Essentially the most hotly-anticipated most important occasion of 2024 up to now hits Honda Heart in Anaheim, Calif., this weekend (Sat., Feb. 17, 2024) when Featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski, dukes it out with ultra-destructive contender, Ilia Topuria, atop UFC 298. The pay-per-view (PPV) present additionally sees former Middleweight roost-ruler, Robert Whittaker, lastly sq. off with mercurial mauler, Paulo Costa, and Geoff Neal look to halt the rise of controversial Welterweight prospect, Ian Machado Garry.
The primary three (of seven) UFC 298 “Prelims” undercard bouts will stream on ESPN+, so let’s see what your month-to-month subscription will get you …
170 lbs.: Josh Quinlan vs. Danny Barlow
Wand Combat Workforce’s Josh Quinlan (6-1) noticed his contract-winning Contender Collection beatdown of Logan City overturned to a “No Contest” after failing a drug take a look at. He constructed again some credibilty with a nasty one-punch end of Jason Witt in his UFC debut, however struggled with the vary of sophomore foe Trey Waters en path to a choice defeat.
He replaces Yusaku Kinoshita on round six weeks’ discover.
Danny Barlow (7-0) — a former 6-1 beginner — notched a pair of wins beneath the CFFC banner en path to Contender Collection. There, he took simply 79 seconds to knockout former CFFC champion, Raheam Forest, and stroll away with a UFC contract.
That win marked his fourth skilled knockout and fifth end total.
The secret right here is distance. Quinlan’s low kicks and uncooked energy are a menace to anybody who enters the pocket with him, however the Waters struggle confirmed a baffling incapability to shut the hole. That doesn’t encourage confidence in his possibilities right here as a result of Barlow has a ridiculous 80-inch attain at his disposal and skilled vary administration with which to maximise it.
Quinlan’s path to victory lies in compromising Barlow’s motion with low kicks and bludgeoning him on the within. He’ll must get previous Barlow’s footwork and left cross to take action, nevertheless, and I don’t see it occurring. In the long run, Barlow sharp shoots his solution to a dominant victory.
Prediction: Barlow through unanimous choice
170 lbs.: Oban Elliott vs. Val Woodburn
Oban Elliott (9-2) stumbled his solution to a 4-2 skilled begin earlier than ending his stint with Cage Warriors on a 4-0 run. Then got here Contender Collection, the place “The Welsh Gangster” survived near-disaster in opposition to Kaik Brito to earn a majority choice and UFC contract.
He stands 4 inches taller than Val Woodburn (7-1), however offers up two inches of attain.
“The Animal” spent just about his total beginner {and professional} profession beneath the Fight Evening Professional banner, going 5-2-1 within the unpaid ranks and ideal (7-0) professionally to earn a spot on Contender Collection. He wound up stepping up on quick discover to battle Bo Nickal within the Octagon as an alternative, finally struggling a 38-second knockout loss at UFC 290 (watch it right here).
5 of his skilled wins have come by knockout.
That is Elliott’s struggle to lose by each metric conceivable. He’s overwhelmed higher competitors, he’s by far the higher boxer, and he’s the higher grappler by the same margin. Dropping to 170 kilos isn’t going to magically repair Woodburn’s litany of points … and I’m not even satisfied he can accomplish that contemplating his musculature.
All Elliott has to do right here just isn’t get caught with one thing silly. He admittedly failed that job in opposition to Brito, however he survived that barrage and Brito is leagues higher than Woodburn apart from. Briefly, Elliott out-classes him for a one-sided win.
Prediction: Elliott through unanimous choice
125 lbs.: Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick
Andrea Lee (13-8) rode into the Octagon on a four-fight win streak, then prolonged it to seven with a trio of choice victories. “KGB” has since struggled to recapture that momentum, dropping six of eight within the final 4 years.
She’s submitted 5 skilled foes and knocked out three others.
Miranda Maverick (14-5) noticed an ideal (2-0) UFC begin give solution to two straight losses, one a theft in opposition to Maycee Barber and the opposite a decisive defeat to Erin Blanchfield. “Worry The” went on to win three of her subsequent 4, most not too long ago dominating Priscila Cachoeira at UFC 291.
She offers up three inches of top and 4 inches of attain to Lee.
As a lot of a bust as Lee turned out to be, she’s not with out hope on this showdown. Maverick’s takedown protection is weirdly porous for a grappler of her caliber and her UFC victories — save for her choice over Gillian Robertson three years again — came to visit very restricted opposition. If utilized correctly, Lee’s hanging and offensive wrestling might carry her to victory.
I simply can’t belief “KGB” in opposition to wrestlers at this level in her profession. She’s had loads of her personal takedown protection points and Maverick strikes me because the stronger floor artist total. Lee may nonetheless have the sting on the toes, however that may solely accomplish that a lot within the face of Maverick’s takedowns. When the mud settles, Maverick grapples her solution to her second straight win.
Prediction: Maverick through unanimous choice
4 extra UFC 298 “Prelims” undercard bouts stay to preview and predict, together with the most recent from tremendous prospect, Rinya Nakamura, and an assortment of knockout artists. Similar time tomorrow, Maniacs.
LIVE! Watch UFC 298 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE DIP! Final Preventing Championship (UFC) kicks off its 2024 pay-per-view (PPV) season on Sat., Jan. 20, 2024, with its inaugural pay-per-view (PPV) occasion of the 12 months from inside Scotiabank Enviornment in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Within the ESPN+-streamed PPV most important occasion, reigning Middleweight roost-ruler, Sean Strickland, will lock horns with newly-formed rival, Dricus Du Plessis. In UFC 297’s “no good” co-main occasion, Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will lock horns for Amanda Nunes’ vacated Bantamweight belt. UFC 297 can even characteristic the returns of Neil Magny, Chris Curtis, Arnold Allen and a lot extra!
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your entire UFC 298 struggle card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) most important card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).
To take a look at the most recent and biggest UFC 298: “Volkanovski vs. Topuria” information and notes you’ll want to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
