UFC Austin headliners Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett — No. 7 and No. eight at featherweight in MMA fighting's global Rankings — might no longer be subsequent in line for a UFC title shot, but both might take a major step in opposition t that goal with commentary win on Saturday.
Kattar has already proven he's made of sterner stuff by way of bouncing again from a devastating loss at the hands of Max Holloway to drub Giga Chikadze this past January, and Emmett is on a 4-battle win streak with some incredible knockout wins on his resume.
sadly for Kattar, his contemporary loss to Holloway could preclude him from advancing much better in the division except he proves he can get past some of the big featherweight four — Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez — while Emmett has yet to have his shot at any individual in that quartet and will be checked out as a clean challenger counting on how a pair of upcoming matchups involving the aforementioned 4 play out. The matchmakers likely booked this one wanting a enjoyable banger, however may also provide them an additional championship option to agree with sooner or later.
in the co-main event, Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon meet in a matchup featuring UFC light-weight legends who can have a combined 66 octagon appearances between them with the aid of the end of the night (38 for Cerrone, 28 for Lauzon). This became scheduled to take vicinity at UFC 274 this past might also before a secret disease forced Cerrone to withdraw on fight day and now these fan favorites get a 2nd opportunity so as to add to their eye-popping legacies.
It's an outstanding thing too because even with Cerrone vowing to compete until he hits 50 combined UFC/WEC appearances, you get the experience that one unhealthy nighttime may convince him to cling it up earlier than expected. As for Lauzon, he's practically had one foot out the door for the previous few years and whenever he feels comfortable putting up the gloves, he'll do it with out a regrets. Cherish these moments whereas we have them, is what I'm saying.
(update: Saturday's Cerrone vs. Lauzon co-main experience has been cancelled due to Lauzon being compelled to withdraw with health considerations.)
In other leading card action, Tim skill gives a troublesome test for Kevin Holland as he navigates welterweight waters, Joaquin Buckley fights Albert Duraev in a middleweight bout, Damir Ismagulov and Guram Kutateladze meet in a duel of quickly-rising lightweights, and middleweights Julian Marquez and Gregory Rodrigues seem to kick off the show with what guarantees to be a chaotic contest.
What: UFC Austin
the place: Moody center in Austin, Texas
When: Saturday, June 18. The three-combat early preliminary card airs on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ beginning at 4 p.m. ET, followed by using 5 preliminary bouts at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The six-combat main card airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.
Calvin Kattar vs. Josh EmmettCalvin Kattar deserves respect.
"The Boston Finisher" seemed like a brand new man in his fresh win over Giga Chikadze, dwelling proof that a 12 months away from competitors can also be totally a good idea for a fighter if that time is spent accurately. Kattar used these twelve months to bring up his video game and get his intellect the place it needed to be to leap appropriate back into contention. He's the favourite heading into this headliner with good rationale.
Josh Emmett is right at the back of Kattar in the contender rankings, so predict this one to be contact-and-go in the past rounds. He most effective needs one shot to place a man down and if he mixes in his wrestling offensively, it might set Kattar up for a KO strike. because it stands, I expect Kattar to use his footwork and boxing to get ahead on the scorecards, sending Emmett into desperation mode in the championship rounds. This may figure out well for Kattar because it will current him along with his personal alternatives to finish, but turning this right into a dogfight may also tilt the action in Emmett's choose due to his power knowledge.
I expect Kattar's technique to prevail right here, even though there could be a whole lot of tense moments. Kattar by way of decision.
prefer: Kattar
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon — CANCELLEDtraditionally slow starter vs. first-round finisher? supply me Joe Lauzon in that equation.
At their peaks, I'd have picked Donald Cerrone to win a combat in opposition t his fellow UFC lifer, but the latter stages of their careers tells a unique story. Cerrone has struggled to make it previous the primary five minutes of his fights with out taking big harm and now he has to deal with an aggressive Lauzon respiration down his neck. notwithstanding Lauzon doesn't seal the deal in round 1, he might hurt Cerrone and installation a conclude in round 2. Or we're getting a three-circular struggle of attrition between two fighters who have already put in an absurd volume of cage time.
Lauzon's long layoff of nearly 1,000 days does have me concerned, as did his inability to display up at Friday's ceremonial weigh-ins because of cramps, however's not as if the intangibles surrounding the fight are doing Cerrone any favors. "Cowboy" has been out for over four hundred days himself, hasn't won a combat in three years, and has seemingly spent as a lot time speakme about his latest direct-to-steaming film than advertising his matchup with Lauzon. might be fighting in entrance of a crowd will rejuvenate Cerrone, but sufficient to push him past a swarming Lauzon? dubious.
"J-Lau" gets this one accomplished early.
decide on: Lauzon
Kevin Holland vs. Tim skillIs Kevin Holland excited by contending at 170 kilos? We'll discover quickly sufficient if he can get previous Tim potential after currently defeating Alex Oliveira, yet another solid veteran. those are two good welterweight marks to collect, guys who could now not be household names but who can deliver the fight to any person of their division. i like how Holland is being built up.
Then again, that's all a moot aspect if means upsets Holland on Saturday. "The soiled chicken" has the firepower to make Holland's life miserable for so long as the fight lasts and you may guess that Holland will oblige a standup fight, at least early on. After getting stung just a few times. Holland may additionally make a decision to alternate strategies.
although Holland's wrestling protection is still a question mark, his grappling offense is an excellent weapon. He may still agree with finding a means to get the action to the ground where his size and size will cause foremost complications for means.
If ability can retain it on the toes, he should still have the aspect. i admire his chances of controlling the space and winning on aspects.
prefer: capacity
Joaquin Buckley vs. Albert Duraevstream and footwork could be the key to finding out who walks out with the W right here.
Buckley showed in his slender choice win over Abdul Razak Alhassan that he's greater than a highlight hunter. He is aware of a way to stick with a online game plan, which can be fundamental in opposition t the bad and disciplined Albert Duraev. The Russian fighter has incredible wrestling and a big correct hand that he'll throw whenever Buckley is in range.
besides the fact that children, Buckley's pace will enable him to reside on the outdoor and get in and out to ranking points. He should still look to frustrate Duraev except he finds a gap for one in every of his highlight-reel ideas. On the other facet, Duraev can take Buckley out of the combat early if he maintains regular force and prevents Buckley from discovering a rhythm.
This is usually a riveting chess healthy, one that I see starting off gradual and then picking out up within the 2nd where Buckley will add Duraev to his assortment of KOs.
select: Buckley
Damir Ismagulov vs. Guram KutateladzeBravo to the matchmakers for throwing two promising lightweights right into the fire. both Damir Ismagulov and Guram Kutateladze have charming striking patterns, so no count number who ends up scoring the win here they may both end up earning a combat of the nighttime award bonus.
Ismagulov is just so basically strong when it involves his hands. He prospers on determining his opponent's timing after which constructing impactful combos. He's deceptively potent, scoring knockdowns with precision in preference to swinging like a madman. On the different facet, Kutateladze has some wildness in his game, however he additionally throws with goal notably when it involves his kick assaults.
I'm higher on Ismagulov as a possible contender just based off of the electricity of his resume, although Kutateladze eking out a win over Mateusz Gamrot immediately put him on the map. still, when two opponents are this intently matched ability-sensible, I'll go along with adventure for the tiebreaker.
Ismagulov by decision.
select: Ismagulov
Julian Marquez vs. Gregory RodriguesBravo once again!
once we speak surest leading card openers, we're speakme matchups like Julian Marquez vs. Gregory Rodrigues. both guys are highly knowledgeable opponents who have a tendency to lose their minds as soon as the motion escalates, a great deal to the advantage of the fans. Marquez should have the area on the feet and Rodrigues may still have the area on the ground, but as soon as the leather starts flying, who is aware of what these two will do?
I've been looking forward to Rodrigues to blow their own horns his elite jiu-jitsu, some thing he hasn't done a lot due to the fact that falling in love with his herbal knockout power. He's in hazard of going full Jorge Gurgel here and forgetting his base, however I nevertheless trust he can damage it out when essential. That's why I see him indulging himself early on with the aid of attractive with Marquez on the feet and then mixing in additional grappling as the fight progresses.
Marquez has submission capabilities, but defensively he can't hang with Rodrigues on the floor. I don't understand if Rodrigues has the wrestling to take the combat there especially if his gasoline tank ebbs later in the contest, so if he's to discover a submission, it might be after hurting Marquez on the feet. Let's go Rodrigues by membership and sub.
choose: Rodrigues
Preliminaries
Adrian Yanez def. Tony Kelley
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Natalia Silva
Jeremiah Wells def. court docket McGee
Ricardo Ramos def. Danny Chavez
Gloria de Paula def. Maria Oliveira
Cody Stamann def. Eddie Wineland
Deron Winn def. Phil Hawes
Kyle Daukaus def. Roman Dolidze
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