MARCH 2, 2023 LAS VEGAS, NV JACOB DIETRICH
Properly I can’t imagine we’re formally again right into a Jon Jones struggle week and every thing has gone easily so far. We’re getting our first heavyweight champion since Ngannou departed the UFC. We’re additionally going to have the ability to see one of many best feminine fight sports activities athletes of all time in Valentina Shevchenko defend her title in opposition to Alexa Grasso who appears to be like to grow to be the 2nd Mexican undisputed champion. This text isn’t about them nonetheless and as an alternative is all about three fights it is advisable to watch on this loaded card.
It speaks volumes to the depth of this card that Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plessis are dealing with off on the prelims of UFC 285. Brunson remains to be a high ranked middleweight coming in direction of the top of his profession, nonetheless he nonetheless will get large matchups and that is no totally different when he takes on Dricus Du Plessis who’s coming off his greatest win of his profession when he defeated Darren Until in December. Brunson is coming off a loss nonetheless had a 5 struggle win streak earlier than dropping a title contender eliminator in opposition to Jared Cannonier is 2022. Brunson has loads of expertise and 5 spherical struggle expertise which is essential as a result of for Du Plessis, we noticed him begin to lose his edge 3 months in the past when enetering the third spherical in opposition to Until. If Brunson’s cardio is nearly as good because it has been previously, I see this being the struggle that will get Brunson again within the win column and probably begins one final experience to a title. Whatever the consequence, be careful for a struggle of the evening chance and even higher a end on Saturday evening. I sadly suppose it involves a choice nonetheless.
Prediction: Derek Brunson by choice (+400)
That is the struggle that the MMA neighborhood and informal fan learns the Child Shark is extra that the engaging woman that does MMA. 7-1 Tabatha Ricci faces off with Jessica Penne in what appears to be like to be on the early prelims however it is a should watch struggle. I do imagine if Ricci will get a win right here she is going to earn a shot with a ranked fighter throughout the straw weight division. Ricci is driving as two struggle win streak and I believe that is the kind of card she deserves when all the worlds eyes will probably be drawn to the GOAT, Jon Jones. Ricci is barely 28 and the world ought to know her identify very quickly. Her two wins got here by choice and whereas that’s how I imagine this struggle goes, I wouldn’t be stunned if she finishes Penne as a result of her harmful submission recreation. That is the time for the Brazilian to get her identify recognized by the world and in truth I will probably be cheering for her to get it finished and enter the dialog as among the best in a really vast open division.
Prediction: Tabatha Ricci by Resolution (-150)
Hello Children! Do you want violence? Yeah, yeah, yeah! Nice lyrics from Eminem. Lets change these although to to: Hello children, do you want Chimaev? Most say yeah, yeah, yeah. Nevertheless in the event you like Chimaev however don’t essentially love the antics then you’ll love Shavkat Rakhmonov. Shavkat and Chimaev goes to be a battle the place two freight trains run proper into one another. Till then, the warrior Geoff Neal will tackle Shavkat which we’ll actually see how nice he could be. I believe we’re watching the making of the star and if he learns English, like Khabib, he’ll grow to be one of the vital marketable stars the UFC has. I’m sorry Geoff, however Shavkat goes to grow to be 17-0 on Saturday with 17 finishes.
Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov Inside Distance (-175)
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