The Octagon action is coming thick and fast, as the UFC return to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada for Fight Night 202. The show will be headliend by a 160lb catchweight scrap between fourth-ranked lightweight Islam Makhachev and late sub Bobby Green. Beneil Dariush was originally supposed to meet the Russian, but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. Due to having just ten days notice, the bout will go ahead at a catchweight to accommodate Green.
The co-main event is a middleweight battle between two fighters struggling for consistency. Wellington Turman snapped a two-fight losing streak in his last outing, while Misha Cirkunov lost both of his outings last year. Two of Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann’s former victims meet on the undercard, in a women’s flyweight bout between Priscila Cachoeira and Ji Yeon Kim.
Here’s everything you need to know about a superb Saturday of MMA.
Where: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada
When: Saturday 26th February, 10pm UK time
How to watch: BT Sport 1
Tale of the Tape:
Makhachev
Place Of Birth: Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia
Age: 30
Record: 21-1 (13 finishes)
Height: 5’10’’
Reach: 70½’’
Last Fight: Makhachev made quick work of Dan Hooker last time out, making ‘The Hangman’ tap to a kimura in 2:25 of the first round. This was the ninth win in a row for the Russian star, and a title shot looks to be in his near future.
#UFCVegas49 | Saturday | BT Sport 1 HD
Green
Place Of Birth: San Bernardino, California, United States
Age: 30
Alias: King
Record: 29-12-1 (18 finishes)
Height: 5’10’’
Reach: 71’’
Last Fight: It’s a quick return to the Octagon for Green, who will be fighting just two weeks after his last bout. ‘King’ beat Nasrat Haqparast by decision earlier this month, before taking this fight after a number of top lightweights reportedly turned it down.
What They Say:
Makhachev
“I really believe (I’m next) because I deserve. This is gonna be a 10-fight win streak. And I think 10 fight, this is like the key for the title.” [ESPN]
Green
“He’s about to get into a fight. And yeah he’s gonna try and shoot and yeah he’s gonna try to do those things, but I’m ready for that. It’s gonna be a fight. I’m gonna walk in that cage with my shoulders held high.” [The MMA Hour]
Full Card:
Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green
Misha Cirkunov vs. Wellington Turman
Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Joel Alvarez vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Armen Petrosyan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Rong Zhu
Josiane Nunes vs. Ramona Pascual
Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam
Jinh Yu Frey vs. Hannah Goldy
Jonathan Martinez vs. Alejandro Perez
Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Micheal Gillmore
Victor Altamirano vs. Carlos Hernandez
