The main event for UFC 271, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and challenger Robert Whittaker, is official.
Both fighters came in at 184 pounds and now the time for talk is over. But there were two weight misses on the prelim portion of the card.
The stats are in ☑️
[ #UFC271 | TOMORROW | Live on E+ PPV | B2YB @LoveHempUK ] pic.twitter.com/RGzML9fHTY
— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2022
William Knight, who was fighting Maxim Grishin in a light heavyweight contest, will now fight him at heavyweight after tipping the scales at 218 pounds, 12 pounds over the limit. He also surrender 40 per cent of his purse to Grishin.
The Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell bout has been cancelled for the fourth time after Perez (128 pounds) missed weight two pounds over the flyweight limit of 126 pounds. Schnell declined to fight Perez at that weight.
A quick note that Joe Rogan is officially “unavailable due to a scheduling conflict” for UFC 271. Michael Bisping will replace him, joined by Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier who will call the action.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC 271 FIGHTPASS PRELIMS (6PM ET/3PM PT)
WILLIAM KNIGHT (11-2-0) VS. MAXIM GRISHIN (31-9-2)
Kicking off the PPV in Houston TOMORROW NIGHT! 💥@Knightmare205 vs @MaximGrishin
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims LIVE on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/QWQqkEzHB5
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Grishin has the height and reach advantage but he is also 37 years old and hasn’t fought a lot of big names. Knight missed weight and its to his advantage in this case as he will finish the fight.
Andrews Prediction: William Knight via TKO
JEREMIAH WELLS (9-2-1) VS. MIKE MATHETHA (3-0-0)
A WW banger awaits 💢
🇺🇸 Jeremiah Wells welcomes the debuting Blood Diamond!
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims LIVE on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/LsgxmXtOGn
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Wells is a good fighter but something tells me his rookie opponent isn’t named “Blood Diamond” for nothing.
Andrews Prediction: Mike Mathetha via TKO
DOUGLAS SILVA DE ANDRADE (27-4-0) VS. SERGEY MOROZOV (17-5-0)
A battle at 135 continues the early prelim action on @UFCFightPass & @ESPNPlus 👊
🇧🇷 @DSilva_MMA vs 🇰🇿 Sergey Morozov happens TOMORROW! #UFC271 pic.twitter.com/aL0dbtJ0fM
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Silva will be looking for the knockout but although he will not get it, he should overcome Morozov to get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Douglas Silva de Andrade via UD
A.J. DOBSON (6-0-0) VS. JACOB MALKOUN (5-1-0)
Talented MWs step into the Octagon tomorrow at #UFC271!
🇺🇸 @DobsonUFC vs 🇦🇺 @MambaMalkoun
[ Tomorrow | Early Prelims LIVE on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/zFUKLbMmPT
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Tough one to call, but I think Dobson gets the decision here.
Andrews Prediction: A.J. Dobson via UD
LEOMANA MARTINEZ (9-2-0) VS. RONNIE LAWRENCE (7-1-0)
Closing out the early prelims with 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙞 and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 🔥
🇺🇸 @ManaBoi7 vs 🇺🇸 @RLawrenceUFC
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims LIVE on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/84cWekSrVg
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: I think Ronnie Lawrence outworks Martinez to get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Ronnie Lawrence via UD
UFC 271 PRELIMS (8PM ET/5PM PT)
CARLOS ULBERG (3-1-0) VS. FABIO CHERANT (7-3-0)
LHWs on the hunt for their first UFC victory 🔎
🇳🇿 @UlbergCarlos vs 🇺🇸 @BuffaloMMA8 opens the #UFC271 prelims!
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Prelims LIVE on @ESPN & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/zrkYcr7mdQ
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: This should be a knockout for Carlos.
Andrews Prediction: Carlos Ulberg via TKO
KYLER PHILLIPS (9-2-0) VS. MARCELO ROJO (16-7-0)
Andrews: Phillips should return to form here but will get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Kyler Philiips via UD
ROXANNE MODAFFERI (25-19-0) VS. CASEY O’NEILL (8-0-0)
The Happy Warrior takes on King Casey in our next bout 💪
🇺🇸 @RoxyFighter vs 🇦🇺 @KingCaseyMMA
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Prelims LIVE on @ESPN & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/rycTajizqM
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Modafferi is retiring for a reason and while I hope the Happy Warrior is victorious, I think O’Neill uses her striking to get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Casey O’Neill via UD
ANDREI ARLOVSKI (32-20-0) VS. JARED VANDERAA (12-6-0)
Heavy hitters hit close out the #UFC271 prelims 😤
🇺🇸 @AndreiArlovski and 🇺🇸 @JaredVanderaa go head-to-head!
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Prelims LIVE on @ESPN & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/7qIXM6YEaf
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Arlovski is 43 years old. Vanderaa could catch Arlovski but if he doesn’t, then Andre should get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Andre Arlovski via UD
BOBBY GREEN (28-12-1) VS. NASRAT HAQPARAST (13-4-0)
Opening the main card at 1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣!
🇺🇸 Bobby Green vs @Nasrat_MMA
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/K6X32sXlXb ] pic.twitter.com/t6kTmAE2Fq
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Green impressed me in his last fight. He might not have the technical skills here though. I think Green gets it done.
Andrews Prediction: Bobby Green via UD
ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ (13-4-0) VS. RENATO CARNEIRO (15-4-1)
This weekend's must see matchup keeps the main card MOVING 💥
🇺🇸 @TheGreat155 vs 🇧🇷 @MoicanoUFC
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/K6X32sXlXb ] pic.twitter.com/hC6xkk2A9d
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: If Hernandez keeps it on the feet, he will win.
Andrews Prediction: Alexander Hernandez via UD
JARED CANNONIER (14-5-0) VS. DEREK BRUNSON (23-7-0)
Top MW contenders on deck 🔥
🇺🇸 @KillaGorillaMMA and 🇺🇸 @DerekBrunson share the Octagon TOMORROW!
[ #UFC271 | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/K6X32sXlXb ] pic.twitter.com/UjxY4THTtg
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: This fight depends on Brunson. He fights smart now, so I think he takes Cannonier down to grind out the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Alexander Hernandez via UD
DERRICK LEWIS (26-8-0) VS. TAI TUIVASA (13-3-0)
Andrews: Derrick Lewis shows how it’s done in his hometown.
Andrews Prediction: Derrick Lewis via TKO
MAIN EVENT
(C) ISRAEL ADESANYA (22-1-0) VS. #1 ROBERT WHITTAKER (23-5-0)
ONE. MORE. SLEEP!
🏆 @Stylebender vs 🇦🇺 @RobWhittakerMMA goes down TOMORROW!
[ #UFC271 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/K6X32sXlXb ] pic.twitter.com/mG91qp7GPw
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2022
Andrews: Adesanya should prove too much for Whittaker again unless Rob can get the fight to the ground.
Andrews Prediction: Israel Adesanya via TKO
Enjoy the fights!
@kenaiandrews
