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Lightweights
NR | Matt Frevola (8-2-1, 2-2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Terrance McKinney (10-3, 0-0 UFC)ODDS: Frevola (-265), McKinney (+225)
It has been a weird few years for Frevola. The Long Islander impressed on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series, and after suffering a shockingly quick knockout loss in his UFC debut against Marco Polo Reyes, the “Steamrolla” went about showing off his wares. Frevola’s style is marked by constant aggression, whether it is going after his opponents with strikes or relying on a strong wrestling game; and the result has been entertaining fights every step of the way. However, after a 2019 win over Luis Pena, Frevola’s career has seemed snakebit. A fight with Frank Camacho fell through due to a cornerman testing positive for COVID-19, and then Frevola got injured in the leadup to a September bout against Roosevelt Roberts. That combination kept Frevola out for all of 2020. Frevola looked to kick off 2021 against Ottman Azaitar before the latter’s infamous incident breaking COVID-19 protocols. Instead, Frevola was thrown into a much tougher fight against Arman Tsarukyan after the Russian also lost his opponent. After losing that bout, Frevola was booked against Camacho once again on this card, only for “Frank The Crank” to get injured in a car accident during fight week. Camacho appears to be fine, but Frevola will instead face a UFC newcomer. McKinney comes from a wrestling background, but his fights are all about the finish, win or lose. “T. Wrecks” has only made it out of the first round twice in his 13 professional fights. His 2019 DWCS bout against Sean Woodson does not say the best things about McKinney’s gas tank, as there was a point in the second round where he obviously started to slow down. He ate a flying knee for the finish shortly thereafter. McKinney is wild and dangerous enough early that he could score a knockout, but Frevola’s relentless approach should make this tough going for if this makes it any length of time. The pick is Frevola via third-round stoppage.
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