Gut Check

via tntsports.co.uk & mixedmartialarts.com

On March 8th, Las Vegas will host another stacked UFC card. With the critical importance of the two fights at the top of the bill, let’s take a deep dive into each. In the co-main event, top contenders collide in a bout that will shake up the lightweight division title picture.

Former interim champion, Justin Gaethje looks to reinsert himself into title contention, and this fight is most definitely the last chance at accomplishing his lifelong dream of becoming a champion. At UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Gaethje asserted himself as the division's number one contender with a brutal knockout over Dustin Poirier, securing the BMF championship while avenging his prior loss against Poirier. Gaethje had all the cards; now all he had to do was sit and wait for his chance at gold. However, he took a massive risk at UFC 300 signing to fight former featherweight champion Max Holloway. For most fans and analysts, this was seen as a favorable matchup for Gaethje, possessing the size and power to dismantle his opponent. However, a five-round domination by Holloway ensued, culminating in a last-second knockout immortalizing itself into UFC history as one of the greatest moments ever. This loss knocked Gaethje down a peg in terms of title contention. This weekend, he will need a dominant victory to reinsert himself as a top contender. His opponent, stepping up on two weeks notice, is a young, hungry Rafael Fiziev. Fiziev is one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. These two met back at UFC 286 in London, England, in a contest that was in contention for fight of the year. At the time Fiziev was looking unstoppable, running through the lightweight division racking up consecutive finishes and looking to cement himself as a top contender with a victory over Gaethje. Many fans expected him to walk through the older battle-tested veteran, however, Gaethje proved many critics wrong with an impressive win, keeping himself in the mix to compete for a championship. Fast forward two years later, and the stakes are relatively identical. After ACL surgery, this is Fiziev’s last chance to prove he is worthy to compete for a title. If he loses this match to a weathered battle-tested Gaethje, he will likely never compete for the title again. Likewise, this is undoubtedly Gaethje’s last opportunity to prove himself as a top contender. Stylistically, we've seen how compelling this matchup is with their previous fight being an all-out war. Both fighters do their best damage on the feet, with elite kickboxing skills and lightning speed overwhelming their opponents. The speed advantage will certainly be in Fiziev’s favor, however, we saw in their last contest that as the rounds wore on his pace slowed and his cardio failed him. The stakes are high for both athletes, and whoever loses this bout, in all likelihood, we will never reach the top again. 

In the main event, Alex Pereira takes on Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight championship. This is a matchup that the MMA Community has been waiting for for over two years. In one corner you have what many think as the face of the UFC. Pereira’s run has been nothing short of remarkable, joining the UFC only three years ago, and cementing himself as an all-time great. The double champion has been on a tear, racking up three title defenses in the calendar year, and looking to make it a fourth against his most formidable challenger. We all know what Pereira brings to the table: unparalleled kickboxing skills coupled with ferocious power. Despite many fans pegging his style as one-dimensional, he has proven that a knockout loss is inevitable if you choose to stand with him. On the other hand, you have another great prospect outside Dagestan. However, Ankalaev is different from what we've seen before.  Despite possessing a combat sambo base, he is one of the most versatile fighters in the division, with his elite skills on the feet and high fight IQ having yet to be matched. Only having one loss in his MMA career, Ankalaev has disposed of everyone put in front of him, and his road to the title could not have been a more challenging. On the surface, stylistically this looks like a classic striker versus grappler matchup, however, Ankalaev has yet to secure a submission victory in his MMA career and has predominantly found success in the sport by virtue of striking. If the Russian chooses to strike with Pereira, victory will be a tall task as no one outside of Israel Adesanya has solved Pereira's puzzle. If the fight goes to the ground, the champion's grappling will finally be tested, and he will need to demonstrate evolution in that department, if he looks to secure a fourth title defense. Ultimately, if Pereira emerges victorious, he will likely move up to heavyweight and challenge for a third belt. With few obstacles left outside of Ankalaev, Pereira is on the cusp of cementing himself as one of the top five fighters ever to do it. It truly is a gut check for the champion who has been accused of avoiding this matchup for years, and it is finally up to him to silence the critics and prove himself once more. Whoever wins is set to dominate the division for years, and this is without a doubt one of, if not the most anticipated matchup this year. Will Pereira again prove his greatness, or will Dagestan have another champion to add to their dynasty? All questions will be answered this Saturday at UFC 313 in Las Vegas