MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. In the present day, he takes a more in-depth have a look at the UFC Struggle Evening 246 principal occasion between Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi.
Brandon Moreno UFC Struggle Evening 246 preview
Staple data:
- File: 21-8-2 MMA, 17-5 UFC
- Peak: 5’7″ Age: 30 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: 70″
- Final battle: Resolution loss to Brandon Royval(Feb. 24, 2024)
- Camp: Crew Moreno (Las Vegas/Mexico)
- Stance/placing fashion: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Threat administration: Good
Supplemental data:
+ Former UFC flyweight champion
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ A number of grappling accolades
+ 5 KO victories
+ 11 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ Constant tempo and stress
+ Correct left hook
^ Coming ahead or off the counter
+ Arduous leg and head kicks
^ Works nicely off of the lead facet
+ Improved wrestling capability
+ Good transitional grappler
^ Stable scrambles and submissions
Amir Albazi UFC Struggle Evening 246 preview
Amir Albazi
Staple data:
- File: 17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC
- Peak: 5’5″ Age: 31 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: 68″
- Final battle: Resolution win over Kai Kara-France (June 3, 2024)
- Camp: Struggle Prepared MMA (Arizona)
- Stance/placing fashion: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Threat administration: Good
Supplemental data:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt
+ A number of grappling accolades
^ Out and in of the gi
+ 5 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Stable sense of vary
^ Good eyes in exchanges
+ Harmful proper hand
+ Arduous leg kicks
+ Stable wrestling capability
+ Glorious transitional grappler
^ Excellent again management
Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi focal point: Flyweight fisticuffs
Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Brandon Moreno (purple gloves) fights Alexandre Pantoja (blue gloves) throughout UFC 290 at T-Cell Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports activities
The primary occasion in Edmonton encompasses a showdown between top-ranked flyweights, [autota]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and Amir Albazi.
Though Albazi was a prospect who was initially hailed for his grappling accolades, the Iraq-born fighter has proven a pure aptitude for placing since stepping onto the UFC scene.
Albazi does nicely in relation to preserving an lively and educated lead hand, displaying a constant feinting or prodding presence.
Offensively, this enables Albazi to attach punches and play off of prior work by hooking off of his jabs and so forth. Defensively, Albazi’s feinting presence helps draw out his opponent’s reactions which, in flip, can result in some essential counter alternatives.
All the time harmful to get too predictable together with your head motion and counters. pic.twitter.com/iO7S5UaJWn
— Miguel Class (@MigClass) Could 31, 2023
Albazi additionally seems to have glorious eyes in exchanges, which is one thing that absolutely contributes to his strong sense of vary. I’ll be curious to see if Albazi appears to manage leg kick site visitors, however he, too, will must be cautious in regards to the potential counters coming from Moreno’s method.
Moreno, who initially stepped onto the UFC scene as extra of a grapple-first fighter, has since developed right into a extra full and technical placing menace as he’s matured.
Nonetheless solely 30 years of age, Moreno continues to show virtually unshakable composure, win or lose, virtually as if he’s decided to complete the battle stronger than his foe. However while you look past the temporary, brash moments that enable his character to shine, you possibly can see a extra mature countering sport at play.
All the time a fan of the left hook (each coming ahead and off the counter), Moreno does a a lot better job of variating each his timing and targets, typically working them off of a jab. The theme of lead-side savvy travels fluently for the Mexican fighter in the best way that Moreno attaches lead-leg kicks to his mixtures when feeling in stride.
Moreno additionally has a knack for navigating prolonged exchanges, however I’m undecided how a lot he’ll wish to try this given the potential level-changing counters that lay in wait.
Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Amir Albazi (purple gloves) fights Francisco Figueiredo (blue gloves) throughout UFC 278 at Vivint Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports activities
Contemplating that grappling is a big a part of Albazi’s sport, don’t be shocked if he’s the primary to interact within the grappling division.
As talked about within the earlier part, Albazi is a fighter who initially excelled within the grappling arts. A tenacious competitor, Albazi’s aggression shines by means of in transition – one thing he appears to be making use of to his wrestling repertoire.
Though Albazi has the athletic capability to shoot within the open, his more practical setups and takedowns appear to return in opposition to the fence or within the clinch. And since Albazi seems to have spent this final coaching camp at Struggle Prepared MMA, I believe these takedown instruments will solely be sharper this Saturday.
Fortunately for Moreno, the Mexican is much from a slouch within the grappling division.
Beginning off his profession as extra of a jiu-jitsu fighter, Moreno well swam towards the wrestling facet of issues (from an offensive standpoint) after being afforded the prospect to coach stateside by means of the UFC’s former developmental program.
Though Moreno was nonetheless not past being taken down or scoring submissions off his again, he supplied loads of glimpses of enchancment throughout his first run with the promotion.
Moreno has been rather more aggressive on the ft throughout this second stint, however doesn’t appear to be ignoring the opposite components of his sport. So far as grappling and wrestling scrambles go, Moreno was capable of come out on high of stanzas in opposition to a few of the division’s finest grapplers in Jussier Formiga and Askar Askarov (who he clearly beat, in my view).
However for nearly as good as Moreno’s grappling is anxious, he could wish to decide his spots correctly with a fighter like Albazi.
Albazi is an avid back-taker with improbable controls from the rear mount. Whether or not Albazi’s opting to lock down opponents from safer rear-riding positions or using crab rides to transition, the Iraqi-born fighter does an awesome job at staying behind his opponent’s knees and elbows every time doable (a quiet key to search for in good grapplers).
Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi odds
The oddsmakers and the general public favor the previous champion, itemizing Moreno -172 and Albazi +134 through FanDuel.
Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi prediction, decide
Contemplating that Moreno is the extra confirmed product (basically and over 5 rounds), it’s not a giant shock to see the Mexican fighter favored on this spot. Nevertheless, it’s laborious to know precisely the place both fighter is at this level of their profession.
Exterior of an insane slew of title fights because the pandemic, Moreno has additionally skilled a number of camp adjustments in stated time. Whereas Albazi, who has needed to overcome some latest well being scares, has additionally shifted his coaching camp forward of his contest.
The bigger octagon and 25-minute time-frame ought to favor Moreno on paper, however I fear that the Mexican fighter’s cage positioning places him in prime working area for Albazi.
Though Moreno just isn’t past stepping on the gasoline and taking initiatives of his personal, he historically likes to counter and might be pushed into taking part in between the fence and inner-black octagon strains.
Ought to Moreno enable Albazi to take the initiative early, then I believe that Albazi can draw out the previous champ’s hooks and get off takedown entries alongside the cage en path to banking some early rounds. And if Albazi reveals the pacing enhancements that sometimes include the second swings at five-round affairs, then I imagine we’ll be in for a aggressive battle from begin to end.
Regardless of often siding with the extra confirmed merchandise, I discover myself fading my traditional developments given how god-awful my picks have been this 12 months. I wouldn’t thoughts being unsuitable as a fan of Moreno, however I’ll be semi-reluctantly siding with Albazi to edge out one other choice by having the more practical grappling and touchdown the extra eye-catching photographs.
Prediction: Albazi by choice
Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi begin time, the place to look at
As the primary occasion, Moreno and Albazi are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 10:45 p.m. ET. The battle streams stay on ESPN+.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Struggle Evening 246.
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