The octagon touches down in Fresno, California for the first time in the promotion’s history for UFC Fight Night 123, headlined by a featherweight bout between Cub Swanson and Brian Ortega.
Swanson has won four fights straight at featherweight, last losing to current champion Max Holloway over two-and-a-half years ago. A win in Fresno may propel him into title contention with Jose Aldo out of the picture at 145-pounds.
We’re going to focus on the five unbeaten athletes on the card, starting with Swanson’s opponent, Brian Ortega!
Brian Ortega
With a perfect 12-0 record inside the octagon, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Brian Ortega is climbing his way to the pinnacle of the featherweight division. His submission victory over Renato Carneiro at UFC 214 highlighted Ortega’s pedigree, with his Brazilian opponent previously beating Jeremy Stephens, a mainstay in the division.
If his submission pedigree isn’t enough to sway you, he has a solid standing game also. Ortega became one of only two men to knock out UFC veteran Clay Guida at UFC 199 last June. The twenty-six-year-old has trained under the tutelage of the Rorion Gracie family in California and has also submitted second-degree black belt Diego Brandao.
For Ortega, this is the perfect step up against Swanson, who has only lost to Max Holloway, Frankie Edgar and Ricardo Lamas inside the octagon. This could be his pathway towards a title shot!
Eryk Anders
After an impressive 13-3 amateur record, Anders turned pro and clinched the LFA middleweight title in June this year, just after his thirtieth birthday. But Anders name rose to prominence after being called up to face UFC vet Rafael Natal on short notice.
The Alabama based middleweight stopped the Brazilian inside the first round to put his name in lights despite being surrounded by the arguably the strongest division in the sport.
Anders defines ‘getting hit and moving forward’ as he tends to eat a lot of strikes to give more back when he gets through. His grappling is also said to be a strong point, but can he keep his perfect 9-0 record in Fresno?
Markus Perez
Brazil’s Markus Perez stands in the way of Anders and he has followed a similar path to his opponent, having also clinched the LFA middleweight title in September. He also holds a 9-0 mixed martial arts record.
Perez entered the Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 3, losing in the qualifying round before winning his next five fights to put himself in the octagon on merit. Perez is well-rounded with his nine wins split three ways by knockout, submission and decision.
His octagon debut sees him touted as the underdog, but a win could do amazing things for this Brazilian middleweight. Can he upset the odds?
Benito Lopez
Benito Lopez was awarded an octagon contract after edging a decision victory over Steven Peterson on Dana White’s Contender Series in August this year. The California-native faces Albert Morales who holds a 1-2-1 octagon record.
Lopez holds three first-round knockouts on his record, including a spectacular eight-second flying knee knockout of Rick James last year.
The unbeaten bantamweight found himself on the wrong end of the California State Athletic Commission, who fined him $1000 for pushing Morales at the weigh in. Can the youngster make a name on his octagon debut?
Trevin Giles
Trevin Giles marked his octagon debut with a victory in the light heavyweight division over James Bochnovic at UFC 213 earlier this year. The American moves back down to his more familiar weight of 185-pounds in Fresno.
He faces Antonio Braga Neto this evening and with both men specialising in submissions, it could come down to who has the best striking. Neto is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu whilst Giles is a purple belt. Neto hasn’t won by KO/TKO since 2007 whilst Giles clearly has the knockout ability.
Can the twenty-five-year-old secure victory in California?
Full Fight Card
Main Card (3AM on BT Sport)
Featherweight: Cub Swanson vs. Brian Ortega
Featherweight: Jason Knight vs. Gabriel Benitez
Bantamweight: Marlon Moraes vs. Aljamain Sterling
Lightweight: Scott Holtzman vs. Darrell Horcher
Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Markus Perez
Bantamweight: Benito Lopez vs. Albert Morales
Prelims (1AM on BT Sport)
Women’s Flyweight: Alexis Davis vs. Liz Carmouche
Bantamweight: Luke Sanders vs. Andre Soukhamthath
Bantamweight: Alex Perez vs. Carls John de Tomas
Bantamweight: Frankie Saenz vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Early Prelims (11:30PM on UFC Fight Pass)
Bantamweight: Iuri Alcantara vs. Alejandro Perez
Lightweight: Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Davi Ramos
Middleweight: Antonio Braga Neto vs. Trevin Giles
