UFC Atlantic Metropolis begin time, full struggle card particulars | Blanchfield vs. Fiorot

Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is lastly going away from the Apex for a “Struggle Night time” occasion to stage UFC Atlantic Metropolis inside Boardwalk Corridor in Atlantic Metropolis, N.J., that includes a ladies’s Flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot. Within the co-main occasion, Vicente Luque battles Joaquin Buckley in a Welterweight scrap.

What’s Sizzling:

The ladies’s Flyweight division will take heart stage for the second straight week as Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot collide in what ought to be a title eliminator bout to see who will get the following shot on the belt, which is at the moment within the palms of Alexa Grasso. In fact, the victor should await a minute for his or her potential title shot as a result of Grasso is ready to teach the following version of The Final Fighter (TUF) reverse Valentina Shevchenko, which suggests a protracted ready interval. That mentioned, the winner of this struggle may very properly get matched up with Rose Namajunas. However that’s placing the cart earlier than the horse, they nonetheless must deal with extra urgent enterprise for the time being, which is to get a win tonight.

This struggle is so evenly matched and might be among the finest bouts in ladies’s MMA in someday, title fights included. Blanchfield is at the moment ranked No. 2 within the division, which she earned by successful all six of her fights below the UFC banner, extending her win streak to 9, and upping her total document to 12-1. Alongside the way in which, “Chilly Blooded” has taken out the likes of Jessica Andrade, Molly McCann and extra just lately Taila Santos, who she defeated in Aug. 2023. Blanchfield has confirmed to be the true deal and a legit menace to the 125-pound throne, no matter who’s sitting on it if her occasions involves problem for it.

As for Fiorot, she is simply as sizzling, successful 11-straight fights together with beginning off her UFC profession with six straight wins, as properly. Actually, her greatest win throughout that span got here towards the aforementioned Rose Namajunas, spoiling “Thug Rose’s” 125-pound debut in Sept 2023. Now, the No. 3 ranked fighter within the division is out to show she is worthy of a title shot with a win over a dominant foe who has championship aspirations of her personal.

What’s Not:

Chidi Njokuani has misplaced three straight fights contained in the Octagon whereas Rhys McKee is coming off a loss to Ange Loosa, but UFC matchmakers felt this 170-pound bout deserved a spot on the principle card. Name me loopy, however the Crazy Godinez vs. Virna Jandiroba struggle in all probability deserved that spot, seeing as how each girls are on good win streaks for the time being and never preventing for his or her UFC lives.

Authentic Card vs. Precise Card:

Sean Brady was initially slated to headline the occasion towards Vicente Luque however was finally scrapped after Brady bowed out of consideration to are inclined to a lingering damage, although he claims he by no means signed on the dotted line to start with. That paved the way in which for Blanchfield and Fiorot to take over headlining duties. Pat Sabatini withdrew from his scheduled struggle towards Nate Landwehr for undisclosed causes, and was changed by Jamall Emmers. Landwehr just lately had his three-fight win streak snapped by Dan Ige at UFC 289, whereas Emmers was final seen defeating Dennis Buzukja through technical knockout in Nov. 2023.

Accidents:

Except for Brady’s damage, Dominick Reyes was unable to make his scheduled Mild Heavyweight bout towards Carlos Ulberg along with his personal well being points. Consequently, Ulberg was then paired up towards Alonzo Menifield, however the struggle was moved to UFC St. Louis on Could 11.

New Blood:

Regardless of dropping his struggle on the Contender Collection again in Sept. 2023, Angel Pacheco will get the chance to point out his stuff a minimum of as soon as extra when he makes his UFC debut towards Caolan Loughran, who got here up quick in his personal UFC debut towards Taylor Lapilus six months in the past. Previous to that, he began off his MMA profession with eight straight wins.

Ibo Aslan earned his spot on the UFC roster by scoring an emphatic first-round knockout win on the Contender Collection, erasing Paulo Renato Jr. again in Aug. 2023. “The Final Ottoman” is on a four-fight, first-round knockout win streak. Actually, all 12 of Aslan’s win have come by through knockout, with 11 of them coming within the very first spherical. He has confirmed to be an aggressive fighter, and he shall be wanting so as to add to the popularity when he battles Anton Turkalj, who has actually struggled throughout his time with the promotion, dropping all three of his fights. Yet another loss may result in his launch.

Connor Matthews is one other Contender Collection alum who’s trying to make a splash from the get-go. The submission specialist will face off towards Dennis Bazukja, who’s in determined want of a win after dropping his first two outings with the promotion.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Each Andre Petroski and Jacob Malkoun got here up quick of their earlier bouts, dropping to Michel Pereira and Cody Brundage, respectively. Previous to his defeat, Petroski had received 5 straight, whereas Malkoun has solely managed to rack up a 3-3 document below the UFC banner.

Undefeated (8-0, 2-0 UFC) ladies’s Flyweight contender, Victoria Dudakova m, will try to safe her ninth-straight win when she goes toe-to-toe towards Melissa Gatto. That is some questionable matchmaking, actually, seeing as how Dudakova is on a sizzling streak whereas Gatto has misplaced two straight.

Herbert Burns bought off to a blistering begin to his UFC run, successful his first two fights through stoppage, knocking out Nate Landwehr within the first spherical and forcing Even Dunham to faucet to a rear-naked choke in below two minutes. Since then, nevertheless, Burns has been stopped in two straight fights, and now finds himself in a must-win scenario towards Julio Arce, who has alternated wins and losses for the previous six years. That may by no means get him ranked, so he must step up and be extra constant in relation to selecting up wins.

Crazy Godinez has actually discovered her groove as of late, successful her final 4 fights, together with massive wins over Cynthia Calvillo and Tabatha Ricci. The Mexican-born fighter has one among her hardest assessments so far towards Virna Jandiroba, who’s coming off back-to-back wins over Angela Hill and Marina Rodriguez. Jandiroba is at the moment ranked No. 5 at Strawweight, whereas Godinez will try to steal that spot from her all the way in which from the No. 10 place.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

Chris Weidman, like lots of the nice former champions earlier than him, is on an apparent downward decline. It’s one which seemingly occurred in a single day. He began his profession off at 13-0, defeating Anderson Silva in back-to-back title fights, defending it twice towards Lyoto Machida after which Vitor Belfort earlier than happening a downward pattern. After getting knocked out by Luke Rockhold in his fourth try to defend the title, he has since gone 2-6, which incorporates his present two-fight skid. Nearing 40 years of age, a rejuvenated comeback try and run on the title is very unlikely, particularly for the reason that division is just getting youthful. He’ll try to get again on monitor towards one other struggling Middleweight in Bruno Silva, who can be on a two-fight skid and has misplaced 4 of his final 5. A loss shall be devastating for both man, but when “All American” loses once more — particularly through knockout — his profession may come to an finish both willingly or by Dana White’s recommendation, which the brash head honcho is accustomed to doing if a longtime veteran continues to lose.

Curiosity Degree: 6/10

Within the co-main occasion, Vicente Luque will try to safe his first back-to-back win streak in three years when he battles hard-hitting Welterweight comrade, Joaquin Buckley. Luque is coming off a unanimous resolution win over Rafael dos Anjos, which snapped his two-fight skid. Buckley, in the meantime, has received two straight and is trying to crash the High 15 by taking out the No. 11 ranked fighter within the division. The winner of this struggle might be in a line for a much bigger struggle subsequent.

In Middleweight motion, Nursulton Ruziboev will battle Sedriques Dumas. Winner of 9 straight, Ruizboev made a splash in his UFC debut by knocking out Brunno Ferreira in 77 seconds (highlights). Dumas, alternatively, stumbled out of the gates by dropping his UFC debut, however has since rallied to win two straight.

One of many extra intriguing bouts of the evening is a Featherweight pairing between Invoice Algeo and Kyle Nelson. Each males have received two straight, and are eyeing their first three-fight win streak contained in the Octagon. This struggle may very properly steal the present.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC Atlantic Metropolis Struggle Card:

UFC Atlantic Metropolis Important Occasion On ESPN/ESPN+:

125 lbs.: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot

UFC Atlantic Metropolis Important Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Vicente Luque vs. Joaquin Buckley185 lbs.: Chris Weidman vs. Bruno Silva185 lbs.: Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Sedriques Dumas145 lbs.: Invoice Algeo vs. Kyle Nelson185 lbs.: Chidi Njokuani vs. Rhys McKee

UFC Atlantic Metropolis ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

145 lbs.: Nate Landwehr vs. Jamall Emmers115 lbs.: Virna Jandiroba vs. Crazy Godinez145 lbs.: Julio Arce vs. Herbert Burns145 lbs.: Dennis Buzukja vs. Connor Matthews205 lbs.: Ibo Aslan vs. Anton Turkalj125 lbs.: Victoria Dudakova vs. Melissa Gatto135 lbs.: Angel Pacheco vs. Caolan Loughran185 lbs.: Andre Petroski vs. Jacob Malkoun

*Struggle card, bout order and variety of fights stay topic to vary.*

Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of all the UFC Atlantic Metropolis struggle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining essential card stability on ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET.

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