UFC Vegas 122 spotlights the middleweight division this Saturday night time with a contender conflict between Brendan Allen and the ascending Christian Leroy Duncan contained in the Meta Apex.
The matchup comes at an attention-grabbing time for the 185-pound division, amid e over C. A win for both the surging Allen or Duncan brings them one step nearer to a possible title shot. Allen has been in scorching pursuit of UFC gold for years, whereas Duncan has seemingly come into his personal of late and put collectively a noteworthy five-fight win streak.
As for the cardboard as a complete, the UFC one way or the other retains outdoing itself by being its model of the phrase "the neatest fool within the room." Besides on this case, that room is a complete sport, and being the neatest fool means being the laziest assortment of patricians.
Proper while you assume you've seen the worst UFC card lineup ever assembled, we get UFC Vegas 122 waving from the shoreline of UFC island like Ralphie from “The Simpsons.”
👑 UFC Vegas 122's lineup Crown grade: F. 👑
185 kilos: Brendan Allen (-125) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (+105)
For full transparency, Allen vs. Duncan is a strong, completely logical combat given the place every man is of their profession.
That doesn't make it a superb predominant occasion by any normal.
Allen appeared accomplished and dusted after his seven-fight win streak ended by the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in late 2024. I assumed he was accomplished as a contender, at the very least. He adopted that loss by dropping a unanimous choice to Anthony Hernandez in Seattle, however put up a superb effort. Then he simply determined to begin successful once more. Marvin Vettori's ghost suffered a beating, Reinier de Ridder was upset on brief discover, and most lately, Edmen Shahbazyan’s personal little scorching streak crashed head-on into Allen’s brick wall.
Nonetheless simply 30 years previous, Allen is the doggiest canine among the many middleweight contenders. He doesn't blow your hair again in any efficiency, however he’s exceptionally good at the whole lot. The man can hold in any sort of combat and modify to take the motion wherever it finest advantages him. It's only a matter of whether or not his opponent adapts and defends.
Duncan, 31, has established himself as one of many slickest strikers at 185 kilos, which was evident upon his arrival. Early on, Arman Petrosyan slowed him down earlier than Gregory Rodrigues confirmed him the worth of expertise. Each have been regarding losses, as they beat Duncan by closing gaps and making him uncomfortable, which is Allen's sturdy swimsuit.
Certain, "CLD" has gained 5 straight since Rodrigues, however admittedly his win streak is extra washed than a pair of fingers in a rinse contest. Like, it's all-time stuff, people. Eryk Anders, Roman Dolidze and Jared Cannonier will not be who they as soon as have been. Add in Marco Tulio and Andrey Pulyaev, and you’ve got the right system to headline a present within the Apex!
Duncan's nice hanging and improved takedown protection will give him moments to shine, however Allen has been the extra constant man towards higher competitors. Plain and easy.
Decide: Allen
155 kilos: Matheus Camilo (-200) vs. Jai Herbert (+165)
With Duncan in the principle occasion and Jai Herbert within the co-main, this can be a regional U.Okay. present brilliantly disguised as a UFC Battle Night time.
Regardless of Herbert's improbable one-round conflict with Mandel Nallo in his final outing, which he gained by knockout, the position of this combat is wild.
Herbert, 38, has been a journeyman of the very best order since he arrived within the UFC in 2020, failing to win back-to-back fights in 9 makes an attempt. To be truthful, the person hasn't been put in favorable positions, getting matched with the likes of Ilia Topuria, Renato Moicano, Francisco Trinaldo and Fares Ziam in notable losses.
Towards Matheus Camilo, Herbert finds himself in the identical place King Inexperienced mentioned forward of his personal UFC 332 combat final week. He’s the weathered veteran the promotion needs to shove to the wayside to assist construct an up-and-coming prospect.
Camilo, 25, rebounded from his UFC debut loss to Gabe Inexperienced with sturdy efforts over Viacheslav Borshchev and Nazim Sadykhov. The Brazilian packs compact energy into deadly brief photographs that deceive. Each he and Herbert excel at touchdown counters, however velocity might be essential right here, and the sting leans towards "Jaguar."
Decide: Camilo
115 kilos: Lupita Godínez (-250) vs. Ketlen Souza (+198)
Lupita "Crazy" Godinez has been so near getting over the hump at strawweight. Her final efficiency towards one-time title challenger Tatiana Suarez was pretty much as good as she may have requested for — in Spherical 1. Then Suarez adjusted and located the second-round rear-naked choke for the win.
Ketlen Souza has had notable ups and downs up to now into her UFC run. Her losses to Karine Silva and Angela Hill have been nothing to hold her head over, and he or she's proven her capabilities towards Yazmin Jauregui and Ariane Carnelossi.
Souza is at her finest when in a position to dictate the tempo and bully opponents. Towards somebody like Godinez, who strikes effectively and bins higher than most strawweights, that gained't be straightforward. The step-up in competitors is first rate right here for Souza, as Godinez has been combating and beating the higher strawweights for longer. However once more, regardless of that final loss, Godinez has seemingly leveled up.
Decide: Godinez
145 kilos: Andre Fili (-150) vs. Kai Kamaka III (+125)
I do know I identified Herbert's lack of ability to string collectively a win streak. So, it's solely truthful to focus on that Andre Fili hasn't accomplished so since 2019.
The veteran featherweight is at all times prepared for a superb, old school slugfest. Typically, that works out for him. As a rule in recent times, it has not.
Kamaka has had a fairly distinctive profession. Earlier than his final combat — a TKO loss to Luke Riley — his earlier 4 losses have been break up choices. Meaning Kamaka may’ve simply been on a 15-fight win streak earlier than his loss to Riley. He's a sport competitor who can hold with anybody, as he's proven.
Fili has considerably extra tread on his tires on this matchup, which is all it takes to doubt him towards a sturdy Hawaiian. This ought to be a chaotic banger whereas it lasts. And that may not be very lengthy.
Decide: Kamaka
135 kilos: Malcolm Wellmaker (-235) vs. Otari Tanzilovi (+190)
Is it time to restart the Malcolm Wellmaker hype practice? In all probability not.
Nonetheless, that is Wellmaker's combat to lose after dropping two straight. The once-hot Georgian prospect now finds himself tasked with an "precise" Georgian — from the nation relatively than the American state.
Tanzilovi is a wilder, scrambly striker who pursues finishes on the first signal of weak point. It's the sort of reckless abandon any viewer can recognize, however Wellmaker has constantly proven nice hand velocity and knockout energy all through his profession, making Tanzilovi a primary goal for a rebound spotlight.
Decide: Wellmaker
Preliminary Notes
UFC matchmakers dug up Niko Worth after his twin retirement combat towards Michael Chiesa this previous March in Seattle. That was in order that Worth may have a extra "centered" retirement second on him. However realistically, they most likely ought to have left him the place he was. The sentiment is flattering, however having misplaced six of his previous seven, with 5 of these ending in finishes, Worth is cooked well-done.
Fast picks:
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Julius Walker (-300) def. Gerald Meerschaert (+240)
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Francisco Prado (-120) def. Ismael Bonfim (+100)
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Leon Shahbazyan (-160) def. Niko Worth (+130)
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Felipe Franco (-350) def. Brendson Ribeiro (+275)
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RJ Harris (-350) def. Allen Frye Jr. (+275)
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Alice Pereira (-150) def. Darya Zheleznyakova (+125)
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Melissa Gatto (-115) def. Ernesta Kareckaitė (-105)
