NEWSLETTER
The UFC world never stops, and we have a UFC Fight Night card this weekend sandwiched between last week’s UFC 285 and next weekend’s UFC 286. This card is headlined by the number two and three contenders in the Bantamweight division, Peter Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. That is just one of fourteen fights scheduled on this card.
UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili: How To Watch
Where: The Theater at Virgin Hotels – Paradise, NV
When: Prelims – 3pm ET, Main Card – 6pm, ET
Network: Prelims & Main Card – ESPN+
UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili: Odds
Peter Yan -260 vs Merab Dvalishvili +220, Bantamweight
Alexander Romanov -150 vs Alexander Volkov +130, Heavyweight
Nikita Krylov -170 vs Ryan Spann +145, Catchweight (215 lb)
Ricardo Ramos -380 vs Austin Lingo +310, Featherweight
Said Nurmagamedov -250 vs Jonathan Martinez +210, Bantamweight
Vitor Petrino -105 vs Anton Turkalj -105, Light Heavyweight
Karl Williams -240 vs Lukasz Brzeski +200, Heavyweight
Davey Grant -130 vs Raphael Assuncao +110, Bantamweight
Sedriques Dumas -215 vs Josh Fremd +185, Middleweight
Mario Bautista -950 vs Guido Cannetti +650, Bantamweight
JJ Aldrich -350 vs Ariane Lipski +290, Women’s Flyweight
Victor Henry -140 vs Toney Gravely +120, Bantamweight
Bruno Silva -200 Tyson Nam +170, Flyweight
Carlston Harris vs Jared Gooden, Welterweight (off the board)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
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UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Dvalishvili – Title Opportunity On The Line?
The winner of Saturday night’s main event should be in line for an opportunity at the Bantamweight Championship. Yan is the number two contender, but has technically lost three of his last four fights. I say technically, because there was controversy in a couple of them. Yan lost the Bantamweight title to Aljamain Sterling in March 2021 after he was disqualified for throwing an illegal knee. Yan was ahead on two of the three scorecards at the time.
After beating Cory Sandhagen, Yan lost the rematch with Sterling by split decision. He lost his next fight to Sean O’Malley by another split decision, but most pundits thought that Yan should’ve been awarded the decision. So despite the recent losses, Yan will probably get another shot at the title with a win Saturday.
Merab Dvalishvili got off to a bumpy start in the UFC, but it’s been smooth sailing since. He lost his first two UFC fights, but the second came with a controversial technical submission in the final seconds where the referee appeared to make a bad decision to call the fight. He’s been on a roll since, though. Dvalishvili has won his last eight fights inside the Octagon with his last fight a unanimous decision win over the legend Jose Aldo.
After some posturing, it seems as if a title fight between Sterling and O’Malley will headline UFC 288 in May, so the winner of this fight has a good chance to face the winner sometime late this year or early next year. Only one fight during Dvalishvili’s win streak didn’t go the distance and that fight ended with 35 seconds left in the final round, so Saturday’s main event could be a long one.
Volkov and Romanov Look To Get Into Heavyweight Contention
The co-main event at UFC Fight Night is a heavyweight bout between Alexander Volkov and Alexander Romanov. Volkov is the number eight contender in the division. He’s traded wins and losses in his last four fights. In his last fight he took care of Jairzinho Rozenstruik with a first round TKO. The 34-year-old Russian is taking his 47th professional fight this weekend.
Romanov is 14th in the division currently. He suffered his first professional defeat in his last fight when he lost a controversial majority decision to Marcin Tybura. Most writers analyzing the fight thought it should’ve been a draw. Before that, he won his first 16 professional fights, but didn’t beat anyone of renown.
With Jon Jones expecting to defend his newly-won title against Stipe Miocic this summer and Sergei Pavlovich facing Curtis Blaydes in a title eliminator in April, the heavyweight division has more juice than it’s had recently so both fighters here could really use a good performance to make Dana White take notice.
If you want to read more about this card and get some picks, Scott Smith has an AWESOME piece up over at 4for4 which is definitely worth your time to check out!
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