UFC 272 | Prelim Preview
Saturday, March 5th (10:00 PM EST Main Card, 8:00 PM EST Prelims, 6:00 PM EST Early Prelims)
Jalin Turner vs. Jamie Mullarkey
WATCH - If there was ever a fighter to guarantee a prelim banger, it is Turner. The man is on a 3-fight win streak all by finish, has an incredible murder differential, and recently smashed to pieces a very hyped Uros Medic who people thought was on a rocket ship to the rankings. Mullarkey is coming off back-to-back finish victories himself, and although he hasn't looked as good or nearly as violent as Turner, he's still been able to show power and toughness in the octagon. Just look at how young these two are and you will know why people hold the lightweight division in such high esteem.
Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan
WATCH - #4 Yan Xiaonan is one of the most boring fighters in the top 10 of the women's strawweight division. Zero power or finesse to any of her strikes, and completely unable to grapple. Simply wins fights by landing 1-2 combos first and then running away. Thankfully #3 Marina Rodriguez is here to save this fight! Even though she only has 1 finish, she has much more power in her hands than your average strawweight and her striking is decent to watch. Have to think this is a title eliminator fight, especially for Rodriguez considering she is on a decent win streak and has some hype for her striking ability right now.
Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
WATCH - It takes a true legend to have a decently positive murder differential yet a negative landed differential per minute. A kind of legend that is willing to lose fights as he mindlessly slings for his opponent's head. Maybe not a future champion, but definitely the only fighter able to make an unranked light heavyweight fight not be utter garbage. And that man's name is Kennedy Nzechukwu!
Maryna Moroz vs. Mariya Agapova
WATCH - Another fight completely carried by only one of the women's fighters. Mariya Agapova hasn't had a single fight go the distance in 3 UFC fights so far which has to be a record for a division as abysmally boring as women's flyweight. Between her and Shavkat Rahkmonov, Kazakhstan is proving that it exports more than just potassium.
Brian Kelleher vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
WATCH - Just like his older cousin who he will be endlessly compared to, Umar is taking the slowest route ever in the UFC with large amounts of time between fights. While it hurts his ability to generate a hype train the likes of Khamzat Chimaev, if he can continue to stay undefeated and dominate his fights against veteran journeyman like Kelleher, eventually he'll get the bump he needs to skyrocket up to main cards and ranked opponents.
Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
BATHROOM BREAK - Ya, I'll do it. I'll declare a men's flyweight fight as boring. You can't stop me. And frankly you shouldn't want to. I don't care if Tim Elliot faces Francis Nganouu, just look at that UFC record and try to even justify that he should still be fighting in this promotion.
Devonte Smith vs. Ludovit Klein
WATCH - This is the flip side of Turner vs Mullarkey. Two young fighters who finish all their wins, but this time they aren't riding on win streaks, and they don't look like they are on track to make a crack at the lightweight rankings. Doesn't matter though, you don't watch this fight for title implications. You are tuning in to the second fight on the early prelims because you are a degenerate gambler and you want to watch some organized violence.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
WATCH - Dustin Jacoby is a Cinderella story, a fighter who makes the UFC when he's young, loses twice, and gets cut. But works his way back and now in his second UFC stint is unbeaten through 5 fights. Only problem for him is he's not the most exciting fighter so literally no one cares and instead of a deserved ranked opponent in a shallow division like light heavyweight he's being forced to fight down on the early prelims. Plus, Michal is no joke, the man has a lot of UFC finishes and is coming off back-to-back victories. Surely the winner of this fight will finally get a ranked opponent, are words I said before the last three Dustin Jacoby fights.
*Nothing contained in this post is financial advice, please bet at your own risk