Preview: UFC on ESPN 35 Prelims

Women’s Flyweights

NR | Gina Mazany (7-5, 2-5 UFC) vs. NR | Shanna Young (7-4, 0-2 UFC)

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BETUS ODDS: Mazany (-180), Young (+150)

Mazany is suddenly at risk of her second UFC stint going much the same way as the first. “Danger” was a bit of a surprising choice as a late-notice replacement to face Sara McMann back in 2017—Mazany did not have much of a resume up to that point—and she failed to get much done over the course of four UFC fights. She grinded out a win over Yanan Wu after losing to McMann, but then fought out her contract with two more losses. However, thanks to her availability during the pandemic, Mazany was back in the UFC in short order in 2020, and this run has followed the same pattern thus far. Mazany lost her return, rebounded with a win and is once again coming off of a loss. That win was a November 2020 victory over Rachael Ostovich and marked Mazany’s cut down to flyweight. Both that and her subsequent loss to Priscila Cachoeira followed the same narrative. Mazany has found success as a controlling wrestler but becomes visibly tired and uncomfortable by the later stretches of the fight, steeling herself against Ostovich for a late finish but suffering a knockout against Cachoeira. In the other corner, Young makes her long-overdue cut down to flyweight at the UFC level. Young was another late-notice signing whose pre-UFC record was not the best, but she has had her strongest performances down at 125 pounds. “The Shanimal” is a well-rounded enough fighter, but she needs everything to click to be effective and has been physically overmatched as a bantamweight. That was particularly true in her two UFC fights to date against Macy Chiasson and Stephanie Egger, who were each able to dictate the terms of the fight with their wrestling. That dynamic makes this fight interesting, as this is essentially a coinflip. Mazany should be able to control large swaths of this fight through her wrestling, but it may only take one big moment of offense from Young to completely change the momentum and get the ball rolling towards a finish. The bet is that Mazany can gut through whatever adversity comes her way and hang on for the decision victory.

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