Preview: UFC 298 Prelims

Welterweights
Josh Quinlan (6-1, 1 N/C) vs. Danny Barlow (7-0)
Odds: Barlow (-198), Quinlan (+164)

This is an interesting pairing with some potential for violence. Quinlan was a standout on the 2021 edition of the Contender Series, scoring a 47-second knockout in a performance impressive enough to keep his prospect shine going even after a failed drug test. But that's been the best showing thus far for Quinlan, an obvious talent that sometimes struggles to turn his tools into consistency. Quinlan's performances on the regional scene were a bit meandering, even though he had enough horsepower to find a finish every time out, and while his quick knockout of Jason Witt was a solid start to his UFC career, those issues came home to roost in a loss to Trey Waters where Quinlan never found a point to leverage his way into the fight.

UFC newcomer Barlow has followed a somewhat similar path to the promotion, though the Tennessee native is a different mold of fighter; he's also an obvious physical talent that can be overly patient at times. But while Quinlan is at his best as a pocket puncher, Barlow is a long striker that can usually peck away at his opponents effectively until he breaks the fight open. Like Quinlan, Barlow showed his most aggressive form to date in winning a sprint on the Contender Series last year, and hopefully that's something that carries forward, if only from an entertainment standpoint. Barlow can sometimes overextend himself while throwing punches, so there's a chance for Quinlan to blast him with a huge counter, but this does seem like the UFC newcomer's fight to lose, particularly if both fighters take their time trying to make something happen. This would be a good time for one of these two to take the initiative, both from an entertainment and effectiveness standpoint; the pick is Barlow via decision.

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Quinlan vs. Barlow
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