Lightweights
Lando Vannata (11-4-2) vs. Bobby Green (25-10-1)In retrospect, Vannata’s hot start to his UFC career may have been the worst thing to happen to him. Vannata entered 2017 set to be a breakout star after a strong 2016 campaign. He memorably stepped in on short notice and nearly beat Tony Ferguson in his UFC debut, then followed that up with a highlight-reel knockout. Instead, a loss to David Teymur kicked off what was essentially two years in the wilderness for Vannata. “Groovy Lando” basically fights in a constant flow state, throwing spinning kicks and other unorthodox strikes in an attempt to confuse his opponents and set up a finish. When it worked against John Makdessi, it was spectacular, but after a step up in competition, Vannata usually just wound up wearing himself out with his inefficient offense. Vannata alternated losses and draws as he tried to figure things out, and his relatively high profile meant that the UFC never truly gave him a step back in competition until 2019, when he was able to run through Marcos Mariano. That just set him up for another tough fight, this time against Marc Diakiese. In February, Vannata was basically back where he started with his unorthodox game, even if it was still enough to get by Yancy Medeiros. This time around, he will face a familiar opponent, as Vannata is scheduled for a rematch of his 2017 bout with Green.
Green came into the UFC via Strikeforce in 2013 and quickly established himself as a potential title contender with four straight wins, including a high-profile victory over Josh Thomson. However, that Thomson win was basically the end of the good times for Green, at least for a few years. Green would lose his next three bouts, plus struggle to even make it to the cage, thanks to a combination of personal tragedies and severe injuries. Since 2017, Green has been back to fighting regularly and looked good doing so, though the judges have made it a frustrating run. Green’s counter-heavy style just does not seem to win many fans on the scorecards. Losses to Drakkar Klose and Francisco Trinaldo came in fights that Green won on paper, only to find himself losing both decisions. Thankfully, that streak stopped against Clay Guida, and now Green gets the chance to make it two straight wins while taking care of some unfinished business.
Their first fight was a banger that ended in a draw, though that decision was a bit controversial. The bout would have been a Vannata win if not for an illegal knee that did not seem to land but still resulted in his being docked a point. Not a lot has changed since then. Vannata went through his mental struggles, and while he never really corrected his issues as a fighter, he has essentially gone full circle to have the same type of confidence that he had in 2017. Vannata should be able to take the initiative here, and he has already shown that he can get the better of Green in a grappling match. The pick is Vannata via decision.
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