Two former prime ladies’s MMA prospects go head-to-head on Saturday night time. Girls’s flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber meet in the principle occasion at UFC Struggle Evening from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+).
Blanchfield, ESPN’s No. 4-ranked flyweight, beat former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas by unanimous determination in her final combat. Blanchfield held the highest spot on ESPN’s rating of the highest 25 fighters beneath 25 years previous final 12 months.
Barber, unranked by ESPN, has received every of her previous six fights. Most not too long ago, she beat Kaylyn Cerminara by unanimous determination at UFC 299. Barber was the fifth-ranked fighter on the Prime 25 Below 25 checklist from December 2022.
Brett Okamoto spoke to former UFC fighters Din Thomas and Anthony Smith to get their essential occasion predictions. ESPN betting knowledgeable Ian Parker provides perception and evaluation on the principle occasion and different intriguing bets he likes on the cardboard.
Girls’s flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber
“I believe Blanchfield will look good early, however Barber is simply, and you’ll quote me on this, she is the meanest [bully] I’ve ever watched combat or practice. She does issues to folks simply because it hurts. She used this quote one time, and I stole it and now use it with my daughter’s wrestling. Barber stated, ‘the meaner you might be, the better it’s.’ That is the mentality she makes use of and it really works. — Anthony Smith
“I believe it will be extremely entertaining and aggressive for the primary couple rounds, however then Blanchfield’s systematic strategy to slowing down a fighter like Barber would be the distinction. Blanchfield will sluggish Barber down, get on her again and end her with a choke.” — Din Thomas
Betting evaluation
Odds correct as of Could 29. For essentially the most up-to-date odds, go to ESPN BET.
Parker: Blanchfield to win (-250); over 1.5 rounds. Following a protracted layoff due to damage, Barber jumps proper again into the combo in opposition to Blanchfield. The winner of this combat will take her spot behind Natalia Silva within the hunt for the title. Silva picked up a unanimous determination win over Alexa Grasso at UFC 315.
This combat comes down as to if Barber can defend takedown makes an attempt from Blanchfield and get again up as soon as she’s been taken to the mat. I do not suppose she will be able to. Barber is proficient and athletic, however Blanchfield is relentless and has the cardio to push a tempo and get the combat to the bottom. Blanchfield does an awesome job of not permitting her opponent to rise up whereas constantly doing injury and creating submission alternatives. To get Blanchfield’s quantity at a greater value, pair her to win and over 1.5 rounds.
Parker’s finest bets on the remainder of the cardboard
Gentle heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes
Jacoby to win (-190). Jacoby is coming off an enormous knockout win over Vitor Petrino in December, whereas Lopes beat Magomed Gadzhiyasulov by determination in January. Jacoby needs to be a a lot heavier favourite than he’s at the moment. Until Lopes can take down Jacoby and maintain him there, Jacoby will use his lateral motion to choose aside Lopes on the toes. Each are highly effective strikers, however Jacoby is best at avoiding injury.
Middleweight: Zachary Reese vs. Duško Todorović
Reese to win inside the space. Coming off back-to-back TKO losses, Todorović finds himself in one other poor matchup. I do not see anyplace on this combat that Todorović has a bonus. Reese is just too highly effective and has good submissions, whereas Todorović’s potential to take a punch has pale. As soon as he will get hit, Todorović goes down. Taking Reese by KO/TKO could be very interesting. If you’re keen to spend a bit extra, take Reese to win inside the space.
Catchweight: Trevin Giles vs. Andreas Gustafsson
Gustafsson to win (-175). After touchdown a knockout win on “Dana White’s Contender Sequence,” final August, Gustafsson makes his UFC debut in opposition to Giles. Gustafsson is a talented prospect and is getting this matchup at a time when Giles is coming off three consecutive losses and taking this combat on brief discover. I anticipate Gustafsson to be higher and dominant anyplace the combat goes. He may get a highlight-reel end over Giles.