Joel Alvarez and Elves Brener meet Saturday on the principle card of UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi. Try this fast breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Final occasion: 3-2
UFC foremost playing cards, 2024: 64-56-3
Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener UFC on ABC 7 preview
After having a four-fight profitable streak snapped by Arman Tsarukyan in a battle the place he suffered a horrifying minimize, Alvarez (20-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) rebounded to win his most up-to-date battle as he choked out Marc Diakiese by second-round D’arce choke in July 2023. … Brener (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) kicked off his UFC tenure by profitable his first three bouts, however the streak got here to an finish after he dropped a unanimous determination to Myktybek Orolbai in Might.
Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener UFC on ABC 7 professional decide, prediction
Regardless of often ripping the UFC matchmakers for his or her choice of the main-card opener, I acquired to offer them credit score for as soon as once more going again to Joe Silva’s surefire card formatting signature of shunning heavyweight slop-fests to the prelims whereas utilizing lightweights and featherweights to correctly kick off the featured fights.
This week, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby neatly selected a battle between Alvarez and Brener to start out the principle card.
Though Alvarez has some apparent on-paper benefits so far as attain and peak are involved, I’d argue that the abnormally massive light-weight will seemingly end his profession at middleweight given all that he should be sacrificing simply to make it to the size.
Don’t get me flawed: Alvarez seems to have some stable abilities for being a transparent measurement bully; I simply don’t imagine that he can proceed to battle successfully previous the primary body when factoring within the proven diminishing returns of his weight minimize.
For that cause, I’ll fortunately take a flier on a sturdy and dogged underdog like Brener to outlive the early storm and draw back down the stretch.
The decide is Brener by third-round TKO.
Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener UFC on ABC 7 odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are siding with the Spaniard, itemizing Alvarez -188 and Brener +152 through FanDuel.
Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener UFC on ABC 7 begin time, how one can watch
As the principle card opener, Alvarez and Brener are anticipated to stroll out to the cage at roughly 3 p.m. ET. The battle will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ABC 7.
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