This summer has been a never-ending marathon of UFC events, and the lack of one last week was a welcome break from the non-stop scheduling. This weekend, we’re back in action with a Sunday night fight card: UFC Fight Night 74 – Holloway vs Oliveira. The event takes place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (along with two fairly meaningless fights on UFC Fight Pass). The main event is an excellent top contender bout between two young featherweight prospects, and there are a few other interesting bouts on the card, to make for a very solid Fight Night line-up.
Main Event: [#6 FW] Max Holloway vs [#7 FW] Charles Oliveira
Worth: $20
Why: I have been, at best, lukewarm on the featherweight division in the recent years as Jose Aldo decimated every contender put in front of him and was starting on the rematch circuit. Fortunately, some much needed new blood has been recently injected into the Top 10. With the interim champion Conor McGregor bringing a lot of eyes to the division, the title unification match between McGregor and Aldo scheduled for UFC 194 is certain to be one of the most hyped fights of the year. And the winner of Holloway vs Oliveira will most likely have to face the currently idle Frankie Edgar for the next shot at the title.
Besides the title implications, this fight is a great matchup of styles between two young and hungry contenders. At 23 years old, Max Holloway is already 9-3 in the Octagon, winning six in a row since his decision loss to McGregor two years ago. Holloway fights often (four times in 2014, and on his third fight this year) and seems to be improving with every bout. Primarily a striker, Holloway has a couple of submission wins under his belt – including one in his most recent fight against Cub Swanson. However he is unlikely to match his opponent’s skills on the ground, and would be wise to keep this fight standing. Charles ‘do Bronx’ Oliveira is another young veteran – 25 years old with an 8-4 (1 NC) record in the UFC. Oliveira is a grappling wizard, though his striking defense and chin have been questionable at times; he is also coming into this fight on a four win streak. This matchup will come down to who is able to better impose their will on the opponent and keep the fight in their comfort zone.
Fight: [#19 WW] Erick Silva vs [#27 WW] Neil Magny
Worth: $10
Why: Originally Erick Silva was slated to face Rick Story on this card; when Story pulled out with an injury, Neil Magny agreed to step in – not only on short notice, but mere three weeks removed from his last fight. Magny saw his 7-win streak come to an end when he was dominated on the ground and submitted by Demian Maia. One of the UFC’s most active fighters in recent years, he is anxious to get back on the winning track. Magny is somewhat a jack-of-all-trades, and he is taking on another very well rounded and exciting fighter in Erick Silva. Silva has had very mixed results in his UFC career so far, alternating wins and losses in his first 7 bouts, and was finally able to win two in a row in his most recent fights. Silva’s biggest problems seems to be his cardio – something that Magny will have a big advantage in; however in the first round Silva may be one of the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division. I expect this to be an exciting fight that should not go to the judges’ scorecards.
Fight: [#30 WW] Josh Burkman vs [#47 WW] Patrick Cote
Worth: $1
Why: I could never comprehend why UFC decided to bring back Josh Burkman, and his UFC return thus far has been a bust. Patrick Cote is… well… Patrick Cote. Somehow he’s managed to accumulate a respectable 4-2 record in the latest of his many stints in UFC – though not against the highest level of competition, and boring the audience to sleep in most of his recent fights. This fight would have made a lot more sense about 10 years ago. I’ll give it a dollar for old times sake.
Fight: [#36 LW] Francisco Trinaldo vs [#46 LW] Chad Laprise
Worth: $1
Why: Undefeated 29-year-old Chad Laprise was a highly touted prospect when he won ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Nations’ tournament as a welterweight in his UFC debut. While he managed to keep his perfect record intact with three wins inside the Octagon, all three have gone to a decision and weren’t the most exciting fights. His opponent Francisco Trinaldo has been fighting in the UFC since 2012 and amassed a 7-3 record; Trinaldo started out as a middleweight on ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’, but dropped to a more natural fighting weight after the TUF finale – just like Laprise, and so many other TUF alumni. Trinaldo has been mostly flying under the radar despite his 10 UFC fights, of which the last five have gone the distance. At 36, his upside is likely limited, and from what I’ve seen of both fighters I don’t have very high expectations of this being an exciting fight. I’ll give it a dollar anyway, in hopes to see Laprise show some improvements and live up to his potential.
Fight: [#6 W115] Maryna Moroz vs [#21 W115] Valerie Letourneau
Worth: $2.50
Why: A virtual unknown before her UFC debut, Maryna Moroz shocked the MMA world with a huge upset win over a much more experienced Joanne Calderwood. She will now take on the Canadian Valerie Letourneau, and attempt to keep her undefeated record intact. As always in women’s fights, bet on the younger fighter, and a win here could put Moroz in title contention after the rematch between the current strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and top contender Claudia Gadelha.
Fight: [#36 LHW] Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs [#67 LHW] Nikita Krylov
Worth: $5.00
Why: Nikita Krylov is somewhat of a phenomenon. At 23 years of age with 22 professional fights and 18 wins – all of them stoppages, Krylov shares the sixth spot on the record for the shortest average win time. He hasn’t set the UFC on fire with the overall record of 3-2, but he continued the trend of finishing his opponents, and looks to be better suited for the 205 lbs weight class where he won his last two bouts after losing to Ovince St. Preaux in his light heavyweight debut. He is facing Marcos Rogerio de Lima, who has an impressive finish rate of his own and knocked out both of his UFC opponents in the first round. I don’t know who to pick in this fight, but we’re virtually guaranteed to see a finish.
—
Fox Sports 1 Event Worth: $39.50
Fox Sports 1 Valuation: $5 (see how I came up with this valuation)
Net Value: $34.50
—
Fight Pass Prelims Worth: $0
Fight Pass Year-to-Date Cost: $79.92
Fight Pass Year-to-Date Value: $-14.42
—
Cable (FS1/FS2/FX) YTD Worth: $489.50
Cable (FS1/FS2/FX) YTD Valuation: $90
Cable (FS1/FS2/FX) YTD Net Value: $399.50