by Will Rogers
Monday, Oct 28, 2024UFC Fight Night
Moreno vs. Albazi
Moreno vs. Albazi
Saturday, Nov. 2nd
Rogers Place - Edmonton
Last week's event, UFC 308 at Abu Dhabi, featured some high level and exciting fighters. The Main Event didn't disappoint as Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria became the first to defeat Max Holloway by KO. Topuria is absolutely one of the most well-rounded and best pound for pound fighters in the world. I personally really enjoyed the Magomedov/Petrosyan bout and not just because Magomedov's win brought me to 17-1 YTD with UFC sides. Magomedov, who is blind in one eye, got rocked early by Petrosyan, a former sparring partner. He weathered the storm and came back strong, ultimately landing just the 11th spinning backfist knockout in UFC history and remaining undefeated. This week, we head north. It will mark the 34th time that the UFC has been held in Canada, the fifth in Alberta and its third time in Edmonton.
The Main Event
The main event features Brandon Moreno (21-8-2) taking on Amir Albazi (17-1). Albazi has the more impressive record but Moreno is a -165 favorite. The over 4.5 rounds is priced at -210. So, this fight has a pretty good chance of going the full five rounds.
"The Prince" Albazi hails from Iraq. His last fight was in June of 2023, a split decision victory over Kai Kara-France. (Moreno has beaten Kara-France twice.) That was his 6th straight win. Nine of his 17 victories have come via submission.
Off back-to-back loses, Mexican fighter Brandon Moreno, the former flyweight champion, is anxious to get back on track. Having fought Deiveson Figueiredo four times and other opponents like Brandon Royval and Alexander Pantoja, twice each, Moreno has taken on much tougher opposition. The 4 fights versus Figueiredo absolutely added to Moreno's resume but they may have also taken a toll.
Eleven of Moreno's 21 wins have come via submission. Each of his last 2 losses were by split decision. So, he's been very close. As a matter of fact, all 8 of Moreno's career losses have been by decision. He's never been stopped. The winner of this fight will hope to take on Pantoja for the belt.
Prediction: In a fight that is expected to go five rounds, I like Moreno's chances of being ahead on the scorecards. He's been in many 5 round wars before. Albazi has only gone 5 rounds once, a split decision win over a fighter which Moreno previously KO'd. Go with Moreno.
The Co Main Event
In the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2) is a -135 favorite over former champion Rose Namajunas (13-6). Blanchfield had a 9-fight winning streak snapped last time out, losing to Manon Fiorot. Namajunas also previously lost a decision to Fiorot but has since responded with consecutive victories. Like the main event, this fight is expected to go the full five rounds. There is a price tag of -270 on the over 4.5 round option.
Previously a strawweight, "Thug" Rose now fights at flyweight. Not only does she dream of being a two division champion but Namajunas says that the weight cuts are now a lot easier and that she is healthier as a result.
Prediction: This was previously going to be the main event. Though it was shifted to the co-main event, it remained 5 rounds instead of 3. The same way that will give an edge to Moreno in the main event, it's going to favor Namajunas in this one. She's had many 5 round battles before, including 4 of her last 5. Blanchfield has only gone 5 rounds once and she lost. Go with Namajunas.
Rogers Place - Edmonton
Last week's event, UFC 308 at Abu Dhabi, featured some high level and exciting fighters. The Main Event didn't disappoint as Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria became the first to defeat Max Holloway by KO. Topuria is absolutely one of the most well-rounded and best pound for pound fighters in the world. I personally really enjoyed the Magomedov/Petrosyan bout and not just because Magomedov's win brought me to 17-1 YTD with UFC sides. Magomedov, who is blind in one eye, got rocked early by Petrosyan, a former sparring partner. He weathered the storm and came back strong, ultimately landing just the 11th spinning backfist knockout in UFC history and remaining undefeated. This week, we head north. It will mark the 34th time that the UFC has been held in Canada, the fifth in Alberta and its third time in Edmonton.
The Main Event
The main event features Brandon Moreno (21-8-2) taking on Amir Albazi (17-1). Albazi has the more impressive record but Moreno is a -165 favorite. The over 4.5 rounds is priced at -210. So, this fight has a pretty good chance of going the full five rounds.
"The Prince" Albazi hails from Iraq. His last fight was in June of 2023, a split decision victory over Kai Kara-France. (Moreno has beaten Kara-France twice.) That was his 6th straight win. Nine of his 17 victories have come via submission.
Off back-to-back loses, Mexican fighter Brandon Moreno, the former flyweight champion, is anxious to get back on track. Having fought Deiveson Figueiredo four times and other opponents like Brandon Royval and Alexander Pantoja, twice each, Moreno has taken on much tougher opposition. The 4 fights versus Figueiredo absolutely added to Moreno's resume but they may have also taken a toll.
Eleven of Moreno's 21 wins have come via submission. Each of his last 2 losses were by split decision. So, he's been very close. As a matter of fact, all 8 of Moreno's career losses have been by decision. He's never been stopped. The winner of this fight will hope to take on Pantoja for the belt.
Prediction: In a fight that is expected to go five rounds, I like Moreno's chances of being ahead on the scorecards. He's been in many 5 round wars before. Albazi has only gone 5 rounds once, a split decision win over a fighter which Moreno previously KO'd. Go with Moreno.
The Co Main Event
In the co-main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2) is a -135 favorite over former champion Rose Namajunas (13-6). Blanchfield had a 9-fight winning streak snapped last time out, losing to Manon Fiorot. Namajunas also previously lost a decision to Fiorot but has since responded with consecutive victories. Like the main event, this fight is expected to go the full five rounds. There is a price tag of -270 on the over 4.5 round option.
Previously a strawweight, "Thug" Rose now fights at flyweight. Not only does she dream of being a two division champion but Namajunas says that the weight cuts are now a lot easier and that she is healthier as a result.
Prediction: This was previously going to be the main event. Though it was shifted to the co-main event, it remained 5 rounds instead of 3. The same way that will give an edge to Moreno in the main event, it's going to favor Namajunas in this one. She's had many 5 round battles before, including 4 of her last 5. Blanchfield has only gone 5 rounds once and she lost. Go with Namajunas.
