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 Preventing Championship (UFC) heads residence to its Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, tomorrow night (Sat., March 2, 2024) for UFC Vegas 87.
Within the ESPN+-streamed most important occasion, Heavyweights throwdown as Jairzinho Rozenstruik takes on surging Contender Collection product, Shamil Gaziev. There isn’t any beating across the bush: UFC Vegas 87 is a really weak card (see it right here); nevertheless, there are a number of entertaining fights with fascinating prospects. So, earlier than it goes down on ESPN+, let’s try some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …
UFC Saudi Vegas?
This week’s underwhelming card was imagined to go down in Saudi Arabia; nevertheless, 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 battle in UFC, Gaziev competes in a most important occasion spot and can have an opportunity to crack the High 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 p.c end price with eight knockouts.
First To Final
Talking of his UFC 296 battle, 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’ Reveals Up
UFC Vegas 87 shall be Rozenstruik’s sixth UFC most important occasion, which is extra occasions than half of the present UFC champions.
He’s at the moment 2-3 as a UFC headliner and is 2-3 in his final 5 fights.
Does ‘Icao’ Proceed To Roll?
Vitor Petrino — one in every of 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 amazing 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 “Combat of the Night time” in his Octagon debut in opposition to Anton Turkalj.
With a powerful win on Saturday over Pedro, Petrino might enter the High 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 battle 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.
Huge 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 is no such thing as 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 by former title challenger Alex Perez. Mokaev revealed throughout UFC Vegas 87 media day that champion Alexandre Panjota has accepted the problem and shall be watching the battle 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 all around 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 battle cancelations.
Hopefully, he will get by battle week, and there received’t be a battle 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 battle 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 lively, however in accordance with the undefeated Bantamweight, nobody will signal a contract to battle him … properly apart from Cory Sandhagen, however that battle was canceled.
Hopefully, after UFC Vegas 87, Nurmagomedov will get a High 10 opponent subsequent (if he wins).
Stunning Chaos
Matt Schnell vs. Steve Erceg opens up the primary card on Saturday and the battle goes to utterly chaotic for so long as it lasts. The pair of Flyweights have been scheduled to conflict at UFC 295 again in Nov. 2023; nevertheless, Schnell pulled out with an harm. Each Flyweights are extraordinarily enjoyable to look at and put themselves at risk to win.
Erceg is at the moment good (2-0) in UFC and is using 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 battle Perez 4 instances between 2021-22, however the battle 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 p.c end price and is using 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 p.c end price.Sopaj fights out of Sweden, holds a 91 p.c end price, and is using 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; nevertheless, he didn’t win, however he left an impression along with his toughness. He holds a 72 p.c end price 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 by way of unanimous choice. Al-Selwady holds a 63 p.c end price and is using a five-fight win streak.
Winners And Losers
Fifteen fighters are coming off wins, whereas seven are coming off losses.
Multi-Divisions
Listed here are the divisions that shall be on show this Saturday:
One Heavyweight battle
One Gentle Heavyweight battle
Two Middleweight fights
Two Welterweight fights
Two Light-weight fights
Three Bantamweight battle
Two Flyweight fights
Beta Canine
In accordance with DraftKings, UFC Vegas 87’s “largest” underdog is Almakhan at +750.
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your entire UFC Vegas 87 battle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET, then the remaining most important card steadiness (additionally on ESPN+) at 4 p.m. ET.
To take a look at the most recent and best UFC Vegas 87: “Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev” information and notes make sure to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
