There is potential for this weekend to be one of the most entertaining MMA fight nights of the year with three title fights taking place at UFC 259.
Petr Yan defends his title for the first time against Aljamain Sterling, Amanda Nunes puts her featherweight belt on the line against Megan Anderson and middleweight king Israel Adesanya steps up to light-heavyweight to face champion Jan Blachowicz.
Here, TIBS News breaks down the main card with an analysis of each fight.
Thiago Santos (21-8-0) vs Aleksander Rakic (13-2-0)
These light-heavyweights are looking to make a name for themselves and prove that they are worthy of a title shot before it goes on the line later in the night.
Thiago Santos suffered horrific injuries in 2019 in his loss to Jon Jones – injuring his ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus. The Brazilian didn’t make a comeback until November 2020, where he lost to Glover Teixeira in round three via submission.
Aleksander Rakic was unbeaten inside the octagon until the end of 2019, where Volkan Oezdemir won in a debated split decision. The fighter changed his style for his next fight against Anthony Smith, using his wrestling skills to get the win. The fighter is known for his highlight-reel finishes to fights and will be keen to use them here.
Islam Makhachev (18-1-0) vs Drew Dober (23-9-0)
This lightweight fight promises to be entertaining as Islam Makhachev aims to make it seven unbeaten in a row against experienced Drew Dober.
Makhachev hasn’t fought since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions and injuries limiting his chances. This should not overshadow the skill of the Russian though, who has a six-fight winning streak and another win here would see him in the chances for a title challenge.
Dober has been challenged recently by fans thinking he is not good enough to be considered a title contender anymore. The 32-year-old proved his worth with two vicious finishes against Nasrat Haqparast and Alexander Hernandez in 2020. He has now won three straight fights, all by stoppage, and is slowly creeping into the top-15 range.
Petr Yan (15-1-0) vs Aljamain Sterling (19-3-0)
This fight kicks off the trio of title fights in the bantamweight division, with title holder Yan up against Sterling.
Yan won the title in August 2020, beating Jose Aldo with a fifth-round stoppage on Fight Island. The Russian remains relaxed in the octagon and waits for the final blow to put his opponent to sleep.
Sterling has worked hard and cemented his place as the No 1 contender with an impressive first-round submission win over Cory Sandhagen. The American is known for his grappling skill and will aim to get his opponent in a clinch or down on the canvas from the start.
Amanda Nunes (20-4-0) vs Megan Anderson (11-4-0)
This co-main fight of the evening is set to be intense and have those within the UFC world on the edge of their seats as Nunes defends her title against Anderson.
Nunes defends her title for the second-straight time after she beat Felicia Spencer in June 2020. The Brazilian is the most feared woman in UFC, with a perfect 7-0 record in championship bouts across two divisions.
Anderson has lost just one of her last four fights, finishing her three wins inside the first round. The Australian will know how much of an underdog she is in this bout, but will want to prove to both herself and the world that she is a deserved champion.
Jan Blachowicz (27-8-0) vs Israel Adesanya (20-0-0)
The night ends with Blachowicz putting his light-heavyweight title on the line against unbeaten middleweight champion Adesanya.
Blachowicz’s career has taken multiple twists and turns on his way to the top, starting off his UFC tenure with a 2-4 record. Despite his disappointing start, February 2020 was the 38-year-old’s month as he proved he was a top contender in the division. He then won the title in September laying out Dominick Reyes in round two.
Adesanya rose to the top of the 185-pound ranks in rapid fashion beating Anderson Silva in February 2019, before claiming the interim title in a fight with Kevin Gastelum two months later at UFC 236. He proved how good he was when he successfully defended his title against Yoel Romero and then Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September 2020. He is now looking to add the second title to his collection, moving up to 205 pounds.
UFC 259 promises to be a classic and one of the potential fight nights of the year. All the fighters will believe they have a chance of winning their respective fights and will do whatever it takes to get the win.
By Daniel Perry
