After UFC Mexico Metropolis final weekend, the place Brandon Royval upset Brandon Moreno and Brian Ortega returned to the win column by strangling Yair Rodriguez, Final Combating Championship (UFC) heads house to its Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, tomorrow night (Sat., March 2, 2024) for UFC Vegas 87.
Within the ESPN+-streamed major occasion, Heavyweights throwdown as Jairzinho Rozenstruik takes on surging Contender Collection product, Shamil Gaziev. There isn’t a beating across the bush: UFC Vegas 87 is a really weak card (see it right here); nonetheless, there are a number of entertaining fights with fascinating prospects. So, earlier than it goes down on ESPN+, let’s take a look at some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …
UFC Saudi Vegas?
This week’s underwhelming card was presupposed to go down in Saudi Arabia; nonetheless, as a result of the cardboard was not ok (allegedly), it was moved to “Sin Metropolis.” The promotion’s debut in Saudi Arabia will now happen June 22, 2024.
Fast Promotion
After only one combat in UFC, Gaziev competes in a major occasion spot and may have an opportunity to crack the Prime 15 Heavyweight rankings. Gaziev obtained a UFC contract with a primary spherical submission win over Greg Velasco on season seven of Contender Collection after which adopted it up with a second spherical technical knockout win at UFC 296. He holds a 92 % end charge with eight knockouts.
First To Final
Talking of his UFC 296 combat, Gaziev opened up that card as the primary “Prelims” undercard match of the evening in opposition to Martin Buday (watch highlights), and now he’s headlining his first UFC card.
What a roll reversal.
‘Bigi Boy’ Exhibits Up
UFC Vegas 87 will probably be Rozenstruik’s sixth UFC major occasion, which is extra occasions than half of the present UFC champions.
He’s at present 2-3 as a UFC headliner and is 2-3 in his final 5 fights.
Does ‘Icao’ Proceed To Roll?
Vitor Petrino — one among our unranked fighters to look at in 2024 — competes in UFC Vegas 87’s co-main occasion in opposition to Tyson Pedro.
Petrino had an incredible 2023, going undefeated (3-0) with a knockout of Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Sao Paulo (see it) and a submission of Marcin Prachnio at UFC 290, in addition to incomes “Battle of the Night time” in his Octagon debut in opposition to Anton Turkalj.
With a formidable win on Saturday over Pedro, Petrino might enter the Prime 15 Gentle Heavyweight rankings. And even when he doesn’t, he’ll get a ranked opponent in his subsequent outing.
Bought Out Arenas … To The Apex
Pedro hasn’t competed contained in the APEX since his return combat at UFC Vegas 52 in April 2022. Since then, he competed in Utah at UFC 278 after which twice in Australia for UFC 284 and UFC 293.
Large sold-out arenas to the Apex … bummer.
Title Shot On The Line?
Final weeks Flyweight upset between Royval and Moreno actually turned the division on its head as now there isn’t a clear No. 1 contender for the Flyweight title.
Muhammad Mokaev has an opportunity to grab a Flyweight title shot with a win this weekend if he will get via former title challenger Alex Perez. Mokaev revealed throughout UFC Vegas 87 media day that champion Alexandre Panjota has accepted the problem and will probably be watching the combat carefully for a showdown at UFC 301.
American Noob
Mokaev will make his American debut this weekend at UFC Vegas 87. The 23-year-old has competed everywhere in the world from Abu Dhabi to Australia to England, however by no means the USA.
Knock On Wooden
After a 19-month layoff and three canceled fights, Alex Perez returns to motion. The unhealthy luck bug has bitten Perez as he has had an terrible three-year stretch of combat cancelations.
Hopefully, he will get via combat week, and there received’t be a combat day cancelation like his final outing at UFC San Antonio.
Feminine-less
It’s a very uncommon incidence, however there’s not a single feminine combat on UFC Vegas 87. Julia Polastri vs. Josefine Knutsson was scheduled, nevertheless it ended up being scrapped.
Umar Is Again
Umar Nurmagomedov returns to motion for the primary time in 13 months in opposition to UFC newcomer, Bekzat Almakhan. It’s a disgrace that Nurmagomedov hasn’t been extra energetic, however in keeping with the undefeated Bantamweight, nobody will signal a contract to combat him … nicely apart from Cory Sandhagen, however that combat was canceled.
Hopefully, after UFC Vegas 87, Nurmagomedov will get a Prime 10 opponent subsequent (if he wins).
Lovely Chaos
Matt Schnell vs. Steve Erceg opens up the principle card on Saturday and the combat goes to completely chaotic for so long as it lasts. The pair of Flyweights have been scheduled to conflict at UFC 295 again in Nov. 2023; nonetheless, Schnell pulled out with an harm. Each Flyweights are extraordinarily enjoyable to look at and put themselves in peril to win.
Erceg is at present excellent (2-0) in UFC and is driving a six-fight win streak. In the meantime, Schnell is coming off a 15-month layoff and a technical knockout loss.
Don’t blink for this one.
Cursed
Talking of Schnell, he was scheduled to combat Perez 4 instances between 2021-22, however the combat by no means occurred.
Welcome To UFC!
5 fighters are making their UFC debut at UFC Vegas 87:
Bekzat Almakhan (17-1) is combating Nurmagomedov. Almakhan is a 26-year-old fighter from Kazakhstan who holds an 82 % end charge and is driving a nine-fight win streak.
Vinicius Oliveira (19-3) takes on fellow newcomer Benardo Sopaj (11-2). Oliveira is coming off a contract-winning efficiency on season seven of Contender Collection in opposition to Victor Madrigal, the place he knocked him out within the first spherical. He holds a 90 % end charge.Sopaj fights out of Sweden, holds a 91 % end charge, and is driving a three-fighting profitable streak. Sopaj fights Oliveira on 4 days discover.
A.J. Cunningham (11-3) fights Ludvkit Klein on 5 days discover. Cunningham is a season seven Contender Collection veteran; nonetheless, he didn’t win, however he left an impression along with his toughness. He holds a 72 % end charge with 4 knockouts and 4 submissions. Oh, and he’s associated to Bryce Mitchell.
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (15-3) additionally comes from a contract-winning particular person on season seven of Contender Collection, upsetting George Harwick through unanimous determination. Al-Selwady holds a 63 % end charge and is driving a five-fight win streak.
Winners And Losers
Fifteen fighters are coming off wins, whereas seven are coming off losses.
Multi-Divisions
Listed below are the divisions that will probably be on show this Saturday:
One Heavyweight combat
One Gentle Heavyweight combat
Two Middleweight fights
Two Welterweight fights
Two Light-weight fights
Three Bantamweight combat
Two Flyweight fights
Beta Canine
In response to DraftKings, UFC Vegas 87’s “greatest” underdog is Almakhan at +750.
Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your complete UFC Vegas 87 combat card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET, then the remaining major card steadiness (additionally on ESPN+) at 4 p.m. ET.
To take a look at the newest and biggest UFC Vegas 87: “Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev” information and notes remember to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
