UFC on ABC 2 weigh-in results and preview

An Italian title contender coronation?

If you didn’t know Italian import Marvin Vettori before December, you probably do now. As a short-notice replacement for top contender Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 16, Vettori made a statement in proving his place as an elite middleweight. His impressive unanimous decision win over “The Joker” not only derailed the Swede’s chances of a title fight in 2021, but it pushed possibly one big win away from title contention. Considering the history he and champion Israel Adesanya have after a 2018 split-decision win for the “The Last Stylebender”, and the trash talk that has happened since then, the idea of a repackaged “Italian Dream” getting a second crack at the best middleweight in the world is an easy sell.

However, the roles have reversed for Vettori. In his return the Octagon, he is now the one in striking range of a title shot but gets a short-notice replacement with all kinds of spoiler potential. Here comes maybe the biggest mouth in all of the UFC, in Kevin Holland. The 28-year-old enters this bout after just competing three weeks ago in the main event UFC Vegas 22. That bout was a losing affair to Derek Brunson. However, after a breakout year in 2020, where he competed five times, a quick turnaround is just how Holland likes it. Especially since this quick return now ties him with Deiveson Figueiredo for the fastest main event turnaround in UFC history of 21 days. It’s a pivotal fight at middleweight between the sixth and tenth ranked fighters and is a chance for “big mouth” to ruin Vettori’s hopes for a long sought after rematch with the champ.

Pivotal top-15 match-ups at featherweight and strawweight

Sodiq Yusuff and Arnold Allen have separated themselves as the best up-and-coming fighters in the entire featherweight division. Neither has tasted defeat inside the Octagon over their 11 combined fights in the organization, and both have passed the litmus test in beating proven UFC veterans. What better way to see which man is the true rising star at 145-pounds than to throw them against each other? “Almighty” and “Super” currently rest at the ten and eleven spots in the division’s rankings. A win will no doubt break the winner into the top-10 and likely put them in line for a bout with one of the star-studded names ahead of them.

Nina Nunes (no longer Ansaroff) is matched up with Mackenzie Dern on Saturday in a fight where she has more to lose than to gain. The fifth-ranked strawweight and ladylove to two-division champion Amanda Nunes is within striking distance of a title opportunity. A win over the eleventh-ranked Dern has merit, but not the sort that would come by facing foes a bit closer to her in the rankings. For Dern, the booking is a win-win. A loss would not do a great deal of damage to her career, since a loss would likely come by decision. Nunes has not stopped an opponent via strikes since 2013, and she ain’t subbing Dern. However, a win would be huge for the popular 28-year-old star.

Dumont costs Blanchfield her UFC debut and, Bahamondes/Makdessi now at catchweight

All the key participants on the card made weight, so fear not. However, if you had your eye on Erin Blachfield versus Norma Dumont at women’s bantamweight, you can remove that bout from your fight day menu. “The Immortal” missed weight for her second straight UFC appearance. This time missing her 136-pound grace weight by a head-scratching 3.5 pounds. The fight’s cancellation was first reported by MMAJunkie, and the weight-miss costs Invicta FC veteran Blanchfield her UFC debut opportunity.

Dumont was not alone in weight-cutting miscues. Lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes needed a second attempt to miss 156 pounds by just three-quarters of a pound. That matchup will proceed but has been rescheduled as a catchweight affair, and the Chilean newcomer will fork over 20-percent of his purse to opponent John Makdessi.

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