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Another Saturday of UFC action is nearly upon us and another exciting card is all ready to go. This week’s event will be the last to be held at the UFC Apex before we see another packed-out crowd enjoy live MMA action inside a sold-out arena.
Having welcomed fans back at UFC 261, 262 and 263, a full crowd will once again be in attendance at UFC 264 on July 10 for the blockbuster trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. But before a fortunate section of the UFC fanbase fills up the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, 13 fights will take place this weekend inside the oh-so-familiar Apex...
UFC Vegas 30: Gane vs. Volkov
At UFC Vegas 30 this weekend, Alexander Volkov will compete in a UFC main event for the fifth time in just 10 walks to the octagon. His latest headliner will perhaps be his toughest yet. 'Drago' will face third-ranked Frenchman Ciryl Gane, who's unbeaten in eight professional MMA fights and has collected wins over the likes of Tanner Boser, Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
The card has the potential to be a highly entertaining watch. With that said, here are five names to look out for at UFC Vegas 30.
#5 Raoni Barcelos - UFC bantamweight
At UFC Vegas 30, Raoni Barcelos will look to extend his winning streak to 10 and boost his UFC record to a perfect 6-0. The Brazilian's credentials in the sport were clear before he made his debut and they've become even clearer since. If he can continue his form as he faces stiffer opposition, he could become a real force to be reckoned with in the 135-pound division.
Barcelos is a five-time Brazilian national wrestling champion, having begun grappling training at the age of just five. Since making the transition to MMA in 2012, success has continued to follow the 34-year-old. After 12 fights, he'd become the Resurrection FIghting Alliance featherweight champion, defended his belt twice and lost on just one occasion.
Since being picked up by the UFC, Barcelos has beaten the likes of Chris Gutierrez and Said Nurmagomedov. A Fight of the Night victory over Khalid Taha last November certainly made a statement and he'll hope to do the same again when he faces another rising prospect in Timur Valiev this weekend.
If you're making early bets for Saturday's Fight of the Night, this could be a solid shout.
#4 Julia Avila - UFC women's bantamweight
Not many UFC fighters have made a name for themselves in a more impactful way than Julia Avila did at UFC Vegas 2. Known as the 'Raging Panda', Avila turned into more of a 'Raging Rhyno' against Gina Mazany. The first two fights on the card had already seen consecutive first-round knockouts. Avila wasn't about to break that streak.
The fight was over in 22 seconds. After landing a clean knee to the body and a right hand up top, Avila went hell for leather and rushed 'Danger'. A flurry of punches against the cage led to the stoppage. It was her second UFC win in two walks to the octagon and extended her winning streak in MMA to four.
A decision defeat to Sijara Eubanks has stalled her rise, but Avila's potential, power, speed and pure aggressive style makes her one to watch this weekend. Given she lost last time out, perhaps we'll hear an even bigger celebratory scream if she finds a finish against Julija Stoliarenko...
#3 Kennedy Nzechukwu - UFC light heavyweight
Kennedy Nzechukwu is one of the UFC's most promsiing light heavyweight prospects. While the top portion of the division has perhaps been lacking since the departure of long-time champ Jon Jones, the prospects and rising contenders have been putting on performances as entertaining as ever. Our last sight of 'African Savage' was no exception.
On such a stacked PPV card, a bout was always going to need to be special for its fighters to leave UFC 259 with the Fight of the Night bonus. What Nzechukwu and Carlos Ulberg put on was more than enough to pip the main card stars to the $50,000. After a back-and-forth slog fest, the Nigerian knocked the New Zealander out with a vicious second-round right hook.
The win saw Nzechukwu record back-to-back UFC wins and add yet another KO to his record. The 29-year-old's only defeat in his nine-fight career came at the hands of Paul Craig on his UFC debut, who, after becoming the first man to defeat Jamahal Hill as well, seems to be making a habit of handing future stars their first L's.
Since then, however, Nzechukwu has looked impressive, with his knockout win earlier this year firmly establishing his name in the 205-pound division.
Nzechukwu will look to secure a similarly brutal finish when he enters the octagon with Danilo Marques this weekend. The Brazilian is unbeaten in two fights since signing with the UFC. Victories over Khadis Ibragimov and Mike Rodriguez extended his current MMA winning streak to four. He'll be no easy opponent for Nzechukwu, that's for sure.
But with six knockouts on his record already, 'African Savage' is certainly one of the most exciting names to watch at UFC Vegas 30.
#2 Ciryl Gane - UFC heavyweight
On Saturday, third-ranked UFC heavyweight Ciryl Gane will compete in his second consecutive main event. The Frenchman's rise has been equally rapid and impressive.
'Bon Gamin' debuted in the UFC as a 3-0 heavyweight in 2019. Despite lacking MMA experience, Gane's unbeaten Muay Thai background was enough to convince the UFC to sign him. Five fights later and Gane has maintained the undefeated start to his career and racked up wins against the likes of Tanner Boser, former champion Junior dos Santos and, most recently, knockout machine Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Having entered the heavyweight top three, Gane will be looking to make his case for a title shot against the dangerous Alexander Volkov. 'Drago has been one of the top names in the division for a while now and has an abundance of main event experience. If Gane can defeat the Russian, it'll send a message to the likes of Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis.
Gane is France's best hope for a UFC champion and he'll hope to move a step closer to gold this weekend.
#1 Shavkat Rakhmonov - UFC welterweight
Not many fights fulfill the veteran vs. prospect criteria to the extent of this UFC Vegas 30 matchup. The fight between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michel Prazeres will see an unbeaten 26-year-old make his second walk to the octagon to face a 13-fight UFC veteran who's a month away from turning 40.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is about as promising as any prospect in the UFC right now. Prior to his UFC debut last year, the Kazkhstani welterweight had built a perfect 12-0 record that included 12 finishes, six of which came in the very first round. That's some way to build your name in MMA.
Not much says a promotion recognizes your potential like matching you up with Alex Oliveira for your debut. 'Cowboy' boasts wins over Carlos Condit and Tim Means, and he's faced the likes of Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson and Gilbert Burns. Rakhmonov arrived in style, submitting the Brazilian in under five minutes.
Rakhmonov will look to maintain his 100% finishing rate at UFC Vegas 30. However, his opponent, Michel Prazeres, hasn't been finished in his 29-fight career so far. Three decision losses to Paulo Thiago, Kevin Lee and Ismail Naurdiev are his only MMA defeats.
Across the Atlantic, 'Nomad' established his name with his performances under the promotional banner of M-1 Global. It's been clear to those of us from Europe that Rakhmonov has the potential to make waves in the UFC. If he can follow up his debut win with a victory over Prazeres this weekend, he'll have well and truly made his name known in the UFC.
