Featherweights
Mirsad Bektic (13-2) vs. Dan Ige (12-2)ODDS: Bektic (-135), Ige (+115)
Over 200 fighters made their Octagon debuts in 2014, and Bektic may have been the most promising of the bunch, which makes his UFC career thus far both successful and disappointing. The Bosnian immigrant is an absolute wrecking machine of a wrestler and can back that up with knockout power. For a while, it looked like injuries would be the only thing to hold him back: As soon as the UFC seemed ready to move him up the featherweight ladder in late 2015, Bektic suffered a torn ACL that kept him out of action for over a year. Since then, Bektic has had some impressive wins that can be downright terrifying in their violence, but he has also had two losses that have careened off the rails in spectacular fashion. In 2017, Bektic was matched against perennial grinder Darren Elkins—a bout that went well enough until Bektic became severely gassed in the third round and allowed his counterpart to stage one of the most surprising comebacks in UFC history. After Bektic rebounded with a few more victories, Josh Emmett managed to take advantage of the most obvious flaw in Bektic’s game. For all his progress, he remains obviously tense on the feet, and Emmett stunned him with a counter and followed up with a stoppage on the ground. Bektic is still just shy of his 29th birthday, so the ceiling remains high. However, he is still overdue for the run towards championship contention that everyone expected years ago.
Bektic will take on Ige, who has been a pleasant surprise since his 2018 debut. Ige did not earn a contract directly off the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series, but he was picked up shortly thereafter. His UFC career got off to a lackluster start after a clear decision loss to Julio Arce, but since then, Ige’s aggressive style has paid dividends, as he has rattled off four straight wins; his June victory against Kevin Aguilar was an underrated war. Bektic will obviously be the most talented opponent of the Hawaiian’s career, but Ige has overachieved every step of the way, and this is his latest and greatest chance to do so.
A loss here is probably one too many for Bektic, at least in terms of living up to his hype, but thankfully for him, this fight should be somewhat forgiving. Ige is much more naturally aggressive on the feet, so his blitzing approach may lead to some success, but even if he can connect with Bektic’s jaw, it difficult to see where it will go. Ige is more of a club-and-sub finisher who relies on his scrambling, and every attempt to lock horns with Bektic figures to end with the Hawaiian getting reversed and controlled. While Bektic’s gas tank issues manifested in a huge way against Elkins, Ige’s cardio is nearly as suspect, particularly if this turns into a grinding affair. Ige should be game throughout, but the pick is Bektic via decision.
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