UFC Saudi Arabia Filled With Excitement On Feb. 1 Prelims

After every week away, MMA’s high promotion is again this Saturday morning (USA time) for UFC Saudi Arabia. This week’s present is the second time in simply over seven months that the UFC has ventured to Saudi Arabia for an occasion.

Previous to the Feb. 1 card, Dana White‘s promotion first made a visit to the dominion of Saudi Arabia in June of 2024 for UFC on ABC 6. That evening, in the principle occasion of the night, Robert Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) wanted a minute and 49 seconds to punch his method to a end towards Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

UFC Saudi Arabia has some historical past hooked up to it, with Laura Sanko changing into the primary feminine broadcaster to work as a commentator on an MMA present within the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dwell protection of the occasion begins Saturday morning at 9 am ET/ 6 am PT on ESPN+ with the prelims earlier than shifting onto the principle card at 12 midday ET/ 9 am PT on the streaming platform, highlighted by a contest between Israel Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) and Nassourdine Imavov (15-4, 1 NC MMA, 7-4, 1 NC UFC) in the principle occasion.

Thrilling Prelims on UFC Saudi Arabia Saturday

There’ll loads of time to research the fights on the principle card earlier than the weekend. Our focus this trip, nevertheless, are the preliminary fights throughout Saturday’s occasion. Placed on a pot of espresso in the event you’re getting up early to look at UFC Saudi Arabia and make sure that you simply watch these superior fights.

UFC Saudi Arabia Featured Prelim: Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen

The prelims on Saturday are bookended by fights within the UFC heavyweight division. On the high of the invoice so far as the undercard is anxious is that this contest at 265 between No. 14 contender Shamil Gaziev (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) and Thomas Petersen (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC).

Gaziev, a 2023 graduate of Dana White’s Contender Sequence, enters this weekend’s card having posted a report of 4-1 in his final 5 contests. Again in August of final 12 months, he returned to the win column with a unanimous resolution victory after three rounds over Don’Story Mayes (11-7, 1 NC MMA, 4-5, 1 NC UFC) throughout UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Throughout the best way, Thomas Petersen has gone 4-1 over the course of his 5 most up-to-date journeys to the Octagon. Final trip, he scored a unanimous resolution win towards Mohammed Usman (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in UFC on ESPN 60 from the Apex in Enterprise, NV. That is an attention-grabbing tilt on Saturday within the UFC Saudi Arabia prelims.

In case you’re rolling away from bed just a little late, just remember to don’t oversleep and miss this struggle by mistake. You’ve received two fighters entering into the identical course, sporting equivalent 4-1 marks of their final 5 fights and each males received their fingers raised of their most up-to-date bouts. Whose path to the highest features a win on Saturday?

UFC Saudi Arabia Co-Featured Prelim: Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadzovic

Instantly beforehand, the UFC Saudi Arabia co-featured undercard bout sees motion happen at light-weight between Terrance McKinney (15-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) and Damir Hadzovic (14-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC). Terrance McKinney is available in having posted a 2-3 report in his final 5 bouts.

Most not too long ago, he dropped a first-round knockout in 37 seconds by means of head kick to Esteban Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) on Might 11 throughout UFC St. Louis. McKinney has had the higher a part of the final 9 months to stew over what occurred in Missouri final spring, so how can he bounce again?

Within the different nook, Damir Hadzovic has a 2-3 report in his personal proper of late, but it surely’s been some time since he’s walked into an enviornment for competitors on struggle evening. Final trip, he was on the dropping finish of a unanimous resolution towards Marc Diakiese (18-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) in July of 2022. A deliberate return to the cage final 12 months round this time versus Bolaji Oki (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) went unrealized amid visa troubles.

Thus, ring rust is a matter. Will having greater than two and a half years away from the cage play an element into his preparation for this struggle?

UFC Saudi Arabia Prelims: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

Additionally on the undercard on Saturday is a ladies’s flyweight contest matching No. 12 contender Jasmine Jasudavicius (12-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and No. 7 contender Mayra Bueno Silva (10-4-1, 1 NC MMA, 5-4-1, 1 NC UFC).

Jasmine Jasudavicius enters the present this week having posted a mark of 4-1 in her final 5 fights and is at the moment on a three-fight successful streak. Final November, she bested Ariane Lipski da Silva by means of third-round submission as a result of a D’arce choke throughout UFC Edmonton. She’s on a roll and a win right here throughout UFC Saudi Arabia possible will propel her to a spot within the top-10 at 125 as quickly as this coming Monday.

In the meantime, Mayra Bueno Silva comes into UFC Saudi Arabia searching for a spot within the top-5 at ladies’s light-weight, sporting a report of 2-2 with one no-contest over the course of her final 5 outings. She’s on a two-fight skid, nevertheless, going winless in her three most up-to-date bouts, together with a defeat by means of second-round TKO (physician’s stoppage as a result of a lower) final June throughout UFC 303 versus Macy Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC.)

To seek out the final time that Mayra Bueno Silva received her hand raised, you’d have to return to Feb. 18, 2023 and UFC Vegas 69, when she completed Lina Lansberg with a second-round submission (kneebar). It’s been virtually two years since she exited the cage as a winner. Will the skid finish right here?