Lightweights
Natan Levy (7-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Genaro Valdez (10-1, 0-1 UFC)This fight should be exciting while also hopefully answering some questions. Valdez brings entertainment if nothing else, though it is unclear how much success he will have at the UFC level. “Rayadito” rode a string of quick wins to a UFC contract via Dana White’s Contender Series, but there are some red flags. A lot of his success relied on a wrestling threat that may not be there against better competition, and while Valdez managed to score a second-round finish on DWCS, he looked absolutely exhausted by the time that fight was over. That last point was not a problem in his January debut against Matt Frevola, because things did not even get that far. The two men combined for about three minutes of absolute war until Frevola took things over—he stifled Valdez’s wrestling in the process—and prompted a stoppage. Valdez looks to rebound against Israel’s Levy, who is an interesting challenge with his own issues. Levy is obviously a standout athlete, and his entire game revolves around leveraging that fact. Levy’s offense is built on explosive moments, whether it is powerful single strikes or high-amplitude wrestling. That was enough for Levy to work his way through the regional scene without much difficulty, but the cracks have started to show a bit against better competition. Opponents have been less cowed by the athleticism and danger that Levy brings to the table, forcing him into much tougher fights and showing that his gas tank tends to fade a bit down the stretch. The only sure thing in this fight figures to be Valdez finding plenty of early success with his aggression and volume, but it is unclear how everything else plays out. Levy has not really had to survive an opponent who is willing to send things completely off the rails like Valdez, and it is uncertain who is going to tire first if this starts off as an all-out war. Valdez gets the narrow nod if only because his hot start is the surest thing to bet on, but it would not be a shock if this went any number of ways. The pick is Valdez via decision.
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