Tony Ferguson and Michael Chiesa meet Saturday on the primary 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 fundamental playing cards, 2024: 64-56-3
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 preview
Justin Gaethje (TKO), Charles Oliveira (unanimous determination), Beneil Dariush (unanimous determination), Michael Chandler (knockout), Nate Diaz (submission), Bobby Inexperienced (submission), and Paddy Pimblett (unanimous determination): Sure, it’s been a tricky slate courting again to Might 2020, however seven losses in a row continues to be seven losses in a row. Another, and Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) will maintain the UFC file for consecutive losses. Laborious to consider Ferguson, who as soon as was on a formidable 12-fight profitable streak, has reached this level in his profession. …Chiesa (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) has reached a crossroads in his profession, as properly, brought on by a mix of accidents and a present three-fight skid with losses to Vicente Luque, Sean Brady and most just lately Kevin Holland in July 2023.
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 skilled choose, prediction
Regardless of these two initially being booked to struggle at light-weight again in 2016, Chiesa and Ferguson now discover themselves assembly up a division over eight years later.
Though Ferguson nonetheless technically holds a profitable file towards UFC-level southpaws at 4-3, these stats maintain little water given the stylistic dynamic of this matchup. And regardless of being a “Ferguson truther” throughout his cursed sequence with Khabib Nurmagomedov that by no means got here to be, I discover myself a lot much less assured within the former interim champion nowadays.
I nonetheless consider that Ferguson – at one level – was the uncrowned king at 155 kilos. These days, nonetheless, are lengthy gone.
Regardless that D’arce chokes seem like real-life kryptonite for Chiesa, I can’t assist however see the extra concentrated recreation of “Maverick” mowing by means of no matter is left of the once-ferocious Ferguson at this level of their perspective careers.
The choose is Chiesa to lock up a rear-naked choke by the start of Spherical 2.
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are closely favoring the youthful fighter, itemizing Chiesa -620 and Ferguson +430 through FanDuel.
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa UFC on ABC 7 begin time, the right way to watch
Ferguson and Chiesa are anticipated to stroll out to the cage at roughly 4 p.m. ET. The struggle will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.
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