Last week saw a grudge match settled and a plethora of exciting finishes. This week we are still in Las Vegas but return to the UFC Apex.
Hard hitting headline bout
Two top-10 contenders in the light heavyweight collide, as no.5 contender Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos takes on no.6 contender Magomed Ankalaev.
Winning five of his last eight, Thiago Santos has shown his power throughout his career. Marreta has 15 knockouts in his career, with eight coming in the first round. His 11 UFC knockouts are enough to for the third most (tied with Anthony Johnson and Anderson Silva) in UFC history. Santos has earned six post-fight bonuses, two for fight of the night and a further four for performance of the night.
On a seven-fight win streak, Magomed Anakalaev is also known for his knockout power, all nine of his career finishes coming by knockout. Ankalaev is efficient in his striking, connecting with 55.5% of his significant strikes, which is tied for third highest in light heavyweight history. The Russian has been pro since 2014, and works in his own gym alongside training.
Kung Fu Magic
This weekend’s co-main sees another ranked fight, as two top-15 bantamweights lock horns, as ‘Magic’ Marlon Moraes faces Song ‘Kung Fu Monkey’ Yadong.
15-year veteran Moraes has won 18 of his last 23, including five of his last nine, and is currently the no. 10 bantamweight contender. He has secured 16 finishes in his career, 10 by knockout and six by submission. Magic holds black belts in both BJJ and Muay Thai, and his first experience of martial arts was kickboxing. Moraes holds three UFC performance of the night bonuses, all of which came for first-round knockouts.
Yadong has won his last two bouts, his most recent victory was a second-round knockout against Julio Arce back in November. He holds a 10-1-1 record in his last 12 outings, and is now ranked as the no.14 bantamweight contender. He won multiple amateur BJJ competitions in China and held roles as a street vendor and security guard before committing to MMA full time.
JJ faces The Savage
Two exciting flyweights go head-to-head on this week’s prelims, with JJ Aldrich and Gillian ‘The Savage’ Robertson clashing.
Winning six of her last eight, including two in a row, Aldrich holds two finishes in her career, both of which were first-round knockouts. Aldrich holds a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a brown belt in BJJ. She was introduced to Taekwondo by her mum when she was a child and transitioned to MMA when she was 14.
The Savage returns for her first fight of 2022, her last fight, back in November, she submitted Priscila Cachoeira with only a second left in the first round. Robertson has secured eight finishes in her 10 career victories, seven of which were submissions, the rear-naked choke being her specialty. She holds a black belt in BJJ, a degree in general education and was a hostess at fast-food chain Chili’s prior to joining the UFC.
5 Star debut for The Snow Leopard
This card boasts British representation as Javid ‘The Snow Leopard’ Basharat makes his UFC debut against Trevin ‘5 Star’ Jones this weekend.
Afghan-born Basharat trains out of London, England, and earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, submitting his opponent in the third round via a guillotine choke. The Snow Leopard holds an undefeated 11-0 record.
Jones has won seven of his last 11, going 7-3, 1NC. The American went 1-1 last year, his victory coming in March, when he knocked out Mario Bautista in the second round. He has seven career finishes, three by knockout, four by submission.
