In the main event of UFC Vegas 33, two of the middleweight division’s most intriguing contenders in Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland face off in a battle of top-15 standouts.
UFC Vegas 33 Preview: Uriah Hall vs Sean Strickland
Hall, 36, has won four straight fights since a loss to Paulo Costa and appears to have finally put it all together. In his most recent fights, Hall picked up decision wins over legends and former UFC middleweight champions in Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.
A former Ultimate Fighter Season 17 finalist, Hall was regarded by many as a top prospect and potential future champion thanks to his creative and dangerous striking arsenal. However, a championship run never materialized. Entering this fight with Strickland, the time might be now for the Jamaican-born New Yorker.
Strickland, 30, returned to MMA in 2020 following a two-year layoff brought about by serious injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. He’s been brilliant since, scoring three straight wins and positioning himself inside the division’s top 15.
After a decision win over Jack Marshman at the UFC Apex last October vaulted him into a winning streak, Strickland dispatched of top prospect Brendan Allen via second-round technical knockout just a month later, priming him for a great 2021.
At 1-0 this year, thanks to a unanimous decision over Krzysztof Jotko in May, Strickland will look to steal Hall’s momentum and break into the elusive top 10.
Kyung Ho Kang vs Rani Yahya
The co-main event of UFC Vegas 33 will see South Korea’s Kyung Ho Kang return from an 18-month layoff in search of his fourth straight victory against Brazilian grappling standout and divisional veteran Rani Yahya.
Kang, 33, did not compete in 2020 due to a series of health issues, including orbital and back injuries. However, “Mr. Perfect” is eager to get back to his winning ways. Following wins over Tehruto Ishihara, Brandon Davis, and Liu Pingyuan in his last three, Kang believes a win over Yahya should earn him a fight with a ranked opponent.
Yahya, 36, has racked up a 3-1-1 record over his last five fights. He went to a draw with gritty veteran Enrique Barzola in 2020 and submitted Ray Rodriguez to kick off his 2021 campaign in March. Against Kang, Yahya will look to notch his second straight win and likewise make a case for a ranked opponent. It will be a stiff test, as Kang’s wrestling could pose a threat to Yahya’s traditionally successful path to victory in his Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Gloria de Paula vs Cheyanne Buys
After wowing in her 2020 Dana White’s Contender Series appearance, Cheyanne Buys had a letdown in her UFC debut loss to Montserrat Ruiz in March. She’ll look to rebound from the loss against Brazil’s Gloria de Paula, who in turn looks to steal Buys’ hype.
Buys, 26, reached the DWCS on the strength of four straight wins in a bevy of top regional promotions in the LFA, BTC, and EFC. Following the loss to Ruiz, she will look to get back on track against a fellow DWCS alum in de Paula.
De Paula, also 26, dropped a decision in her UFC debut. Incurring a decision loss to Jinh Yu Frey back in March. De Paula went 4-2 on the Brazilian regional scene prior to her appearance on DWCS.
This will be a good fight to gauge how both fighters handle their first adversity in the UFC, as well as which of the two is the more promising prospect in the talent-stacked strawweight division.
Niklas Stolze vs Jared Gooden
Despite losing his original opponent during fight week, Niklas Stolze will remain on the main card as he faces action fighter Jared Gooden on short notice.
Stolze, 28, was slated to face Mounir Lazzez before the latter’s visa issues forced him off the card. Germany’s Stolze accepted a late-notice bout with Gooden, in a fight where both will look to earn their first UFC victory.
Stolze signed with the UFC in 2020 on a four-fight win streak in Europe, but he dropped his promotional debut to the well-rounded Ramazan Emeev. A talented finishing threat with a near-even number of knockouts and submissions on his record, Stolze will look to turn back Gooden on the main card.
Gooden, 27, signed with the UFC in 2021 after an exciting run on the regional scene, competing most prominently for Titan FC and NFC, a promotion based in Gooden’s home state of Georgia. Like Stolze, Gooden is a finisher with seven knockouts and six submissions to his name. Fans can look for this fight as an underrated candidate to win “Fight of the Night” honors.
Ryan Benoit vs. Zarrukh Adashev
Texas’ Ryan Benoit will face Uzbekistan’s Zarrukh Adashev in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 33.
Benoit, 31, is one of the division’s longest-tenured competitors, signing with the UFC back in 2013. A former Legacy FC standout, Benoit took now-champion Brandon Moreno to a split-decision back in 2016. Benoit has been on a skid of late, dropping back-to-back fights to Alateng Heili and Tim Elliott. In his first fight of 2021, he’ll look to earn a victory over Adashev.
Adashev, 28, is in similarly desperate need of a win. After signing with the UFC at just 3-1 following three straight wins in Bellator, Adashev has lost both of his Octagon appearances. He was knocked out by Tyson Nam in 32 seconds in his 2020 UFC debut, then dropped a decision to Su Mudaerji in January.
Now standing at 3-3, Adashev has his back against the wall at UFC Vegas 33. If he’s able to get past a veteran like Benoit on the main card, he will silence a lot of doubters.
Bryan Barberena vs. Jason Witt
The main card will be opened with a clash of all-action welterweights, as Bryan Barberena faces Jason Witt.
Barberena, 32, snapped a two-fight skid in his last outing against Anthony Ivy, winning by unanimous decision. The two losses were particularly unfortunate, with Barberena dropping both by third-round TKO to Vicente Luque and Randy Brown, respectively.
Known for his unrelenting pressure, Barberena’s fight with Luque in 2019 was widely regarded as one of the best fights of the year. The output from both men was incredible, so despite the loss, the fight raised Barberena’s stock among fans and the promotion alike. He’ll look to make it two straight against Witt, 34.
Witt signed with the UFC in 2020 on the strength of a four-fight winning streak on the regional scene, entering the welterweight division at 17-5. He faced Sanford MMA standout Takashi Sato in his promotional debut, losing the fight by first-round technical knockout. Witt then scored his first UFC victory, a second-round submission of Cole Williams, to close out his 2020 campaign. In March, he suffered another first-round TKO at the hands of Matt Semelsberger.
Now 1-2 in the Octagon, Witt will look to score the biggest win of his career against Barberena.
–Field Level Media
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