MMA Event Breakdown - UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos
UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos
The UFC is back to the Apex Center with a Brazilian showcase this Saturday. Former Champion Rafael Dos Anjos looks to reclaim his position in the welterweight division by dispatching top-10 contender Vicente “Silent Assassin” Luque. With 13 fights to discuss, we have no time to waste.
Juliana Miller vs. Luana Santos
Fight Odds: +125 Miller vs. -150 Santos
Weight Class: 125lb. (Women’s Flyweight)
The first fight of the night is easily one of the most difficult on the card to project. Juliana Miller is an Ultimate Fighter winner, but she was cleanly routed by Veronica Hardy in her last bout, sending her back to the drawing board for this fight. Miller made the weight yesterday, but she looked pale as a ghost and visibly uncomfortable on the scale. Luana Santos is another UFC debutant who is looking to make a splash after putting together a solid resume in LFA. Santos is a judo practitioner with some confidence to exchange on the feet if she can dictate the engagements. The biggest problem I saw on Santos’ tape was her inability to fight a clean five-minute round against Jenna Bishop. Most of the fight was very close, but massive grappling mistakes late in the first and second round allowed Bishop to take Santos’ back, threaten with chokes, and secure the round on the judges’ scorecards.
Miller has shown an ability to storm back late in fights, a willingness to attempt subs and be aggressive off her back, and an ability to take the back and finish. I think Santos has more physicality and takedown upside, but she opened a sizeable dog and has been bet to a moderate favorite despite no clear, substantial grappling advantage in this matchup. I favor Santos, but I think the degree of confidence is too high. If Miller looked better on the scales and hadn’t laid an egg in her last fight, I might favor her outright.
Prediction: Luana Santos defeats Juliana Miller via SDEC