UFC Vegas 77 was a very dynamic card. Despite many preliminary bouts going the distance, fans can’t complain about boring fights. All of them were excellent technical wars and you could see a lot of new moves. The main card was amazing – many upsets and stoppages, with some of the most legendary finishes!
Dana White handed the Fight of the Night bonus to Bassil Hafez and Jack Della Maddalena, who took part in an amazing three-round war in the co-main event of the evening. The former Cage Fury FC champ and Justin Gaethje’s training partner Hafez showed his amazing transitions and takedown offense, and nearly shocked #14 ranked Australian.
Francisco Prado made one of the most spectacular moves ever seen in the history of the sport. After a step-drag forward, the young Argentinian Muay Thai phenom knocked Ottman Azaitar down with a nasty right spinning back elbow, then finished him with a barrage of ground-and-pound bombs. The ref stopped the match, but the Moroccan protested the stoppage. Yet, he was covered in blood and didn’t try to improve his position, so it was a fair call.
UFC London Is Heading Our Way
Finally, another European card! After many events in Las Vegas and all over America, the UFC flies across the Atlantic Ocean to the capital of England for another amazing UFC fight night event. Every single fight looks great on the piece of paper, there are many stars, and London’s card looks stronger than some pay-per-views.
Photo: @UFCBrasil or @UFCEurope Twitter
Tom Aspinall returns after a nasty ACL injury to square off against wrestling and cage control expert from Poland, Marcin Tybura. Aspinall is one of the most technical boxers in the world of mixed martial arts, but Tybura is extremely dangerous in scrambles and punches of the top. One way or another, this could be a very technical match. Both fighters are chinny and you will hardly see a knockout.
Tybura is known for super-human strength and excellent power, so Aspinall will have to circle and stuff Marcin’s takedown attempts. This could be a long war.
Prediction: over 1.5 rounds
In the co-main event of the evening, an elbow queen from Scotland, Molly McCann, will square off against the first-ever Lithuanian female UFC fighter, known for amazing armbars and scrambles off the back, Julija Stoliarenko.
Stoliarenko is excellent in close-range exchanges as she comes from Lethwei, but unfortunately, headbutts are illegal in mixed martial arts, so McCann is better inside the pocket. Yet, Julija’s long limbs could create a lot of problems for the Scottish fighter. Molly should be fine if she keeps the fight on her feet. One way or another, someone’s gonna get finished here.
Prediction: the fight will not go the distance
UFC London Full Fight Card
There are many excellent fights. Please take a look at the full fight card, 15 combats will take place on Saturday, and fifteen pairs will lock horns this weekend!
Main Card (ESPN+, UFC On Fight Pass, 3 PM ET, 9 PM CET)
The heavyweight main event (265 pounds): Tom Aspinall (12-3-0) vs. Marcin Tybura (24-7-0)
Flyweight (125 pounds): Molly McCann (13-5-0) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (10-7-1)
Featherweight (145 pounds): Nathaniel Wood (19-5-0) vs. Andre Fili (22-9-0)
Middleweight (185 pounds): André Muniz (23-5-0) vs. Paul Craig (16-6-1)
Lightweight (155 pounds): Jai Herbert (12-4-1) vs. Fares Ziam (13-4-0)
Featherweight (145 pounds): Lerone Murphy (12-0-1) vs. Josh Culibao (11-1-1)
Preliminary Card (UFC On Fight Pass, ESPN+, noon ET, 6 PM CET)
Bantamweight (135 pounds): Davey Grant (13-6-0) vs. Daniel Marcos (14-0-0)
Welterweight (170 pounds): Danny Roberts (18-7-0) vs. Jonny Parsons (8-3-0)
Lightweight (155 pounds): Marc Diakiese (16-6-0) vs. Joel Alvarez (19-3-0)
Heavyweight (265 pounds): Mick Parkin (6-0-0) vs. Jamal Pogues (10-3-0)
Middleweight (185 pounds): Bryan Barberena (18-10-0) vs. Makhmud Muradov (25-8-0)
Bantamweight (135 pounds): Ketlen Vieira (13-3-0) vs. Pannie Kianzad (16-6-0)
Lightweight (155 pounds): Chris Duncan (10-1-0) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (7-0-0)
Strawweight (115 pounds): Bruna Brasil (8-3-1) vs. Shauna Bannon (5-0-0)
Flyweight (125 pounds): Jafel Filho (14-3-0) vs. Daniel Barez (16-5-0)
Jafel Filho nearly submitted Muhammad Mokaev, his leg locks are amazing, so Daniel Barez will have to keep the fight standing by any means necessary. Bruna Brasil vs Shauna Bannon will be a technical war, while you can expect a knockout in the bout between Yanal Ashmouz and Chris Duncan, as both fighters are known for one-punch knockouts and power shots.
Ketlen Vieira vs Pannie Kianzad might go the distance, it is the clash of two very closely-matched Octagon warriors. Makhmud Muradov will try to defeat Bryan Barbarena with his superb ground game, while Mick Parkin is going to make his UFC debut against a dangerous one-punch knockout artist Jamal Pogues.
Marc Diakiese will try to outwrestle Spanish grappling specialist Joel Alvarez, and this could be the most entertaining fight on the preliminary card. Danny Roberts will try to push the pace and out-edge Johnny Parsons, while Davey Grant locks horns with an undefeated Peruvian Daniel Marcos. Grant is a very tough fighter, he fought better opponents, but this fight is gonna be fireworks.
Lerone Murphy vs Josh Culibao might go all the way, the two are pretty evenly matched. Jai Herbert squares off against Bulgarian Top Team cardio machine Fares Ziam, you can enjoy a dynamic match with lots of angle changes and quick strikes.
Andre Muniz vs Paul Craig is a war of two submission Gods. Both fighters forced some of the greatest 185-pound names to tap, Muniz is a slightly better striker, but you don’t want to end up in Craig’s guard. Nathaniel Wood vs Andre Fili is a great candidate for the Fight of the Night bonus, as both Octagon warriors are known for amazing pressure and toe-to-toe exchanges.
UFC London Predictions
You can take a look at my full fight card predictions in the playlist below.
This event is stacked with up-and-coming prospects and big names. There will be many great combats. If you live in Europe, this is one of the best ways to spend your evening. If you’re an American fan, I hope you don’t work, this is a must-watch event!
