The UFC visits Saskatoon, in the Saskatchewan province of Canada this Sunday evening with a headline bout scheduled to take place between Hawaiian Featherweight star Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway (13-3) and Brazilian submission artist Charles ‘Do Bronx” Oliveira (20-4, 1NC).
It has been a very busy couple of months for the UFC and its fans. Following Ronda Rousey mania three weeks ago at UFC 190, the Conor McGregor show at UFC 189 three weeks before that, and all the scandal in between ranging from Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran, the legendary UFC cutman being fired over alleged comments made to Bloody Elbow about the financial impact caused to him by the Reebok deal, and the train wreck of an appearance by former Middleweight champion and UFC legend Anderson Silva at his Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing over his doping for the Nick Diaz fight in January at UFC 183.
With all the above going on, it is no surprise that this Sundays fight card has for want of a better phrase, flown under the radar. Not helped of course by the lack of high profile fighters on the card which is to be expected following a number of stacked PPV cards. For this reason the excitement and buzz around this weekends card is truly lacking. Hopefully this little article will be able to convince you to tune in, and like me, be looking for an excuse on Monday morning as to why you are so so tired.
First off lets look at the main event. Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway has been on a tear through the division. His name will be familiar to people this side of the pond as the only man to bring Conor McGregor the distance at UFC Boston in August 2013. Since then, Holloway has won six fights in a row including three TKO’S, two submissions and one unanimous decision. He has also won two performance of the night bonuses and one knockout of the night bonus in that time. His last victory was a one sided beat down of Featherweight No.6 ranked, Cub Swanson, a fight he won performance of the night for. Max is also only twenty three years old, a couple of years before he reaches his physical prime, so a fighter with a resume as impressive as his at his age is a must see. Especially when the best is still yet to come.
His opponent, Charles Oliveira is himself on a four fight win streak since his fight of the night loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 162 in July 2013. He will be coming into this fight full of confidence following a performance of the night win against Nik Lentz at UFC Fight night Goiania in May this year. A fight which also won fight of the night. Performance bonuses are something which Oliveira has become accustomed to as he has won nine such awards in his twelve fights with the UFC. Of his twelve fights, only two have actually gone the distance.
With eight UFC wins in total, seven of them coming from submissions, the canvas is most likely where Oliveira will be looking for this fight to go to. Holloway will be probably looking to keep the fight on the feet, he proved how cynical a striker he is when he finished Akira Corasanni in brutal fashion in Stockholm last October, and also in how he dismantled Cub Swanson on the feet in New Jersey in April before submitting him in the third round.
This will be a very difficult fight to call but given both of their records, the difference in fighting styles and the massive opportunity to move into title contention in what is now the hottest division in the UFC. Both men should be fired up to make a huge statement. Should Holloway continue his impressive streak this Sunday, it is safe to say that a rematch with Conor McGregor may soon be on the cards for the young Hawaiian. Nobody who is asking for a rematch against Conor would deserve it more.
Prediction. Holloway by TKO.
UFC Saskatoon Fight Pass Prelims begins 11pm on Sunday Irish Time. Prelims start at Midnight on Sunday on BT Sport 2 and the Main Card begins at 2am on Monday morning on BT Sport 2.
THE MMA Andy Blog. 