UFC Orlando + Weekly MMA Report
We’ve seen tons of upsets in PFL Championship last week. Larissa Pacheco shocked the world and dethroned Kayla Harrison via judges’ scorecards in the main event of the evening. Brendan Loughnane stopped Bubba Jenkins in the fourth, while Ante Delija scored another easy win over Mattheus Scheffel in the rematch.
🇧🇷 has a 𝙉𝙀𝙒 champion in @pachecolarissa_ #PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/dsoVTlTK9k
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
UK’s first PFL Champion 🇬🇧@BrendanMMA going back to Manchester as a World Champion #PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/sxnFzoyERc
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 27, 2022
BRENDAN LOUGHNANE HAS DONE IT! HE IS THE 2022 PFL FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!! #ANDNOW
[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/vyEH5jPlus
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
REDEMPTION FOR ANTE DELIJA! HE IS NOW THE 2022 PFL HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION!
[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/oKncVXa6aY
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
Aspen Ladd scored a very controversial split decision win over Julia Budd, while Stevie Ray got floored by a big right hook. Omari Akhmedov was unable to continue between the rounds, which led to a huge victory for the first-ever Aussie PFL champ Rob Wilkinson.
Australia’s First PFL Champion🇦🇺#PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/ZpcBxuaiul
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
CANADA HAS A NEW WORLD CHAMPION! OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER IS A WORLD CHAMP! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/SEwY3MJiUU
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
#AndNOW 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion, ROBERT WILKINSON! 🇦🇺
[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | LIVE ON ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/byCZYQy6sw
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 26, 2022
There was no UFC last week, but PFL action was pretty much on point. Yet, this week, the greatest MMA promotion in the world returns with an event in Orlando, which will be headlined by the bout between one of the best strikers in the history of the sport, American kickboxing expert Stephen Thompson, and the guy with the greatest number of fights in the year of CoVid, 2020, Kevin Holland.
Image source: @UFCBrasil Twitter
Stephen Thompson should be fine as long as he keeps the fight standing thanks to his kicks, but Holland might finish the battle with a choke if it gets dragged to the floor. Holland’s cardio rocks thanks to his endless rope sessions, so Thompson should be cautious as he might run out of gas in the later rounds.
Prediction: the fight goes the distance
The co-main event brings the clash between two veterans – the former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos and extremely tough Bryan Barbarena. Dos Anjos is better on the ground, but Barbarena can take a beating. This should go in the favor of Brazilian unless Barbarena lands a miraculous big right.
Prediction: dos Anjos to win
Let’s take a look at the whole card, but please check this link too due to potential last-minute changes.
Main Event (UFC on Fight Pass, ESPN+, 10 PM ET, 3 AM UK time)
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (16-6-1) vs. Kevin Holland (23-8-0)
Welterweight: Rafael dos Anjos (31-14-0) vs. Bryan Barberena (18-8-0)
Flyweight: Matheus Nicolau (18-2-1) vs. Matt Schnell (16-7-0)
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa (15-4-0) vs. Sergei Pavlovich (16-1-0)
Middleweight: Jack Hermansson (23-7-0) vs. Roman Dolidze (11-1-0)
Middleweight: Eryk Anders (14-7-0) vs. Kyle Daukaus (11-3-0)
Preliminary Card (UFC on Fight Pass, ESPN+, 7 PM ET, midnight UK time)
Welterweight: Niko Price (15-5-0) vs. Philip Rowe (9-3-0)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (14-12-0) vs. Emily Ducote (12-6-0)
Lightweight: Clay Guida (37-22-0) vs. Scott Holtzman (14-5-0)
Lightweight: Michael Johnson (20-18-0) vs. Marc Diakiese (16-5-0)
Featherweight: Darren Elkins (27-10-0) vs. Jonathan Pearce (13-4-0)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (10-1-0) vs. Amanda Ribas (11-3-0)
Lightweight: Natan Levy (7-1-0) vs. Genaro Valdéz (10-1-0)
Featherweight: Francis Marshall (6-0-0) vs. Marcelo Rojo (16-8-0)
Strawweight: Yazmin Jauregui (9-0-0) vs. Istela Nunes (6-3-0)
Here are my predictions for the upcoming UFC Orlando fight card:
PFL brought an entertaining weekend, but there will be 15 fights in Orlando ladies and gentlemen, please don’t miss this amazing holiday of fights on Saturday!
[…] UFC Orlando was an event to remember. Fourteen amazing combats, some high-level finishes, and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson outworked Kevin Holland in great combat, where many head kicks found their mark. The two scored the Fight of the Night bonus, despite Holland was not cleared to continue due to a broken hand at the end of round 4. […]