Brandon Moreno and Rose Namajunas each know what it’s wish to be UFC champion. They’ve performed it twice. Is a 3rd run to gold too tall of a climb?
That’s the query each fighters face Saturday as they enter pivotal matchups. Moreno meets Amir Albazi within the UFC Edmonton flyweight predominant occasion, with the hopes of holding onto his spot within the division he has reigned over on two events. “The Murderer Child” doesn’t seem to have misplaced a step regardless of a pair of pink marks on his ledger, as he went 5 rounds with Brandon Royval and Alexandre Pantoja solely to fall simply quick on the scorecards.
Having misplaced to Pantoja 3 times now, Moreno’s greatest path again to a title shot is to defeat Albazi and hope that Pantoja drops the belt to Kai Asakura at UFC 310. The duty at hand is something however straightforward.
Albazi is but to lose in 5 UFC appearances, although his most up-to-date struggle towards Kai Kara-France generated some scoring controversy. That was over 500 days in the past as Albazi has been sidelined with a litany of well being points. He now has an opportunity to knock off a former champion and all however signal his title on the dotted line to face the UFC 310 winner.
The co-main occasion tells an identical story. At 115 kilos, Namajunas emerged as a star, successful the UFC title twice and delivering among the most unimaginable finishes within the division’s historical past. After a disappointing rematch with Carla Esparza, Namajunas determined to maneuver up in weight, and following a loss to Manon Fiorot, she picked up back-to-back wins to place collectively her first win streak since 2021.
As a lot as Namajunas has to show, Blanchfield is simply as motivated, if no more. The 25-year-old blue-chipper dominated her first six UFC opponents earlier than additionally being foiled by Fiorot. That put a damper on the long run champion talks that swirled round her, although she has loads of time to rebuild that buzz and that mission begins Saturday towards a future UFC Corridor of Famer.
In different predominant card motion, Canadian representatives Caio Machado, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Marc-Andre Barriault, and Mike Malott look to show across the nation’s current MMA fortunes.
(Observe: A beforehand scheduled predominant card bout between Derrick Lewis and Jhonata Diniz has been cancelled as a consequence of Lewis being pressured to withdraw as a consequence of a medical subject. A flyweight bout between Jasudavicius and Ariane da Silva has been elevated to the primary card.)
What: UFC Edmonton
The place: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada
When: Saturday, Nov. 2. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight predominant card at 8 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing in MMA Preventing’s World Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Brandon Moreno (4) vs. Amir Albazi (6)
I scored Brandon Moreno’s previous two fights in his favor, so it ought to come as no shock that I’m choosing him to get off the schneid right here. No disrespect to Amir Albazi, who is strictly the form of robust, well-rounded fighter that shall be an element at 125 for years to return, however Moreno continues to be on that champion stage in my eyes.
It is a story of two layoffs as properly, with Moreno taking barely longer than regular to return to motion and Albazi preventing for the primary time in 17 months. Whereas Moreno ought to be refreshed by taking a psychological step again, Albazi has been going by way of it in his time without work having to take care of neck and coronary heart points. Yikes!
Albazi getting a win could be inspirational, however that’s a whole lot of sick to beat on high of determining how one can get previous the refreshed two-time UFC champion standing throughout from him. If he places the stress on Moreno early, that could possibly be key to pulling off this upset and stepping proper to the entrance of the title image.
Is it horrible to foretell one other break up choice is within the playing cards for Moreno and Albazi? That’s how tight the race is on the high of this division and the way expert each of those fighters are. If Edmonton does grow to be Splitty Metropolis for the primary occasion, then the cube should roll Moreno’s method someday. He takes this on factors.
Decide: Moreno
Erin Blanchfield (4, P4P-8) vs. Rose Namajunas (9, P4P-10)
One purpose I used to be assured in Rose Namajunas beating Tracy Cortez was the big talent and expertise hole between them, plus the truth that Cortez didn’t have a substantial measurement and power benefit over Namajunas. When Erin Blanchfield steps into the cage with “Thug Rose,” followers shall be stunned simply how bodily imposing Blanchfield is as compared.
Namajunas’ greatest guess to win this is identical technique she’s used to win each her fights at 125 kilos: Stick and transfer. The previous strawweight champion even had moments towards Manon Fiorot using this technique and when you think about it is a five-round struggle, it’s straightforward to think about Namajunas outlasting Blanchfield and taking up within the ultimate 10 minutes.
It’s additionally not tough to think about Blanchfield getting her palms on Namajunas early and simply hossing her across the octagon. Even towards typically strawweight Amanda Ribas, Namajunas had hassle stopping takedowns. What’s she going to do to stop Blanchfield from taking her for a journey?
Namajunas has been in there with the most effective, so I get that counting her out is silly, however Blanchfield has all of the instruments to be an elite fighter sometime (if she isn’t already). I believe she corrects course with a end of Namajunas, sporting her down earlier than placing an exclamation level on her efficiency within the second or third spherical.
Decide: Blanchfield
Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Now could be pretty much as good a time as any to level out that there are 9 Canadians competing on this card, together with Vancouver-based Brazilian Caio Machado. When it comes time for Machado to make the stroll, there’s a respectable likelihood his countrymen may have batted .500 to that time, so it can fall in him to make it a successful night time.
As the very best billed Canadian on the cardboard, Machado ought to soak in these vibes and luxuriate in a much-needed transfer to 205 kilos. Machado’s first two UFC fights had been towards heavyweights flirting with the higher poundage restrict of the division, so it made sense to vary weight courses.
Strategically talking, I’d wish to see Machado make the most of his grappling, which was a weak point of Brendson Ribeiro’s in his most up-to-date struggle. You possibly can inform Machado loves to indicate off his putting, however Riberio has loads of spark in these gloves and if Machado desires to keep away from a hometown letdown, he ought to think about mixing the martial arts.
This could possibly be a mucky struggle from begin to end, so let’s hope it doesn’t drag on too lengthy. Machado, be happy to membership after which sub to finish this one early.
Decide: Machado
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
With respect to my fellow Canadian, I’ve seen Marc-Andre Barriault slip on one too many banana peels to choose him with any confidence.
Barriault is an efficient fighter, we will say that in equity, however someway his mixture of bodily items and sharp teaching hasn’t led to constant outcomes. He has a good matchup right here in Stoltzfus, a strong grappler who hardly ever goes to the playing cards, for higher or worse.
This ought to be a showcase for Barriault, proper? I simply see too some ways for him to catch a bizarre loss although. Stoltzfus’ grappling proves to be an excessive amount of. Stoltzfus wins a decent choice after a sloppy putting battle. Barriault slips on a Rogers advert on the mat and bumps his head. I don’t know. It’s a Barriault struggle.
Stoltzfus by submission.
Decide: Stoltzfus.
Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles
Now it is a squash match reserving I can get behind.
Mike Malott shouldn’t be judged too harshly for his loss to Neil Magny, although it uncovered obtrusive holes in his capability to complete a struggle robust. He was dealing with Magny for nearly three rounds earlier than a complete collapse led to Magny ending him with simply 15 seconds remaining within the contest. There’s no disgrace in shedding to Magny, a fighter with much more high-level expertise than Malott, nevertheless it did current a hypothetical ceiling for the Canadian welterweight.
Don’t overthink this one, although. Malott by no means goes the gap and all six of Giles’ UFC losses are by knockout or submission. He’s a hard-working fighter with some legit wins on his résumé (bear in mind when he beat Roman Dolidze?), however his defensive shortcomings will rear their head on the worst time on Saturday.
It’s a 50-50 proposition how Malott ends this, so I’ll go together with him using his putting to attain a powerful end.
Decide: Malott
Preliminaries
Pedro Munhoz def. Aiemann Zahabi
Ariane da Silva def. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Victor Henry def. Charles Jourdain
Jack Shore def. Youssef Zalal
Alexandr Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento
Serhiy Sidey def. Garrett Armfield
Cody Gibson def. Chad Anheliger
Jamey-Lyn Horth def. Ivana Petrovic
