This week the UFC are continuing to show events at a prime-time for the EMEA audience, with a headline event being played out between two top-five ranked middleweight fighters.
Horse play
The main event this weekend sees two of UFC’s in-form athletes clash as Paulo ‘Borrachinha’ Costa goes head-to-head with Marvin ‘The Italian Stallion’ Vettori.
After an incredible start to his professional career, where he finished all but one of his first 13 opponents, Paulo Costa tasted defeat at the hands of current champion Israel Adesanya. He is masterful with his hands, finishing 11 fights by knockout. The Brazilian has been pro since 2012.
Marvin Vettori was on a five-bout win streak prior his defeat against Israel Adesanya, where he went the five-round distance but lost by decision. Vettori is known for his excellent endurance and resilience, and is an efficient wrestler, with nine wins via submission in his career. The Italian holds a 17-5-1 record and has never been finished. As a teenager, the Italian Stallion moved from Italy to the UK to pursue his MMA career.
Taming the panther
The women’s bantamweight division is full of competition and two promising fighters clash as Jessica-Rose ‘Jessy Jess’ Clark takes on Joselyne ‘La Pantera’ Edwards.
Starting off 3-2 in the UFC, Clark will be hoping to keep the momentum going after winning her last bout by TKO over Sarah Alper. The Australian holds a 10-6 record with 5 finishes under her belt, three wins by knockout, two wins via submission. She has been pro since 2012 and holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Fighting for the third time this year, Edwards will be looking to avenge her first UFC defeat. Fighting out of Panama, Edwards holds an impressive 10-3 record, eight of those wins coming by finishes, five by knockout and three via submission. La Pantera is the first ever Panamanian woman to compete in the UFC.
Fiery Brits in Vegas
There are two fighters out of the UK on this card, with Mason Jones from Blaenavon, Wales, and Jai Herbert, from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England.
Mason won the Cage Warriors lightweight world title before joining the UFC. He now holds a 10-1-1 record and has shown his versatility in the cage, securing four wins by knockout and three via submission. Mason comes up against a UFC debutant in David Onama, who has been finished all but one of his eight career wins, and is currently undefeated.
Jai Herbert was also a world champion in Cage Warriors before signing to the UFC, also in the lightweight division. He has nine career finishes, eight by knockout, but is currently looking to snap a two-loss streak. His opponent, Khama Worthy, holds a 16-8 record and has also lost his last two bouts. Khama secured an impressive first-round knockout on his UFC debut, over Devonte Smith.