportunity to play within the subsequent massive match.
Within the middleweight division, Nursulton Rujiboev will face Cedrique Dumas. Luizboev, who’s on a nine-fight successful streak, turned heads in his UFC debut by knocking out Bruno Ferreira in 77 seconds (highlights). However, Dumas suffered a loss in his UFC debut, however bounced again and gained two straight.
One of the crucial attention-grabbing matches of the night time was the featherweight pairing between Invoice Algeo and Kyle Nelson. Each fighters have gained two in a row and are aiming for his or her first three consecutive wins contained in the Octagon. There’s a good likelihood this battle will appeal to consideration.
Benefit from the battle!
Full UFC Atlantic Metropolis battle card:
UFC Atlantic Metropolis ESPN Major Occasion/ESPN+:
125 kilos: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorotto
UFC Atlantic Metropolis ESPN principal card/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):
170 kilos: Vicente Luque vs. Joaquin Buckley
185 kilos: Chris Weidman vs. Bruno Silva
185 kilos: Nursulton Rujiboev vs. Cedriquez Dumas
145 kilos: Invoice Algeo vs. Kyle Nelson
185 kilos: Chidi Njokuani vs. Rhys McKeeUFC Atlantic Metropolis ESPN2’s “Prelims” card/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):
145 kilos: Nate Landwehr vs. Jamall Emmers
115 kilos: Vilna Jandilova vs. Crazy Godinez
145 kilos: Julio Arce vs. Herbert Burns
145 kilos: Dennis Buzkuja vs. Connor Matthews
205 kilos: Ivo Aslan vs. Anton Turkari
125 kilos: Victoria Dudakova vs. Melissa Gatto
135 kilos: Angel Pacheco vs. Caolan Laurent
185 kilos: Andre Petroski vs. Jacob Marcon*Fixtures, match order, and variety of matches are topic to alter. *
please bear in mind MMAmania.com Reside round-by-round protection of all the UFC Atlantic Metropolis battle card. herebeginning with ESPN2/ESPN+ “Preliminary” matches are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET, adopted by a principal card stability simulcast on ESPN. ESPN+) 10pm ET.
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