Women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña will now get her chance to solidify her legacy at UFC 277.
Both Pena (134.5) and challenger, former champion Amanda Nunes (135) made weight Friday, so now we can see who will reign supreme on Saturday in Dallas.
The champ is prepared to give everything to leave Dallas #AndStill 🎤
[ @VenezuelanVixen | #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/zMFbOyhukf
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
"I'm going to become a double champion again!"@Amanda_Leoa is coming to recapture the BW crown 👑
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/jHDUO75Ayq
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
2022 Indigenous hip-hop music award nominee Pooky G representing Edmonton, Alberta, joins us to weigh in on the Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes main event. Kenai Andrews checks in on the entire card, but first a word from Dana White.
UFC 277 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS (7PM ET/4PM PT)
ORION COSCE (7-1-0) VS. MIKE MATHETHA (3-1-0)
Getting things underway with @GalaxyCosce vs Blood Diamond 💪
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Early Prelims 6pm ET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/DPW2ZzVDkG
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Cosce missed weight, but I still expect him to prevail over the less experienced Diamond.
Andrews Prediction: Orion Cosce via UD
NICOLAE NEGUMEREANU (12-1-0) VS. IHOR POTIERIA (19-2-0)
Keeping the action rolling at 205!
Nicolae Negumereanu vs @IhorPotieriaUFC
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Early Prelims 6pm ET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/zyPKUaf3e1
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Nicolae îs the better fighter on paper, but Potieria is fighting for a country currently under siege. I am going for the upset.
Andrews Prediction: Ihor Potieria via TKO
JOSELYNE EDWARDS (11-4-0) VS. JI YEON KIM (9-5-2)
Talented BWs go head-to-head 😤@JoselyneMMA29 vs @Fire_Fist_Kim
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Early Prelims 6pm ET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/1RHGu8pcjx
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Kim has been in the UFC for over five years! She has a losing record in the octagon, but has fought some good competition too and been competitive. Edwards has split her four UFC bouts but missed weight for this one. I am going with Kim to edge this one out.
Andrews Prediction: Ji Yeon Kim via UD
MICHAEL MORALES (13-0-0) VS. ADAM FUGITT (8-2-0)
In the featured bout of the early prelims, the undefeated @MichaelMMA21 welcomes the debuting @JustFugitt to the Octagon!
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Early Prelims 6pm ET on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/yMKdx2xLEU
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Fugitt is making his UFC debut. Advantage: Morales.
Andrews Prediction: Michael Morales via TKO
UFC 277 PRELIMS (8PM ET/5PM PT)
DRAKKAR KLOSE (12-2-1) VS. RAFA GARCIA (14-2-0)
Kicking off the ABC action in the LW division!@Drakkarklose vs Rafa Garcia
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Prelims 8pm ET on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/1FkRAw21ap
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Garcia is on a roll, but I think Klose is the better fighter and should overcome some early trouble.
Andrews Prediction: Drakkar Klose via UD
DON’TALE MAYES (9-4-0) VS. HAMDY ABDELWAHAB (5-0-0)
These HWs are ready to throw down in 𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙏𝙄𝙈𝙀 📺@LordKongMayes vs @Hamdyabdelwah
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Prelims 8pm ET on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/mYINx7mse6
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Hamdy is making his UFC debut. He is undefeated with a 100 per cent finish rate, but can he do it in the UFC against a guy four inches taller? I have to go with Lord Kong here.
Andrews Prediction: Don’Tale Mayes via TKO
DREW DOBER (24-11-0) VS. RAFAEL ALVES (20-10-0)
All smiles now, but tomorrow it is time for business 💼 @DrewDober vs @Rafael_TheTurn
[ #UFC277 | Prelims 8pm ET on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/GHm9RYSESQ
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Both of these guys won impressively in their last fights. I like Dober’s fearlessness, he gets it done after a wild tussle.
Andrews Prediction: Drew Dober via TKO
ALEX MORONO (21-7-0) VS. MATTHEW SEMELSBERGER (10-3-0)
Expect fireworks in tomorrow’s featured prelim 🎆@AlexMoronoMMA vs @SemiTheJedi
[ #UFC277 | TOMORROW | Prelims 8pm ET on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/E2D7fw0iee
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Both guys looked ready to go at the weigh-ins. It’s a close one, but I give the edge to Morono to eke out the decision.
Andrews Prediction: Alex Morono via UD
MAIN CARD (10PM ET/7PM PT)
#4 MAGOMED ANKALAEV (16-1-0) VS. #5 ANTHONY SMITH (36-16-0)
Opening the main card with a LHW 𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 💥@AnkalaevM vs @LionHeartASmith
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/9OCFMiCxis
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: I think Ankalaev can end it with his striking, but Smith can take it on the ground. Smith has the experience factor and I think he uses it to get the tap.
Andrews Prediction: Anthony Smith via submission
#4 ALEXANDRE PANTOJA (24-5-0) VS. #6 ALEX PEREZ (24-6-0)
This top 10 tilt is 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 & 𝗟𝗢𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗗 😤@PantojaMMA v @AlexPerezMMA
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/zLfR5pwOlu
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Two good fighters, but Pantoja comes out on top.
Andrews Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja via submission
#5 DERRICK LEWIS (26-9-0) VS. #11 SERGEI PAVLOVICH (15-1-0)
This one won’t go to the judges 💢@TheBeast_UFC vs Sergei Pavlovich
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/1wjKPgu7R8
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Sergei hasn’t done well against heavy hitters like Lewis. And it seems Lewis is rejuvenated after a bad loss in his last fight.
Andrews Prediction: Derrick Lewis via TKO
#1 BRANDON MORENO (19-6-2) VS. #2 KAI KARA-FRANCE (24-9-0)
An interim champ will be crowned 👑@TheAssassinBaby vs @KaiKaraFrance
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/OnbOr9A5rp
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Andrews: Moreno had his run but in this rematch, Kara-France seizes the day.
Andrews Prediction: Kai Kara-France via TKO
MAIN EVENT
(C) JULIANNA PENA (11-4-0) VS. #1 AMANDA NUNES (21-5-0)
You can feel the intensity through the screen – the rematch awaits 🏆@VenezuelanVixen vs @Amanda_Leoa
[ #UFC277 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/U0Pbshxhuo ] pic.twitter.com/vMAJFLliTs
— UFC (@ufc) July 29, 2022
Pooky G: Nunes, definitely, because I feel she has this stature to her. She’s dedicated. I follow her a little bit more than Pena. Nunes all the way. And I’m always cheering on someone who made an impression on me.
Pooky G Prediction: Amanda Nunes via TKO
Andrews: This fight depends on if the vintage Amanda Nunes shows up. If she does, she wins. But the longer the fight goes, the advantage swings to Pena. And Pena is brimming with understated confidence. Pooky G is going with Nunes, I am going with Pena to shock the world once again.
Andrews Prediction: Julianna Peña via submission
Enjoy the fights!
