Final Combating Championship is again on the UFC Apex later TONIGHT (Sat., Feb. 10, 2024) to stage UFC Vegas 86 that includes a Middleweight bout between Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer. Co-headlining the ESPN+-streamed occasion is a Featherweight bout between Dan Ige and Andre Fili.
What’s Scorching:
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Nassourdine Imavov secured a giant win final weekend by defeating Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 85, which was adequate to place him within the High 10. Now, Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer are out to make their respective statements in an effort to climb the Middleweight ranks. Hermansson is at the moment ranked No. 9 within the division, however is coming off a loss to the aforementioned Roman Dolidze, so he has a ton of stress on his shoulders coming into his newest headlining gig. “The Joker” was at one time getting nearer to a shot on the title after securing a 7-2 report to begin his UFC profession, however over the previous couple of years he has actually cooled down, alternating wins and losses since 2019 to the tune of incomes 4-4 report. Whereas that could be adequate to show you don’t should get reduce, it gained’t do something for his hopes of ever reaching a world title struggle. And issues aren’t getting any simpler along with his subsequent opponent.
In simply three fights contained in the Octagon, Joe Pyfer has actually made an impression by securing three straight finishes over Alen Amedovski, Gerald Meerschaert, and Abdul Razak Alhassan. The Contender Collection alum has 11 finishes in 12 wins, so he’s all about placing on a present. The person they name “Bodybagz” is hoping to earn maybe the most important win of his profession over a longtime veteran like Hermansson, and retaining the motion on the ft will certainly be his finest path to victory. In spite of everything, he punches more durable than Francis Ngannou. A win for Pyfer will earn him a rating spot, which might be an incredible feat simply 4 fights into his UFC run. At simply 27 years of age, Pyfer actually has a giant alternative to shine in his first-ever headlining gig, as a result of a formidable victory will expedite his ascension with the corporate. We’ve got seen repeatedly one promising contender after one other fail to make that subsequent huge bounce so early of their careers, however “Bodybagz” is set to be the one who breaks via simply 17 months into his profession with the promotion.
What’s Not:
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Ihor Potieria is at the moment on a two-fight dropping streak and is simply 1-3 throughout his time with UFC. His opponent Robert Bryczek is making his UFC debut. Whereas he’s coming in on a five-fight win streak, I don’t perceive why the promotion determined it needed to squeeze on this sixth struggle on the primary card. You’ve got a newcomer that doesn’t have a giant fan base but taking over a struggling combatant who hasn’t been in a position to do a lot of something contained in the Octagon. It’s mind-boggling, actually.
Unique Card vs. Precise Card:
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Damir Hadzovic was all able to attempt to get again into the win column in opposition to UFC newcomer, Bolaji Oki, however he was in the end compelled off the occasion after encountering the ever-nagging visa points that loads of the worldwide fighters must endure. Oki will now face Timothy Cuamba. Talking of which, Albert Duraev was bounced from his struggle in opposition to Robert Bryczek for a similar purpose. That’s how the Bryczek vs. Potieria matchup got here to be.
Accidents:
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Lerone Murphy was in line to face Dan Ige on this card however was compelled out with an undisclosed damage and was in the end changed by Andre Fili. Melsik Baghdasaryan was compelled out of his struggle in opposition to Fernie Garcia, additionally resulting from an undisclosed damage.
New Blood:
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We’ve already touched on Robert Bryczek making his UFC Octagon in opposition to Ihor Potieria, so let’s check out the remainder of the UFC rookies,
Carlos Prates had an explosive knockout win over Mitch Ramirez on the Contender Collection in Aug. 2023, punching his ticket to the massive present. He will probably be coming in on a seven-fight win streak, six through knockout, so he’s all about enterprise as soon as he steps contained in the cage. He can have his arms full as a result of he will probably be taking over a 12 UFC-fight veteran in Trevin Giles, who is raring to style victory as soon as extra after he was compelled to faucet for pricey life in opposition to Gabriel Bonfim final summer season.
After struggling a loss in his professional MMA debut six years in the past, Bolaji Oki has gone on a tear by racking up eight straight wins with six finishes, incomes him a spot on the Contender Collection. He parlayed that chance right into a first-round technical knockout (TKO) win, and now he has the possibility to do the identical in his official UFC debut. He was imagined to be taking over Damir Hadzovic, who was in determined want of a win after going simply 1-3 in his final 4 fights with the promotion, however he bowed out resulting from visa points. Stepping in to take his place in one other UFC newcomer in Timothy Cuamba, who’s on a five-fight win streak. He didn’t make it to the massive present following his win on the Contender Collection, however after incomes one other “W” on the regional circuit, he now will get his time to shine.
Hyder Amil will convey his undefeated (8-0) report to the Octagon to face Fernie Garcia in a Featherweight bout. Amil has 5 finishes in his resume, although his unanimous choice win on The Contender Collection was adequate to safe him a shot within the huge leagues. The previous Bellator MMA and LFA veteran will try at hand Garcia his fourth straight loss contained in the Octagon.
How The ‘Prelims’ Look:
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Kicking issues off will probably be a Bantamweight bout between undefeated (15-0, 2-0 UFC) contender Daniel Marcos taking over Qileng Aori, who hasn’t been in a position to make a lot waves throughout his time below the UFC banner. Aori is simply 3-3 contained in the Octagon, so it’s going to take much more than that to get on the radar. Handing Marcos — who has eight knockout wins on his resume — his first loss can be an effective way to attract extra consideration to himself.
Since making his approach into the UFC ranks through The Final Fighter (TUF), Zac Pauga hasn’t been in a position to make a lot of an affect, going simply 1-2. He’s coming off a unanimous choice loss to Modestas Bukauskas as he goes into his bout in opposition to Bogdan Guskov, who wasn’t in a position to make the splash he hoped for in opposition to Volkan Oezdemir in Sept. 2023. Previous to that he was on a four-fight win streak, so he does have the abilities to get it performed. And get it performed he should as a result of beginning off your UFC profession with two straight losses is way from ultimate.
Within the Welterweight division, Jeremiah Wells will try and get again within the win column after his six-fight win streak was snapped by Carlston Harris, which was his first loss in almost 5 years. Standing in the best way of his aim is Max Griffin, who hasn’t precisely been lighting it up as of late. “Ache” is simply 1-2 in his final three fights so if he needs to take care of his spot on the crowed roster, he wants a win or an excellent exhibiting on the very least.
Within the Mild Heavyweight division, Devin Clark will battle Marcin Prachnio. Each males are simply 1-2 of their final three fights, so to say they’re struggling can be an understatement. They’ve every proven flashes of brilliance throughout their time contained in the Octagon, however they really want to begin placing it collectively on a extra constant foundation in the event that they need to take that subsequent huge step. Additionally, Loma Lookboonmee is seeking her first three-fight win streak when she battles Bruna Brasil who’s coming off a giant win over Shauna Bannon.
Who Wants A Win Badly:
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Fernie Garcia has had three probabilities to point out what he’s made from contained in the Octagon, and he has come up brief on all events. He will probably be welcoming UFC newcomer, Hyder Amil, to the eight-sided cage. If Garcia can’t handle to earn a much-needed victory right here, it may very well be the tip of the UFC street for him. And will probably be a troublesome process as a result of Amil has but to style defeat at 8-0.
Curiosity Stage: 6/10
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Within the co-main occasion, Dan Ige and Andre Fili will throw down in a pivotal bout at 145 kilos. After beginning his UFC profession with an impress 6-1 report, “50K” has had a troublesome time attempting to duplicate that success. Certainly, he has solely managed to rack up a 3-5 mark since his scorching begin. He had his two-fight win streak snapped by Bryce Mitchell 5 months in the past, so now he’s out to begin one other run in opposition to Fili, who has been fairly inconsistent himself over the past couple of years. Since 2020, he has solely managed to gather a 3-4-1 report along with his final back-to-back wins coming in 2019. Nonetheless, he has performed simply sufficient to hold on to identify on the bloated roster. He’s coming off a technical knockout (TKO) win over Lucas Almeida at UFC 296 in Dec. 2023, so constructing off the momentum with a win over Ige can be enormous for his profession.
Michael Johnson was at one level thought of a possible title challenger, however after 14 years with UFC, “Menace” was by no means in a position to attain the promised land. Over his final eight fights, Johnson is simply 2-6 and is coming off a knockout loss a the arms of Carlos Diego Ferreira. His opponent, Darrius Flowers, additionally wants a win right here as a result of he got here up brief in his UFC debut in opposition to Jake Matthews final summer season. This may very well be a do-or-die state of affairs for each males.
In Middleweight motion, Rodolfo Vieira and Armen Petrosyan will collide in what is certain to be a hard-hitting affair. Vieira bought again on monitor with a giant win over Cody Brundage, upping his report to 4-2 below the UFC banner. Petrosyan is on a two-fight win streak and a 3rd victory in a row can be an enormous push for his targets of attempting to crack the High 15, which is a tall process as a result of the 185-pound weight class is totally loaded with expertise.
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Longtime UFC veteran, Brad Tavares, continues to be going robust in what’s his fourteenth yr with the promotion. He was in a position to snap his two-fight skid in opposition to former Middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, six months in the past and now he will probably be going through off in opposition to Gregory Rodriguez, who’s recent off a giant win over Denis Tiuliulin through first spherical knockout. “RoboCop” hits like a truck, so Tavares should be gentle on his ft if he needs to safe his first back-to-back win streak in three years.
Benefit from the fights!
Full UFC Vegas 86 Combat Card:
UFC Vegas 86 Essential Occasion On ESPN+:
185 lbs.: Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer
UFC Vegas 86 Essential Card on ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):
145 lbs.: Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili185 lbs.: Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieria (not Albert Duraev)185 lbs.: Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues155 lbs.: Darrius Flowers vs. Michael Johnson185 lbs.: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan
UFC Vegas 86 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):
170 lbs.: Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates155 lbs.: Bolaji Oki vs. Timothy Cuamba (not Damir Hadzovic)115 lbs.: Loma Lookboonmee vs. Bruna Brasil205 lbs.: Devin Clark vs. Marcin Prachnio170 lbs.: Max Griffin vs. Jeremiah Wells205 lbs.: Bogdan Guskov vs. Zac Pauga145 lbs.: Hyder Amil vs. Fernie Garcia (not Melsik Baghdasaryan)135 lbs.: Daniel Marcos vs. Qileng Aori
*Combat card, bout order and variety of fights stay topic to alter.*
Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC Vegas 86 struggle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining primary card stability (additionally on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.
To take a look at the newest and biggest UFC Vegas 86: “Pyfer vs. Hermansson” information and notes be sure you hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
