The UFC continues with action this weekend as once again the UFC APEX hosts another incredible fight card. Jack Hermansson who is currently the #11 UFC Middleweight contender is set to take on a fighter with huge potential in the weight division, Joe Pyfer, as they headline UFC Vegas 86. Both men are desperate to make an impact in this fight so let's take a closer look into the main event.
Middleweights this Saturday!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 5, 2024
🇸🇪🇳🇴 Jack Hermansson vs Joe Pyfer 🇺🇸 at #UFCVegas86 pic.twitter.com/JngJEgzRp3
Jack Hermansson did not get to brawl in 2023 due to an undisclosed injury as he was set to face Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 74. Hermansson's most recent bout did not end well as he lost to Roman Dolidze by second-round TKO at UFC Orlando.
The Swedish fighter has not been on a winning streak since 2019 as top contenders, Jared Cannonier, Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland have stopped Hermansson in his tracks. The last triumph Jack had was at UFC London in July 2022 when he defeated the current #13 Middleweight contender, Chris Curtis, by unanimous decision.
The Joker may have not stopped any of his opponents since 2020, but he has proven he can submit and knockout his opponents as out of the 23 victories Hermansson has earned 11 of them by KO/TKO and six by submission.
A win at UFC Vegas 86 will not only maintain his contender's spot in the Middleweight rankings but get him back on his feet and clear the ring rust since he has not fought in over a year.
Joe Pyfer has been unbeatable ever since he was contracted to the UFC. Pyfer earned a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) when he defeated Ozzy Diaz by second-round TKO.
The New Jersey-born fighter has had three fights in the UFC and won them all. Pyfer defeated Alen Amedovski by first-round TKO on his debut at UFC Vegas 60 before conquering UFC veteran and submission artist, Gerald Meerschaert, by first-round TKO at UFC 287.
Bodybagz's most recent victory came at UFC Vegas 80 when earned a second-round submission win over Abdul Razak Alhassan which is the win which made him a recognisable fighter in the MMA community.
A win for Pyfer will ensure that he enters the Middleweight rankings and put all of the contenders on notice as a potential star is in-bound and ready to cause havoc.
Other Fights you should look out for
Trevin Giles vs Carlos Prates - Giles did not have the greatest time in 2023 as despite earning a split decision victory over Preston Parsons at UFC San Antonio, he lost convincingly to UFC prospect, Gabriel Bonfim, by first-round submission at UFC 291.The Texan fighter has not may not be on top form recently but, he has shown to be tough competition as he defeated the likes of ranked fighters before contracted into the UFC, defeating the likes of Brendan Allen and Ryan Spann as he looks to get back to winning ways.
Prates makes his UFC debut in Las Vegas after earning a contract from DWCS when he defeated Mitch Ramirez by second-round TKO. The Nightmare is currently on an incredible run in his MMA career as he is on a seven-fight winning streak with six consecutive knockout wins which have come in either the first or second round. A win on his debut would be his best achievement yet and it would not be surprising if it ends with a knockout.
Michael Johnson vs Darrius Flowers - Johnson has not been victorious since December 2022, earning a unanimous decision win over Marc Diakese at UFC Orlando. The Menace's most recent fight did not end well as he lost by a devastating knockout to Diego Ferreira at UFC Vegas 73. Johnson has faced to of the greatest fighters in the Lightweight division such as; Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz and more. A win at UFC Vegas 86 will help Michael Johnson get back on track and prove that he still has what it takes.
Flowers made his UFC debut in his most recent fight which did not go according to plan as he lost by second-round submission at UFC 291 against Jake Matthews. Beast Mode did earn a UFC contract 11 months before his first fight with the organisation as he grabbed a first-round submission win over Amiran Gogoladze on DWCS. Flowers will be chasing his first win in the UFC and it will be against a very well-experienced opponent.
Brad Tavares vs Gregory Rodrigues - Tavares has fought in the UFC since 2010 as he has proven to be a veteran and a tough competitor of the company. His most recent fight ended successfully as he defeated former UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman, at UFC 292 which redeemed his previous first-round knockout loss against Bruno Silva at UFC Vegas 71. Tavares has the opportunity to start a winning streak and possibly get a chance to fight for a contender's spot in the Middleweight rankings.
Rodrigues amazed the crowd in his most recent bout at UFC 292 when he knocked out Denis Tiuliulin in the first round. The win made up for his home-country knockout loss at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Robocop has 12 stoppage wins out of the 14 victories he has with three of his opponents submitting to him and nine ending with a knockout. Like Brad Tavares, Rodrigues will look to begin a winning streak and potentially have the opportunity to enter the Middleweight rankings.
Dan Ige vs Andre Fili - Ige fought three times in 2023, defeating Damon Jackson by second-round knockout, conquering Nate Landwehr by unanimous decision and losing to Bryce Mitchell by unanimous decision. Ige has never been stopped or finished in his MMA career, earning five submission and knockouts wins. The #13 Featherweight contender will look to maintain his ranking in the weight division and hopefully face a higher ranked fighter in the future.
Fili had great fortune in his most recent fight as he earned a first-round TKO win over Lucas Almeida at UFC 296 which redeemed his unanimous decision loss against Nathaniel Wood at UFC London. Touchy has fought in the UFC since 2013 and has never got higher than a two-fight winning streak in the organisation as a win against Dan Ige will equal his personal best and earn him a spot in the Featherweight rankings.
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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