The first event for the UFC’s ‘International fight week’ is a Fight Pass event that’s headlined by a lightweight title fight between the reigning champion, Rafael Dos Anjos and former Bellator, champ, Eddie Alvarez. This isn’t exactly the fight fans have been clamouring for, with Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov both making stronger claims for a title shot. However, two split decision wins over top-ten lightweights Gilbert Melendez and former champion, Anthony Pettis, have deemed Alvarez good enough by the UFC brass to challenge for the title ahead of the aforementioned fighters.
Alavarez does have a history of exciting fights during his stint in Bellator, and UFC matchmakers and fans alike will be hoping that he can deliver exactly that when he challenges for the belt. Dos Anjos however, is a tough cookie to crack. Having beaten his last five opponents and looking better and better with each fight, it’s safe to say that Rafael dos Anjos is the best lightweight on the planet… for now. That said, he has shown he’s capable of losing, with Khabib Numagomedov, Gleison Tibau and Jeremy Stephens all recording wins over RDA during his UFC tenure. Riding a five-fight win streak coming in to this fight, dos Anjos will be confident that his improved takedown defence and heavy hands will be enough to stop a notoriously tough Alavrez from claiming the gold, however, he may have to go through a war to prevent it from happening.
Roy Nelson vs. Derrick Lewis is something every fight fan wants to see. Lewis has heavy, heavy hands and Nelson has a chin of granite – as well as possessing KO power. This fight will be sloppy, have crazy exchanges, and will leave you wondering how fighters can take that much damage and continue, but it’ll be great fun while it lasts… which won’t be very long.
Alan Jouban vs. Belal Muhammed is a welterweight fight that hardly sets the world on fire. Jouban has proven to be a middle-of-the-road welterweight thus far in his career, with no real significant wins in the UFC. However, he does posses knockout power that could stop the undefeated Muhammed in his tracks. Muhammed is making his debut in the UFC, after going 9-0 outside the organisation. This is very much a battle of the rookie against the veteran, so don’t be surprised to see Muhammed walk away as the winner.
Everyone’s favourite Irishman, Joe Duffy opens the main card against generic TUF fighter Mitch Clarke in a lightweight fight between two fighters looking to bounce back from losses. Duffy holds the mantle of being the first man to beat Conor McGregor, and has quietly built himself a reputation as a fun but dangerous fighter in the UFC – despite a loss to Dustin Poirier in his last fight – and will be looking to enhance that reputation against Clarke this time out. Clarke could be a fighter off any episode of The Ultimate Fighter you’ve ever watched, and by that I mean: there’s nothing distinguishable about him and yet he holds wins over Al Iaquinta and John Maguire, so he’s not to be easy overlooked. That being said, Duffy should get the better of him in this fight and hopefully continue his rise through the lightweight rankings.
Other fights to watch on the card; Gilbert Burns vs. Łukasz Sajewski and Mike Pyle vs. Alberto Mina.
DOM BURY
LEAD WRITER
Welsh BJJ Blue Belt and founding member of the Gunnar Nelson Fan club. Known vagabond and all round scumbag.
