Preview: UFC 297 Prelims

Bantamweights

Serhiy Sidey (10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ramon Taveras (9-2, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Sidey (-185), Taveras (+154)

UFC newcomers square off in a rare Dana White’s Contender Series rematch. When Sidey and Taveras were paired off in September, it figured to be an enjoyable exercise. Both men are at their best stalking down their opponents and looking for a knockout, and the lack of defense involved made it likely that someone would be able to land one. Sidey wound up stunning Taveras about two and a half minutes into the fight, but the subsequent stoppage seemed a bit early. Sidey still earned a contract with the win, and once Taveras found himself on the UFC roster with a knockout win a few weeks later, the UFC made the call to re-book this fight on the former’s home turf. Again, this should provide some entertaining action, if only because Florida’s Taveras and Ontario’s Sidey each know no other way. A knockout win either way would be unsurprising, but between how the first fight went and the fact that Sidey seems like the more physically talented fighter, he gets the nod in what should be another quick and violent sprint. The pick is Sidey via first-round knockout.

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