Combat Sports Preview – 22nd August 2021
Combat Sports descends on the fight capital of the world, UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex and Pacquiao vs Ugas in the T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, Nevada highlighting this weekend’s schedule with both events on Sunday 22nd August.
Jared Cannonier x Kelvin Gastelum
Two middleweights throwing down with high importance, Cannonier at 37, is his window closing? For Gastelum, a win puts him in the upper echelon of the division. Cannonier did lose last time he stepped in the octagon, opposing him was the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Outpointed most of the fight, Cannonier got caught with a kick from Whittaker that staggered him and not only did he survive, Cannonier put it on Whittaker in the 3rd.
Gastelum should not be overlooked because of his previous fights, despite winning 1 of 5 in the division, he is always hanging around and fighting highly respectable fighters. One big take away from Gastelum is that he performs to the skill set of his opponents, against Adesanya one could argue he was a couple strikes away from finishing the middleweight champion and against Darren Till a top 10 fighter, he never shifted gears.
Prediction: We need to question how durable Gastelum might be with respect to recent results, did he lose a little bit of himself in the octagon? We know Cannonier can overcome adversity and push forward. This will be an entertaining bout with huge ramifications at stake, I see Cannonier defeating Gastelum via TKO/KO ($2.75).
Clay Guida x Mark Madsen
Mark Madsen enters this co main event with intrigue, the Danish Olympic silver medallist in Greco Roman wrestling is yet to live up to the hype. Madsen 2-0 in the UFC faces Clay Guida who is an established mma veteran with over 50 fights, he will look at Madsen’s inexperience as path to victory.
Prediction: Mark Madsen is the skilled fighter but you can’t look past Guida and his time built up in the octagon. Guida offers constant pressure and it will be up to Madsen on how he deals with the advances of his opponent. Won’t be easy but the skill of Madsen will be enough to get the win over Guida via unanimous decision ($3.80).
Manny Pacquiao x Yordenis Ugas
Manny Pacquaio returns to the ring after his impressive performance vs Keith Thurman, the 8 division world champ surprised the masses by outpointing a high level and much younger Thurman. Manny’s next opponent, Errol Spence Jr succumb to a retinal left eye injury that forced him to withdraw from the marquee event, up steps Cuban Yordenis Ugas, an orthodox counter puncher. Manny will have to shift his approach to the recent change as Spence is an aggressor from a southpaw position.
We must factor in the age of Manny (42 years old) as to whether he can consistently find targets, also Manny’s focus, he is slated to run for presidency in his native Philippines, however he recently suffered a set-back in that fight.
Prediction: I expect Manny to work Ugas, picking his shots carefully from the moment they touch gloves. Ugas is not coming off the couch heading into this fight, he was on the undercard preparing for his bout, therefore fitness should not be an issue for him. Manny ‘The Pacman’ Pacquiao via unanimous decision ($2.20).
