Women’s Bantamweights
Lucie Pudilova (13-7, 2-5 UFC) vs. Yanan Wu (13-5, 1-4 UFC)It is nice to see Pudilova back in the UFC for a second run. If nothing else, she has typically brought some entertainment. Pudilova came to the UFC as a late-notice signing in 2017 and obviously was not ready for the big stage. While she made some hay through sheer aggression, she was not a standout athlete and struggled mightily against opponents who could consistently outwrestle her. She still hung onto the roster for three years despite an overall lack of success and did well to earn her way back to the UFC, winning five out of six fights in her native Czech Republic. Honestly, it does not appear much has changed. She is in better shape physically but still is not much of a finisher; and as her 2021 loss to fellow UFC veteran Talita Bernardo showed, she can still be controlled by someone with a consistent wrestling game. However, considering the state of the women’s bantamweight division at the moment, Pudilova could still make a march up the ladder. None of that figures to matter against Wu. Riding a three-fight losing streak, it is a bit of a surprise that Wu is still with the UFC given how little things have clicked for her during her time with the promotion. She has a long frame, is a passable athlete and has a decent level of skill, but it just has not added up to much. Part of that is “Mulan” typically having an aimless approach centered around a low-output range striking game, which leaves it to her opponents to dictate the terms of the fight while often succeeding in doing so. Even Wu’s lone UFC win saw her snatch an armbar from a disadvantageous position against Lauren Mueller. Pudilova should be able to pour on aggression and is the much more comfortable of the two in the scrap, so this figures to be a successful return to the UFC. The pick is Pudilova via decision.
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Pudilova vs. Wu
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