UFC fight evening viewers book: it be now or not ever for Marina Rodriguez against Michelle Waterson

Posted by Mohamad Grossman on May 18th, 2021

it's a disclaimer that goes along with every single MMA experience: Card is subject to exchange. And to be frank, Saturday's UFC fight evening in Las Vegas changed into hit hard by means of trade. This card turned into speculated to function the return of TJ Dillashaw, a former bantamweight champion who misplaced his belt to a drug suspension two years in the past, in a combat in opposition t Cory Sandhagen, the quickest-rising contender in the division. You lose a battle of that magnitude, the card is going to suffer. there is no approach around it. happily, although, Saturday's card (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, prelims at 6 p.m. on ESPN+) has some depth to soften the blow. listed below are a number of storylines to seem out for this weekend: Two strawweights take middle stage at UFC fight nighttime as Michelle Waterson faces Marina Rodriguez. however these two might not be battling at 115 pounds, however one hundred twenty five due to the ultimate-minute creation of the bout. Plus, "Cowboy" Donald Cerrone makes his return in the co-leading experience towards Alex Morono. UFC fight nighttime: Rodriguez vs. Waterson• Saturday, can also eight, UFC Apex, Las Vegas• leading card: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+• Prelims: 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ Subscribe to ESPN+ to get exclusive are living UFC pursuits, weigh-ins and more; Ariel and the bad man; Dana White's Contender collection; and more unique MMA content material. the brand new main experience is a flyweight (but definitely strawweight) bout between Marina Rodriguez (13-1-2) and Michelle Waterson (18-8). both will weigh in at a hundred twenty five kilos, but this is basically a a hundred and fifteen-pound bout for which neither fighter will cut weight on account of the brief note. And it's a huge spot for Rodriguez, who is a possible future champ however has proven some growing pains as she has taken on the elite of the strawweight division. At 34, she's "new blood" when it comes to the title graphic, however she should get it done now. When this card lost its leading adventure, it delivered a welterweight matchup between Neil Magny (24-eight) and Geoff Neal (13-3). Neal is coming off a loss to Stephen Thompson in his first UFC leading event in December. Had he received, his stock would had been on fireplace. That turned into a tricky stylistic matchup for Neal, but his competencies continues to be through the roof. He'll have to be at his foremost to beat Magny, a totally ranked veteran who might fight Khamzat Chimaev next with a win. A strawweight battle between Amanda Ribas (10-2) and Angela Hill (13-9) won't have somewhat the identical have an impact on on the division because the leading adventure, however's an important matchup for each in spite of this. Ribas, 27, has shown a lot of advantage over the course of her four-1 record within the UFC. Hill's typical listing does not bounce off the page, however had shut cut up-choice losses to Claudia Gadelha and Waterson gone the opposite direction in 2020, she'd be driving a six-fight win streak. Donald Cerrone (36-15, 2 NC), 38, will make his 37th stroll to the Octagon, tying fellow light-weight Jim Miller. This combat turned into purported to be in opposition t former teammate Diego Sanchez however is now against Alex Morono (18-7, 1 NC). There was a time when it felt we'd under no circumstances see the conclusion of Cerrone's career, however for the primary time, it seems feasible 2021 can be the ultimate year for Cerrone. however or not it's no longer, we're within the twilight of Cerrone's historic profession, so here is value tuning in for. Veteran light-weight Diego Ferreira (17-three) had his opportunity in February to win a huge combat and nab a ranked opponent next, but he got here up short towards Beneil Dariush. That turned into a must-win for Ferreira. simply study what came about to Dariush and him in a while. Ferreira is now fighting a man most lightweights want to keep away from in Gregor Gillespie (13-1), and Dariush is in a excessive-profile bout in opposition t Tony Ferguson subsequent week on pay-per-view. that's a tough one to swallow, however Ferreira is a veteran and he wants an excellent showing right here. As does Gillespie, who has shown a ton of skills but is coming off the primary lack of his career and hasn't won in over two years. ESPNBy the numbers four: UFC leading adventure appearances by using Waterson (together with Saturday), in an effort to tie her with flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko for fourth most amongst girls. Former bantamweight champs Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm each have headlined six cards, one other than two-division titlist Amanda Nunes. 2 linked 7-0: Rodriguez's record in fights that conclusion in a finish (six through knockout, one with the aid of submission). 0: Finishes through Waterson on the grounds that December 2016. She has fought eight instances considering that then, profitable four of those bouts, all via decision, including two cut up choices. before that, Waterson had had finishes in 12 of her 14 wins. 2: draws in the UFC for Rodriguez, making her the only lady with dissimilar draws and certainly one of only five contemporary-era combatants usual to have more than a single attract the UFC. 14: Takedowns within the UFC with the aid of Waterson, the seventh most in strawweight heritage, resulting in her nine submission victories. The purpose for Rodriguez, then, is to keep the combat standing. In her three UFC wins, Rodriguez has defended the takedown 89% of the time (8 of 9). In her three draws/losses, she has defended takedowns just 45% of the time (8 of 18). Sources: ESPN Stats & suggestions and UFC Stats five vs. five Marina Rodriguez's most recent resultsWin: Amanda Ribas (TKO2, Jan. 24, 2021; watch on ESPN+)Loss: Carla Esparza (SD, July 26, 2020; watch on ESPN+)Draw: Cynthia Calvillo (MD, Dec. 7, 2019; watch on ESPN+)Win: Tecia Torres (UD, Aug. 10, 2019; watch on ESPN+)Win: Jessica Aguilar (UD, March 30, 2019; watch on ESPN+) Michelle Waterson's most contemporary resultsWin: Angela Hill (SD, Sept. 12, 2020; watch on ESPN+)Loss: Carla Esparza (SD, may additionally 9, 2020; watch on ESPN+)Loss: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (UD, Oct. 12, 2019; watch on ESPN+)Win: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (UD, March 30, 2019; watch on ESPN+)Win: Felice Herrig (UD, Oct. 6, 2018) And the winner is ... "On the toes, I suppose Rodriguez in reality has a boxing expertise," said Carla Esparza, a former UFC strawweight champion who has fought -- and defeated -- both ladies. "Waterson did land just a few kicks on me, and my leg turned into black and blue, but Rodriguez has a reach and vigour expertise. as far as the wrestling, I could see Waterson taking it to the ground. She has excellent throws that I've viewed her hit. it's only a depend of closing that gap, which is tricky as a result of she likes to be at latitude along with her kicks. but when she's capable of create that clash of our bodies, I could see her taking Rodriguez off her toes." check out how Esparza and different consultants spoil down and predict the effect of the main event. the way to watch the fights Watch the main card on ESPN. shouldn't have ESPN? Get fast access. all the fights are also accessible on ESPN+. in case you do not need ESPN+, get it here. additionally: down load the ESPN App | WatchESPN | television schedule there may be also FightCenter, which presents reside updates for each UFC card. Saturday's combat card play 1:27 Donald Cerrone explains what combating potential to him at this element in his career and his approach ahead of taking up Alex Morono. ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson | ladies's flyweight Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Morono | Welterweight Neil Magny vs. Geoff Neal | Welterweight Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Maurice Greene | Heavyweight Diego Ferreira vs. Gregor Gillespie | light-weight Amanda Ribas vs. Angela Hill | Strawweight ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET Phil Hawes vs. Kyle Daukaus | Middleweight Ludovit Klein vs. Michael Trizano | men's featherweight Jun Yong Park vs. Tafon Nchukwi | Middleweight Christian Aguilera vs. Carlston Harris | Welterweight 5 greater things to know (from ESPN Stats & counsel) ESPN Stats & assistance 1. in the co-leading experience, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone steps lower back into the Octagon in hopes of snapping a five-battle winless streak (0-four, 1 NC) when he takes on Alex Morono. Cerrone, the UFC's career wins leader, will as soon as once again tie Jim Miller for most fights in UFC history. Cerrone will also are trying to wreck a tie with Charles Oliveira for probably the most UFC finishes. This may be the twenty first time that Cerrone might be in a UFC leading or co-leading event, breaking a tie with UFC hall of Famer Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort for third most in UFC heritage, in the back of Anderson Silva (24) and Michael Bisping (22). Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you an interior seem to be at the most interesting experiences at ESPN, as informed through the desirable newshounds and insiders on this planet. hear 2. Cerrone is rarely the handiest fighter on the card with massive UFC journey. Saturday will mark the 25th time Neil Magny steps into the Octagon when he takes on Geoff Neal on the leading card. Magny will break a tie with Josh Koscheck for the third-most fights in the welterweight division, and he should be trying for his 18th win within the division, which would put him one in the back of UFC hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre for probably the most of all time. three. Lightweights Diego Ferreira and Gregor Gillespie meet with each coming off a loss -- however in a whole lot different instances. Ferreira fell to Beneil Dariush in a break up choice simply three months ago. Gillespie last fought in November 2019 and suffered his first defeat, a brutal head-kick knockout loss to Kevin Lee. 4. The UFC's most active fighter is returned in motion. Angela Hill, who takes on strawweight Amanda Ribas, can be in her fifteenth fight considering rejoining the UFC in 2017, breaking a tie with Andrei Arlovski for many appearances over that span. Her complete is three more than these by way of the next girl (Randa Markos). Ribas started her UFC profession 5-0 before being knocked out through Marina Rodriguez in January. 5. When Carlston Harris steps into the Octagon to face Christian Aguilera throughout the prelims, he will be the first grownup to represent Guyana within the UFC. In all, the prelims could have seven countries represented: the USA, Brazil, South Korea, Cameroon, Uzbekistan, Slovakia and Guyana. ESPN's Jeff Wagenheim contributed to this battle preview. 사설토토

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Mohamad Grossman

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Mohamad Grossman
Joined: May 18th, 2021
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