For the second week in a row, the MMA slate expands to Sunday. Additionally for the second week in a row, Anthony Pettis‘ APFC returns to stay motion. This weekend, APFC touches down for APFC 12 in Richmond, VA. The Richmond Conference Middle is the host venue for Sunday’s card.
Reside protection kicks off Sunday afternoon at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT on the promotion’s official YouTube channel with the undercard, adopted at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on UFC Combat Cross with the primary card. If there are any swing bouts left over after the primary occasion, they’ll be proven on YouTube, as effectively.
That is the inverse of final weekend’s APFC Waukesha RMBL in Waukesha, WI, which wasn’t broadcast stay. All informed, barring any late postponements or cancellations to the bout order forward of Sunday’s present, 13 fights will probably be held.
Welterweight Gold at Stake in APFC 12 Important Occasion Sunday
Highlighting the evening’s actions is the battle for the APFC Welterweight Championship within the APFC 12 foremost occasion. Present APFC Welterweight Champion Peter Petties (10-8, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 APFC,) a veteran of the PFL and BKFC, will tackle challenger Junior Melo (14-9 MMA, APFC promotional debut), a veteran of the LFA.
As per the phrases of the combat contract, Sunday’s APFC 12 foremost occasion is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
APFC 12 Important Occasion Fighter Comparability
Heading into the APFC 12 foremost occasion on Sunday evening, Junior Melo stands because the taller man at 5-foot-11, in comparison with the 5-foot-10 body of Peter Petties. The latter owns a half-inch attain benefit (71 inches even to 70 1/2 inches) over the previous.
Presently, the oddsmakers have but to launch cash traces for APFC 12 on Sunday evening. In the event you plan on betting on this or some other combat occurring this weekend in MMA and/or fight sports activities, please wager responsibly.
Peter Petties Appears to be like to Return to Win Column Sunday Night time
Peter Petties enters the APFC 12 foremost occasion having posted a 2-3 report in his final 5 fights. Again in late Could, he sustained a second-round technical submission (guillotine choke) in opposition to Emmanuel Sanchez (22-10 MMA, 1-0 APFC.)
This contest was a contracted catchweight at 160 lbs., which means that Sunday evening’s foremost occasion is his first protection of the 170-lb. strap since successful it on July 16, 2023 versus Robert Hale (14-8 MMA, 0-1 APFC) throughout APFC 6, additionally from Richmond, VA.
The Inaugural APFC Welterweight Champion Peter Petties #APFC6 pic.twitter.com/gdaEpCGQ0r
— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) July 17, 2023
The Richmond space has been good to Peter Petties and his camp of late. He’s already received a championship within the very enviornment the place APFC 12 goes to be held this Sunday. Just one query stays: Will his run of fine luck in Richmond proceed once more this coming weekend? Tune in and discover out.
Can Junior Melo Proper The Ship?
Within the different nook, Junior Melo has gone 2-3 in his personal proper during the last 5 fights. Most lately, he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Jhonny Carlos (12-7 MMA) on March 22. This was a fast turnaround for Melo’s camp.
That combat in opposition to Carlos occurred simply 14 days after he scored a second-round knockout victory over Jorge Bueno (10-5 MMA) throughout CFC 8 on March 8. Having to combat twice in 14 days is taxing on any fighter.
Now that Junior Melo has had a full coaching camp between fights and is on equal footing together with his opponent because it pertains to latest kind, can he return to the win column on Sunday night?
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
It seems such as you’ll have one other basic power vs. power affair on Sunday within the APFC 12 foremost occasion. Which certainly one of these males will come away because the champion?
Petties Can Work in a Hurry
Though it hasn’t occurred typically, if Peter Petties can discover a gap to do some harm, you possibly can consider that this man goes to take the chance as soon as it involves him. One want look no additional than his 2015 combat in Titan FC in opposition to Ikaika Thomas.
In the course of the opening spherical of the combat, Petties opened it up with a leg kick earlier than trying a spinning kick on his opponent. All through the competition, for so long as it lasted that evening, Petties used his motion advantageously, stalking Thomas earlier than absorbing a kick from him.
This proved to be Thomas’s solely spotlight on the night, with “The Joker” capitalizing on a well-placed spinning backfist to place his adversary on the canvas earlier than placing him away with a number of extra punches for good measure. If Peter Petties might be fast on his toes this Sunday, his first protection of the championship will probably be successful.
Junior Melo is Hassle on the Floor
Within the different nook, as soon as Junior Melo places his adversary on the canvas, it’ll solely be a matter of time earlier than the combat ends. Simply take a look at the tape of his combat versus Danusio Vasconcelos in 2019.
In the course of the second spherical of a scheduled three, Melo dropped Vasconcelos with a takedown. Whereas it momentarily appeared like Melo would search to complete Vasconcelos off with a Von Flue choke, he scored with repeated floor and pound pictures, together with a flurry from again mount, to wrap up the combat.
All Junior Melo goes to want is one takedown. If he will get Petties to the mat, the APFC 12 foremost occasion might be wrapped up in brief order on Sunday evening.
Closing Ideas
Right here’s a straightforward strategy to combat off the Sunday Scaries earlier than the brand new work week hits: Pull up a chair, make some donner, and watch the APFC 12 foremost occasion. No different promotions are going to be on concurrently with this present, so you haven’t any excuse to not watch.
Prediction: Junior Melo by Second-Spherical Knockout.
