Women’s Flyweights
Sabina Mazo (6-0) vs. Maryna Moroz (8-3): Colombia might finally get onto the UFC map in earnest, thanks to the efforts of an undefeated newcomer in Mazo. The Medellin native got onto everyone’s prospect radar with consecutive head kick knockout wins in the Legacy Fighting Alliance, and since then, “The Colombian Queen” has stood out as a potent range striker. There are still a bunch of questions, but at 22 years old, there is also time to answer them. She will take on Ukraine’s Moroz, who has struggled since an impressive debut win over Joanne Calderwood. Moroz’s long frame should have made her more effective on the feet and she is content to play for low-percentage submissions from her back, so maybe a move to American Top Team will pay off after her current long injury layoff. Even if Moroz has not improved in the last year, her reach alone may give Mazo some issues, so this might be a deceptively tough test. With that said, Moroz will probably lose this by engaging Mazo on her own terms. The pick is Mazo via decision. ODDS: Mazo (-185), Moroz (+160)Bantamweights
Alex Perez (21-5) vs. Mark De La Rosa (11-1): Here is another 2019 special, with two traditional flyweights moving up to 135 pounds. Perez has looked good during his UFC tenure, running through his first few opponents with an aggressive and well-rounded game before Joseph Benavidez turned him back in one-sided fashion in November. He will look to rebound against De La Rosa, who might have a tougher time moving up to bantamweight. De La Rosa’s core competency is a strong scrambling game, but he is not all that physically imposing. He could grab a submission here, but Perez is a solid enough submission artist in his own right. Plus, with Perez’s physical advantages and his tendency to start aggressive and strong, it is unclear how well De La Rosa can survive the initial blitz. The pick is Perez via first-round stoppage. ODDS: Perez (-240), De La Rosa (+200)Related Articles
