UFC Fight Night: Dawson Vs. Green Preview
With the UFC returning after its first weekend without a card in 17 weeks, the stage is set in Las Vegas at the Apex Arena. Headlining his first event will be Grant Dawson, who has slowly been amassing an impressive undefeated run in the UFC since his 2017 Dana White Contender Series victory. Since then, he has won nine straight fights in the lead-up to face-off against UFC veteran Bobby 'King' Green, who is coming fresh off a late submission win over Tony Ferguson. Elsewhere, we have exciting fights across several divisions, including Joe Pyfer, Joaquin Buckley, Drew Dober, and Alexander Hernandez. That being said, let's have a more in-depth look at the card.
Alexander Hernandez Vs Billy Algeo
Weight class: Featherweight
Kicking off the main card is an exciting match-up between two fighters looking for consistency within their UFC careers. Alexander Hernandez debuted in the UFC with an impressive 42-second knockout over Beneil Dariush in 2018. He followed this up with a victory over PFL champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier and looked like the next big prospect. However, he would fall flat in his next bout against UFC veteran Donald Cerrone due to a second-round TKO, and since that loss, he has not been able to find consistency. Going back and forth with wins and losses amounting to a UFC record of 6-5. However, coming off an impressive dominant performance against Jim Miller in his last outing, Hernandez will be looking for back-to-back victories for the first time since 2018. A man in a similar position in Billy Algeo will stand opposite him. With a UFC record of 4-3, Algeo will be looking to build upon his most recent submission victory over T.J Brown. 3-1 in his last 4 with a close split decision loss to Andre Fili, Algeo will undoubtedly take a lot of confidence into this fight. This fight could be a decider for both men in projecting their UFC careers in their desired direction.
Drew Dober vs. Ricky Glenn
Weight class: Lightweight
The second fight on the main card will see two athletes looking to bounce back from a loss. After almost ten years since he appeared in the finale of TUF 18, fan-favorite Drew Dober will look to rectify his recent loss to Matt Frevola. Before this loss, Dober was riding a 3-fight winning streak, with all three fights coming by way of KO or TKO. Dober has been ever present in the lightweight division and never fails to impress with his exciting do-or-die fight style. His opponent, Glenn, will be looking to bounce back from his first-round KO defeat to Christos Giagos and secure his first UFC win since 2021. Before the Giagos loss, Glenn impressed fans in a bout with weekends headliner Grant Dawson, which ended in a majority draw. With two game veterans squaring off and 70 fights between them, this one promises to be an excellent fight.
Alex Morono Vs. Joaquin Buckley
Weight class: Welterweight
Next up is an interesting match-up and a big test for both men. Alex Morono has been every present in the UFC since his debut in 2016 with an impressive record of 12-5(1). In more recent history, he is 5-1 in his last six since 2021, with his only loss coming after he took a fight on five days' notice against Santiago Ponzinibbio. In this impressive run, he has beaten Donald Cerrone, David Zawada, Mickey Gall, Matthew Semelsberger, and most recently, a submission victory over Tim Means. On the other hand, Joaquin Buckley had a successful debut at Welterweight against Andre Fialho with an impressive head-kick TKO in the second round. After two back-to-back defeats at middleweight, Buckley looked to reinvent himself in the weight class below. Looking to build on his impressive start, he faces a step up in competition and will certainly have his hands full in an exciting bout this Saturday.
Joe Pyfer Vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Weight class: Middleweight
In the co-main event of the evening, fans will see Joe Pyfer look to extend his impressive start in the UFC. After failing to win in his 2020 contender series bout, Pyfer returned two years later and secured a contract with a second-round TKO. Since then, Pyfer has fought twice in the UFC and captivated fans with first-round finishes over Alen Amedovski and veteran Gerald Meerschaert, bringing his record to an impressive 11-2 with ten finishes. Pyfer has also been active in Fury grappling, showcasing a well-rounded game. Looking to spoil the party in the opposing corner will be Abdul Razak Alhassan. Alhassan is coming off a second-round KO victory against Claudio Ribiero after a close split decision loss to Joaquin Buckley in the fight beforehand. Alhassan has been unfortunate with rescheduling in the last couple of years, meaning he has only fought twice since August 2021. However, Alhassan is a powerhouse in the middleweight division, with all 12 wins coming by way of knockout, and he will be stepping inside against another elite finisher in Pyfer. This fight will be fireworks from the opening bell and a real test for both athletes, with much to gain from a victory.
Grant Dawson Vs. Bobby 'King' Green
Weight class: Lightweight
The card's main event will see Grant Dawson enter his first five-round fight in the UFC. With an impressive undefeated record with the company so far, Dawson boasts a record of 20-1-1. With eight wins in the UFC and five via finish, Dawson has been on the radar of many top lightweights for some time. To take his game to the next level, however, Dawson has a difficult task with UFC veteran Bobby 'King' Green standing in his way. With 46 professional fights, Green won't be phased by the spotlight as he steps into his second main event in the UFC. This looks to be the classic grappler vs. striker fight, with a massive opportunity for both men to make a statement when all eyes are on them this weekend. Green is returning after his first submission win since September 2013, when he defeated Tony Ferguson in July. Currently ranked 10th in the Lightweight division, a decisive victory could score Dawson a big-name fight he craves. In contrast, on the other hand, an upset victory for Green could see him enter the rankings and match him up with the top of the division.
