Diggin’ Deep on UFC Prague: Prelims preview
Get the scoop on the early contest from Prague, featuring Michel Prazeres looking to extend his eight-fight win streak against young newcomer Ismail Naurdiev.
While GSP’s retirement is BIG news, the world will continue to turn and the UFC isn’t slowing down at all. If you’re looking to catch the prelims of UFC Prague, you may have to rouse yourself out of bed as it begins at 11:00 AM ET/8:00 AM PT on the day many of us enjoy sleeping in from our regular work week. With that knowledge, the question is whether it’s worth escaping the comfort of your sheets. I can’t definitively say yes. What I can do is provide you with three reasons that may be worthwhile and let you decide on your own.
Will Michel Prazeres and Rustam Khabilov finally get their well-deserved step up in competition?
There may not be two more disrespected fighters within the UFC organization than Prazeres and Khabilov. The last time either of these men lost was all the way back in 2015… and they still find themselves fighting on the prelims of a European card. No disrespect to European fans, but the UFC doesn’t put the best quality cards together for those across the ocean. Owning records of 10-2 and 9-2 respectively within the UFC, what has held them back from higher-profile contests has been a combination of their low-key personalities and their grinding style of offense. Not the best combination if you want the UFC to push you in the WME-IMG era.
Prazeres shouldn’t have too much trouble in his contest this weekend as a 4-to-1 favorite against a debuting Ismail Naurdiev. Khabilov has a much tougher test in established UFC vet Diego Ferreira. Regardless of who they’re facing, they need the same thing: a badass finish. Prazeres has recorded submissions in three of his last five contests, but that hasn’t been enough. Perhaps his missing weight at three contests at lightweight have something to do with that, but another finish is needed. That will be harder to come by for Khabilov with the durable Ferreira, though Khabilov’s six straight wins all coming by decision doesn’t do much to inspire hope he’ll get the finish he badly needs. Maybe he’s due….
Lots of fresh blood on the scene.
Some love the idea of watching a fighter’s career from the beginning… or at least from the beginning of their UFC career. Some of us fondly remember seeing Conor McGregor dispose of Marcus Brimage in devastating fashion, showing every sign of the cocksure superstar he would develop into. Others are perfectly fine waiting for the fighters to become a star before giving their attention to the sport. If you’re one of the former, this card offers plenty of newcomers and near newcomers.
While I admit none of the new blood appears to be surefire stars, there is plenty of promise. Featherweight Chris Fishgold fell short in his UFC debut, though he was given a very tough veteran in Calvin Kattar. Daniel Teymur – elder brother of fellow Muay thai specialist David – represents a more winnable contest, though the Swede should make things difficult in a modern-day grappler vs. striker contest.
Lightweight Damir Ismagulov is flying under the radar despite a 17-1 record, but a win over debuting Joel Alverez – a submission specialist -- doesn’t appear likely to give him to boost he’d need to make it onto the aforementioned radar. Expect Ismagulov to drub the youngster into the ground.
Flyweights Gillian Robertson and Veronica Macedo are on their fourth and third UFC contests respectively, but they are still raw enough that everyone else on the card has more fights under their belt. The winner of their contest could be setting themselves up for a push. Then again, both of them could just wash out within a year or two.
Who doesn’t enjoy a good slugfest?
Some may remember Polo Reyes from his all-time great battle with Dong Hyun Ma at UFC 199. On one of the best cards in recent memory, they ended up snatching the FOTN accolades in their curtain jerker. Reyes is being provided with his best hope of replicating that brutal battle as Damir Hadzovic isn’t the type to shy from a punch to the face. The combined amount of takedowns landed between these two in nine combined UFC contests: zero.
The only other fight I haven’t mentioned on the prelims is the bout between Dwight Grant and Carlo Pedersoli. Grant is known for his hard-hitting ways, but turned in a stinker in his UFC debut, a loss to Zak Ottow. Given the activity levels of Carlo Pedersoli, expect Grant to return to his more violent tendencies as the Italian will give him plenty of chances to counter. If Grant doesn’t take advantage of those opportunities, Pedersoli should take a decision.
Prelim picks
Robertson via SUB of RD2
Grant via TKO of RD1
Hadzovic via KO of RD2
Prazeres via SUB of RD1
Fishgold via decision
Khabilov via decision
Ismagulov via TKO of RD2
Hope y’all enjoyed the new format!