5 years after placing collectively an immediate basic in Glendale, Calif., Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje make the UFC’s return to Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah this Saturday (July 29, 2023) on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV). Within the PPV co-main occasion of UFC 291, former middleweight champion Alex Pereira will make his light-weight debut in opposition to Jan Blachowicz, whereas Tony Ferguson will get his final determined shot at redemption inside Vivint Area in opposition to Bobby Inexperienced a battle earlier than.
UFC 291 options seven “Prelims” undercard bouts this time round, three on ESPN+ and the remainder on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+. Let’s examine this primary batch…
125 kilos: CJ Vergara in opposition to Vinicus Salvador
CJ Vergara (11-4-1) knocked out UFC vet Jacob Silva to win the Fury FC Flyweight title, then crushed Bruno Korea in 41 seconds to say a UFC contract. He sits 2-2 on this planet’s greatest combating promotion, most just lately surviving a nightmarish first spherical to cease Daniel Lacerda in a ‘battle of the evening’.
It yields an inch in top and a pair of.5 inches in attain to Salvador.
Vinicus Salvador (14-5) prolonged his successful streak to 4 with a contract-winning knockout of Shannon Ross on Competitor Collection. This led to a UFC debut in opposition to Victor Altamirano, who defeated “Fenomeno” en path to a unanimous resolution victory.
All of his wins have come inside distance, 13 by knockout.
With all due respect to Vergara, he has one of many ugliest 2-2 Octagon information you will see that. Solely considered one of 15 media had him beat Kleydson Rodriguez and Lacerda had him useless earlier than hitting himself. Though Salvador was additionally disenchanted in opposition to Altamirano, it seems much more winnable for him, as Vergara is a devoted stress fighter who has but to try a single takedown within the UFC.
Salvador is just too huge, powerful and heavy for Vergara to overwhelm him. Any prolonged placing engagement will favor Salvador, and with that being Vergara’s one and solely plan of assault, all indicators level to the Brazilian heading for his first UFC victory.
Prediction: Salvador through second-round technical knockout
170 kilos: Matthew Semelsberger in opposition to. Uros Physician
Matthew Semelsberger (11-5) picked up his greatest win but, overpowering Jake Matthews in December 2022. He regarded set for a fast end in opposition to Jeremiah Wells 4 months later, however struggled together with his foe’s wrestling expertise en path to a choice loss.
“Semi the Jedi” knocked out six skilled opponents and knocked out one other.
Uros Medic (8-1) adopted his Competitor Collection Knockout of Mikey Gonzalez with a 100 second knockout of Aalon Cruz in his Octagon debut. Though he fell to Jalin Turner six months later, he returned to the win column in Might 2022, stopping Omar Morales.
He replaces Yohan Lainesse with simply over per week’s discover.
Semelsberger’s flaws grew to become painfully obvious. He struggles with each decided wrestlers and attackers who will not willingly keep within the pocket with him. Fortunately for him, Medic is neither – the AFC veteran is all about aggression, pace and energy, which places him within the wheelhouse of Semelsberger.
Except Medic has been hiding a monster blast this entire time, it is exhausting to see him standing as much as Semelsberger in a firefight, particularly as a result of he is giving up a ton of vary and doubtless an honest quantity of weight as nicely. On the finish. “Semi the Jedi” cuts it with that monster proper hand in the midst of the primary.
Prediction: Medic through first-round technical knockout
125 kilos: Miranda Maverick in opposition to. Priscilla Cachoeira
Miranda Maverick (13-5) battled her option to a flying begin (3-0) from the UFC, highlighted by a choice over Gillian Robertson. She has since dropped three of 5 fights, together with a choice in opposition to Jasmine Jasudavicius lower than two months in the past.
She replaces Joanne Wooden with simply over two weeks’ discover.
As soon as clinging to UFC life after three straight losses, Priscila Cachoeira (12-4) now finds herself 4-1 in her final 5. Her most up-to-date battle was her most spectacular but, a 65 second knockout of Ariane Lipski (watch it).
The victory marked his seventh by knockout (technical).
It is do or die for Maverick. Her loss to Maycee Barber was one of many greatest steals of this 12 months and there isn’t any disgrace in shedding to Erin Blanchfield, however she regarded oddly shy and ineffective in opposition to Jasudavicius even earlier than the attention trauma. If she will be able to’t impress in opposition to Cachoeira – whose solely response to grapplers is to both watch for them to refuel or attempt to gouge out their eyes – she should rethink her future within the sport.
I might be optimistic and say she has sufficient within the tank to win right here. She is way sooner than Cachoeira, who’s each a lesser wrestler than Jasudavicius and a lesser bodily risk. So long as Maverick’s gasoline tank holds up, count on her to place Cachoeira down early and sometimes whereas racking up floor and pound for a decisive victory.
Prediction: Maverick through unanimous resolution
There are 4 extra UFC 291 “Prelims” undercard fights left to preview and predict, together with the most recent from high welterweight prospect Gabriel Bonfim. Identical time tomorrow, Maniacs.
keep in mind that MMAmania.com will present reside, round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC 291 battle card on the proper right hereranging from the start ESPN+ On-line “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start out at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+/ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, previous to the PPV essential card begin time at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ VPP.
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