Top Flyweights Do Battle in Edmonton Saturday Night

It’s attending to be early November and in the event you’re in Canada, the calendar flipping over to the eleventh month of the yr can solely imply one factor: Over the following three weekends, together with this Saturday, the CFL‘s postseason will play out. Let’s be sincere with ourselves right here:

On the afternoon and night of Nov. 2, not everybody in Canada will likely be watching three-down soccer. Whereas groups within the East and West Divisions of the CFL battle it out to play in subsequent week’s Division Finals, MMA takes the highlight within the province of Manitoba.

This Saturday night time, Dana White‘s promotion touches down in Edmonton’s Rogers Place for UFC Edmonton. Inside the USA, this card will likely be seen gavel-to-gavel over ESPN+.

Stay protection begins at 5 pm ET/ 2 pm PT on the streaming platform with the prelims earlier than transferring onto most important card motion at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT.

MMA Sucka Public Service Announcement: Daylight Financial savings Time ends Sunday morning at 2 am native time. Set your clocks again one hour earlier than going to mattress on Saturday night time.

Flyweights Duke it Out in UFC Edmonton Predominant Occasion

All advised, absent of any postponed or cancelled fights, the ultimate model of UFC Edmonton includes a full 14-fight card. Highlighting the night time’s actions is a contest between high contenders within the UFC flyweight division.

No. 2 contender and former UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) locks horns with No. 3 contender Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC.) As with all UFC most important occasions, the UFC Edmonton most important occasion is an marketed most of 5 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.

Flyweight fireworks coming this weekend! 💥

Our #UFCEdmonton headliners squared off forward of Saturday night time! 🇨🇦

[ Watch LIVE on @ESPNPlus | 8pmET/5pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/kt2CTvW9Ms

— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2024

UFC Edmonton Predominant Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds

Heading into the UFC Edmonton most important occasion on Saturday night time, Brandon Moreno is the taller contestant at 5-foot-7, in comparison with Amir Albazi’s 5-foot-5 body. Moreno owns a two-inch attain benefit (70 inches to 68 inches) over Albazi, with the fighters holding similar 38-inch leg reaches.

At present, the oddsmakers have Brandon Moreno put in as a -173 favourite on the cash line, with Amir Albazi countering as a +148 underdog. Should you plan on betting on this or some other battle occurring in MMA or fight sports activities this weekend, please wager responsibly.

Moreno Again After Eight-Month Layoff

Brandon Moreno enters the UFC Edmonton most important occasion this weekend having posted a file of 2-3 in his final 5 fights. At current, he’s on a two-fight dropping streak.

Final day trip, he dropped a break up determination to Brandon Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) through the Feb. 24 UFC Mexico Metropolis most important occasion. Wednesday afternoon, Moreno met with the press to debate the time he spent away from the Octagon.

“I believe it’s very simple, man, like I’m a competitor,” Moreno started. “Once I determined to take somewhat break off of competitors, every little thing was advantageous in that second, however after that, three weeks after, I’m beginning to suppose ‘Rattling, I need to battle. I need to battle, I need to battle,’ however then my spouse, my household helped me so much with that, like ‘Hey, you need to take a break. You need to take it significantly. You need to relaxation. You need to be with your loved ones, together with your daughters and make extra good moments with them first’”.

Moreno later mentioned he made the best name in taking time away from the cage. Provided that he’s been out of motion for eight months, how a lot ring rust does he have?

For the reply, watch the UFC Edmonton most important occasion.

Albazi Returns After Medical Points

Within the different nook, Amir Albazi has gone 5-0 in his final 5 fights. An alumnus of each Bellator MMA and Courageous CF, he’s gained six in a row relationship again to November of 2019.

Again in June of 2023, he scored a break up determination victory over Kai Kara-France (25-11, 1 NC MMA, 8-4 UFC) throughout UFC Battle Evening: Kara-France vs. Albazi contained in the UFC Apex in Enterprise, NV. Initially, this battle with Brandon Moreno was speculated to have occurred already.

Moreno and Albazi have been booked to battle in Mexico Metropolis on Feb. 24, however the contest was scrapped forward of battle night time after the latter underwent neck surgical procedure. Albazi used his media availability to debate his hardships after present process a coronary heart process.

“I saved coaching for the battle towards Brandon Moreno in Mexico Metropolis, after which my left arm actually stopped,” Albazi recalled. “I couldn’t carry my arm up, I couldn’t jab, I couldn’t do something, however I nonetheless saved coaching. After I obtained my first MRI, the primary physician mentioned ‘You shouldn’t be preventing anymore. Discover a 9:00-to-5:00 [job].’”

With Albazi now having obtained a clear invoice of well being, can he get again within the win column on Saturday night time?

Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction

Stylistically, the UFC Edmonton most important occasion appears to be like to favor Brandon Moreno, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, in comparison with Amir Albazi’s standing as a purple belt in BJJ.

Moreno Fierce on the Floor

Statistically talking, Brandon Moreno has scored 11 of his 21 profession victories by means of submission. Thus, it stands to motive that he may ship the UFC Edmonton most important occasion to the bottom as quickly as potential.

One want look no additional than his UFC 263 battle towards Deiveson Figuereido in Glendale, AZ from 2021. Throughout the third spherical of a scheduled 5, as this was a championship contest, Moreno dropped Figuereido and tried a triangle choke, earlier than jettisoning to floor and pound to melt him up for a profitable rear-naked choke.

All Brandon Moreno has to do is drop Amir Albazi a single time within the UFC Edmonton most important occasion. If he takes Albazi down, he’s golden.

Albazi Has Fists of Fury

Within the different nook, Amir Albazi can punch his approach to a win on Saturday, like he did in 2022 versus Alessandro Costa. Throughout the third and last spherical, he took Costa down a couple of minute into the interval and established high management earlier than Costa rose to his toes.

From there, Albazi stalked Costa, trying to find the knockout punch, connecting on a vicious proper hand to drop him on the canvas. A fast flurry of floor and pound ended the competition.

As long as Amir Albazi can unload a nasty punch, this battle will likely be his.