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Before UFC 270’s epic main event where two goliaths of sport will meet to determine who’s the baddest man on the planet, we get a full clip of noteworthy undercard bouts.
-180 Brandon Moreno (19-5-2: 3 KOs, 11 SUBs) vs. +142 Deivison Figueiredo (20-2-1: 9 KOs, 8 SUBs)
The night’s co-main event is a trilogy match between two elite flyweight fighters. In back-to-back fights, Moreno and Figueiredo have given us two epic battles. In their first fight, we saw a battle of boxing and jiu-jitsu that was on par with the amount of heart on display. In the encore fight this past June, Moreno took a huge step forward in his career when he stood in the pocket to drop Figueiredo and then finish him on the floor. Now, the biggest question is: how serious is Figueiredo about remaining on top of the division, because another loss to Moreno would be tough to bounce back from. History wouldn’t favor him. I see Figueiredo taking a long look in the mirror and taking it round-by-round to sneak out a victory. He has more talent and ability than Moreno, it just depends on his state of mind, and I believe he is focused and ready to explode. Get ready for a fourth fight!
Selection: Figueiredo wins via Decision
-300 Michel Pereira (26-11: 10 KOs, 7 SUBs) vs. +230 Andre Fialho (14-3: 11 KOs, 1 SUB)
Pereira vs. Fialho was originally scheduled for last week’s co-main event, but because of Covid protocols, it got pushed to UFC 270’s main card. For starters, Andre Fialho, a Bellator and PFL vet, is taking this fight on short notice and is trying to pull off a major upset in his UFC debut. In different circumstances, this fight would be closer to a coin toss, but a fully equipped Pereira is a dangerous opponent for any welterweight. Pereira is incredibly acrobatic and has shown some unorthodox ways to mount offense, but since he’s turned the showmanship down a notch and focused more on technique and getting a win, he is on a three-fight win streak. I expect Pereira to get out to an early lead with a disciplined approach. Though compromised, Fialho has enough skill and veteran savvy to make it to the final horn.
Selection: Pereira wins via Decision
-200 Said Nurmagomedov (14-2: 4 KOs, 3 SUBs) vs. +160 Cody Stamann (19-4-1: 6 KOs, 2 SUBs)
A huge fight for Cody Stammann to remain relevant in the shark tank that is the UFC’s bantamweight division plots him against a tough and skillful Said Nurmagomedov who has quietly built a nice resume. Though Stamann hasn’t faced a “gimme” opponent in some time, he is on a two-fight skid for the first time in his career and hasn’t found success on the feet or the floor. While the Michigan native has talent and is a very credentialed martial artist, he seems caught in between mentally. He says he’s ironed out distractions and is focused on the win but Nurmagomedov is coming for blood with his relentless style. It’s a close one to call, but I see Nurmagomedov using the bigger stage to put himself on everyone’s radar with a well-strung together game of wrestling, boxing and taekwondo.
Selection: Nurmagomediv wins via Decision
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-250 Rodolfo Vieira (8-1: 1 KO, 7 SUBs) vs. +195 Wellington Turman (17-5: 4 KOs, 7 SUBs)
Turman vs. Viera is a very fair test for both fighters that haven’t reached their MMA potential. Both fighters are soft-spoken, great skill and a well-built physique yet they’ve been out dueled in recent bouts. World jiu-jitsu champion and high-level black belt Rodolfo Viera was unexpectedly submitted by Anthony Hernandez early in 2021 in what turned out to be one of the submissions of the year. He was, however, able to bounce back and get back into the win column. On the other side, Turman, a fighter with a really solid all around game, is yet to string together consecutive wins since entering the UFC in 2019. It’s not a given that Viera, a master of the ground game, needed that first loss to set him on his way, especially in the embarrassing nature it came in, but I’m going with the fighter that has a master level in one discipline as opposed to a more widespread skillset.
Selection: Viera wins via 2nd-Round Submission
-600 Ilia Topuria (11-0: 3 KOs, 7 SUBs) vs. +410 Charles Jourdain (12-4-1: 8 KOs, 3 SUBs)
A sleeper fight of the night candidate here, as the scrappy Jourdain looks to make it back-to-back wins in as many months against a fully-fueled and gunhoe Ilia Topuria who is rightfully the big favorite in this fight. For Jourdain to be able to pull off the highly-unlikely upset, the Canadien must stay lucid and at range. Topuria is a stud. Besides possessing all the necessary weapons to compete with the division’s elite, he is built like a Greek god. It’s a tough test for any featherweight, and you respect Jourdain for stepping up to the plate, but asking for Jourdain to get the win here is a mighty tall task.
Selection: Topuria wins via 1st-Round Knockout
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-325 Jack Della Maddalena (10-2: 8 KOs, 1 SUB) vs. +240 Pete Rodriguez (4-0: 4 KOs)
JDM is a brute, especially for the 170-pound weight limit. JDM showcased a solid overall game on DWCS with next level strength and power to get his UFC contract. Rodriguez brings to the table good boxing skills with the willingness to trade shots in close quarters with his opponents. While Maddalena has not been knocked out since his professional debut, it would not be wise to play with fire. I see JDM getting up on the scorecards early which will lead to Rodriguez taking a gamble to try to land a fight-shifting blow, but to the chagrin of his fists.
Selection: Maddalena wins via 3rd-Round TKO
-200 Matt Frevola (8-3-1: 1 KO, 3 SUBs) vs. +160 Genaro Valdez (10-0: 7 KOs, 3 SUBs)
A sure-fire banger between Long Island, NY’s Matt Frevola and Mexico’s Genaro Valdez, that will likely deliver fireworks, is a crucial fight for both men as they look to ascend towards the top of one of the toughest divisions in the sport. Valdez is coming off a dominant performance on the DWCS that saw him have to work hard to get the win after being a huge favorite. Frevola is looking to rebound in a big way after his tough loss in his last fight. There’s a lot on the line and both men are raring to get after it. You won’t want to miss this one!
Selection: Frevola wins via 2nd-Round Submission
-240 Kay Hansen (7-4: 2 KOs, 4 SUBs) vs. +185 Jasmine Jasudavicius (6-1: 2 KOs, 1 SUB)
After her impressively dominant win on DWCS, Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius is ready to make her presence felt in her first official UFC fight against Kay Hansen. This fight is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup that is a great way to kick off the first major UFC card of the year. While Jasudavicius is a tenacious kickboxer with a high output rate, I don’t see her surviving a hungry Hansen, on top of the wrestling opportunities Hansen will create to dictate the theme of the fight.
Selection: Hansen wins via Decision
Stay locked to NBC Sports EDGE for more combat sports coverage coming your way this week, and enjoy the fights!
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