Gilbert Burns and Jessica Andrade are two of the hardest gatekeepers within the enterprise. They’ve their work minimize out for them on Saturday.
In the principle occasion of UFC Vegas 97, Burns appears to snap the primary dropping streak of his profession when he takes on the extremely touted Sean Brady. The welterweight veteran’s previous two losses have been to a surging Jack Della Maddalena and future champion Belal Muhammad, outcomes which are nothing to be ashamed of, although they could possibly be indicative of the place the 38-year-old Brazilian stands within the present pecking order.
It’s an order that Brady must disrupt additional if he’s to actually attain his potential. The Philadelphia native has all of the instruments to be a champion and he reminded everybody simply how good he might be with a drubbing of Kelvin Gastelum this previous December. The highest-5 of the division awaits him if he can get previous Burns.
An identical narrative performs out within the co-main occasion because the white scorching (satirically) “Natty Ice” will get her crack at Andrade. Natalia Silva is but to lose in 5 UFC appearances and her crowd-pleasing fashion has her marked as a surefire title challenger. All she has to do tonight is beat the winningest lady in UFC historical past and one of the crucial achieved finishers in any weight class.
In different essential card motion, Steve Garcia and Kyle Nelson put dueling win streaks on the road, Matt Schnell takes on short-notice opponent Cody Durden, and Trevor Peek throws down with Yanal Ashmouz within the light-weight opener.
What: UFC Vegas 97
The place: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Sept. 7. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a five-fight essential card at 7 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing in the MMA Combating International Rankings and the MMA Combating Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Gilbert Burns (6) vs. Sean Brady (9)
I’m a agency believer that the Sean Brady who trucked Kelvin Gastelum is a more true reflection of his abilities than the fighter that was humbled by Belal Muhammad. Moreover, it seems that ol’ Belal is de facto good!
Brady is a wonderful all-rounder and, if something, he wanted that loss to Muhammad to point out him how a lot farther he has to go to be thought-about an elite welterweight. Getting matched up with Gilbert Burns is throwing him proper again into the fireplace, however he’s prepared for it; frankly, if he isn’t now, he would possibly by no means be.
Counting out Burns’ possibilities of upsetting Brady right here doesn’t really feel nice, particularly since I’m basing that call extra on Burns’ age (he turned 38 in July) and profession wear-and-tear than any important drop off in his efficiency. Don’t overlook, he was up on two of the judges’ scorecards towards Jack Della Maddalena earlier than falling to the significantly youthful fighter’s athleticism and energy.
Brady can match Burns on the bottom, he ought to have the velocity benefit on the ft, and the distinction in mileage between the 2 must be the distinction within the championship rounds. After being pushed to the restrict, Brady edges out a choice and takes his rightful place close to the highest of the welterweight ladder.
Choose: Brady
Jessica Andrade (14, P4P-14) vs. Natalia Silva (10)
Query: Will we see the Jessica Andrade that was ok to win the UFC strawweight title as soon as upon a time or the defensively suspect slugger that was completed in three straight fights not too way back?
It won’t matter given the speedy ascent of Natalia Silva, a standup menace who has already confirmed herself towards stiff competitors, together with Viviane Araujo, Andrea Lee, and Jasmine Jasudavicius. She’ll must have a ton of respect for Andrade’s energy, given the record of our bodies that “Bate Estaca” has left on the mat through the years.
Andrade may look to take this to the bottom on condition that Silva is unproven there, however Silva tasks as an elite sprawl-and-brawler. So long as she retains this standing, I give her the sting.
One other query value asking: Can Silva end Andrade? It’s been a very long time since Andrade has misplaced on the playing cards, however I believe Silva goes to must outlast the previous UFC champion on this one.
Choose: Silva
Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson
Finger of disgrace to my fellow Canadian for lacking weight!
As we proceed to wag our collective finger, allow us to additionally recognize what Kyle Nelson has completed in his previous three fights, beating favored opposition in each and even taking out Invoice Algeo in underneath 5 minutes. He’s on a real roll that nobody would have predicted when he was mired in a droop of only one win in six fights.
The blessings of the Nice White North can solely take you to date although and I believe the nice instances come to an finish Saturday when he runs into Steve Garcia. “Imply Machine” is a flat-out ending machine and he thrives on chaos. He’ll draw Nelson right into a dogfight whether or not he needs it or not and in that situation, Garcia has greater than sufficient chunk to chomp down on one other victory.
Nelson will dangle in there for a spherical earlier than Garcia turns up the warmth within the second and smokes him.
Choose: Garcia
Matt Schnell vs. Cody Durden
Alessandro Costa was a preferred option to beat Matt Schnell inside the space, however I don’t know what to suppose now with Cody Durden changing Costa on lower than every week’s discover.
Tip your cap to Durden’s staff, this was a sly enterprise transfer. Durden is keen to snap a two-fight skid and he should see the equally slumping Schnell as a simple goal. Schnell has a ton of ability and coronary heart, however he’s by no means been identified for his sturdiness and Durden is undoubtedly trying to capitalize on that weak spot.
Schnell isn’t any stranger to preventing from behind, it’d simply be an excessive amount of to ask him achieve this once more at this stage of his profession. He’ll benefit from a full camp, in addition to the truth that Durden hasn’t precisely been a constant finisher within the UFC. It shouldn’t shock anybody if Schnell catches an overaggressive Durden in a submission.
I lean in the direction of Durden counting on his wrestling to manage Schnell and stifle his offense, burying him with strain in Spherical 1 and ending within the opening 5 minutes.
Choose: Durden
Trevor Peek vs. Yanal Ashmouz
Trevor Peek and Yanal Ashmouz each discovered themselves dealing with extra technical opponents of their most up-to-date fights and who requested for that? Credit score to the matchmakers for course correcting and simply throwing these two maniacs within the cage with one another.
I don’t need to see both of those dudes flashing their technical acumen, exhibiting how they will completely management vary to land teeps or how they use feints to arrange elementary 1-2 combos. I need to see light-weight swangin’ and bangin’! Do the fitting factor, fellas. Go in there and simply let it rip. And if I see one takedown, I can be very, very, very dissatisfied.
So far as a decide goes, can we trip with the unpredictable Peek and his penchant for quick finishes, or will Ashmouz finally determine Peek’s timing and discover a gap for a decisive strike? One factor I’m assured about is that one among these fighters can be completed for the primary time.
Ashmouz by knockout.
Choose: Ashmouz
Preliminaries
Chris Padilla def. Rongzhu
Isaac Dulgarian def. Brendon Marotte
Felipe dos Santos def. Andre Lima
Gabriel Santos def. Yizha
Jaqueline Amorim def. Vanessa Demopoulos
