Gilbert Burns and Jessica Andrade are two of the hardest gatekeepers within the enterprise. They’ve their work reduce out for them on Saturday.
In the principle occasion of UFC Vegas 97, Burns seems to snap the primary dropping streak of his profession when he takes on the extremely touted Sean Brady. The welterweight veteran’s previous two losses have been to a surging Jack Della Maddalena and future champion Belal Muhammad, outcomes which are nothing to be ashamed of, although they might be indicative of the place the 38-year-old Brazilian stands within the present pecking order.
It’s an order that Brady must disrupt additional if he’s to really attain his potential. The Philadelphia native has all of the instruments to be a champion and he reminded everybody simply how good he could be with a drubbing of Kelvin Gastelum this previous December. The highest-5 of the division awaits him if he can get previous Burns.
The same narrative performs out within the co-main occasion because the white sizzling (paradoxically) “Natty Ice” will get her crack at Andrade. Natalia Silva is but to lose in 5 UFC appearances and her crowd-pleasing fashion has her marked as a surefire title challenger. All she has to do tonight is beat the winningest girl in UFC historical past and one of the completed finishers in any weight class.
In different fundamental card motion, Steve Garcia and Kyle Nelson put dueling win streaks on the road, Matt Schnell takes on short-notice opponent Cody Durden, and Trevor Peek throws down with Yanal Ashmouz within the light-weight opener.
What: UFC Vegas 97
The place: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Sept. 7. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a five-fight fundamental card at 7 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Combating International Rankings and the MMA Combating Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Gilbert Burns (6) vs. Sean Brady (9)
I’m a agency believer that the Sean Brady who trucked Kelvin Gastelum is a more true reflection of his skills than the fighter that was humbled by Belal Muhammad. Moreover, it seems that ol’ Belal is admittedly good!
Brady is a wonderful all-rounder and, if something, he wanted that loss to Muhammad to point out him how a lot farther he has to go to be thought of an elite welterweight. Getting matched up with Gilbert Burns is throwing him proper again into the fireplace, however he’s prepared for it; frankly, if he isn’t now, he may by no means be.
Counting out Burns’ possibilities of upsetting Brady right here doesn’t really feel nice, particularly since I’m basing that call extra on Burns’ age (he turned 38 in July) and profession wear-and-tear than any vital drop off in his efficiency. Don’t overlook, he was up on two of the judges’ scorecards in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena earlier than falling to the significantly youthful fighter’s athleticism and energy.
Brady can match Burns on the bottom, he ought to have the velocity benefit on the ft, and the distinction in mileage between the 2 needs to be the distinction within the championship rounds. After being pushed to the restrict, Brady edges out a choice and takes his rightful place close to the highest of the welterweight ladder.
Choose: Brady
Jessica Andrade (14, P4P-14) vs. Natalia Silva (10)
Query: Will we see the Jessica Andrade that was adequate to win the UFC strawweight title as soon as upon a time or the defensively suspect slugger that was completed in three straight fights not too way back?
It won’t matter given the speedy ascent of Natalia Silva, a standup menace who has already confirmed herself in opposition to stiff competitors, together with Viviane Araujo, Andrea Lee, and Jasmine Jasudavicius. She’ll should have a ton of respect for Andrade’s energy, given the listing of our bodies that “Bate Estaca” has left on the mat over time.
Andrade might look to take this to the bottom provided that Silva is unproven there, however Silva tasks as an elite sprawl-and-brawler. So long as she retains this standing, I give her the sting.
One other query price asking: Can Silva end Andrade? It’s been a very long time since Andrade has misplaced on the playing cards, however I feel Silva goes to should outlast the previous UFC champion on this one.
Choose: Silva
Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson
Finger of disgrace to my fellow Canadian for lacking weight!
As we proceed to wag our collective finger, allow us to additionally admire what Kyle Nelson has finished in his previous three fights, beating favored opposition in each and even taking out Invoice Algeo in underneath 5 minutes. He’s on a real roll that nobody would have predicted when he was mired in a stoop of only one win in six fights.
The blessings of the Nice White North can solely take you to this point although and I feel the great instances come to an finish Saturday when he runs into Steve Garcia. “Imply Machine” is a flat-out ending machine and he thrives on chaos. He’ll draw Nelson right into a dogfight whether or not he desires it or not and in that situation, Garcia has greater than sufficient chew to chomp down on one other victory.
Nelson will dangle in there for a spherical earlier than Garcia turns up the warmth within the second and smokes him.
Choose: Garcia
Matt Schnell vs. Cody Durden
Alessandro Costa was a preferred option to beat Matt Schnell inside the gap, however I don’t know what to assume now with Cody Durden changing Costa on lower than every week’s discover.
Tip your cap to Durden’s crew, this was a sly enterprise transfer. Durden is keen to snap a two-fight skid and he should see the equally slumping Schnell as a simple goal. Schnell has a ton of ability and coronary heart, however he’s by no means been recognized for his sturdiness and Durden is undoubtedly seeking to capitalize on that weak point.
Schnell is not any stranger to preventing from behind, it’d simply be an excessive amount of to ask him accomplish that once more at this stage of his profession. He’ll take pleasure in a full camp, in addition to the truth that Durden hasn’t precisely been a constant finisher within the UFC. It shouldn’t shock anybody if Schnell catches an overaggressive Durden in a submission.
I lean in direction of Durden counting on his wrestling to manage Schnell and stifle his offense, burying him with stress in Spherical 1 and ending within the opening 5 minutes.
Choose: Durden
Trevor Peek vs. Yanal Ashmouz
Trevor Peek and Yanal Ashmouz each discovered themselves dealing with extra technical opponents of their most up-to-date fights and who requested for that? Credit score to the matchmakers for course correcting and simply throwing these two maniacs within the cage with one another.
I don’t wish to see both of those dudes flashing their technical acumen, displaying how they will completely management vary to land teeps or how they use feints to arrange elementary 1-2 combos. I wish to see light-weight swangin’ and bangin’! Do the correct factor, fellas. Go in there and simply let it rip. And if I see one takedown, I shall be very, very, very dissatisfied.
So far as a decide goes, will we journey with the unpredictable Peek and his penchant for quick finishes, or will Ashmouz ultimately determine Peek’s timing and discover a gap for a decisive strike? One factor I’m assured about is that considered one of these fighters shall be completed for the primary time.
Ashmouz by knockout.
Choose: Ashmouz
Preliminaries
Chris Padilla def. Rongzhu
Isaac Dulgarian def. Brendon Marotte
Felipe dos Santos def. Andre Lima
Gabriel Santos def. Yizha
Jaqueline Amorim def. Vanessa Demopoulos
Andre Petroski def. Dylan Budka
Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska
