MMA Event Breakdown - UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Cannonier
UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Cannonier
The women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes called it a career on Saturday, but the non-stop world of combat sports will hardly miss a beat as the octagon returns to Las Vegas, Nevada, the fight capital of the world. Middleweight hopefuls look to defend their place among the elites as “The Italian Dream” Marvin Vettori takes on the “Killa Gorilla” Jared Cannonier. Vettori has been struggling to distinguish himself among elite peers, with Cannonier dropping only the hardest assignments at middleweight against Adesanya and Whittaker. Both men are in a holding pattern following losses to current champion Israel Adesanya. One man will continue the slow march back to title contention while the other will be turned back and left disappointed.
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Zac Pauga
Fight Odds: -200 Bukauskas vs. +170 Pauga
Weight Class: 205lb. (Light heavyweight)
Modestas Bukauskas completed his redemptive story arch by returning to the UFC after a devastating knee injury and getting his hand raised as a sizeable underdog against start-stop prospect Tyson Pedro. Pauga’s UFC run also began with adversity, dropping the championship finals of The Ultimate Fighter reality show via second round knockout against “The Motor” Muhammad Usman. He rebounded in his UFC debut against Jordan Wright, handing the “Beverly Hills Ninja” his first decision loss in his career.
Pauga is a relatively green fighter with a strong work ethic, a meat and potatoes approach to striking, and a cage pushing game that can slow fights down and make them more competitive. Bukauskas has the larger frame despite being the career light heavyweight, and he will enjoy a considerable experience advantage as a pro and inside the octagon. Pauga can make this a close scrap, but unless he finds a new tempo or a more aggressive flow on offense, I expect he will come up short on the cards.
Prediction: Modestas Bukauskas defeats Zac Pauga via SDEC