MMA Event Breakdown - UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida
MMA Event Breakdown – UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida
The UFC returns to the Tarheel State with a UFC on ABC card headlined by two dynamic finishers in the heavyweight division with international appeal. “Bigi Boy” Jairzinho Rozenstruik is the only Surinamese fighter of note, and he always looks to represent his homeland with pride. Jailton Almeida is being pegged by many analysts as a future world champion, so is it any wonder the combat sports leader is featuring him prominently on the UFC broadcast on ABC? The UFC train keeps rolling with an eleven-fight offering, so let’s begin in the women’s bantamweight division with a sneaky interesting debutant.
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Tainara Lisboa
Fight Odds: +100 Clark vs -120 Lisboa
Weight Class: 135lb. (Women’s Bantamweight)
Tainara Lisboa is the only UFC debutant on the card, and she will be taking on the battle-tested UFC veteran Jessica-Rose Clark. “Jessy Jess” has fallen on hard times as a bantamweight, dropping her two most recent outings via first round armbar loss. Lisboa has fought a poorer quality of competition, but she has more refined striking output on the feet, violent intentions, and an improving ground game demonstrated by her recently acquired Brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt.
If Clark is not finding consistent takedowns and top time, I believe she will struggle with the Brazilian newcomer at distance and in the clinch. Lisboa has experience at featherweight and bantamweight, while Clark competed at her best at flyweight but was forced to move up after struggling to make weight. I expect Lisboa to have a breakout performance on Saturday.
Prediction: Tainara Lisboa defeats Jessica Rose Clark via TKO2