Will main match No. 7 present to be appropriate form ideal fortune for Anthony Smith?
“Lionheart” and Devin Clark weren’t alleged to headline UFC Vegas 15, but after the on the inspiration scheduled main match of Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis turned into canceled due to the Blaydes finding out certain for COVID-19, Smith finds himself within the indicate-closing location for a seventh consecutive time.
Recent outcomes non-public now no longer long previous correctly for Smith, a one-time light heavyweight title challenger who finds himself in a 1-3 skedaddle with losses to high-10 contenders Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, and Aleksandar Rakic. “Brown Undergo” is a main step down in opponents from those names, but Clark has additionally won three of his last four and appears to be like poised to exercise Smith’s title to snarl himself as one to search at 205 kilos.
In varied main card skedaddle Saturday, welterweight sluggers Miguel Baeza and Takashi Sato meet within the co-main match, heavyweights Josh Parisian and Parker Porter gaze their first UFC earn, Spike Carlyle takes on Bill Algeo in featherweight skedaddle, Ashlee Evans-Smith fights Norma Dumont in a 139.5-pound catchweight bout (Dumont came in 3.5 kilos heavy for a scheduled bantamweight contest), and Jonathan Pearce appears to be like to snap the six-fight earn bound of Hawaiian featherweight Kai Kamaka III.
What: UFC Vegas 15
Where: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Nov. 28. The four-fight preliminary card begins at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the six-fight main card initiating at 10 p.m. additionally on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
Anthony Smith vs. Devin Clark
Following a lopsided resolution loss to Aleksandar Rakic, Anthony Smith has a lot of questions to answer about his wrestling protection. Getting taken down by Rakic is now no longer something to be ashamed of whatsoever, but it undoubtedly turned into the incapacity to adjustment that has led to concerns that Smith will be showing signs of a main decline as he heads into his 50th pro bout.
He’ll receive the probability to silence the doubters against Devin Clark, a confident wrestler who knows the neatest path to victory against Smith will be to receive this fight to the bottom. Clark has energy on his toes, but he’s now no longer as correctly-versed within the standup as Smith and every 2d that they’re up is a gamble for Smith to earn Clark with a KO blow.
One other part to remove into consideration is that this fight is now a five-rounder after being moved to the vital match. Opponents continually suppose they narrate to compete for 25 minutes anyway, but those two extra rounds resolve on to topic must you haven’t namely willing for them. I’d demand the younger and never more fight-used Clark to be extra inclined to dawdle one other 10 demanding minutes than Smith. Have for Smith to remove a stare upon and dwell this one early and for Clark to drag away as the fight goes on.
Clark by resolution.
Gain: Clark
Miguel Baeza vs. Takashi Sato
I’ve written this sooner than, I’m obvious, but I detest picking fights esteem this.
there’s going to be no lower than one level within the bout where Miguel Baeza and Takashi Sato are appropriate within the pocket throwing bombs, and all prognosis and notes and preparation goes accurate out the window. As efficient as they are at vary, the temptation to hunt for a bonus will allure to every opponents seriously with that vivid co-main match title next to their names now.
For the most section though, Baeza and Sato will remove their time sizing every varied up with the details that they every non-public the quick-strike ability to dwell this in a flash. I favor Baeza moderately as he has shown extra vary in his inserting and can merely even mix in some wrestling to throw Sato’s timing off. Tranquil, it would possibly well perchance actually well be pleasing to search this one dawdle to a resolution.
I don’t non-public any in actuality feel for this one at all, but I’ll suppose Baeza by 2d-spherical knockout.
Gain: Baeza
Josh Parisian vs. Parker Porter
It’s a mystery why Josh Parisian needed to leap through so many hoops to at last receive his shot internal the octagon. An Final Fighter alum and a two-time Contender Series participant, Parisian brings a active sort to the heavyweight division and would possibly well perchance well be an instantaneous crowd-pleaser if, you realize, we had crowds.
Parker Porter, the proprietor of undoubtedly one of the thickest trunks in all of MMA, is a unheard of extra vulnerable heavyweight. He’s going to load up that accurate hand and skedaddle Parisian down, bright some photos within the hopes of landing one big one to dwell the fight. It’s those lackluster defensive skills which non-public me thinking Parisian will purchase Porter aside.
As long as Parisian can wait on a ways from the temptation to receive too cute with his inserting, he must earn a lot of openings to bang those fists off of Porter’s head. Hard as Porter is, I don’t search him making it out of the first.
Gain: Parisian
Spike Carlyle vs. Bill Algeo
Bill Algeo has been combating excessive-stage opponents for a whereas and even in defeat, his fights with Ricardo Lamas and Brendan Loughnane told us plenty about what form of competitor he would possibly well perchance well additionally additionally be within the UFC’s featherweight division. On the assorted facet, you non-public the unheard of extra unpredictable Spike Carlyle. “The Alpha Ginger” is emerging as a thrilling wild card, though it stays to be viewed if he can build aside on a total three-spherical performance.
That’s going to topic here as Algeo has viewed ample of Carlyle to know that he’s going to be blitzed within the first five minutes. Carlyle will earn one diagram to receive Algeo down and Algeo will resolve on to level that his ground protection is as much as snuff. Be pleased Billy Quarantillo sooner than him, Algeo has the talents to live to reveal the tale. Then it’s a topic of outworking Carlyle on the toes and winning scrambles to stable a earn. It won’t be straightforward, but Algeo must remove this one.
Gain: Algeo
Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Norma Dumont
A imperfect weight decrease will be appropriate the originate of a rough weekend for Norma Dumont.
The suitable form news for her is that she undoubtedly won’t be undersized as she turned into when she fought Megan Anderson. Nonetheless, dealing with the continually scrappy Ashlee Evans-Smith is one other plight exclusively. If Dumont’s weight struggles non-public a deleterious purchase on her performance (how would possibly well perchance well additionally it now no longer?) then this hill is going to be that unheard of harder to climb.
Evans-Smith is an improved striker and the risk of the takedown affords her an added edge. She’ll must be wary of Dumont’s sneaky submission sport, though she wants with the device to say herself from high relate without too unheard of distress if she can receive there. I esteem Evans-Smith to earn a comfy resolution here.
Gain: Evans-Smith
Jonathan Pearce vs. Kai Kamaka III
The dimensions and boxing of Jonathan Pearce wants to be a stable enviornment for Kai Kamaka III at this stage of his occupation. Pearce has a tight chin too, better than the one he showed in his UFC debut against a vastly extra experienced Joe Lauzon.
I’m in actuality taken aback Kamaka is sticking spherical at 145 kilos, though he has the musculature for it. He has fleet toes and arms, which is willing to be key in a fight where he’s giving up five inches of height and 2 inches in attain. If Pearce can wait on Kamaka on the start air, then that changes the total complexion of the fight.
Kamaka would possibly well perchance well additionally be most attention-grabbing served to focusing on countering, no lower than within the early going. He’ll non-public a lot of time to push the tempo if it involves it, but a patient approach would possibly well perchance well additionally lead Pearce to step accurate into his vary. Kamaka, 25, has already shown a lot of maturity for his age and that’s an big asset on this matchup with the proficient Pearce.
Pearce and Kamaka must receive the vital card started off on the accurate foot with a aggressive fight, one that can dwell with Kamaka out-inserting Pearce and winning a resolution.
Gain: Kamaka
Preliminaries
Martin Day def. Anderson dos Santos
Gina Mazany def. Rachael Ostovich
Su Mudaerji def. Malcolm Gordon
Luke Sanders def. Nate Maness
