Leon Edwards didn’t get a right away championship rematch and now he badly wants a win if he’s ever to get near gold once more.
That’s an unfair state of affairs for a fighter that dropped his title in his first loss in 9 years, however that’s additionally actuality. Edwards needed to scrape and claw simply to earn a championship combat with Kamaru Usman and one will get the sense the UFC is in no rush to throw Edwards again into the title combine towards Belal Muhammad or anybody else. For no matter purpose, “Rocky” has by no means been pushed as a favourite son and a loss in Saturday’s UFC London most important occasion may go away him in no man’s land.
Sean Brady is theoretically in a greater place. Ought to he defeat Edwards, it will cap off an unbelievable three-fight run. After a humbling loss to Muhammad, Brady rebounded with wins over two previous UFC title challengers, Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns. Taking out a former UFC champion? It received’t transfer Brady to the entrance of the road (that’s Shavkat Rakhmonov’s spot every time he’s wholesome), however it places him on the brief checklist and that’s an amazing place to be within the eyes of the matchmakers.
The co-main occasion has comparable stakes with former gentle heavyweight king Jan Blachowicz combating white-hot contender Carlos Ulberg. Once more, now we have the extra confirmed identify combating for survival, whereas the up-and-comer could make a reputable case for a title shot with a win. The truth is, a formidable efficiency may push Ulberg nearer to a title shot than any of Saturday’s opponents.
What: UFC London
The place: The O2 Area in London
When: Saturday, March 22. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight most important card at 4 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Leon Edwards (T2, P4P-12) vs. Sean Brady (5)
Surprisingly (to me, anyway), Leon Edwards is a slight underdog in response to our buddies at FanDuel and that’s principally been the case within the lead-up to this bout. To what can we attribute this disrespect?
Practically 30 fights into his 14-year combating profession, is Edwards thought-about washed? Was his uninspiring title combat loss to Belal Muhammad that damaging to his fame? Do folks assume Sean Brady is simply that good?
Brady is actually an inexpensive decide on his personal deserves. The Philly native was a blue-chip prospect in his pre-UFC days and he principally delivered on that promise earlier than operating into Belal Muhammad. In his latest wins, he’s reminded his boosters of his high-caliber talent set: he’s an amazing wrestler, has good fingers, and is a plus-athlete within the welterweight division.
My assumption is that after seeing Edwards out-wrestled by Muhammad for 5 rounds, oddsmakers and bettors like Brady to emulate that sport plan. I’m not satisfied. Possibly he can have success early, however Edwards usually isn’t as simple to regulate on the bottom as Muhammad made it look. And I doubt Brady can preserve the identical tempo as Muhammad for 25 minutes.
Edwards will do sufficient injury on the toes and even escape a few of his personal offensive wrestling to win this on the playing cards.
Choose: Edwards
Jan Blachowicz (5) vs. Carlos Ulberg (10)
Jan Blachowicz is far more skilled than Carlos Ulberg. He’s fought the next degree of competitors, he’s extra well-rounded, and he nonetheless has loads of pop in these venerable fingers. He’s the higher fighter.
He additionally simply turned 42.
That’s eight years older than Ulberg, and even within the heavier weight lessons which might be extra favorable to ageing fighters, it’s onerous to not take into account Blachowicz’s mileage when selecting this combat. He’s additionally coming off of a layoff on account of shoulder surgical procedure, which appears suboptimal.
And but!
Blachowicz by choice.
Choose: Blachowicz
Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland
This matchup has me considering of a traditional Simpsons bit.
Kevin Holland is again at welterweight. That’s good!
He’s dealing with a grappler. That’s unhealthy.
His opponent, Gunnar Nelson, is 36 and that is simply his third combat previously 5 years. That’s good!
Nelson beat his previous two opponents and normally solely loses to ranked welterweights. That’s unhealthy.
Holland is making a two-month turnaround. I believe that’s unhealthy? And sure, you may go now.
Sorry, despite the fact that he’s doing the proper factor and dropping again all the way down to 170 kilos, I’ve simply misplaced all religion in Holland making the required enhancements to be a related contender once more. Nelson isn’t any world-beater and he’s getting into the twilight of his profession, however he’s nonetheless an excessive amount of on the bottom for Holland. “Gunni” snags a submission within the second spherical.
Choose: Nelson
Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara
This was purported to be a layup for Molly McCann. She was initially scheduled to combat Istela Nunes, a veteran with an ignominious 0-4 UFC document tailored for McCann to fashion on in entrance of a house crowd. However Nunes is out and stepping in for her is latest Contender Collection signing Alexia Thainara, who presents all types of issues on paper.
There’s nothing fancy about Thainara’s sport. Her standup is a piece in progress, although she actually enjoys letting her fists and toes fly, and her takedowns are primarily comprised of tackling her opponent to the bottom. Hey, if it really works it really works. And as soon as Thainara is on the mat, she is a risk.
Given all that, you must be fearful for McCann right here. Everyone knows she’s able to enjoyable placing matchups and Thainara may sometimes oblige, however we additionally know she has limitations with regards to grappling, limitations that Thainara will exploit. I don’t belief McCann to maintain this one standing nor to get it again to the toes if Thainara places her on her bottom.
Thainara is the stylish decide of the week and it’s fully doable we’re all massively overrating this UFC debutante’s possibilities, however I’m driving the wave right here and selecting her to beat McCann by submission.
Choose: Thainara
Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
Battle of the Night time candidate right here between two entertaining additions to the impossibly deep light-weight roster.
Maybe to a fault, Chris Duncan likes to let the combat come to him. The outcomes have been tremendous as far as he has an amazing combination of toughness and timing, which permits him to lure his opponents into hazard. That’s what makes this matchup good as a result of Jordan Vucenic goes to stress early to kickstart the motion.
Whether or not Duncan can discover a gap for his personal offense is the query. Vucenic enjoys placing, but additionally has legit submission expertise, so he has loads of choices to stop Duncan from sussing out his subsequent transfer. Duncan will catch Vucenic a lot, however sufficient to beat the variety and quantity Vucenic will convey to the combat? I doubt it.
Preserve your eyes locked on what ought to be an exhilarating three-rounder that Vucenic takes by choice.
Choose: Vucenic
Nathaniel Wooden vs. Morgan Charriere
Talking of Battle of the Night time, what an opener now we have between Nathaniel Wood and Morgan Charriere.
Wooden at all times finds himself in a scrap no matter who he’s combating and that would be the case once more Saturday. I’ll be stunned if he can merely use his grappling to impose his will on Charriere, so he’ll doubtless need to depend on his at all times enhancing placing to maintain this one attention-grabbing. I give Wooden the slight pace benefit, whereas energy is certainly on Charriere’s aspect.
“The Final Pirate” has sneakily develop into one to look at within the featherweight division. He had all of the makings of a contender after a profitable Cage Warriors run, however has additionally confirmed to be a helpful motion fighter for the UFC with bonuses in every of his first three appearances for the promotion. He’s prepared to soak up injury if it means catching Wooden with larger pictures.
I see one other most important card combat going to a call, with Charriere narrowly edging out a win.
Choose: Charriere
Preliminaries
Jai Herbert def. Chris Padilla
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos
Mick Parkin def. Marcin Tybura (10)
Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev
Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar
