Petr Yan simply acquired again within the profitable monitor, however a fellow former champion stands in the way in which of a return to the title image.
In the principle occasion of UFC Macau, Yan faces the streaking Deiveson Figueiredo. A lot has occurred since each males most lately competed in title fights, with Yan solely lately snapping a three-fight skid and Figueiredo making a transfer to the bantamweight division that has paid off in spades.
Yan’s shedding streak was a misleading one. He didn’t regain the bantamweight title from Aljamain Sterling of their rematch (after shedding the title to Sterling through disqualification), then misplaced a slim cut up resolution in a thriller towards Sean O’Malley, after which merely discovered himself in the way in which of future champion Merab Dvalishvili. He confirmed he nonetheless belongs among the many elite with a classic resolution win over Tune Yadong this previous March.
That success immediately led to this Figueiredo matchup as followers had been calling for the 2 to duel ever since Figueiredo joined the bantamweight division in December 2023. After shedding the ultimate battle of his epic tetralogy with Brandon Moreno, Figueiredo determined to freshen issues up with a change in weight courses and he’s hit the bottom working. Wins over former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt and longtime contenders Marlon Vera and Rob Font have Figueiredo in place to sneak into one other title alternative with a standout efficiency in Macau.
Elsewhere on the principle card, flyweight knockout artist Wang Cong appears to be like to mark herself as a future challenger when she takes on Gabriella Fernandes, and Volkan Oezdemir is tasked with halting Carlos Ulberg’s six-fight win streak.
What: UFC Macau
The place: Galaxy Enviornment in Macau, China
When: Saturday, Nov. 23. The seven-fight early preliminary card begins at 3 a.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight principal card that begins at 6 a.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Combating International Rankings)
Petr Yan (6) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (7)
Petr Yan is a grasp of adaptation and he advantages most from this being a five-round battle. That’s to not take something away from Deiveson Figueiredo, whose first and third fights had been prompt classics that went the space, however few can hold with Yan as soon as his thoughts begins making the mandatory calculations to formulate doom for his opponents.
Not solely is Yan among the best boxers in MMA, he at all times appears to get stronger the longer the battle goes on. It doesn’t matter what type his opponent brings to the cage (except we’re speaking Merab Dvalishvili’s smothering bulldozer type), Yan ultimately finds all the correct angles to strike and make his opponents depressing. As soon as he will get these focusing on lasers on lock, it’s a wrap.
Figueiredo is a lot harmful in his personal proper. It hasn’t occurred but, however nobody must be stunned if Figueiredo turns into the primary fighter to place Yan away with strikes or pressure a faucet. “Deus Da Guerra” is a continuing menace to complete in quite a lot of methods and a scorching begin out of the gate may spell bother for Yan. Be mindful, Figueiredo has to understand how shut he’s to a title shot, so he gained’t be seeking to level battle right here. If he goes down, he’s happening swinging.
I anticipate this battle to play out like a typical Yan battle, particularly with Figueirdo pushing the tempo early. Yan will climate the storm earlier than turning the tide late within the second after which placing on a putting masterclass for the ultimate quarter-hour.
Decide: Yan
Yan Xiaonan (3) vs. Tabatha Ricci (12)
The stress is on Yan Xiaonan to ship because the highest-billed Chinese language athlete on this card. She’ll have each alternative to impress towards Tabatha Ricci, an aggressive fighter mild on ending skill.
One motive Ricci has discovered herself on the correct finish of some aggressive choices is her willingness to come back ahead and continuously shut the area. No person goes to mistake her for prime Wanderlei Silva, however when the judges are in search of motion, it’s normally Ricci offering it. So far as how efficient her offense is, nicely, mileage could range.
Yan is way extra exact and I give her the sting in pace as nicely. The massive factor to observe is how she offers with Ricci’s takedown makes an attempt, as a result of Yan has been foiled by wrestling earlier than, together with in her title battle with Zhang Weili.
Ricci presents a problem, however not one Yan can’t overcome over three rounds.
Decide: Yan
Tune Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov
It’s troublesome to know what to make of Muslim Salikhov today. The 40-year-old Russian is as tough as ever and his method is on level, however his moments of explosiveness are few and much between. It’s completely potential “King of Kung Fu” controls the vary for 3 rounds and neutralizes Tune Kenan.
That’s sort of a boring prediction, although. Tune has proven actual flashes all through his profession with a no-nonsense, infighting type, and the occasional highlight-reel knockout. He has to make this battle soiled if he’s to get one over on Salikhov, by no means a simple out.
It’s truthful to say Salikhov is closing in on the tip of his profession and whereas Tune isn’t any spring hen himself, he’s acquired extra within the tank ought to he handle to lure Salikhov right into a brawl. Quantity will likely be key for Tune if he hopes to safe probably the most notable win of his profession. I see Tune outlasting Salikhov in a workmanlike three-round contest, a lot to the group’s delight.
Decide: Tune
Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes
The reserving logic right here is evident. Gabriella Fernandes fought with reckless abandon in her slim resolution win over Carli Judice this previous June and the UFC is assuming she’ll do the identical towards Wang Cong, a fighter they’re desirous to push.
It’s comprehensible. Wang has that excellent combination of being a contemporary face for UFC followers, however with the high-level expertise—together with a kickboxing win over Valentina Shevchenko—that might make her a title challenger in a single day. She did what she was imagined to do in her UFC debut, scoring a fast knockout of Victoria Leonardo, and receives one other stylistically favorable opponent Saturday.
Fernandes actually is aware of find out how to pour on the stress, she’s simply not notably efficient when she does it. Her penchant for upright, lunging strikes all however ensures Wang’s proper hand will discover a house on Fernandes’ chin. It gained’t take too lots of these to finish the battle.
Decide: Wang
Volkan Oezdemir (11) vs. Carlos Ulberg (14)
Exterior of the principle occasion, Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg is the battle I’m most intrigued by. And in addition sort of dreading?
Ulberg is making all the correct strikes on his option to the highest and that is well-considered matchmaking, with Oezdemir being a one-time title challenger that will look good on Ulberg’s résumé if he can cross the take a look at. Even within the wasteland that’s the 205-pound division, a six-fight win streak is nothing to sneeze at, neither is placing Alonzo Menifield away in 12 seconds.
However Oezdemir isn’t any stranger to drudgery and if he can drag Ulberg into deeper waters, he’ll. “No Time” has rediscovered his of completion, however he’ll should watch out with the springy Ulberg. This conflict of kinds may go horribly fallacious, with each fighters using tentative and defensive sport plans.
Let’s hope I’m the one which’s horribly fallacious as a result of I’ve a nagging feeling this goes to a forgettable resolution, with Ulberg incomes Oezdemir’s quantity and never a lot else.
Decide: Ulberg
Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz
Zhang Mingyang may very well be strolling right into a lure right here.
At first look, Ozzy Diaz appears ripe for the selecting. The 34-year-old tends to surrender a number of floor to his opponents, trusting his protection and sturdiness to get him by way of the tough patches of a battle. When you’re Zhang’s workforce, that’s music to your ears, as they’ll undoubtedly be seeking to safe a quick end and a $50,000 bonus.
The factor about guys like Diaz is that they by no means go away as simply because it appears to be like like they need to on paper. Diaz is well-rounded and the power of the competitors he’s confronted is significantly stronger than that of Zhang. It would look dire for Diaz at first, however Zhang tends to drop his fingers when he’s on the offensive and that opens him up for an upset.
Zhang takes Spherical 1, with Diaz exhibiting his resilience. When Zhang fails to place Diaz away in Spherical 2, Diaz fires up for a comeback, finishes Zhang with strikes, and places himself in line for an additional test.
Decide: Diaz
Preliminaries
Baergeng Jieleyisi def. SuYoung You
DongHun Choi def. Kiru Sahota
Feng Xiaocan def. Shi Ming
Carlos Hernandez def. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
Lone’er Kavanagh def. Jose Ochoa
Quang Le def. Xiao Lengthy
Nikolas Motta def. Maheshate
