UFC makes the trip to Uruguay and is offering a pretty solid card. Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko seeks to avenge her first professional loss to Liz Carmouche from years ago. Valentina has been an absolute killer since moving down to 125. I have been looking forward to this fight. Vicente Luque gets a co-main event in a fight I think will propel him up in the welterweight rankings. Should be a fun night of fights.
Valentina Shevchenko v. Liz Carmouche
Valentina gives me a Mighty Mouse vibe. I don’t know if there’s anyone in the women’s flyweight division that is even close to her level. She arguably beat Amanda Nunes at bantamweight. People consider Nunes the best women’s fighter of all time, and Valentina damn near beat her. Valentina’s last fight, she delivered a brutal knockout to Jessica Eye. Valentina is a killer in the octagon. Her striking is precise and dangerous.
Valentina and Liz Carmouche have faced off before, with Carmouche getting the victory there. But it was a long time ago and Valentina is in a different class.
Valentina Shevchenko by 2nd round TKO
Vicente Luque v. Mike Perry
This fight is going to be explosive. I would not want to miss this one. Vicente Luque and Mike Perry are both tough brawlers that want to put their opponent to sleep. There will be fireworks in this fight. Vicente Luque 9-2 in the UFC. All of his wins were finished early. He doesn’t see decisions. His last loss was in March 2017 to Leon Edwards. Not exactly the worst loss. Luque’s nickname is the Silent Assassin, and it is a well earned nickname. His silence is probably the main reason he hasn’t been close to a title shot.
Mike Perry is a tough son of a bitch as well. Eleven of his 13 wins have come by KO/TKO. He is 6-4 in the UFC. Perry has had many classic brawls. He loves a vicious fight. He is going to bring it and he is going to try to put on a show for everyone.
Vicente Luque by 3rd round TKO
Luiz Garagorri v. Humberto Bandenay
I’ve never heard of either of these guys before. Humberto Bandenay is 1-2 in the UFC. His win was a 26 second knockout in his debut. One of his losses was a TKO via a slam. He is looking to snap a 2 fight losing streak. Luiz Garagorri is making his UFC debut. I think this fight has this slot because Garagorri is from Uruguay. Garagorri is undefeated and brings an interesting offensive style to the octagon. He throws solid combinations, and is a decent grappler. I would say this is his first fight against a UFC talent, but I don’t know if Humberto is UFC talent.
Luiz Garagorri by decision
Volkan Oezdemir v. Ilir Latifi
This is one of those fights that if it makes it out of the first round, it will probably be a decision with a slow last 2 rounds. These guys come out firing shots to kill, but burn themselves out pretty quickly. Latifi is short for the division, and is mainly a counter striker. This leads to him letting fighters get closer to him so he can fight on the inside. He has to be careful in this fight, because Oezdemir throws long shots that if they connect, will put you to sleep. Latifi has serious power too, and Oezdemir has to be careful to not get caught by the aptly nicknamed sledgehammer.
Volkan Oezdemir by 1st round TKO
Rodolfo Vieira v. Oskar Piechota
Two newcomers to the UFC. Rodolfo Vieira is making his UFC debut. Oskar Piechota is 2-1 in his UFC career so far. He is coming off his first career loss to Gerald Meerschaert by rear naked choke. These two guys are both excellent grapplers. Piechota’s standup game is more of a threat. Vieira’s standup game is to set up his grappling. He is a world class grappler.
Rodolfo Vieira by 1st round submission
Enrique Barzola v. Bobby Moffett
Another matchup of fighters that are trying to make a name for themselves. Bobby Moffett is 1-1 in the UFC. He beat Chas Skelly in his debut, but then lost to Bryce Mitchell. Enrique Barzola is 5-2 in the UFC.
Bobby Moffett by decision
PRELIMS
Gilbert Burns v. Aleksei Kunchenko
Undefeated at 20-0 Aleksei Kunchenko takes on a tough Gilbert Burns. Burns took this fight on short notice and is looking to run his win streak up to 3. But this is his first fight at welterweight.
Aleksei Kunchenko by decision
Ciryl Gane v. Raphael Pessoa
A matchup of two undefeated heavyweights making their UFC debuts.
Ciryl Gane by 1st round TKO
Tecia Torres v. Marina Rodriguez
11-0-1 Marina Rodriguez makes her third walk to the octagon against the veteran Tecia Torres, who is coming in on a three fight skid. Those three losses were to Rose Namajunas, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and Weili Zhang. Those are some brutal fights. She lost all three by decision. She is going to try to get back on the winning path.
Tecia Torres by decision
Rogerio Bontorin v. Raulian Paiva
Rogerio Bontorin by 2nd round submission
Geraldo de Freitas v. Chris Gutierrez
Geraldo de Freitas by decision
Kazula Vargas v. Alex da Silva
Alex da Silva by 2nd round TKO
Veronica Macedo v. Polyana Viana
Polyana Viana by decision
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Vicente Luque v. Mike Perry