Heavyweights
Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5, 6-5 UFC) vs. Chris Barnett (23-8, 2-2 UFC)UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Saturday at 2 PM ET on ESPN+. Order Now!
Can Nzechukwu find new life at heavyweight? He was particularly raw even per current standards when the UFC picked him up in 2019, so it wasn’t a shock to see his career develop in fits and starts. A gigantic light heavyweight prospect at a lanky 6-foot-5, Nzechukwu had all the natural talent in the world but struggled to find the most effective mentality. He was prone to slow starts and taking a ton of abuse early, only to eventually pick up steam late and find a finish—at least most of the time. At some points, Nzechukwu would just coast to a loss. Nzechukwu’s last two fights were the worst of both worlds, with him getting quickly knocked out by Dustin Jacoby before dropping a decision to Ovince St. Preux in a shockingly flat performance, so it's understandable that he would want to freshen things up with a move up to heavyweight, particularly given his frame. Nzechukwu’s inconsistent level of durability—he’s often particularly hard to hurt but has also eaten two first-round knockouts—could prove to be a liability at heavyweight, so this bout against Barnett figures to be a solid first test in Nzechukwu’s new division, beyond providing an entertaining visual given his opponent’s stocky 5-foot-9 frame.
A 2021 signing, Barnett figured to provide entertainment value more than anything else, combining one of the roundest bodies in the sport with a shocking amount of athleticism. However, he has managed to get into the win column a few times even beyond providing some highlights, including a spinning wheel kick of Gian Villante that marked Barnett’s first UFC knockout. Barnett isn’t the most efficient fighter, as he looks to stay at range and launch single flashy techniques. Nzechukwu provides enough patience that Barnett could easily score a knockout if the Fortis MMA rep’s chin doesn’t hold up. With that said, Nzechukwu sometimes takes his slow-paced approach to the clinch, and smothering Barnett has proven to be fairly effective at the UFC level as long as an opponent can keep it up for three rounds. It’s always an open question if Nzechukwu will continue fighting behind an approach, but that path to victory does appear to be there for the taking. The pick is Nzechukwu via decision.
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