Whereas Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira gear up for his or her title rematch at UFC 294 subsequent month, the ultra-deep Light-weight division provides one other banger this Saturday (Sept. 23, 2023) when Rafael Fiziev battles Mateusz Gamrot inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC Vegas 79 may also see Bryce Mitchell return to motion towards the always-game Dan Ige and Marina Rodriguez rematch Michelle Waterson-Gomez. Subsequent week’s a uncommon free weekend from the world’s largest combined martial arts (MMA) promotion, so let’s squeeze as a lot revenue out of Saturday’s battles as we are able to. Right here’s how …
Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photos
What Went Unsuitable at Noche UFC?
Valentina Shevchenko
I can’t complain concerning the scores an excessive amount of once I had Grasso eking out the fourth spherical, however rattling was it irritating to observe. Exterior of the knockdown, all of Shevchenko’s points have been self-inflicted; whereas the dangerous shot that allow Grasso knee her within the face was cringeworthy, it was that absolute mess within the fifth that’s inexcusable. Actually all she needed to do was hold jabbing Grasso’s face off — as she had for the earlier three-or-so minutes — and she or he’d have gained with zero controversy. Alas.
Fernando Padilla
He had the fitting gameplan within the first, retaining Kyle Nelson at bay with entrance kicks and slipping-and-ripping each time Nelson tried to power his method in, however appeared to fully lose focus after Nelson clipped him within the second. Irritating, to say the least.
Picture by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photos
What Went Proper?
Raul Rosas Jr., Jack Della Maddalena, Lupita Godinez, Roman Kopylov and Josefine Knutsson
Dominant performances from everybody apart from Della Maddalena, who nonetheless gained the primary and third rounds pretty decisively.
UFC Vegas 79 Odds For The Underneath Card:
Daniel Argueta (-185) vs. Miles Johns (+154)
Strive a medium-sized wager on Argueta. Johns, although extra well-rounded, is gun-shy to the purpose of absurdity and infrequently fails to correctly make the most of his weapons. Argueta can win this via sheer persistence and aggression, so be sure you make investments.
Andre Fialho (-175) vs. Tim Means (+145)
I like Means as an underdog, truthfully. Although by far the older and extra shopworn of the 2, he’s nonetheless pretty sharp on the toes, whereas Fialho acquired just about skunked by Muslim Salikhov and Jake Matthews. Fialho’s been knocked out 3 times in a row and had few moments of success in these bouts; on prime of that, he lacks the grappling ability that normally provides Means points. “The Soiled Chook’s” acquired yet another flight in him.
Jacob Malkoun (-485) vs. Cody Brundage (+370)
Can’t argue with these traces. Brundage flat-out ceases to operate when placed on his again, to the purpose the place even the largely hapless Sedriques Dumas sat in his guard for 11 minutes to no in poor health results. It gained’t be fairly, however Malkoun wins straightforward.
Mohammed Usman (-166) vs. Jake Collier (+136)
Skip it. I’d tab Collier as a tempting underdog primarily based on the truth that he has precise combined martial arts approach, however Usman is aware of how you can stink out a joint and we simply noticed Collier wrestle with one other lumbering ox in Martin Buday.
Mizuki Inoue (-298) vs. Hannah Goldy (+240)
Even with Inoue’s time away, it’s arduous to think about her shedding right here. Goldy has persistently underwhelmed within the Octagon and been out-classed on the toes by lesser strikers than Inoue.
Tamires Vidal (-238) vs. Montserrat Rendon (+195)
Neither lady has impressed me, however Vidal is a decade youthful, hits more durable than Rendon, and is stronger within the clinch. Simply don’t go loopy; Rendon has a Leonard Garcia-esque knack for successful bogus choices.
UFC Vegas 79 Odds For The Major Card:
Rafael Fiziev (-166) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (+140)
Too near name. Fiziev’s huge putting benefit and powerful takedown protection are offset by inconsistent cardio, which held up towards Raphael dos Anjos’ strain cooker, however failed him towards Bobby Inexperienced. An excessive amount of ambiguity for my style.
Bryce Mitchell (-205) vs. Dan Ige (+170)
All indicators level to a return to type for Mitchell. Final 12 months, Ige’s takedown protection folded within the face of Movsar Evloev’s high-volume takedown assault, which Mitchell has the means to duplicate. Although Ige does pack a punch, Mitchell greater than proved his capability to stroll via hearth in his warfare with Andre Fili and subsequent bulldozing of Edson Barboza. Briefly, financial institution on “Thug Nasty.”
Charles Jourdain (-145) vs. Ricardo Ramos (+114)
Put a bit of flyer on Ramos. As a lot as I like Jourdain, his defensive grappling is a bugbear he can’t shake. Shane Burgos and Nathaniel Wooden persistently defused his high-flying putting with clinches and takedowns. After seeing Ramos neutralize one other rangy, high-volume kickboxer in Invoice Algeo, I really feel protected recommending an underdog wager.
Bryan Battle (-175) vs. AJ Fletcher (+145)
Strive a bit on Battle. Whereas Fletcher is healthier than his 1-2 UFC document would counsel, Battle’s acquired practically a foot of attain on him and the know-how to make use of it.
Marina Rodriguez (-310) vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez (+245)
Rodriguez already beat her as soon as, however her iffy performances recently, mixed with the truth that Waterson-Gomez was very unlucky to not get the choice over Luana Pinheiro final time, make me hesitate to advocate a wager at such lopsided odds.
UFC Vegas 79 Finest Bets:
Single wager — Tim Means: Wager $50 to make $72.50
Parlay — Jacob Malkoun and Ricardo Ramos: Wager $40 to make $63.20
Parlay — Dan Argueta and Bryan Battle: Wager $40 to make $56.80
Single wager — Bryce Mitchell: Wager $90 to make $43.90
Parlay — Mizuki Inoue and Tamires Vidal: Wager $60 to make $53.57
UFC Vegas 79’s essential occasion alone is value a watch, so be sure you tune in. See you Saturday, Maniacs.
Preliminary Funding For 2023: $600April Bailout: $400August Bailout: $500Current Complete: $653.13
LIVE! Stream UFC Vegas 79 On ESPN+
INAUGURAL NOCHE UFC EVENT! Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is bringing an action-packed card to T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Sept. 23, 2023, to have fun Mexican Independence Day with an exhilarating ladies’s Flyweight championship rematch between champion Alexa Grasso and No. 1-ranked contender, Valentina Shevchenko. In Noche UFC’s co-main occasion, all-action Welterweight standouts, Jack Della Maddalena and Kevin Holland, will hook ‘em up in a enjoyable 170-pound showdown.
Don’t miss a single second of face-punching motion!
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of all the UFC Vegas 79 combat card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining essential card stability (additionally on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.
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