Welcome back everyone to the comfy confines of the UFC APEX for another senses-shattering main event!
OK, UFC Vegas 110 might not be the most loaded card and no, Steve Garcia and David Onama probably aren’t one (or two… or three…) fight away from snatching a title shot, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do our best to stay positive as the UFC runs down the clock on its ESPN deal. Because let’s be honest, that’s what they’re doing here.
You could do a Mike Heck of a lot worse than Saturday’s main event though, which features two of the best-kept secrets of the featherweight division for anyone who hasn’t been paying attention. Garcia is one of the hottest fighters at 145 pounds and he recently scored a huge win over veteran Calvin Kattar. He couldn’t put Kattar away inside the distance, but the five-fight finish streak Garcia had before that fight is nothing to sneeze at.
Onama is also coming off an important win as he took a decision over Giga Chikadze in April. Prior to joining the UFC in 2021, Onama was touted as a prospect to watch, and now that the former lightweight is seemingly entrenched at featherweight, he can begin his run up the rankings in earnest.
Other notable fights going down Saturday include Waldo Cortes-Acosta looking to stop Ante Delija from taking his spot on the heavyweight ladder, featherweight prospects Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle fighting to make their mark, and a preliminary contest between top 5 ranked Ketlen Vieira and Norma Dumont.
Where: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Nov. 1. The six-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, followed by a six-fight main card at 7 p.m. ET also on ESPN and ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings)
Steve Garcia (13) vs. David Onama
I love that the UFC is just throwing these two into the fire.
It’s unfortunate that much of the upper tier of the featherweight division is on hold until the UFC books Alexander Volkanovski’s next title defense, but for fans, this means you get to see the budding contenders of the division face each other sooner rather than later. Steve Garcia and David Onama both have top 5 potential and we’re about to get a better grasp of whether either man has a chance of reaching that goal.
Garcia has been streaking towards a top 10 ranking for sometime, showing off his finishing touch against more highly touted competition and then continuing his winning ways even as the oddsmakers began to realize he could be a legitimate A-side. “Mean Machine” is just a fantastic striker. He utilizes his reach well and has a nose for the knockout, the kind of instinct you can’t teach.
Measurement-wise, Garcia has his match in Onama, who is also capable of fighting effectively from range, though he’ll likely want to close the distance to at least have the option of wrestling. If Onama can score a takedown or two, it changes this fight completely.
As I see it being primarily a striking battle, I’m going with Garcia, who is better at translating his striking into actual damage. Onama will get there someday, but he still has catching up to do.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (8) vs. Ante Delija (11)
Does Ante Delija have to temper his aggression against Waldo Cortes-Acosta? He’s giving up quite a bit of size to “Salsa Boy,” and though Cortes-Acosta isn’t known for his one-shot punching power, that will change quickly if Delija carelessly wades into a right hand. Cortes-Acosta can also slow a Delija assault by tackling the one-time PFL tournament winner to the canvas.
Delija, who as we all know by now regularly trains with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, so he’ll be prepared for whichever version of WCA shows up in the cage. The key here will be output, which hasn’t always been one of Cortes-Acosta’s strengths. Delija’s hand speed gives him a significant advantage in the striking and if Cortes-Acosta can’t force Delija to mix things up, he’s going to get lit up.
Delija by first-round knockout.
Jeremiah Wells vs. Themba Gorimbo
Jeremiah Wells is capable of some truly impressive displays of offense and Themba Gorimbo will bring the best out of him.
Gorimbo has developed into a perfectly serviceable midrange welterweight. Not a real threat to ever compete for a top 20 spot, but more than good enough to either test a prospect or gauge how much a veteran has left. Wells, who turned 39 on Thursday, falls into the latter category.
Even given Gorimbo is the much fresher fighter and that he’s capable of winning this matchup if he just stays busy, I don’t know if his defense is up to snuff when it comes time to deal with one of Wells’ trademark flurries. At some point, he’s going to crack Gorimbo, and how Gorimbo reacts in that situation will tell us a lot about whether he can come back and grind out a decision or if he’s one more bad beat away from being left flat on the canvas.
This fight will be fun for as long as it lasts, which shouldn’t be more than a couple of rounds once Wells finds the range and puts Gorimbo down.
Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier del Valle
What I said about matching up Garcia and Onama goes double for Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle. These two 29-year-olds are studs and as fun as it will be to see them possibly contending for title someday (maybe against each other!), I’m greedy and I want to see them fight each other NOW and the matchmakers have obliged.
Dulgarian has one setting: Maul. I don’t know how effective this will be for him as he rises through the ranks, but against a fellow prospect like del Valle, it’s perfect. Especially since del Valle will do his damndest to match him blow for blow. As is the case for a lot of young berserkers, presumably Dulgarian’s chances of winning drop exponentially the longer the fight goes. Can del Valle weather the opening onslaught?
I’m guessing not, but only because del Valle still has so much growing to do. If he does escape the first five minutes with minimal damage, you can see him getting his counter-wrestling going and scorching a fading Dulgarian on the feet. Major upset potential, for sure. I’m just not gutsy enough to make that call.
Charles Radtke vs. Daniel Frunza
There’s no nice way to put this: Charles Ratdke hits very hard and Daniel Frunza excels at getting hit very hard. We know what the matchmakers expect to see happen here.
Look, there’s an outside chance that Frunza develops a Homer Simpson-like ability to take a beating and just outlast his opponents, but that’s a grim path to victory and not one I expect to present itself here. Radtke has a sharp left hook and his right hand isn’t exactly a pillow, so once he starts to connect, the fight will go downhill fast for Frunza.
When you’re the only guy to lose a UFC fight to Rhys McKee, I don’t have high hopes for you. Sorry.
Allan Nascimento vs. Cody Durden
Ah yes, one of those “looks can be deceiving” matchups.
I’m referring to the recent records of Allan Nascimento and Cody Durden, which, on paper, explain why Nascimento is such a heavy favorite. Durden has struggled to get a win, but look at who he’s lost to during a rough 1-4 stretch. Three ranked fighters (Joshua Van, who’s about to fight for a UFC title, and Tagir Ulanbekov and Bruno “Bulldog” Silva) and Jose Ochoa, who could have a number next to his name in the future. Losses are losses, but context is important.
Nascimento’s best win is arguably his most recent one, a unanimous decision nod over Jafel Filho in which he showed his awesome grappling. It’s a weapon that will take him far in the flyweight division and should be enough to frustrate Durden.
The safe pick is Nascimento by submission, but again, given the gap in quality of competition, we could all be severely underestimating Durden here.
Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian
Timmy Cuamba def. Chang Ho Lee
Donte Johnson def. Sedriques Dumas
Norma Dumont (5) def. Ketlen Vieira (4)
Montserrat Ruiz def. Alice Ardelean
Phil Rowe def. Seokhyon Ko
Talita Alencar def. Ariane Carnelossi
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