As the octagon prepares for its pay-per-view debut in 2018, the mixed martial arts community are talking about two fights; Miocic vs. Ngannou and Cormier vs. Oezdemir. Can you blame them? No… potentially the biggest heavyweight bout of recent years alongside Cormier taking on the unknown in Volkan Oezdemir?! Take my money!
As the eyes of the globe focus on the title matchups at UFC 220, eighteen other fighters will look to make their mark in Boston. Who else can shine amongst the main stars at the TD Garden?
Thomas Almeida vs. Rob Font
Bantamweights open the main card, with Brazilian prospect Thomas Almeida taking on Rob Font, with the winner set to infiltrate the top ten of the division.
Almeida was recognised as a huge prospect when signed with a 16-0 record having just clinch the Legacy FC bantamweight crown. ‘Thominhas’ showed his raw talent and potential winning his first four fights in the octagon, with all four bouts earning ‘of the night’ bonuses.
He was to meet fellow unbeaten prospect and soon-to-be champion Cody Garbrandt in the main event of UFC Fight Night 88 in Las Vegas, losing by knockout in the opening round. Less than six months on, the Brazilian returned to the win column by stopping Albert Morales in the second round.
A loss to Jimmie Rivera has left many doubting Almeida’s title aspirations, but the Brazilian will hope that he can overcome his American counterpart. Rob Font is a man also looking to bounce back from a loss, after submitting to his opponent’s compatriot Pedro Munhoz.
Font joined the promotion in 2014, after riding a nine-fight winning streak across the USA. He made an immediate impact on his debut, knocking out George Roop inside the first round at UFC 175, earning a performance of the night bonus in the process.
A win over Joey Gomez followed, before a loss to perennial bantamweight contender John Lineker. Font returned to form with consecutive victories over Matt Schnell and Douglas Andrade, before Munhoz handed the American his first stoppage defeat of his career in October 2017.
Both men clearly possess knockout power, but will either bantamweight be keen to trade blows with each other?
Sabah Homasi vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Welterweight knockout artists Sabah Homasi and Abdul Razak Alhassan will rematch in Boston, following a controversial ending to their bout at UFC 218 just seven weeks ago.
Both men exchanged wildly in the opening minutes of the bout, before referee Herb Dean called a premature end to the fight after Alhassan appeared to drop Homasi. Replays showed Homasi was looking to take his opponent down and was not in a position for the fight to be stopped.
Sabah Homasi is looking for his first win in the octagon, after losing out to Alhassan in December and Tim Means back at UFC 202. ‘The Punisher’ has fought for eleven different organisations across his relatively young career.
A loss for Homasi could unfortunately spell the end of his octagon stay. Not many fighters are given a chance to recover from a 0-3 start in the promotion. Can he avenge the controversial stoppage defeat?
Ghana’s Abdul Razak Alhassan was a highly touted prospect ahead of his UFC arrival, picking up six first round knockouts, with all coming inside ninety-seconds. His octagon bow featured against Conor McGregor stablemate Charlie Ward in Belfast, Ireland.
Fifty-three seconds later, Alhassan walked away with a devastating knockout victory and a $50,000 bonus for his work. Six months later, the welterweight tasted defeat for the first time, losing to Russia’s Omari Akhmedov in Sweden.
Alhassan clearly has the ability, but can he topple Homasi to continue his welterweight march? Only time will tell!
Full Fight Card
Main Card (3AM on BT Sport)
UFC Heavyweight Championship: Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Featherweight: Shane Burgos vs. Calvin Kattar
Light Heavyweight: Gian Villante vs. Francimar Barroso
Bantamweight: Thomas Almeida vs. Rob Font
Prelims (1AM on BT Sport)
Featherweight: Kyle Bochniak vs. Brandon Davis
Welterweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Sabah Homasi
Flyweight: Dustin Ortiz vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Julio Arce
Early Prelims (12AM on UFC Fight Pass)
Featherweight: Matt Bessette vs. Enrique Barzola
Lightweight: Islam Makhachev vs. Gleison Tibau
