Three Saturday fighters will showcase the way forward for the UFC

Three Saturday fighters will showcase the future of the UFC

LAS VEGAS – The principle occasion of Saturday’s UFC Combat Day is a light-weight heavyweight bout between one-time title contender Thiago Santos and rookie contender Magomed Ankalaev.

There’s a lot intrigue about this 205-pound bout that the division is broad open in the meanwhile. Santos (22-9) is rebuilding from a troublesome interval in 2020 and 2023, going 0-3 and coping with a critical knee harm. Nevertheless, the Brazilian returned to the profitable listing when he defeated Johnnie Walker in October.

In the meantime, Ankalife (16-1) is likely one of the hottest contenders within the division, profitable seven instances in a row. Some describe the Russian as the longer term champion, however that is arguably his hardest check so far and his debut in a five-round combat.

Away from Saturday’s headline, there’s lots to be careful for on this foremost card. She is filled with promising prospects who may make it to the UFC title combat within the subsequent a number of years. This is a better take a look at three of the most popular names to control this weekend, outdoors of the principle occasion.


Track Yadong, bantam weight

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Track Yadong stuns Julio Ars with a header after which finishes him off with highly effective punches within the second spherical.

Saturday low cost: Marlon Moraes

UFC profession to this point: Track, 24, is the youngest of the three potentialities highlighted right here, however she has essentially the most UFC expertise so far. Preventing outdoors the Alpha Male group in Sacramento, California, Track (18-5-1, 1 NC) made his UFC debut in 2017 on the age of 19. He already holds a UFC document of 7-1-1, and he has amassed that document in opposition to competitors. On the time of his fights in opposition to them, his opponents had a document 129-35-4.

Track is No. 14 within the UFC rankings weighing 135 lbs. Saturday’s combat in opposition to Tenth seed Moraes (23-9-1) might be the purpose of no return. Moraes has misplaced the final three however nonetheless holds plenty of respect as a former WSOF Champion and UFC Championship contender. If Track received, he would doubtless transfer into the highest ten and wouldn’t be taking a look at something however top-tier fights for the foreseeable future.

Doable future battles to search for: Cannot go incorrect with any of the notable names, however some matches that soar off the web page: Ricky Simon, Sean O’Malley, Rob Font, TJ Dillashaw.

Uriah Faber, coach, on what distinguishes Track: One of many coolest issues about Track is that I bear in mind when he got here [to Team Alpha Male] The primary time, he was 19 or so and hadn’t signed to the UFC. I used to be strolling into wrestling coaching and noticed him with one of many decrease degree guys and I mentioned, “Man, his wrestling is so good.” I wished to go together with him, and I knew he had methods to go however he was actually good at wrestling and his standing was actually good. And I came upon that it was a teen who got here right here from China alone, didn’t converse English with a lick, and joined the professionals.

As a toddler, he went to a kind of conventional Chinese language colleges, the place they spent eight hours a day practising conventional martial arts. He was a person who traveled to seminars. He had the help of his household and was placing himself in locations the place he may be taught. A part of the rationale he would not have a greater, safer observe document is that he both lied about his age or made his mother and father signal one thing so he may compete when he was 16.

He loves boxing, he loves candy science, however he additionally has that conventional background the place they actually compete and compete from a younger age. So, he has been doing it since he was a child. It might keep within the pocket, and it may be elusive from the skin. He has swivel kicks, aspect kicks. He educated all over the place. It may be muay thai, boxing, conventional martial arts. Now he is an efficient wrestler and jiu-jitsu participant.

The mentality is all in its personal. Many individuals are good at combating. A lot of folks have items. Not everyone seems to be in any respect. He moved out of his consolation zone. He has not been residence in additional than two years. I by no means have to fret about him – if I do not see him in coaching, I do know he does one thing as a result of he all the time does. That is the mentality of the hero.


Seddik Yousef, a featherweight

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Arnold Allen stuns Sudek Yusuf a number of instances to assert a unanimous choice win.

Saturday low cost: Alex Caceres

UFC profession to this point: Youssef (11-2) took a UFC contract within the Dana White competitors sequence in 2018 and went 4-1. He is coming off his first loss within the octagon, with a call in opposition to Arnold Allen final April. If there’s such a factor as shedding high quality in MMA, that is it. Allen has received eight consecutive instances and is ranked seventh within the division. Youssef misplaced to Allen by one spherical, 29-28 – and truly outdid him within the match (79-26).

Due to this loss, Yusef is flying beneath the radar. He additionally missed the second half of final yr on account of signs of COVID-19. He is battling the Fifteenth-ranked Caceres (19-12) in a match, so even when Youssef wins, he most likely will not catapult him to a Tenth-ranked end. At 28, Youssef is a bit of sleepy at 145 lbs. Good cash just isn’t spent on its potential primarily based on a single loss.

Doable future battles to search for: Youssef has a humorous model. It is fan pleasant. Some potential good encounters: Shane Burgos, Edson Barbosa, Josh Emmett, Arnold Allen rematch, just about your entire high ten.

Joseph what distinguishes him: Since I used to be a child, I’ve wished to be within the UFC. as quickly as you graduate [high school], I went to a full-time internship with Lloyd Irvine. It took me to the fighter’s home and form of formed me from the beginning. I have been coaching like a professional since day one, three periods a day. So, whereas my years of coaching aren’t so long as most, the hours I spent on the carpet equal the boys who’ve been coaching their entire lives.

In my final combat, technically I used to be hit with a punch I could not see and a head kick, after I was so centered on boxing. These two issues price me two rounds. I noticed somebody on-line saying, “It is actually going to harm when he sees he misplaced due to two strokes.” As a result of I landed on him each spherical, however he did what he was imagined to and walked away with two large hits. That third spherical was additionally the primary time I discovered myself ready the place profitable the Tour did not matter. I wanted to complete, however that by no means clicked in my head. The combat could be very psychological, and I did not make the adjustment I wanted to.

The thoughts sport is unquestionably one thing I work on. It’s not self-belief; I am speaking about desirous about a combat and the way to method the rounds. Folks do not even know I am wrestling. This is likely one of the psychological hurdles I’ve to beat. My group is large in jiu jitsu. I moved into the fighter’s residence as a white belt, and was coaching with the world champions as a black belt. So, I obtained actually good at waking up [laughs]. I obtained to a degree the place I turned very defensive. My coach labored with me on that, like, “Hey, you are ok to make the most of these guys. Search for insult.”

After I take a look at guys like Alexander Volkanovsky and Max Holloway, I truthfully suppose my energy is sufficient to cease both one. The largest problem is the psychological problem. I really feel like they’re very skilled, and that is one of many issues I hate as a result of I wasn’t as lively final yr. I need to combat as a lot as potential this yr.


Terrance McKinney Light-weight

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Terrance McKinney’s UFC debut is to be remembered, as he knocked out Matt Frevola simply seven seconds after their combat at UFC 263.

Saturday low cost: good function

UFC profession to this point: Untimely really Measure McKinney’s potential – however he is been fairly good to this point. In 2019, he confronted Shawn Woodson in a sequence competitors competitors with Dana White (Woodson has since gone 3-1 within the UFC), however McKinney (12-3) nonetheless stormed into the promotion final yr and impressed in a short-notice combat in opposition to Matt Frivola – received McKinney Knockout by seven seconds. Since then, he has adopted within the first spherical with Faris Ziam.

Eleven of McKinney’s 12 wins ended up inside the primary spherical. This weekend’s match in opposition to Dober (23-11) is a large step up within the competitors, and the UFC has acknowledged that by providing McKinney, 27, a brand new contract earlier than this weekend. A win over a seasoned veteran like Dauber would set McKinney on a critical quick observe within the division.

Doable future battles to search for: There are limitless potentialities for McKinney early in his profession. And there are a number of enjoyable ones that stand out: Urus Medica, Jordan Levitt, Bobby Inexperienced.

McKinney, what makes it totally different: What units me aside is the origin of wrestling. I actually, Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan have most likely the most effective wrestlers within the division. You see how nicely these two do, it is solely a matter of time earlier than they catch up. I used to be #1 nationally in center school and will have gone to the Olympics in Greece-Roman, however could not increase sufficient cash. God had a unique plan for me.

I give up wrestling earlier than I graduated from Notre Dame School [Ohio] to proceed the combat. I actually suppose I can hang around with anybody within the high ten proper now. I heard about this combat final Friday after Drew’s opponent needed to withdraw. I had the chance, and God has now cleared the best way for me to interrupt into the highest ten earlier than the top of this yr, simply as I wished. Drew is strong so far as they arrive, so I am able to go to battle.

One other factor that defines me is my willingness to go ahead and take dangers. Many individuals aren’t excellent at combating backwards, and whenever you again up, you are inclined to make massive, exaggerated actions to cease the ahead momentum of the opposite. That is the place we are able to see the clear takedown or counterstrike.