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The landscape of the Middleweight division shook up at UFC 276.

5 fights to make next in the UFC's Middleweight Division

We discuss the history between these two fighters and their competitive rivalry.

The History Between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira

Douglas Vegas Bets examined the odds heading into each individual fight.

Examining the Odds of the Holloway/Volkanovski Trilogy

Abdullah Ouazri

Charles Oliveira has stated that he will defeat Islam Makhachev on home soil and then call Khabib Nurmagomedov out of retirement.

> I'm gonna beat him. Listen, I will beat Islam Makhachev. The problem in this division is called Charles Oliveira. That's the problem in this division... Forget Conor McGregor. In Brazil, Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev. That's the fight you want? Let's do it. Charles Oliveria vs Islam Makhachev in Brazil. I'm gonna beat him. Then who knows, maybe you (Khabib) will come out of retirement. I'm gonna beat up Islam Makhachev then call out Khabib to fight me. - Charles Oliveira to Crash MMA

Charles feels strongly that he is the champion of the 155lbs weight class and will disprove any other claims. After calling out Conor McGregor following his most recent victory, he has now shifted his attention to the man many believe will defeat him in the near future, Islam Makhachev. 

When asked about it, Khabib Nurmagomedov expressed his feelings towards a super fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev in Brazil. He told AG. Fight: 

> If they say Brazil, we'll love this. Come to Brazil, fight with Brazilian champion, and finish him with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style. I love this. What you think about this? It's going to be hard? I really believe Islam can finish (Charles Oliveira) on the ground - Khabib Nurmagomedov

The UFC Hall of Famer is confident that his protege, Islam Makhachev, will become the UFC Lightweight champion and defeat Charles Oliveira. He believes this is the fight to make and has lobbied for it many times, most recently during the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in an interview with BT Sport's Caroline Pearce. He told the news reporter that Islam's 10-fight win streak and Charles' 11-fight win streak constitute a fight between the two and that only they can settle the debate of who the best Lightweight in the world is.

Should these two fight, the winner will have a firm claim to the title of best Lightweight and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Charles Oliveira Vows to Defeat Islam and Then Call Out Khabib Nurmagomedov in Brazil

Collin Quarles

UFC 276 is officially in the books. The event took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada where the results were a bit of a mixed bag. Despite the diversity in fight quality, there were a few gems on the card, with one historic rivalry reaching an emphatic conclusion.

## Israel Adesanya Coasts to Unanimous Decision Victory

![israel-adesanya-jared-cannonier-ufc-276-4.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f750fb9c-bfad-422c-c8d7-b46e7f15b200/pub "Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier attempting strikes. Credits to: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.")

They can't all be zingers and such was the case at UFC 276 as Israel Adesanya defended his Middleweight crown against the surging Jared Cannonier. The bout was largely dictated by a battle of low kicks and the jab of Adesanya. Many of the movements and attacks we have grown accustomed to seeing were on full display by the Champion, namely, the trademark stance-switching and feints. To be fair to the challenger, "The Killa Gorilla" did have a relatively strong third round, but it seemed like Cannonier was having trouble getting the fight out of first gear. Ultimately, Adesanya walked away with a clear-cut unanimous cecision victory consisting of two 49-46's and one 50-45 scorecard.

## Alexander Volkanovski Pitches Shut-Out Over Max Holloway

![alexander-volkanovski-max-holloway-ufc-276-32.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a059da3e-8d05-4a1d-b238-2adb20b85e00/pub "Alex Volkanovski blasts Max Holloway with a right hand. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.")

Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski made sure there was no controversy this time. In what can only be described as a virtuoso performance, the Aussie Champion butchered fan-favorite Max Holloway for twenty-five minutes. Volkanovski appeared to have a significant speed advantage over Holloway, as he picked him apart from range with lightning-fast jabs and frequently darted in with vicious boxing combinations. Outside of a few well-timed knees, "Blessed" really didn't seem to have an answer to the complex and well-rounded attack that Volkanovski presented. All three cage-side judges scored the bout 50-45, with the Verdict Community having no qualms this time around.

This historical career checkpoint marks four straight title defenses for the Featherweight great, as well as the continuation of an incredible twelve-fight win-streak under the UFC's banner.


## Alex Pereira Sleeps Sean Strickland

![alex-pereira-sean-strickland-ufc-276-6.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/62942649-707e-4b7f-767a-1c6bd9dca100/pub "Alex Pereira lands a fight finishing left hook against Sean Strickland. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.")

Middleweight just gained a new title contender in Alex Pereira. On paper, Sean Strickland represented a formidable challenge; he was well-rounded, composed, battle-tested, and most importantly, the first ranked fighter that Alex Pereira had ever faced. To say that Pereira passed the test would be an understatement, as he was able to dispatch Strickland in less than three minutes into the opening stanza with an expertly set-up left hook to the dome, followed by a sniper-like straight right. As previously mentioned, what was most impressive about the final blow was how "Poatan" set it up by feinting low to the body in order to bait Strickland into dropping his right hand. Despite this only being Pereira's third UFC appearance, don't be surprised to see this man challenge Israel Adesanya for the Middleweight strap in the near future, as Adesanya will likely look to right the wrongs of his past by erasing his losses to Pereira in kickboxing with a win in MMA.

## Bryan Barberena Batters Robbie Lawler

![bryan-barberena-robbie-lawler-ufc-276-21.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/faff6551-b3c2-4e1c-3f53-e8c975478500/pub "Bryan Barberena celebrating his win against Robbie Lawler. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.")

In a battle of the southpaw brawlers, Bryan Barberena came out on top. In a back and forth first round, "Bam Bam" threw a wide variety of strikes Robbie Lawler's way, while "Ruthless" took a more measured approach of slip and rip. It was a story of quantity vs quality in round one, with Lawler seeming to land the more impactful strikes and Barberena connecting more often. It was an extremely contentious first round, with the Verdict Community being relatively split on who won. In the end, how the first round was scored didn't really matter, as Barberena more-or-less put Lawler out on his feet with a series of punches near the end of round two. This victory puts Barberena on an impressive three-fight win streak in the UFC's Welterweight Division.

## O'Malley vs Munhoz Ends in Anticlimactic No-Contest

![pedro-munhoz-sean-omalley-ufc-276-12.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e49cb428-b125-4bc3-e3a8-2c9b70e1ce00/pub "Pedro Munhoz reacts after having his eye poked by Sean O'Malley. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.")

It was a disappointing turn of events in this highly anticipated bout. Rising star Sean O'Malley was looking to finally take the leap into the deep end of the UFC's Bantamweight division by landing a victory over veteran Pedro Munhoz. The first round saw both fighters frequently switching stances as Munhoz chopped away at the legs of O'Malley. The second round saw O'Malley start to pick up the pace a bit and land some punches on Munhoz before he, unfortunately, poked Pedro's right eye when attempting to frame off. Referee Jason Herzog gave Munhoz plenty of time to recover from the injury, however, Munhoz claimed that he was unable to see and the bout was called off.

UFC 276 Post Fight Review

Evan Montgomery 

The UFC delivered a banger with the UFC 276 Pay-Per-View card from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Middleweight title was on the line, with Israel Adesanya once again defending his title. He won a unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier in the main event, securing his fifth title defense in the process.

There are a number of ranked fighters with matches booked on the horizon, with the division sure to take shape over the next few months. At the end of July, Jack Hermansson and Darren Till lock horns in a top-10 bout at UFC London. The following month, Paulo Costa is booked against Luke Rockhold, while former champion and top contender Robert Whittaker will face off with #3 ranked Marvin Vettori in September. This morning, Nassourdine Imavov and Joaquin Buckley were booked for a bout on the same date.

The division is filled with high profile names and rising prospects, so there is no shortage of bangers the UFC matchmakers should have their eyes on.

## Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya further cemented his legacy at Middleweight with another successful defense at UFC 276. He is steadily climbing towards Anderson Silva's record for title defenses and is committed to staying at the weight class to take on new challengers. A contender emerged at UFC 276, as Alex Pereira stormed into the top five of the division with a first round knockout of Sean Strickland. With Alex Pereira holding two wins over Adesanya in kickboxing and Dana White confirming the Pereira/Strickland bout as a title eliminator, this is clearly the fight to make.

## Jared Cannonier vs. Winner of Jack Hermansson/Darren Till

Jared Cannonier did not get his hand raised in the main event, but gave a good account of himself. Indeed, he lasted all five rounds with the champ and brought in a meticulous game plan. Still firmly entrenched in the top five, Cannonier will be looking to rebound and push back for the title. A big challenge is on the horizon as top ten European stars Jack Hermansson and Darren Till are facing off later this month. WIth similar timelines and rankings, whichever fighter proves victorious deserves a step towards the belt.

## Sean Strickland vs. Winner of Paulo Costa/Luke Rockhold

A vicious KO loss to Alex Pereira saw Sean Strickland's title hopes dashed in our featured bout this evening. Strickland was riding a six-fight win streak and is still cemented in the top half of the division, but will need a few more wins to get back in the title picture. Eighth-ranked Paulo Costa will battle Luke Rockhold in August, both looking for a statement finish and to get back in the win column. The victor will match up nicely with Strickland, who will need a little extra time to recover.

## Andre Muniz vs. Derek Brunson

On the early prelims, Andre Muniz picked up a dominant victory, claiming a decision over Octagon veteran Uriah Hall. This win will catapult Muniz into the top ten come Monday, and with an undefeated Octagon streak, he undoubtedly deserves a push towards the title. Derek Brunson recently lost to Jared Cannonier in a title eliminator, leaving him pushing for the record of most wins at Middleweight. With Brunson seated in the top five, a match with the fast rising Muniz would be a stiff test.

## Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kelvin Gastelum

Finally, Dricus Du Plessis scored a decision victory over Brad Tavares on the ABC prelims. Du Plessis is an unorthodox fighter with explosive striking and one shot knockout power, along with a plethora of chokes to his name. He will find a number next to his name on Monday with the win over Tavares. Du Plessis called out Kelvin Gastelum in his post-fight interview, and the bout makes perfect sense. The pair were previously booked in April, but the fight fell through. The rebooking makes even more sense, given their similar ranking and Gastelum's name value.

Five Fights To Make In The UFC Middleweight Division

Douglas Vegas Bets

Alexander Volkanovski was a -185 favorite when he met Max Holloway +170 for the third time this past weekend from UFC 276 from the T-Moblie Arena in Las Vegas. Let's examine the odds from their entire trilogy.


The first two fights saw the pair switch roles as the favorite as Holloway came into the first fight at -175, coming off his win over Frankie Edgar, which was his third title defense in what many believed would be a long reign as champion. Volkanovski was a +145 underdog in the first fight coming off wins over Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, which impressed many; however, some questions remained as he had yet to go five rounds and had been hurt in the Mendes fight. Over the five rounds, Volkanovski proved his value in the underdog roll and came away with a decision win. 

In the second fight, many believed it would be a similar result as we saw Volkanovski come in as a -210 favorite after his very impressive performance in the first fight. Holloway came in the biggest underdog since his fight against Conor McGregor, coming in at +170 for the rematch. We saw Volkanovski win another decision in an incredibly close battle, cashing in the favorite role.

On International Fight Week, we saw the trilogy reach its conclusion with the closing odds having Volkanovski a slightly smaller favorite than the second matchup at -185 after his flawless win over The Korean Zombie back in April showed he has made improvments since the second Holloway fight. Max Holloway had people believing in him after his performance in the second fight and record-breaking performances against Kattar and Rodriguez, as he came in just a moderate underdog at +170 against the now dominant champ. In the end, Volkanovski showed he is on another level in his career by winning every round in a complete shutout performance cashing his third straight winning ticket against Holloway with his most impressive showing to date.

Examining the Odds of the Holloway/Volkanovski Trilogy  

UFC 276 takes place on July 2nd at the T-mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The early prelims will air exclusively on ESPN+ at 6:00 PM EST. The preliminary card will air on ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC at 8:00 PM EST. The main card is an ESPN+ exclusive Pay-Per-View and will air at 10:00 PM EST. Here's a look at how each fighter weighed in.

## UFC 276 Main Card (10 PM EST)

> Israel Adesanya (183.5) vs. Jared Cannonier (184.5)

![9F7089BD-4F41-4A35-A2B1-377B775565B2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7cfde6f6-e924-45bb-3e24-18ba8479c300/pub "Israel Adesanya and Jared Canonnier face off ahead of their Middleweight title bout. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Alex Volkanovski (144.5) vs. Max Holloway (144.5)

![A2FC3B9B-437C-4E8A-A614-AA12D57D381F.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cf270638-749f-455f-a2cc-f5d798924900/pub "Volkanovski and Holloway meet for the 3rd time to settle the rivalry. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Sean Strickland (185.5) vs. Alex Pereira (184.5)

![7CF5D1BE-0FF8-4F05-9021-9B1AF578254C.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f7c7a022-39c7-46a2-3513-253937706c00/pub "Sean Strickland welcomes Alex Pereira to the top of the Middleweight division. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Robbie Lawler (170.5) vs. Bryan Barberena (171)

![DF6EEF8B-46C8-49AD-BDB2-0E552C33D5CB.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/572e9c1d-a79a-4908-df7c-232635bed100/pub "Lawler and Barberena have an intense staredown ahead of their fight. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Pedro Munhoz (135.5) vs. Sean O'Malley (135)

![070B6AD0-6A0F-46D2-923E-E2C0583A2C25.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2d7a4432-d3e5-47ab-4fa4-e30439e59500/pub "Pedro Munhoz looks to defend his ranking against the surging Sean O'Malley. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

## UFC 276 Prelims (8 PM EST)

> Brad Riddell (155.5) vs. Jalin Turner (155.5)

![F3677163-53BA-42E5-A664-107B9DB89450.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2f7ef83a-6b25-4aef-a036-9050c43bba00/pub "Brad Riddell and Jalin Turner have a tense face-off. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Donald Cerrone (170.5) vs. Jim Miller (170.5)

![436696CA-1D0C-456B-B626-3CF82C7F8885.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d88eb2e8-6c1a-433d-d958-bc7018bfca00/pub "Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller meet for the 2nd time, deciding who will have the most wins in UFC history. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Ian Garry (171) vs. Gabe Green (170)

![19831DE4-5AF4-4328-B8F5-A9D892F329F0.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b83e7ca0-2876-4c07-02be-10a6a32c1a00/pub "Ian Garry and Gabe Green refuse to back off from each other. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Brad Tavares (185.5) vs. Dricus du Plessis (185)

![A2EC4D82-DCB6-4D8B-97A3-3836FDF4EC2B.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ad44cd50-b5de-4115-579d-fc9a89af7800/pub "Brad Tavares and Dricus du Plessis face-off with intensity. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

## Early Prelims (6 PM EST)

> Uriah Hall (186) vs. Andre Muniz (185.5)

![C951BF68-6DBA-4E63-A117-8ACE9272D5F3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/782c5851-efc0-47cf-a46a-d4668a1f4000/pub "Uriah Hall and Andre Muniz are stoic ahead of their scheduled fight. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Maycee Barber (126) vs. Jessica Eye (126)

![44EF4003-1762-466D-9FC9-F257CE772520.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0facf21a-0401-453e-d5fe-321897184200/pub "Veteran Jessica Eye welcomes any challenge Maycee Barber may bring. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

> Jessica Rose Clark (135.5) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (136)

![FC181288-D1E9-436D-AA69-3D3C81001BDF.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/29746dce-525d-4d02-d1ab-43cde17c5a00/pub "Jessica-Rose Clark and Julija Stoliarenko kick the night off on ESPN+. Credits to: Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie")

UFC 276 weigh-in results

Tim Witton

We are back this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC 276, one of the most highly anticipated cards of the year. City Kickboxing's two champions, Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya, will defend their titles for the fourth and fifth time, respectively, as they look to cement their dominance amongst their divisions and the pound-for-pound elite. Not only that, from top to bottom, we'll be treated with high octane action, in an instance where every single fight on the card is something to get excited about. 

## Title Fights Take Center Stage

Returning for their second title defenses of 2022, the reigning Featherweight and Middleweight champions make the journey to Las Vegas to put their belts on the line again in two intriguing matchups. First, Alex Volkanovski will have his chance to silence the naysayers with the trilogy match-up against Max 'Blessed' Holloway. Whilst there was no argument with Alex's initial win that set up the rematch, it was a controversial split decision that the Australian walked away with that caused uproar and confusion. Many people feeling Max's early volume had done enough to earn him the nod.

The media was split, and the Verdict Community felt the Hawaiian won the fight. Two years later, he'll finally have the opportunity to avenge his losses and prove to everyone why he was talked about as the Featherweight GOAT for so long.

![alexander-volkanovski-max-holloway-ufc-245-15.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d12d154a-53e5-4090-020f-50060b583c00/pub  "Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway exchanging strikes. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports")


What makes this fight even more exciting than the previous two is that since the fighters last met, both of their games seem to have evolved to new levels. Both have put on masterclass performances, with Volkanovski and Holloway essentially shutting out The Korean Zombie and Calvin Kattar, respectively, for flawless victories amongst their other achievements. Without a doubt, this is top tier talent, and the Verdict Community is completely torn as to who will win, with a slight 51% edge leaning towards Volkanovski.

Following on from the Featherweight trilogy, Israel Adesanya looks to defend his throne once again, against the bruising power puncher Jared Cannonier. Israel has looked untouchable at Middleweight for nearly his entire career, although a spirited Robert Whittaker tested the champion in his last fight more than most. Cannonier will undoubtedly be looking to build upon the moments of fortune seen by Whittaker in that fight, who saw mixed success with takedowns, clinchwork, and counters to Adesanya's kicks. There is absolutely no secret to Adesanya's gameplan, and the kickboxing elite will be eyeing up a stand-up affair and an explosive finish to add to his impressive resume. The 'Killa Gorilla' will have his hands full with Adesanya's game - the blueprint is there to beat The Last Stylebender, but will he be able to execute it?

![jared-cannonier-derek-brunson-ufc-271-32.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6e13eeda-f847-4588-9c81-3104406b3000/public "Jared Cannonier looks to be the one to dethrone Adesanya. Photo credit: Troy Taormina - USA Today Sports")

Both the oddsmakers and Verdict Community are in unanimous agreement about this - it'll be a very tough mountain for Jared to climb. A remarkable 84% of the Verdict Community is confident Adesanya will retain his belt one more time and more than half of those see a finish happening as well. 

## Stacked Main Card

With two other high profile fights that will have huge ramifications in the Middleweight and Bantamweight divisions alongside a guaranteed slugfest Welterweight banger, title fights aren't the only thing to keep us entertained in UFC 276's PPV portion of the event. 

Opening up the main card, Sean O'Malley returns as he continues his ascent up the Bantamweight rankings and takes on the steely veteran Pedro Munhoz. O'Malley has been electrifying both inside and outside the cage, talking a big game and bringing the performances to back the talk up, finishing five of his six UFC wins, and bringing a three fight win streak into this, with all wins coming by way of KO/TKO. His lightning fast hands and mastery of utilising feints have brought huge success so far, however his opponent Munhoz is a slick fighter in his own right, and his iron chin means that in 27 professional fights he has never been finished. 

![sean-omalley-eddie-wineland-ufc-250-1.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bfbb2b25-6999-4955-6807-b05df5d63300/pub "Sean O'Malley lands a right hand against Eddie Wineland. Photo credit: USA Today Sports")


Whilst wins have been hard to come by in recent years, Munhoz has faced nothing but elite fighters and performing admirably against them, picking up four FOTN bonuses since 2019. His recent slump of four losses in his last six fights is nothing to be ashamed of, as all four losses have come against three previous champs and the current champion. It'll be a stern test for O'Malley, but, with many pegging him to become a future UFC Bantamweight champion, perhaps it is his time to add to Munhoz's unfortunate recent record. A solid 75% of the Verdict Community are seeing the aging veteran pass the torch to the fast rising star in O'Malley, with the majority of O'Malley's backers believing he'll finally be the first to finish 'The Young Punisher'.

## A Battle of the Veterans 

Sandwiched in between two ranked bouts, an absolute scrap between 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler and Bryan Barbarena was recently elevated to main card status, much to the delight of UFC fans around the world. With 30 UFC fights and 9 post fight bonuses between them, we have grown to see both men put on undeniably entertaining fights time after time. Utilising boxing heavy attacks, granite chins, and a willingness to walk through fire, this is almost guaranteed to be a slobberknocker slugfest. Both fighters are recently coming off of wins, with Lawler forcing Nick Diaz to wilt retire midway through the third round of their last fight.

Having been on the roster for a combined seventeen years, neither of the men are looking to slow down and will be looking to really put together a win streak that they can build on, something that has eluded both fighters in recent years. A tightly contested battle, the Verdict Community is split on this fight almost dead even, with just the slightest of edges leaning towards Robbie Lawler in this thrilling match up.

## Potential Title Eliminator? 

In a division almost entirely cleaned out by the dominant king Israel Adesanya, there has been a brief period in time where there seemed to be no apparent challenger next in line for the Middleweight crown. Based on recent comments by UFC President Dana White, the fast paced rise of Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira have them on a collision course with the belt themselves, with the winner of their showdown likely getting the nod to challenge Adesanya next should he get past Jared Cannonier. The significance of this is not lost on anyone - Adesanya's and Alex Pereira's kickboxing history has been well documented, with 'Poatan' holding two wins and a vicious knock out over the current Middleweight champ, whilst Sean Strickland currently holds the longest win streak in the Middleweight division list of contenders.

Alex Pereira's lack of experience in MMA has often been talked about as a huge factor in his fights, with people pointing to his lack of wrestling and grappling credentials being a huge hole in his game ready to be exploited. However, in his short time with the UFC, Pereira has shown remarkable improvement already, with a respectable 73% takedown defence rate to ensure the fight stays standing as long as possible. He'll need every last bit of skill to do so against Strickland, as the high volume scrapper is happy to take the fight to any part of the cage, and will likely lean on a wrestling heavy attack to nullify Poatan's lethal stand up game.

![i6lwcrmk7stcdu8inixulzuaiwf4a8laiysulz92cja.0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b0592671-3cc0-4b81-4d8f-e6d0405cef00/pub  "Alex Pereira after winning the Glory Kickboxing Middleweight Contender Tournament. Credits to: Glory Kickboxing")

The UFC matchmakers are showing their brilliance once again, pairing up an enticing scrap that has punters split just as much as the rest of the card. Once again, the Verdict community can't decide on a victor - with a very slight majority leaning towards Alex Pereira continuing his meteoric ascent towards a title challenge. 

## Prelims Show Promise

Whilst the main card is host to title fights and pivotal clashes, the prelims of UFC 276 are also as stacked. Uriah Hall welcomes fast rising and devastating finisher Andre Muniz to the cage, and Donald Cerrone finally makes his return in a late notice rematch against fellow veteran Jim Miller. The Irish phenomenon Ian Garry makes his third trip to the Octagon and looks to extend his unbeaten professional record, whilst South African kickboxing sensation Dricus di Plessis attempts to break into the Middleweight rankings against Brad Tavares. Finally, the prelims are capped off with a fight that looks destined for post fight bonuses, Jalin Turner squares up against Brad Riddell; two quality Lightweights that will be electrifying from the second the fight starts.

![leon-edwards-donald-cerrone-ufc-fight-night-132-17-paul-miller-usa-today-sports.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/621db0d3-d390-4a1f-802e-9115f566dc00/pub "The long awaited return of Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone is upon us. Photo credit: Paul Miller - USA Today")

Right from the very start of the evening we'll be treated to high quality action which you won't want to miss. UFC 276 looks like it'll be one for the ages which you won't want to miss.

The Stories Heading into UFC 276

Doo Ho Choi, whose 2016 fight against Cub Swanson was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, has stated that he plans a return to action with aspirations of moving up in the rankings. Many were uncertain if Choi would ever return to action, but it seems inevitable now.

Choi gave his induction speech remotely through a recorded message as he couldn't attend the event. Choi's battle against Swanson at UFC 206 is widely considered one of the greatest fights of all-time.

![F8593598-6E08-4C97-9541-AEA158051F95.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/37170c80-d375-46db-dbc4-87e178e30000/pub "Doo Ho Choi and Cub Swanson leave it all in the cage in their epic fight of the year contest. Credits to: Esther Lin-MMAFighting")

> I will bring better and more interesting performances in my future fights. I'm a more developed fighter now, and much stronger than before. I believe in myself, I believe I can make it back to the top of the rankings. - Doo Ho Choi

Choi has only fought twice since his battle against Swanson and lost both bouts by KO/TKO, most recently against Charles Jourdain in 2019. A series of breaks and cancellations have forced Choi to the sidelines for nearly 3 years, causing retirement rumors to circulate. 

Prior to his fight against Swanson, Choi was on a 12 fight winning streak in which he finished 10 of his opponents. Choi would be a welcome addition to the Featherweight division. 

Doo Ho Choi sets his eyes on a return to the UFC following his Hall of Fame Induction

The PFL's time under the lights in Atlanta is coming to an end as they put on their final event before heading to cities like New York and London for the PFL Playoffs.\ PFL 6 will display the return of Kayla Harrison in its main event vs. Kaitlin Young and Rory MacDonald vs. Sadibou Sy in its co-main. Let's take a deeper dive into the main card match-ups. 

## Kayla Harrison vs. Kaitlin Young

Kayla Harrison (13-0) has been dominant since transitioning into the sport of MMA as an Olympic gold medalist in judo. She has not lost a single round, let alone fight, in her entire career. With finishes in 10 of her 13 pro fights, Kayla has shown the ability to end the fight however she pleases, having 5 submissions and 5 KO/TKO wins. 

She will take on Kaitlin Young (12-12-1), a veteran of 25 mixed martial arts bouts. Young has experience fighting in many major MMA Leagues such as Invicta, RIZIN, and most recently, the PFL. She is in a must-win situation heading into this fight as she has lost her last 2 fights, most recently to Julia Budd, Kayla Harrison's original opponent. 

## Rory MacDonald vs. Sadibou Sy

Rory MacDonald (23-8-1) is a former UFC title challenger with a dangerous and well-rounded skill set. He has faced the best of the best throughout his career, having fought and defeated fighters like Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, BJ Penn, and Nate Diaz. His last two wins have come by submission in the 1st round. 

Sadibou Sy (10-6-2) will look to add Rory MacDonald to his highlight reel of finishes and put together 3 wins in his last 4. He is coming off of a decision win against Nikolay Aleksakhin, a strong veteran in his own right.

## Ray Cooper III vs. Brett Cooper

Ray Cooper III has been there and done that in the PFL. He was the 2019 PFL Welterweight champion and has fought fighters such as Rory MacDonald, Magomed Magomedkerimov, and Chris Curtis. He lost his last fight in a massive upset against Carlos Leal. Cooper has never felt more motivated and plans to return to his winning ways.

His opponent will be Brett Cooper (28-16), a crafty veteran of the game that is looking to bounce back from a submission loss to Rory Macdonald earlier this year at PFL 3. His last win was an impressive TKO victory in the first round against Tyler Hill.

## Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Dilano Taylor

Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-6) last competed against Ray Cooper III in a war that saw him nearly finish his opponent before Cooper rallied for a 3rd round TKO. It was a loss, but still an impressive performance until the end. He will now try to return to the win column against a surging prospect in the form of Dilano Taylor (9-1).

Taylor is riding an 8-fight win streak and will stop at nothing until he earns PFL gold. Stopping 4 opponents in his last 8, he is intent on earning a finish and inserting himself firmly in the talks as one of the best fighters under the PFL banner. 

## Jarrah Al-Silawi vs. Magomed Umalatov

Riding a 5-fight win streak with 3 TKO wins, Jarrah Al-Silawi (18-3) is a highly touted fighter with 2 wins already in the PFL. His first win was a 1st round finish, and his 2nd was a decision win over UFC veteran Gleison Tibau. He's looked impressive thus far, but so has his opponent.

If the name and record suggest anything, it's that Magomed Umalatov (11-0) is one to keep an eye on. Boasting 10 finishes in 11 wins, Umalatov has showcased a vast array of ways to end the fight, be it by knockout or slick submission. He will now face his toughest challenge yet and looks to pass it with flying colors. 

## Larissa Pacheco vs. Genah Fabian

Larissa Pacheco (16-4) is on the most impressive win streak of her career, riding a 3-fight KO streak, all in the first round. She has faced Kayla Harrison twice in the PFL and took her to a decision both times. Pacheco has found her rhythm, and it's shown, making her a dangerous KO threat in all situations. 

Rebounding from a loss to Harrison, Genah scored a unanimous decision win over Julia Budd in her last outing. Standing at 6'0" tall, Genah is a tricky outing for anyone. She looks to make quick work of her opponent this Friday and reintroduce herself into the waters of the elite.