Who desires MMA after darkish on Saturday night time? In case your reply was “Sure,” then you definitely’re in luck. Late night time aggressive violence closes out a marathon day of motion from around the globe, with the final cease on the itinerary for July 20 being the Golden State’s capital metropolis.
After taking the whole thing of June off, Urijah Faber‘s A1 Fight returns for 2 exhibits in as many weeks within the month of July. It begins this Saturday with A1 Fight 22.
Protection begins from Onerous Rock Stay Saturday night time at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT with the undercard earlier than transitioning to the principle card at midnight ET/ 9 pm PT (early Sunday), with blow-by-blow commentary being delivered by MMA Sucka’s very personal Michael Hernandez. UFC girls’s flyweight Cory McKenna will function the analyst.
One programming be aware: A1 Fight 22 will solely be seen gavel-to-gavel on the promotion’s official YouTube channel. UFC Struggle Cross will carry the principle card of subsequent Friday’s A1 Fight 23.
Tremendous-Middleweight Championship at Stake Saturday Evening in A1 Fight 22 Major Occasion
All advised, barring any late changes to the bout order on Saturday night time, the ultimate model of A1 Fight 22 options 11 bouts, all within the skilled ranks. Highlighting the night time’s actions is a battle for supremacy at 195 lbs. within the A1 Fight 22 important occasion.
The Vacant A1 Fight Tremendous-Middleweight Championship is up for grabs when Kevem Felipe (9-7 MMA, 1-1 A1 Fight) takes on 20-fight veteran Jason Butcher (15-5 MMA, A1 Fight promotional debut), an alumnus of each the PFL and Bellator MMA. In accordance with California State Athletic Fee coverage on fights in regionally-based promotions, the A1 Fight 22 important occasion is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, all bouts going down throughout regional occasions in California are to be three rounds in size. No exceptions had been made for championship fights.
A1 Fight 22 Major Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the A1 Fight 22 important occasion on Saturday night, Jason Butcher stands because the taller man at 6-foot-3, in comparison with Kevem Felipe’s 6-foot-1 body. Butcher owns a three-inch attain benefit (74 inches to 71 inches over Felipe.
At present, the oddsmakers have this one listed as a pick-’em on the cash line. Felipe is put in at -120 odds, whereas Butcher counters at -110. Should you plan on betting on this or every other combat occurring in MMA this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Kevem Felipe Faces Fast Turnaround Forward of A1 Fight 22 Major Occasion
Kevem Felipe enters Saturday night time’s headliner having posted a document of 3-2 in his final 5 fights. Most not too long ago, he returned to the win column because of a first-round knockout victory over Aireon Tavarres (6-2 MMA) on June 8 throughout Zhong Luo CFS 10 for that promotion’s middleweight title.
By the point the A1 Fight 22 important occasion begins this weekend, he’ll have solely had 42 days, precisely six weeks, between fights. Whereas staying lively is nice for any fighter on the regional circuit, solely taking six weeks between contests is perhaps a difficulty for Felipe forward of this super-middleweight title combat as he seeks to win his second belt in as many months.
With time being tight for Felipe and his staff, what sort of a coaching camp has he had? Extra importantly, how will he fare?
Will the Third Reserving Be the Appeal for Jason Butcher?
Within the different nook, Jason Butcher has gone 3-2 himself during the last 5 contests. At present, Butcher’s on a two-fight profitable streak, however he’s had a protracted interregnum between fights. Final outing, he bested Doug Usher (14-6 MMA) by means of first-round knockout in B2 Preventing Collection 183 on Could 27 of final 12 months for his or her middleweight championship.
Since then, Butcher has been scheduled to combat Kevem Felipe twice this 12 months. Each fights had been scrubbed and not using a punch being thrown.
Initially, Butcher and Felipe had been to have squared off on March 29 and once more on Could 17. Each postponed fights had been to have taken place at middleweight, with the March 29 combat scheduled for the Vacant A1 Fight Middleweight Championship. Butcher was sick forward of the primary reserving in March.
Jason Butcher has had greater than a 12 months between fights, so how a lot in the best way of ring rust will he have had forward of the A1 Fight 22 important occasion?
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
It appears like we’ve bought one other a kind of traditional strength-versus-strength matchups within the A1 Fight 22 important occasion. Who will win the day?
Felipe Can Get The Job Carried out in a Hurry
With the A1 Fight 22 important occasion going down within the wee hours of Sunday morning on the East Coast of the US, don’t fall asleep when Kevem Felipe enters the cage. You would possibly get up after dawn not realizing the result of the combat.
If he performs the best way he did final month vs. Tavarres, you’ll be sorry you dozed off. Throughout the first spherical of the combat, Felipe absorbed a kick to the leg earlier than making an attempt one to the top which didn’t join.
In a while within the spherical, he landed some kicks of his personal and slowed the tempo of the combat down somewhat bit to stalk Tavarres, persevering with to pepper him with additional leg kicks. Upon making an attempt a flying knee, he returned to the leg kicks earlier than lastly ending the combat with a nasty head kick for the knockout.
Identical to in soccer, search for the kicking recreation to play a task in figuring out the champion at super-middleweight on Saturday night time. If Felipe connects with one clear kick proper on the button, this one might be over in a rush.
Butcher Can Minimize a Struggle Brief
Within the different nook, Jason Butcher could make his night time on the workplace a fast one. Simply have a look at the video of his combat towards Doug Usher. Proper after the opening bell, Butcher slipped earlier than touchdown a sequence of punches to place Usher down and out in below 30 seconds.
If Jason Butcher beats Kevem Felipe to the primary strike, the momentum can swing his method.
Remaining Ideas
Should you’re within the Jap or Central Time Zones, placed on a pot of espresso earlier than A1 Fight 22 begins. It’s possible you’ll want it to remain awake for the principle occasion.
Prediction: Kevem Felipe by First-Spherical KO.
