After a little bit of a blip in the summertime – UFC 278 had Harry Hunsucker on the primary card — the UFC has returned to stacking their PPV’s from high to backside. Within the case of UFC 281, there’s a pair of contests that might conceivably be Struggle Evening headliners and a contest between the quickest rising star in ladies’s MMA and the quickest rising prospect in ladies’s MMA. I guarantee you, I’m not repeating myself after I say that. Molly McCann has made a hell of a reputation for herself, however there are questions on her degree of competitors. It might be argued Erin Blanchfield, the prospect in that state of affairs, has not simply the perfect win, however the high two victories when it comes to high quality between the 2 of them.
As for the opposite two contests, I’ll admit Renato Moicano vs. Brad Riddell and Dominick Reyes vs. Ryan Spann wouldn’t precisely be the best high quality of Struggle Evening fundamental occasion, however we did have Aspen Ladd vs. Norma Dumont final 12 months. Simply saying….
For my early prelims preview, click on right here.
Renato Moicano vs. Brad Riddell, Light-weight
It’s exhausting to imagine it was only a 12 months in the past that Riddell was one of many sizzling risers up the light-weight division. Certain, he had been unable to safe finishes in any of his 4 UFC wins, however there was by no means any scarcity of pleasure and motion in these contests. Riddell participating in violent firefights each time and managed to return out together with his hand raised each time. Two losses later and the query is whether or not Riddell was ever nearly as good as we thought or is it rising pains?
To be trustworthy, given his small body for 155 and the late begin to his MMA profession in earnest, it ought to have been clear his ceiling would have some limitations. It’s exhausting to maintain that in thoughts although when he’s delivering constant leisure. Nevertheless, there’s limitations in nearly each space. Whereas Riddell has crisp, tight method, his pure energy is missing. Whereas he has confirmed to be tough to carry down, he can be taken down and probably smothered by somebody with a slick grappling recreation.
Sadly for Riddell, Moicano has one of many higher submission video games within the division. A back-take artist who excels at discovering the RNC as soon as he has connected himself, it isn’t exhausting to see him wrapping up Riddell as he does his impression of a human backpack. Moicano is commonly neglected for the remainder of his floor talents given the one means he’s discovered finishes since migrating to the UFC in 2014 is by way of RNC. It’s not like Moicano is helpless on the toes both. He has developed a useful boxing recreation, a jab being the centerpiece of his assault on the toes. Hell, it was rattling close to the one factor he wanted to derail Jeremy Stephens again within the day. That isn’t saying something concerning the calf kicks he throws that may be debilitating.
What has prevented Moicano from fulfilling the potential his skillset signifies he has is his questionable chin. There’s some proof a part of that situation has been solved by his shifting up from 145 as he was slicing a ridiculous quantity of weight to get to the featherweight restrict. Plus, Moicano was in a position to take an insane quantity of punishment by the hands of Rafael dos Anjos in his March contest with the previous light-weight champion. Nevertheless, he additionally had his lights turned out by Rafael Fiziev since shifting up.
As for Riddell, there’s little doubt he’ll be performing a balancing act when it comes to his vary of assault. To far out and he might be sitting on the finish of Moicano’s jab. To shut in and he’s topic to being wrapped up by Moicano’s body-lock takedowns. Happily, Riddell’s fairly rattling good about executing that steadiness. Nevertheless, he could also be reluctant to combine issues up with takedowns, one thing he has been surprisingly efficient at doing. However why would he need to voluntarily go to the bottom with Moicano?
The difficulty for Moicano can be getting Riddell to the mat with out absorbing an excessive amount of punishment. Riddell hasn’t put his opponents away within the UFC, however he has harm them. It’s exhausting to imagine somebody with the hanging prowess of Riddell gained’t discover a end in some unspecified time in the future. Moicano is aware of taking the combat to the bottom is his finest path to victory and has proven higher urgency in his current contests to get the combat there versus leaving his chin on the market to be examined an excessive amount of. I’ve gone forwards and backwards on whether or not Riddell places Moicano away or if the Brazilian finds Riddell’s again. Finally, it’s a little bit of a coin flip. Moicano by way of submission of RD2
Dominick Reyes vs. Ryan Spann, Gentle Heavyweight
We’re creeping up on three years since Reyes went toe-to-toe with Jon Jones. Finally, Jones was awarded a unanimous resolution, however that doesn’t even start for instance the contentious nature of the choice, many believing Reyes ought to have been the rightful winner. Given how issues have gone for Reyes since that time, it feels prefer it was much more than three years in the past.
Reyes has gained simply as many fights as Jones since that time: zero. Reyes fought for the title Jones vacated solely to be brutally KO’d by Jan Blachowicz. That was adopted by present reigning champion Jiri Prochazka making Reyes a everlasting fixture of his and the UFC’s spotlight reel. Reyes took a while off to clear his head and maybe regain his confidence, this contest marking his first combat in 18 months. Some fighters are able to regaining their confidence; others by no means do.
What many individuals appear to be forgetting is Reyes appeared nice in opposition to Blachowicz till his lights have been put out. He even had some good moments in opposition to Prochazka. And whereas Reyes isn’t regarded as an influence puncher, he’s turned the lights out on a number of of his opponents. Once more although, all of it comes again to confidence and sturdiness….
The UFC is giving him a good take a look at in Spann. Spann isn’t the heavy-handed risk the likes of Blachowicz or Prochazka, however he isn’t precisely a pillow-fisted puncher both. Actually, Spann has appeared to endure from a insecurity himself every now and then. Actually, that’s most likely what holds Spann again greater than something. Sure, he has a questionable chin, however his imposing body, stable boxing fundamentals, and spectacular grappling chops needs to be sufficient for him to stay a constant fixture within the high ten of a shallow mild heavyweight division. As a substitute, he’s wilted each time he’s had the chance to interrupt by means of.
There’s a number of theories to ponder on for that. Given his bodily prowess, it might put a psychological block for him coping with somebody who can match his bodily presents ultimately. Maybe he wilts below a highlight. Regardless, if Reyes seems just like the fighter he was when he arguably beat Jon Jones, it’s exhausting to imagine Spann can safe the win. Reyes might not be fairly as tall or so long as Spann, however he’s the more practical striker from the skin. It’s price remembering he spent nearly all of his contest with Jones preventing from the skin. Spann is healthier off within the pocket, however Reyes usually doesn’t permit the combat to remain there for lengthy intervals, using numerous lateral motion.
The opposite space the place Spann might win the combat is that if he can take Reyes down. Reyes isn’t a spectacular wrestler, however he has centered his energies on guaranteeing he doesn’t hit the mat simply. Spann’s body has made it awkward for him to get decrease than his opponents, which means he has struggled together with his takedowns. Even worse, he repeatedly has put himself in place to get elbowed within the aspect of the top in making an attempt takedowns in opposition to the fence.
The one means I see Spann profitable that is if Reyes can’t return to kind. Reyes is a nightmare matchup stylistically for Spann. Granted, even when Reyes is in a very good place mentally, it gained’t imply a factor if his chin actually is gone. Reyes has completed the precise issues to attempt to protect it, however there’s some circumstances it simply doesn’t matter: the chin can’t maintain as much as something any longer. And whereas Reyes has solely been KO’d twice, they have been vicious KO’s. Regardless, liking the steps I’ve seen from Reyes, I’ll belief he can return to kind sufficient to get previous Spann. Reyes by way of TKO of RD2
- Her affiliation with Paddy Pimblett isn’t the primary supply of the rise of Molly McCann, although it definitely has helped. She has put the work within the cage and produced the outcomes which have made each little little bit of accolade she has obtained nicely earned. McCann continues to be very a lot the identical fighter stylistically who produced a .500 document by means of six UFC contests, however she has sharpened her method and displayed an insane quantity of confidence to be keen to take probabilities she didn’t take beforehand. Given her final two victories got here by way of spinning again elbow, she has purpose to be assured. Nevertheless, McCann has additionally obtained favorable stylistic opponents, those that usually are not simply keen to commerce together with her, however reluctant to go to the mat. There can be no such hesitation from Erin Blanchfield. There are various who’ve labeled Blanchfield as the perfect lady’s prospect in MMA because it isn’t only a dominant floor recreation exhibited by her; she’s slick on the toes as nicely. Blachfield isn’t flashy by any means, however you’d be hard-pressed to discover a teen higher drilled within the fundamentals. Regardless of her shortcomings on the mat, there’s nonetheless a street to victory for McCann. If Blanchfield will get sucked right into a brawl by McCann, she might find yourself giving the combat away. Nevertheless, Blanchfield has proven a maturity far past her 23 years so far in her profession. Even when she has confronted adversity, Blanchfield has proven the grit to push by means of and the intelligence to adapt. It’s exhausting to imagine she gained’t have the ability to in opposition to McCann, particularly given the large edge she’ll have on the mat. Blanchfield by way of resolution
- There’s little doubt that Andre Petroski has impressed in his three UFC appearances. The bodily brute has secured finishes in each contest so far, bullying his opponents with dogged wrestling and carrying them all the way down to the purpose they’re pressured to undergo his bodily submissions. Nevertheless, earlier than prognosticators get their hopes up an excessive amount of, they need to remember that none of Petroski’s three UFC opponents stay on the roster any longer, indicating he hasn’t been dealing with the best degree of competitors. Then once more, the identical argument might be made about his opponent, Wellington Turman. Turman isn’t the bodily presence Petroski is, however there’s no denying he’s extra expert, notably on the mat. Turman has additionally proven main progress on the toes, proving he can do some harm himself within the standup when it appeared all he might hope was to outlive till he discovered a technique to get the competition to the mat. Petroski gained’t have any hesitation taking the combat to the mat, however given Turman has confirmed he will be harmful off his again, Petroski might want to proceed with warning. Petroski isn’t only a meathead. I believe he can keep away from the hazard and can show to be an excessive amount of of a bodily power. Petroski by way of TKO of RD2
