The UFC is set to return to Brazil. UFC 301 takes place this Saturday at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
The highlight of the pay-per-view will be a flyweight title match between the Brazilian champions. alexandre pantoja and an australian steve arseg.
“King of Rio” Jose AldoFormer featherweight champion plans to return for the first time in more than a year and a half to fight bantamweight striker Jonathan Martinez.
As it stands, the card features Brazilians in every match from top to bottom. Let's take a look at the five best bouts from the UFC 301 preliminary card.
JoAnderson Brito vs. Jack Shore
Two of the best featherweight fighters outside of the official rankings will go head-to-head in the headliner of the UFC 301 preliminary card. There's a lot at stake for both fighters, as the winner may not have a number next to their name, but it would be a great opportunity to fight a ranked opponent next.
Brito had been a wrecking ball at 145 pounds since losing to Bill Algeo in his UFC debut. Andre Fili, Lucas Alexander, Westin Wilson and Jonathan Pierce. He'll want to add Shore to the list.
Shore's only loss was Ricky Simon At bantamweight. He then stepped up and did well in his UFC featherweight debut. Makwan Amirkhani Via rear naked choke. Well-rounded and resourceful, Shore will aim to become the second man to defeat Brito inside the Octagon. Brito has perhaps the toughest UFC fight ever on paper.
It will be a high-level featherweight showdown.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Former strawweight title challenger Kowalkiewicz is scheduled to clash with Lucindo in enemy territory. Remarkably, all but one of Kowalkiewicz's professional losses have come to UFC champions or title challengers. After losing five in a row, Poland's “KK” responded with four consecutive wins. She will be hoping for Lucindo to come in fifth place.
Lucindo has won two in a row. Pollyana Viana and Brogan Walker. But neither woman has the experience of Kowalkiewicz, who took down Rose Namajunas and fought against murderers like Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Alexa Grasso, Jessica Andrade and many others. Kowalkiewicz is betting on the No. 13 ranking, so it will be an interesting litmus test to see if Lucindo is ready to break into the top 10.
However, Kowalkiewicz enters this fight as a significant underdog, putting even more pressure on Lucindo to prove himself.
Elf Brenner vs. Miktibek Olorubai
Brenner and Olalubai will meet in a battle of dynamic finishers at lightweight.
Brenner is 3-0 with two major upsets in the UFC. Zubaira Tukhugov and Gram Kutateladze.then he was done Keiynan Kruszewski. Brenner has won 14 of his 16 professional matches.
Olorubai will be demoted from welterweight. He is 2-0 in the UFC. Uros Medic and Hayward Charles. The Kyrgyzstan shut out 11 out of 12 professional opponents.
Suffice it to say, the UFC knew what it was doing by pitting two men against each other with the goal of finishing. I would be surprised if this was his 15/15 score. Please brace yourself.
Jean Silva vs. William Gomis
Brazilian Silva will welcome Frenchman Gomis to Rio de Janeiro.Silva is finished westin wilson in the first round of his UFC debut. He has won 11 of his 12 professional opponents. The Brazilian crowd will be looking to get behind the man they hope will become a major prospect in the featherweight division.
Gomis will try to ruin Silva's chances. Gomis has finished with eight of his 13 professional wins (seven of which were T/KO wins), but he has shown he can outmatch his opponents throughout the fight with five decision wins. Silva may have to weather a storm to secure his victory, but Silva will be buoyed by the home crowd. If Gomis can rain on Silva's parade, he could establish himself as someone to watch. He is 3-0 in the UFC. Jarno Elens, Francis Marshall and Giannis Genmoli.
Joaquin Silva vs. Drucker Klose
Klose is one of those lightweights who is better without a number next to his name.He went 8-2 in the Octagon, with his only loss being Benel Darish and David Teymur.His victories include: Bobby Greene, Joe Solecki, Lando Vannata, Mark Diakis and Rafa Garcia. Now he fights Brazil's “hot jiu-jitsu” Silva.
Silva bounces back from defeat and rises to the lightweight stand Arman Tsarukyan (He just won a narrow victory over a former champion) charles oliveira) with victory clay guida. Silva is the underdog here, but a win against Klose could get the crowd excited relatively early on, and if he can get past Silva he will definitely be fighting a top-15 opponent.
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