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#6 The Prelims: ESPN card
The show’s preliminary fights will be shown on the full ESPN network, and at the top of that portion sits a Strawweight clash between Randa Markos and Ashley Yoder. I like Markos in this one; she’s an excellent grappler and a solid striker too and in all honesty, with more consistency she’d be a title contender.
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Yoder is tough and is on a two-fight win streak, but she hasn’t fought the calibre of opponents that Markos has and I think if ‘Quiet Storm’ can get her to the ground, she can outwork her for a decision.
At Lightweight, striker Alex White faces fellow striker Rafael Fiziev in a fight that’s somewhat tricky to pick. White has KO power and a strong chin, but he’s shown vulnerability in all areas before, and while Fiziev has less experience, he looked like a prospect worth keeping an eye on when the UFC signed him earlier in the year. I’m taking Fiziev by decision but could be miles out in this one.
Enrique Barzola does battle with Movsar Evloev at Featherweight in what should be an interesting fight. Evloev defeated Sung Woo Choi in his UFC debut last April, but didn’t completely impress; his takedowns and top control were phenomenal but he ran out of steam somewhat, too.
Barzola meanwhile is super-tough, puts on a ridiculous pace and is a stout grappler in his own right. This should come down to control; if Barzola can stop Evloev’s takedown then I think he can win, and based on his UFC experience I think he can. I’ll take Barzola by decision.
At Heavyweight, Sergei Pavlovich faces TUF veteran Maurice Greene. Greene is on a surprising 3-fight win streak but I think that ends here; a heavy hitter who has a lot of size and power, he’ll be bigger than Pavlovich, but will be giving up speed, and the Russian is also a hell of a boxer and has tons of power himself. I feel like Pavlovich could still be a contender in this division – he was unlucky to draw Alistair Overeem for his UFC debut – and he’ll win this one with a violent KO.
At Strawweight it’s a battle of inexperienced fighters, as Loma Lookboonmee takes on Aleksandra Albu. Albu has actually been with the UFC since 2015 but has only managed 3 fights in that time in a curious statistic. In all honesty this one could go either way, I just don’t know enough about either fighter and there’s just not that much footage to make a clear pick. I’m taking Albu by decision but who knows really.
Finally, Heavyweights Raphael Pessoa and Jeff Hughes open the card. Hughes is a classic regional Heavyweight; not the best cardio, not the best grappling but he hits hard and he can clearly take a shot, as we saw in his aborted fight with Todd Duffee.
Pessoa meanwhile looks flashier and is the better athlete, but there are questions over his durability and grappling. I can see Hughes taking some heavy shots early here, but he’s tough enough to hang in there and I think he’ll turn the tide and grind out the Brazilian for a late stoppage.
