The UFC is in Jacksonville Saturday as featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his crown against crowd favourite Korean Zombie.
Earlier today however, heavyweight Marcin Tybura was forced to pull out of his contest with Jairzinho Rozenstruik because of illness. Also, two fighters, bantamweight Julio Arce and women’s strawweight Kay Hansen missed weight and will be fined 20 per cent by the commission, but their fights will proceed.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC 273 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS (6PM ET/3PM PT)
JULIO ARCE (17-5-0) VS. DANIEL SANTOS (8-1-0)
👊 @JArceTSMMA welcomes newcomer Daniel Santos to get #UFC273 underway!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/21XYfMyakd
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Arce is welcoming Santos to the octagon. Advantage: Arce.
Andrews Predictions: Julio Arce via UD
PIERA RODRIGUEZ (7-0-0) VS. KAY HANSEN (7-5-0)
💢 Piera Rodriguez makes her debut against @KayHansenMMA TOMORROW!
Catch the #UFC273 early prelims LIVE on @UFCFightPass & @ESPNPlus 📺 pic.twitter.com/bxgoR5MgrK
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Piera Rodriguez collects another knockout victory.
Andrews Prediction: Piera Rodriguez via TKO
ALEKSEI OLEINIK (59-16-1) VS. JARED VANDERAA (12-7-0)
Eager to get things moving in the right direction 😤@OleynikUFC takes on @JaredVanderaa to close the early prelims!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | Early Prelims on @UFCFightPass & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/8vk5OoWCsQ
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Oleinink has an easier opponent this time, getting the fight to the ground and getting the tap after some anxious moments.
Andrews Prediction: Aleksei Oleinik via submission
UFC 273 PRELIMS (8PM ET/5PM PT)
MICKEY GALL (7-4-0) VS. MIKE MALLOT (7-1-0)
Opening up the prelims with a clash at welterweight 💪@MickeyGall welcomes @Michael_Malott to the Octagon tomorrow night!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | Prelims on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/zBz69dC07w
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Mallot is more versatile than Gall who usually needs to get the fight to the ground. Mallot can match him there and also put him out on his feet.
Andrews Prediction: Mike Mallot via TKO
#4 ASPEN LADD VS. #7 RAQUEL PENNINGTON (13-8-0)
Ranked BWs take the stage 🤩@TheAspenLadd vs @RockyPMMA continue the prelim action!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | Prelims on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/eYOFrEeV3R
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Tough bout on paper. Pennington can take things to the ground and get the submission. Ladd has the power to get the TKO but can her grappling control the bout? Going with the grappling of Ladd.
Andrews Prediction: Aspen Ladd via SD
ANTHONY HERNANDEZ (8-2-0) VS. JOSH FREMD (9-2-0)
A night of debuts continues with @ILoveBAMF taking on newcomer Josh Fremd NEXT! 🙌
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | Prelims on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/sETkW7fD4k
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Hernandez is giving up four inches in height, but I expect him to overcome this and make up for his last fight by welcoming Fremd to the octagon with a TKO win.
Andrews Prediction: Alexander Hernandez via TKO
IAN GARRY (8-0-0) VS. DARIAN WEEKS (5-1-0)
A BANGER at 170 closes the #UFC273 prelim action 💥@IanGarryMMA faces Darian Weeks tomorrow night!
[ Prelims on @ESPN & @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/H28sNUcIQu
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Both fighters are good finishers, but Garry should pick up the win here.
Andrews Prediction: Ian Garry via TKO
MAIN CARD (10PM ET/7PM PT)
MARK O. MADSEN (11-0-0) VS. VINC PICHEL (14-2-0)
𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍 squares off against 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒍𝒚𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒂𝒏 to kick off the main card! 👊@FromHellPichel vs @MarkTheOlympian
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/KOluT78H6K ] pic.twitter.com/lrpwcBTB5c
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Pichel has finished anybody in five years. I think Madsen can grind him out with his grappling.
Andrews Prediction: Mark O. Madsen via UD
#5 MACKENZIE DERN (11-2-0) VS. #7 TECIA TORRES (13-5-0)
Top 10 strawweights ready to enter the title conversation 👀@MackenzieDern takes on @TeciaTorres tomorrow!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/KOluT78H6K ] pic.twitter.com/l5ys4E71x7
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Dern will need to find a way to get the fight to the ground. I think Tecia can keep the fight standing and get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Tecia Torres via UD
#2 GILBERT BURNS (20-4-0) VS. KHAMZAT CHIMAEV (10-0-0)
The score gets settled once and for all 🤬@FunkMasterMMA vs @PetrYanUFC – TOMORROW!
[ #UFC273 | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/KOluT78H6K ] pic.twitter.com/wBkTWLPrdl
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: This should be a tougher fight for Chimaev but he will get the knockout and quickly.
Andrews Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev via TKO
(C) ALJAMAIN STERLING (20-3-0) VS. IC PETR YAN (16-2-0)
The score gets settled once and for all 🤬@FunkMasterMMA vs @PetrYanUFC – TOMORROW!
[ #UFC273 | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/KOluT78H6K ] pic.twitter.com/wBkTWLPrdl
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: I expect Petr to go in there and overcome Sterling’s wrestling and get the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Petr Yan via UD
MAIN EVENT
(C) ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI (23-1-0) VS. #4 CHAN SUNG JUNG (16-7-0)
Two of the best in the history of the featherweight division go head-to-head for the belt 🤜🤛@AlexVolkanovski vs @KoreanZombieMMA is set to close the show!
[ #UFC273 | Tomorrow | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/KOluT78H6K ] pic.twitter.com/o0SnbC7RZV
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2022
Andrews: Korean Zombie is always dangerous, but Volkanovski has too many tools and cardio to put him away in four rounds. Zombie has to hurt Alex early to stand a chance.
Andrews Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski via submission
Enjoy the fights.
