There’s no different option to put it: We’re within the canine days of the UFC calendar.
Followers weren’t precisely thrilled with UFC 289, the promotion’s June pay-per-view providing, and we now discover ourselves with three straight card lineups which can be lengthy on potential and quick on star energy. So for our first reasonably anticipated headliner of this stretch, Marvin Vettori and Jared Cannonier, come on down!
Saturday’s UFC Vegas 75 predominant occasion options two middleweight contenders who’re already again on the upswing after rebounding from robust losses: Vettori to Robert Whittaker, and Cannonier to Israel Adesanya. Their previous lackluster title performances in all probability depart them farther again within the contender line than their rankings counsel — Vettori is No. 5 within the MMA Combating International Rankings, Cannonier No. 6 — however that doesn’t imply there isn’t enjoyable available on this matchup.
Vettori confirmed there’s a wild man in there when he battled Paulo Costa in a wild one a few years again and Cannonier piled up loads of memorable finishes earlier than his much-maligned five-rounder with Adesanya. Let’s hope for the perfect and that these two can cap off an in any other case forgettable card on paper.
Essentially the most talked-about fighter of the night time might find yourself being Arman Tsarukyan, who competes within the co-main occasion towards light-weight veteran Joaquim Silva. Nonetheless simply 26 years previous, Tsarukyan has been a favourite to interrupt by for years, not solely on account of his spectacular victories, however how poised he’s appeared in choice losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Islam Makhachev.
Let’s not overlook that Tsarukyan made his debut at 22 years previous and went three laborious rounds with the longer term champion. He’s anticipated to roll by Silva and if he performs as anticipated, a few ranked opponents after which a title ought to may very well be in his close to future.
What: UFC Vegas 75
The place: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, June 17. The six-fight preliminary card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight predominant card at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Combating International Rankings)
Marvin Vettori (5) vs. Jared Cannonier (6)
It’s the indignant power of Marvin Vettori vs. the measured calmness of Jared Cannonier.
Granted, that’s not the sexiest option to promote a UFC predominant occasion, however the distinction in demeanor between Vettori and Cannonier is probably the most compelling facet of this struggle. Can Vettori impose his will on Cannonier or will the persistence of Cannonier draw Vettori right into a entice?
Each fighters have loads of five-round expertise, which ought to make this a tactical (and sadly, uninteresting) affair at occasions. Vettori will look to set Cannonier up for giant pictures by chipping away with leg kicks, whereas Cannonier will reply with leg kicks of his personal and throw elbows within the clinch. This may very well be a dirty struggle if these two find yourself grappling.
I don’t have a lot confidence in Vettori going to his wrestling to win this one as Cannonier is tough to carry down. As nice as Vettori’s cardio is, that doesn’t imply that he can simply waste power on empty takedowns. This one might be selected the toes, with every fighters’ efficiency within the final three rounds leaving the most important influence on the judges.
It must be an in depth one, so I’m going with Cannonier to sneak by on the scorecards with well timed takedown protection and the extra impactful pictures over the course of 25 minutes, even when he can’t fairly crack the iron chin of Vettori.
Choose: Cannonier
Arman Tsarukyan (10) vs. Joaquim Silva
Might this be a entice struggle for younger Arman Tsarukyan?
Unsurprisingly, Tsarukyan is the surest guess on the cardboard in keeping with DraftKings, who’ve him as a -1050 favourite. That appears disrespectful to Silva, a professional since 2018, who has seen all types of favor matchups in his UFC profession. It hurts that Silva simply hasn’t been very lively. That is his third struggle since 2018.
Silva’s trademark is his busy, springy placing fashion, which has caught many an opponent off guard prior to now. He has pace to spare and he excels at capitalizing on errors. A placing battle may not favor Silva, however it’s in all probability his greatest guess to tug off this upset.
There are holes in Tsarukyan’s sport for certain as he tends to depend on his athleticism to dodge out of the best way of strikes somewhat than making use of basic standup protection. That would put him in bother towards Silva. Luckily for Tsarukyan, he’s an impressive wrestler who nearly all the time scores one completely timed takedown each time he fights.
These openings will certainly be there towards Silva and I don’t know the way lengthy the Brazilian veteran can maintain Tsarukyan off. I’m going with Tsarukyan by ground-and-pound knockout.
Choose: Tsarukyan
Armen Petrosyan vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
Armen Petrosyan fights precisely such as you suppose a kickboxer-turned-mixed martial artist would, though he’s not associated to the well-known Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio and, uh, a special Armen). He desires to manage distance, preserve his opponents guessing by mixing excessive and low assaults, and customarily keep away from taking a danger until completely obligatory.
Christian Leroy Duncan, alternatively, is a extra free-flowing fighter lower from the identical material as Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya. The previous Cage Warriors middleweight champion has an extended, lengthy option to go earlier than being recurrently spoken of in the identical breath as these residing legends, however I can’t assist however watch his performances and really feel like we’re seeing glimpses of greatness.
The informal stance-switching, the cheeky feints, the ending instincts, Duncan has proven a ton of promise within the early levels of his profession. I belief him to determine Petrosyan out and take him out inside the gap, though I do know I’m getting forward of myself.
Please, something however one other listless Petrosyan choice.
Choose: Duncan
Pat Sabatini vs. Lucas Almeida
Lucas Almeida is such an thrilling addition to the UFC’s featherweight division. He throws all the things with power and if he can’t get a KO, he’s simply as keen about locking in a choke to power the faucet. He’s tall for a 145er too, standing 5-foot-11, which helps him to snipe at his opponents.
All that mentioned, I don’t love his possibilities of preserving this struggle standing. Pat Sabatini has made it no secret that his plan is to take his opponents down and he’s greater than effective with working from inside his opponent’s guard. He’ll should be cautious of Almeida’s floor sport and defuse any submission makes an attempt earlier than they’ve time to develop.
There loads of thrilling battles forward for Almeida, I simply don’t see him stopping Sabatini’s takedowns for 3 rounds. Sabatini by choice.
Choose: Sabatini
Manuel Torres vs. Nikolas Motta
I do know, I do know, there may very well be loads of selections on the principle card. You in all probability received’t have to fret about that with Manuel Torres and Nikolas Motta.
Neither fighter will to return out firing wild bombs, however as soon as they get going it’s enjoyable to look at. We’re getting a enjoyable distinction in physique varieties right here too with the tight and compact Motta having to navigate the attain benefit of Torres. Anticipate the primary spherical to be a basic feel-out body earlier than they begin cooking in Spherical 2.
Give me the taller, longer fighter on this case. With respect to Motta, a harmful puncher at 155 kilos, I don’t suppose he’s in a position to clear up the difficult Torres. As a substitute, will probably be the Mexican light-weight who finds a option to open up Motta’s defenses and put him away with strikes.
Choose: Torres
Nicolas Dalby vs. Muslim Salikhov
If Nicolas Dalby goes to tug off this upset, I’d prefer to see him push the tempo right here and never simply attempt to anticipate or react to Muslim Salikhov’s offense. “King of Kung Fu” has a straightforward time of issues when his opponents permit him to set the tempo and I don’t suppose Dalby has the technical acumen to bounce that dance with Salikhov.
Dalby might need to take into account mixing the martial arts and deal with getting this struggle to the mat, however that’s not a assured path to victory by any means. Salikhov has rounded out his sport sufficient that it takes greater than above common wrestling to get him down. Once more, Dalby’s greatest guess is to return ahead and disrupt Salikhov’s rhythm — with out getting his head taken off by a Salikhov counter, in fact. Simple work, proper?
Far be it from me to query Dalby’s capability to beat adversity, one thing he has achieved loads of in his skilled and private life. However this looks like a matchup tailored for Salikhov to win on factors.
Choose: Salikhov
Preliminaries
Jimmy Flick def. Alessandro Costa
Cristian Quinonez def. Kyung Ho Kang
Denys Bondar def. Carlos Hernandez
Tereza Bleda def. Gabriella Fernandes
Ronnie Lawrence def. Daniel Argueta
Modestas Bukauskas def. Zac Pauga
