Preview: UFC Fight Night 184 Main Card

Bantamweights

No. 13 | Cody Stamann (19-3-1, 5-2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Askar Askar (11-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: N/A

Stamann has been a surprisingly successful fighter during his UFC tenure, if only because his signing was a bit of an afterthought. Michigan’s “Spartan” was signed for what was essentially a filler fight at UFC 216 but quickly announced himself as a prospect to watch with subsequent wins over Tom Duquesnoy and Bryan Caraway. Now ensconced on the fringes of the UFC’s Top 15, the hope is that Stamann can turn some sort of corner in terms of dynamism. Despite his bricked-up frame, Stamann has been held back by a surprising lack of finishing ability, leaving him without much of a path to victory against better athletes who can match his pace. Stamann was initially slated for a banger of a matchup against Merab Dvalishvili, but instead, he winds up facing his third scheduled opponent in Askar, a UFC newcomer. Chicago’s Askar has some potential as an aggressive pressure fighter and should be able to show off against some of the lower reaches of the UFC’s bantamweight roster, though there is some concern that his all-offense style could leave him open to suffer a brutal knockout. Stamann’s lack of finishing ability makes this a bit more interesting than it normally would be, but he also should be able to rely on his wrestling to grind out a win against a late-notice opponent if anything goes wrong. The pick is Stamann via decision.

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