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Lightweights
NR | Fares Ziam (11-3, 1-1 UFC) vs. NR | Luigi Vendramini (9-1, 1-1 UFC)ODDS: Ziam (-135), Vendramini (+115)
This figures to be an entertaining bout and should answer some questions about each of these relatively unproven prospects. Brazil’s Vendramini was put in a rough position for his UFC debut back in late 2018. “The Italian Stallion” stepped in on late notice just two weeks after his last bout, moving up a weight class to face highly regarded welterweight Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Vendramini put in a game effort before getting finished in the second round, then dropped off the map for about two years due to injuries. Vendramini returned in October to face Jessin Ayari back down at lightweight, and he apparently put the time off to good use, scoring a knockout victory in just 72 seconds. He will look to follow up on that momentum against France’s Ziam, who is also looking to put together two straight wins. Ziam has some physical tools as a rangy lightweight, but he has had trouble dictating the terms of his two UFC bouts to date. Don Madge used his clinch to grind out a win, and while Ziam won his last bout against Jamie Mullarkey, it was mostly due to Ziam’s brief moments of striking offense in between Mullarkey taking him down at will. Vendramini’s aggressive enough that he should be able to dictate the terms of this fight early, but everything past that is a question mark. Vendramini is the better finisher, but Ziam has proven durable and the Brazilian’s gas tank has not been tested much to date. Add in the uncertainty regarding who holds the advantage in the grappling department, especially factoring in Ziam’s size advantage, and this could go any number of ways. In fact, it might be the hardest fight to read on the card. Vendramini should be the one leading the dance, and if he wins it is likely to come via finish. In a coinflip, the pick is Vendramini via second-round stoppage.
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