Preview: UFC on ESPN 32 ‘Kattar vs. Chikadze’

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Featherweights

NR | Joanderson Sa de Brito (12-2-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. NR | Bill Algeo (14-6, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Brito (-135), Algeo (+115)

Algeo is in an interesting spot. One of the more solid fighters that the UFC picked up on late notice during the coronavirus pandemic, it says a lot that “Senor Perfecto” was able to hold his own in a late-notice debut against a veteran as savvy as Ricardo Lamas. That is particularly true given Algeo’s style. Despite having a long frame for the featherweight division, Algeo focuses a lot on pressure and pace at the expense of range and defense. Given that Lamas essentially made his career on exploiting opportunities via the gaps in his opponents’ games, it was impressive that Algeo went three hard rounds and took Lamas to a close decision. Algeo has gotten some good things done in his two fights since, but the results have been mixed. He outlasted Spike Carlyle, but it was a bit disappointing from an Algeo standpoint to see Ricardo Ramos take advantage of most grappling exchanges and impose his will over three rounds. There is a path for Algeo to become a solid veteran with a long UFC career, but the worry at this point is that he does not have the level of athleticism to find consistent success, particularly with a style that gives his opponent a lot with which to work. A win here would do a great deal for Algeo, as he takes on a recent Dana White’s Contender Series standout.

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Brito is an extremely entertaining fighter, as “Tubarao” is a ball of pure aggression, throwing gigantic knockout punches as a path to wrestling and grappling with his opponents—a phase where he also constantly hunts for the finish. There is a point where his gas tank can break, but that point comes after at least 10 minutes of constant danger, and when Brito’s berserker style fully clicks—as it did in his 2019 win over Jose Mariscal—the results are beautifully brutal. Algeo may be able to survive and take over this fight late, but given how much opportunity he offers his opponents, this feels like the absolutely wrong matchup for the UFC vet given how much firepower Brito brings to the table. The pick is Brito via second-round submission.

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