Preview: UFC Fight Night 236 ‘Hermansson vs. Pyfer’
Bryczek vs. Potieria
Middleweights
Robert Bryczek (17-5, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ihor Potieria (19-5, 1-3 UFC)ODDS: Bryczek (-198), Potieria (+164)
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It is a bit shocking to see Potieria make the cut down to 185 pounds on late notice, as “The Duelist” did not stick out as an undersized light heavyweight, but it is at least nice to see the UFC keep Potieria under contract despite some middling success. His December loss to Rodolfo Bellato was a barnburner of a bout, and he has done well to improve during his time on the UFC roster. Potieria’s regional record did little to prepare him for better competition in the UFC, as he mostly tried to get by on aggression and physicality, which worked to a point but only got him into the win column against a retiring Mauricio Rua. In his last few fights, Potieria has shown a willingness to at least vary his level of aggression, even if his defense is still quite lacking. Overall, it is a package with potential, particularly if you view his Dana White’s Contender Series fight essentially as his professional debut. It is unclear how Potieria’s game will match up against Bryczek, who is clearly a knockout threat but does tend to rely on opponents respecting that power sooner rather than later. If an opponent can get Bryczek moving backwards, he has historically looked much less effective. The bet here is that Potieria’s size and pace can give him the initiative, but that is essentially a coinflip, particularly given what could be a tough weight cut for the Ukrainian. Either way, this should wind up as a fight where one fighter blows the other’s game open in short order. The pick is Potieria via first-round knockout.
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Hermansson vs. Pyfer
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Bryczek vs. Potieria
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Johnson vs. Flowers
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