Don’t let the matchmaking machinations of Dana White fool you, there’s mute loads at stake at Saturday’s tournament.
Yes, the subsequent light heavyweight title bout does seem to be plan as original champion Jan Blachowicz is anticipated to meet middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a superfight that’s now being negotiated. That news leaves Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira within the frigid as it as soon as looked that their UFC Vegas 13 most well-known tournament clash turn out to be as soon as firm to search out out the No. 1 contender at 205 kilos.
Now essentially the most bright the two veterans can hope for is to expend their region, with Teixeira riding an spectacular four-fight expend hotfoot and Santos getting again from hurt for the first time since July of ultimate year when he came one judges’ scorecard far off from defeating Jon Jones. Seemingly a dominant efficiency or a highlight-reel attain will push indubitably one of them support into pole situation, especially if the Blachowicz-Adesanya matchup fails to materialize for without reference to motive, but a minimum of we needs to be in for an inviting scrap between the Brazilian stars.
Talking of conserving on to a region, dilapidated UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski makes his 33rd octagon appearance when he meets Tanner Boser within the evening’s co-most well-known tournament. Boser would were 13 years primitive when Arlovski acquired a UFC title, and now he can add the normal’s name to his listing as he appears to be to manufacture a escape to the tip-10. A pair of months insecure of his 42nd birthday, Arlovski has to point out as soon as extra that the subsequent generation of heavyweights isn’t going to use him as a stepping stone.
In other most well-known card action, bantamweight Raoni Barcelos appears to be to hotfoot 5-0 within the UFC when he takes on Khalid Taha, Ian Heinisch and Brendan Allen meet in a middleweight bout that ensures action, and one-time strawweight title contender Claudia Gadelha appears to be to hand Yan Xiaonan her first UFC loss.
What: UFC Vegas 13
The build: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Nov. 7. The six-fight preliminary card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the five-fight most well-known card initiating at 10 p.m. on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
Thiago Santos vs. Glover Teixeira
Glover Teixeira has had disorders with snappy, athletic opponents within the previous, which is why Thiago Santos is a logical bag here. Even going by stronger, heavier competition at 205 kilos, there are few warring parties that would possibly maybe well well take care of Santos’ standup for 25 minutes. That involves Jon Jones, who turn out to be as soon as pushed to the limit by Santos in a close kickboxing duel.
There are a pair of things which obtain me leaning against Teixeira though. One, he’s the upper all-around fighter, with a tough jiu-jitsu sport to praise his potent knockout energy. Not like Jones, he’s extra most likely to use all of his instruments to combat “Marreta.” Teixeira is formula previous the level in his profession where he feels compelled to point out something. He goal correct needs to expend.
Secondly, the athleticism gap between the two must be reduced significantly by the injuries that Santos is getting support from. He tore somewhat worthy the entirety in his left leg and in part tore a ligament in his genuine leg within the Jones fight and whereas it is seemingly you’ll well maybe pick he’s completed the entirety in his energy to rehab and return to rotund energy, he has limits. Santos is human and he’s nearly 37. He would possibly maybe well well maybe fetch out to a instant begin, but if it comes all the formula down to ways and talent plan, Teixeira has him beat.
So don’t fetch knocked out within the first spherical would possibly maybe well well maybe be my advice for Teixeira. High-level instructing, I know. The outlet would possibly maybe well be there to make a selection Santos to the ground because the fight progresses and from there, Teixeira will wear him down en path to a submission victory.
Grab: Teixeira
Andrei Arlovski vs. Tanner Boser
Andrei Arlovski has a formula of dragging opponents into mucky fights, so his matchup with the mobile and shifty Boser will manufacture for a vogue clash. Weighing in at goal correct a colour over 232 kilos on Friday, Boser appears be pleased a candidate to potentially tumble to light heavyweight given his skedaddle and ways.
For now, he needs to be gratified to bounce with the greatest boys, especially an vulnerable one be pleased Arlovski. As professional and tricky as Arlovski mute is, he misplaced the flexibility to continually pull the trigger a truly long time within the past. There’s an change that he frustrates and outpoints Boser. It’s even extra most likely that Boser makes essentially the most of a feeling-out route of and figures out how it is seemingly you’ll well maybe penetrate Arlovski’s defenses.
Arlovski hasn’t overwhelmed an athlete be pleased Boser shortly. I don’t seek for that changing this weekend. Boser can assault from some unorthodox angles and indirectly he’s going to expend Arlovski and build him down.
Grab: Boser
Raoni Barcelos vs. Khalid Taha
Raoni Barcelos isn’t doing himself any favors with this comeback booking. The Brazilian standout is understandably desirous to fetch support into action after the coronavirus pandemic precipitated an tournament to be canceled whereby he turn out to be as soon as purported to fight Cody Stamann, and as it is he’s needed to wait nearly an whole year to prolong his eight-fight winning hotfoot.
In Khalid Taha, he’s going by a unsafe slugger with genuine size at 135 kilos. He has a slight arm reach profit over Barcelos regardless of Barcelos measuring two inches taller than him. These minor particulars would possibly maybe well well maybe very neatly be crucial as most of this fight needs to be a standup affair. Barcelos is an agile and springy kickboxer, but Taha has skedaddle to praise his uncooked energy as neatly. He’s repeatedly looking out out a attain and Barcelos will wish to be at the tip of his sport to outwork Taha. That’s a huge expose after one of these long layoff.
The x-component here is Barcelos’ grappling, which on paper needs to be superior to Taha’s. Barcelos prefers kickboxing though, so it stays to be seen how worthy he decides to combine it up. Taha is a live dog, for obvious, but I’ll hotfoot alongside with Barcelos to fight a trim fight and expend on functions.
Grab: Barcelos
Ian Heinisch vs. Brendan Allen
What a middleweight matchup between two doable high-10 contenders with high motors and aggressive attitudes. The primitive adage of “be first” would possibly maybe well be key here.
There’s a motive that here’s a bag ‘em on most making a wager web sites as it’s tantalizing to separate these two within the event you’ve got in thoughts what they create to the desk. Heinisch has the profit in wrestling, but Allen is better in jiu-jitsu. Heinisch appears to be to obtain extra energy at the support of his punches, but Allen is a high-volume striker who will manufacture essentially the most out of his five-wander reach profit. I in actuality be pleased the explosiveness of Heinisch, but I additionally be pleased Allen’s means to expend gruesome.
The United States, I’m able to’t lie. I in actuality don’t obtain any feel for this one whatsoever. My gut says Heinisch doesn’t obtain somewhat ample offensive juice to construct Allen away early and it’s the youthful Allen who comes on strong within the later rounds.
Allen by decision in what needs to be a gigantic fight.
Grab: Allen
Claudia Gadelha vs. Yan Xiaonan
Why this fight is just not any longer the co-most well-known tournament is a mystery. Claudia Gadelha and Yan Xiaonan are each and every unprecedented of annoying strawweight champion Zhang Weili sooner or later with one more expend and it’s a disgrace that they’re no longer being showcased extra.
There’s nothing be pleased about what Yan needs to realize. She strikes at a instant skedaddle, looking to continually stress, and she’s going to wish to expend this action on the feet for your whole fight. Her ground sport hasn’t in fact been examined at the UFC level and in opposition to a Brazilian jiu-jitsu beast be pleased Gadelha, I’m no longer happy she can be able to hang alongside with her on the mat for any prolonged timeframe.
Gadelha has some pop in her fingers, but she acquired’t wish to change with Yan for 3 rounds. Her gas tank has betrayed her on occasion and the formula that Yan scraps, it’ll drain instant. Gadelha has shown plenty of maturity as her profession has progressed. We’ll seek for goal correct how worthy when she deals with an opponent be pleased Yan who goes to be genuine in her face from the first minute.
There’s one of these indecent facet to Yan, I in actuality must prefer here here. I deem she controls the gap ample to manufacture Gadelha must work for her takedowns after which pulls away on the playing cards in rounds two and three.
Grab: Yan
Preliminaries
Bevon Lewis def. Trevin Giles
Giga Chikadze def. Jamey Simmons
Alexander Romanov def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Darren Elkins def. Luiz Eduardo Garagorri
