UFC Vegas 91 begin time, full battle card particulars | Nicolau vs. Perez

After a uncommon week off to recover from the UFC 300 hangover, Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is true again at UFC APEX to stage UFC Vegas 91 later TONIGHT (Sat., April 27, 2024) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the ESPN+-streamed occasion shall be a males’s Flyweight battle between Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez. Within the co-main occasion, Ryan Spann battles Bogdan Guskov in a Gentle Heavyweight affair.

What’s Sizzling:

The Flyweight division — maybe due to a spectacular and thrilling quadralogy between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo — remains to be alive and effectively on the Final Preventing Championship (UFC) roster regardless of previous rumblings of its eventual demise. And the promotion’s subsequent two occasions shall be headlined by 4 expertise 125-pounders. at UFC 301 subsequent Saturday evening, division champion, Alexandre Pantoja, will defend his title towards Steve Erceg (sure, you learn that appropriately).

This week, nevertheless, two struggling contenders — who’re nonetheless ranked within the High 10 — will collide to see who will get again within the win column as Matheus Nicolau takes on late substitute, Alex Perez. Nicolau had his six-fight win streak spanned by Brandon Royval, who knocked him out a 12 months in the past within the very first spherical. Talking of which, that’s a fairly prolonged layoff for Nicolau, so will probably be fascinating to see simply how he reacts coming off the loss and time on the sidelines.

As for Perez, he agreed to take the battle after Manel Kape bowed out with an damage — the second time he’s been pressured out of a battle towards Nicolau. Perez taking the battle is a fairly good transfer as a result of he’s on a three-fight dropping streak, and may he lose this battle it gained’t harm his inventory (at the very least not that a lot) as a result of he’s doing UFC a strong. A win, alternatively, places him again within the win column by taking out a High 5 opponent. It’s just about win-win for him.

What’s Not:

We simply got here off the “greatest card in MMA historical past,” so let’s not begin complaining an excessive amount of right here. It’s not that deep, positive, however it’s nonetheless made up of some intriguing and aggressive bouts.

Authentic Card vs. Precise Card:

The occasion was initially set to be headlined by Manel Kape taking an Matheus Nicolau earlier than a rib damage pressured Kape out of the battle, paving the way in which for Alex Perez to step in and fill the void. Anshul Jubli withdrew from his scheduled bout towards Maheshate Hayisaer for undisclosed causes and was changed by Gabriel Benitez, who’s trying to get again into the win column after dropping to Jim Miller through submission earlier this 12 months. That loss was “Moggly’s” third in final 4 fights, so he wants a win in a giant manner. As for Hayisaer, he’s 0-2 in his first two fights contained in the Octagon, so one other loss may ship him packing. Lando Vannatta withdrew from his battle towards UFC newcomer, James Llontop, and was changed by Gabriel Inexperienced.

Accidents:

Aside from Kape’s unlucky damage, no different fights had been axed because of well being considerations.

New Blood:

James Llontop will make his UFC debut after incomes his spot on the UFC roster following a formidable win towards Malik Lewis on the Contender Collection in Sept. 2023. “Goku” is presently on a 12-fight win streak, racking up six knockout wins throughout that span. As for his opponent, Chris Padilla, he can even be making his UFC debut. He has fought nearly all over the place, competing for Bellator MMA, BRAVE, King of the Cage amongst different promotions. Now, he will get to show his price on the largest stage of all of them.

Jhonata Diniz earned his spot on the UFC roster after a formidable displaying on the Contender Collection, defeating Eduardo Neves through first-round knockout. The truth is, since making his debut in 2022, Diniz has gained all six of his fights within the very first spherical through strikes. Whether or not or not he can preserve that streak going contained in the Octagon, stays to be seen, and he’ll attempt to try this to Austen Lane who, curiously sufficient, is coming off a first-round knockout loss by the hands of Justin Tafa.

How The “Prelims” Look:

In girls’s Strawweight motion, Ketlen Souza seems to be to choose up her first win with the promotion after arising brief in her debut towards Karine Silva in June 2023. She shall be going through off towards Marnic Mann, who additionally threw up a dud in her promotional debut towards Josefine Lindgren Knutsson.

Within the Heavyweight division, Don’Story Mayes goals for a visit again to the winner’s circle an a bit extra consistency when he goes toe-to-toe towards Caio Machado. Mayes is 1-2-1 in his final 4 outings, whereas Machado had his seven-fight win streak snapped by the hands Michael Parkin in his UFC debut in Nov. 2023.

In Light-weight motion, each Austin Hubbard and Michal Figlak are coming off losses and are in dire want of a win. The unlucky half about that is that one man shall be dropping his second straight, until there’s a draw or a no contest (NC).

Longtime UFC veteran Rani Yahya is now in his thirteenth 12 months with the promotion and has by no means actually gotten over the hump. He’s coming off a tricky loss by the hands of Montel Jackson, who knocked him out within the very first spherical over a 12 months in the past. He’ll attempt to get again on monitor towards Victor Henry, whose battle towards Javid Basharat was rule a no contest (NC) in 2023.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

In her first three fights underneath the UFC banner, Na Liang has come up brief. To make issues worse for herself, she was stopped by KO/TKO on every event, which makes her a first-rate candidate to get minimize ought to she lose her fourth straight when she goes head-to-head towards Ivana Petrovic. Talking of which, Petrovic may use a win of her personal after throwing up a stinker in her UFC debut, dropping to Luana Carolina through unanimous resolution at a 12 months in the past.

Curiosity Degree: 5/10

Within the co-main occasion of the occasion, Ryan Spann will try to snap his two-fight win streak, arising brief in back-to-back fights towards Nikita Krylov and Anthony Smith, so “Superman” hasn’t precisely seemed tremendous. All of that stated, he’s nonetheless only one spot away from cracking the High 10. As for his opponent, Bogdan Guskov, he picked up his first win contained in the Octagon after dropping his UFC debut, defeating Zac Pauga through first-round knockout simply two months in the past (see it right here).

In girls’s Flyweight motion, Ariane Lipski and Karin Silva will go toe-to-toe in a battle between two surging contenders. Lipski is presently on a three-fight win streak, which is the very best run she’s had with the promotion. As for Silva, she has gained eight straight fights and is unbeaten in 5 years. After making her approach to the Octagon through the Contender Collection. she has gained her first three fights with the promotion through first-round submission. She does certainly have the “Killer” mentality, and if Lipski isn’t on her “A” sport she could possibly be taking a nap or tapping for expensive life.

The Featherweight division has a brand new champion in Ilia Topuria, and now all rising contenders are working exhausting towards in the future getting their shot at gold, and David Onama and Jonathan Pearce are not any completely different. There respective roads to the highest shall be lengthy and grueling. Pearce was choked out by Joanderson Brito six months in the past, whereas Onama scored a one-punch knockout win over Gabriel Santos 10 months in the past.

Tim Means lastly obtained again into the win column in his final battle be knocking out Andre Filaho 5 months in the past, snapping his three-fight dropping streak. His horrid streak obtained him out of the TOp 15, and rightfully so, and now he’ll search for a manner again by constructing some momentum. He’ll go to battle towards Uros Medic, who’s simply 3-2 contained in the Octagon.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC Vegas 91 Battle Card:

UFC Vegas 91 Most important Occasion On ESPN/ESPN+:

125 lbs.: Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez

UFC Vegas 91 Most important Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov125 lbs.: Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva265 lbs.: Austen Lane vs. Jhonata Diniz145 lbs.: Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

UFC Vegas 91 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Rani Yahya vs. Victor Henry155 lbs.: Austin Hubbard vs. Michal Figlak265 lbs.: Don’Story Mayes vs. Caio Machado125 lbs.: Marnic Mann vs. Ketlen Souza155 lbs.: Chris Padilla vs. James Llontop125 lbs.: Ivana Petrovic vs. Liang Na155 lbs.: Gabriel Benítez vs. Maheshate Hayisaer

MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC Vegas 91 battle card RIGHT HERE, beginning with the ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card matchups, that are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, adopted by the remaining principal card stability (additionally on ESPN/ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To take a look at the most recent and best UFC Vegas 91 information and notes you’ll want to hit up our complete occasion archives right here and right here. For the up to date and finalized “Nicolau vs. Perez” battle card and ESPN/ESPN+ lineup click on right here.