MMA Event Breakdown: UFC Fight Night - Perez vs. Taira

by Liam Heslin (LiamPicksFights) Last Updated 2024-06-15 18:42:21 Premium Content Part of the product MMA Premium

The UFC returns to the familiar confines of the UFC Apex center for a makeshift card that has been decimated by injuries, canceled bouts, and fighters rescheduled for other upcoming events. Thankfully, the main event on offer features one of the brightest prospects in all of Asian mixed martial arts, the Japanese Supernova, Tatsuro Taira. He will be taking on Alex Perez fresh off a knockout win over Matheus Nicolau in late April. After Perez struggled to make it to the octagon for a number of years, his activity level has exploded of late, and this main event showcase will be his third fight since March. Let’s break down the action beginning with the first of a pair of women’s fights on the bill.

Josefine Knutsson vs. Julia Polastri

Fight Odds: -195 Knutsson vs. +170 Polastri
Weight Class: W115lb. (Women’s Strawweight)

Josefine Knutsson is making her sophomore outing with the promotion after cruising to unanimous decision victories in her debut against Marnic Mann and in the Contender Series against Isis Verbeek. She trains out of All-Stars Training Center in Sweden and is known for having an incredible work ethic in the gym.

Polastri is the highest quality and most experienced fighter that Knutsson has ever fought in mixed martial arts, boasting an impressive 12-3 professional record with no bad losses on her resume. Polastri was defeated by ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius in her first crack at DWCS ,and she lost to Valesca Machado (now 13-4) and Monique Adriane (now 6-2) early in her career on the Brazilian regional scene.

Both fighters are on the right side of 30, but the biggest intangible edge could be the reach of Polastri, who will be working with a 3.5” advantage. Knutsson will look to force the clinch and get takedowns, and that is her best path to a decision. With that being said, Polastri will compete in all positions, she has a lot of experience in all positions to fall back on, and she is Knutsson’s toughest test to date by far, so I have to lean toward this being a dog-or-pass situation at the betting window. Knutsson’s path is likely a clear but competitive decision where I can see Polastri finishing the fight (7/12 wins as a professional inside the distance) or winning a close, competitive decision on the cards.

Prediction: Julia Polastri defeats Josefine Knuttson via SDEC

Shayilan Nuerdanbieke vs. Melk Costa