The world of professional mixed martial arts is abuzz with anticipation due to the upcoming UFC event that is set to be held at Newark, New Jersey.
With each fighter readying and eager to step into the octagon, mixed martial arts fans around the globe are on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the fiercest battles and key moments that have consistently defined the UFC experience.
While waiting for the main event, it is in this article that we will delve into analysis, predictions, and dissection of the upcoming UFC 302 event. Join us as we navigate the thrilling landscape of the UFC, examine the strengths and weaknesses of contenders in the line-up, and offer insightful predictions that may shape the outcome of these epic martial arts showdowns.
Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
What to Know?
Scheduled for five rounds, the Strickland vs Costa fight is a fight between a former middleweight fighter who is a favorite over Costa, an underdog with championship ambitions.
Sean Strickland is a fighter known to have dethroned Israel Adesanya but lost his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis. He is a player known to hurt opponents while doesn’t mind getting hurt.
In fact, he was widely acknowledged among mixed martial arts fans with his performance against Adesanya as he was able to land 137 significant strikes. Aside from his notable defensive striking, some fans also quite dig his raw honesty when given his mic time. With his interesting comments, he has surprisingly garnered 8 million followers on Instagram.
On the other hand, Paulo Costa is a professional fighter hailing from Brazil who made his debut with a fight against Gareth McLellan at UFC Fight Night 106 winning the fight in the first round by TKO.
Predicted to use more ‘kicks’, Costa is seen to be an apt contender against Strickland, considering the fact that he also won a fight against Hendricks via TKO.
Predictions
While it has been said that Strickland’s jabs are very accurate, many see Costa’s physical power capable of overpowering Strickland. Accordingly, a former sparring partner between the two athletes has remarked that the match will be a bloodbath. As per experts and mixed martial arts enthusiasts, it will be a match between physical force and experience.
Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
What to Know?
While not considered to be a headliner, the Holland vs Oleksiejczuk is one of the highly anticipated matches.
Kevin Holland is known to be the UFC organization’s go-to crisis fighter that is known to revitalize the fighting line-up in any event. With a Kung-Fu fighting style and an Orthodox stance, Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland has won Performance of the Night six times and has had the most wins in a calendar year in UFC middleweight division history.
Moreover, Holland is deemed to land 4.24 strikes per minute against his opposite fighter with 49% accuracy.
On the other hand, Oleksiejczuk is an MMA fighter from Poland with a Striker fighting style and a Southpaw stance. Starting his career in 2014, this Polish fighter is considered to be one of the most intriguing under-30 talents of the UFC roster as his most notable career highlight is his 44-second TKO win against Gadzhimurad Antigulov at UFC Fight Night 149.
Predictions
While this match between Holland and Oleksiejczuk has not gained momentum among fans, this match may be a great breather in between anticipated matches.
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Nevertheless, enthusiasts push the idea that Holland is known to be a very good puncher but that they feel that he does not know how to use it to his advantage. If Holland is able to improve and use his skills to his advantage then fans are predicting he will most definitely win the match.
Headliner: Makhachev vs Poirier
What to Know?
Lastly and the most anticipated match is that of Makhachev and Poirier. In this match, Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against Poirier.
Makhachev is a Russian mixed martial artist with a Wrestling, Sambo fighting style and a Southpaw stance. Currently ranked as UFC’s number one pound-for-pound fighter, Makhachev was able to defend his title twice with his most recent win earned him the Performance of the Night award as he won the fight by head kick knockout in the first round.
On the other hand, Poirier is an American MMA fighter with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighting style and a Southpaw stance. He is most notably known for defeating McGregor by knockout in an MMA bout. Accordingly, he has fought against McGregor three times with the third one won via TKO in round one after the ringside doctor stopped the match due to McGregor suffering a broken tibia.
Predictions
Makhachev proved his worth as a dangerous striker and wrestler when he defeated Volkanovski with a massive head kick. Additionally, he mostly holds the public support against Poirier and fans predict he will be able to defend his title for the third time.
However, experts also see that Poirier is a tough opponent. For some, they see him as a seasoned fighter and considering that this will be his last chance at an undisputed championship, it will most likely mean that he will give his all to win the match.
Final Thoughts
With the line-up of players set to fight in UFC 302, it most definitely promises a thrilling display of skill and strategy.
Seeing the MMA artists’ strengths and weaknesses shown side by side, many fans are definitely looking forward to these fighters delivering unforgettable moments and perhaps some unexpected upsets.
As these fighters prepare to showcase their prowess and determination, the stage is set for a spectacle that will undoubtedly keep the MMA fans worldwide to be on the edge
