MMA Event Breakdown - UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
I am not a fight fan who needs gimmicky belts to grab my attention. The only selling point I need is the fact that this headlining attraction is a rematch of an instant classic from 2018 in which Dustin Poirier overcame a brutal leg kick assault from Gaethje to stop him with punches in the fourth round. Now both men have grown and evolved as fighters, and it is time to find out once and for all who is the badder man between these two elite all-action lightweight superstars. They’ll be joined in Salt Lake City by a raucous crowd and a pretty strong supporting cast with a distinctly Brazilian international flavor. Let’s begin with the only women’s bout on the card, a flyweight showdown between short notice Miranda Maverick and the “Zombie Girl” Priscila Cachoeira.
Miranda Maverick vs. Priscila Cachoeira
Fight Odds: -270 Maverick vs. +230 Cachoeira
Weight Class: 125lb. (Women’s Flyweight)
Miranda Maverick has been a vexing UFC commodity over her recent run. Maverick has struggled to implement her game plans cleanly in the UFC because her wrestling hasn’t been able to dominate her most physical opponents (i.e., Barber & Jasudavicius) or to dominate her most skilled opponents (i.e., Blanchfield). Maverick’s striking is still a work in progress. She shows the right signs in terms of aggression and willing to throw, but she is a bit foot slow and not very authoritative with her strikes unless stepping into a kick. When Maverick is able to wrestle effectively and work from the top, her game flows better on the feet and in top position.
Priscila Cachoeira has been a profitable betting commodity in the UFC, cashing 4 times in 8 opportunities as a plus money underdog. The issue is Cachoeira finished low-level WMMA fighters (with the exception of Ariana Lipski, still a developing prospect) with her unique power and “Zombie Girl” aggression, and Maverick, for all her other faults, is tough, durable, and well-conditioned. Maverick struggled to out-wrestle quality opponents, but Cachoeira is a step-down in competition for Maverick, who should be able to handle it accordingly. If Maverick is smart, she will establish top position, beat up Cachoeira and look to finish her when she is already worn out from the pace, the positioning and the altitude. My biggest hesitation with this price is that Maverick fought Jasudavicius in June, absorbed plenty of damage, and is rushing right back into the octagon. This fight could be the ultimate motivation for Maverick or a sign of desperation. Let’s see if she can use her Elevation Fight Team experience to outlast a Zombie.
Prediction: Miranda Maverick defeats Priscila Cachoeira via TKO3/UDEC