The UFC continued their recent series of struggle announcements late to the week, and also the newly-revealed bouts are recorded below in the MMA odds and ends.
Saparbek Safarov vs. Nick Negumereanu Due to an injury to Gokhan Saki, light heavyweight Saparbek Safarov will take on Octagon newcomer Nick Negumereanu in UFC Fight Night 147, set for March 16 at The O2 Arena in London, England. Nolan King of FloCombat broke the news. Safarov (8-2) was finished by Gian Villante and Tyson Pedro in his initial two UFC fights and that he hasn’t fought in over a year today. Negumereanu (9-0) is a undefeated 24-year-old prospect fighting out of Romania who has finished all of his pre-UFC opponents within the space. Despite taking the fight on short notice and making his Octagon debut, I enjoy Negumereanu to win this battle. It is a pure grin on the chinny Safarov, who I expect to get cut from the UFC when he loses this fight. The chances are already out with this one, and indeed the UFC newcomer is a 2-to-1 preferred to receive his hands raised.
Marlon Vera vs. Frankie Saenz The UFC has re-booked that the bantamweight bout between Marlon Vera and Frankie Saenz which was scrapped days before UFC 235 for UFC Fight Night 148, which takes place March 23 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Tennessee. Vera (12-5-1) is 6-4 at the UFC and is coming from back-to-back stoppage wins over Guido Cannetti and Wuliji Buren. Saenz (13-5) is 5-3 at the UFC and defeated Henry Briones and Merab Dvalishvili in his last two bouts by decision. I don’t see the line shifting much from where it closed before Saenz got hurt. Look for the line to be identical to what it ended it, with Vera as a near 2-to-1 favorite.
Poliana Botelho vs. Lauren Mueller, UFC 236
Due to an arm injury, Paige VanZant is from her women’s flyweight bout against Poliana Botelho at UFC 236 and rather Lauren Mueller is shooting the battle. The card has been set for April 13 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Botelho (7-2) is 2-1 at the UFC but lost by entry to Cynthia Calvillo in her last fight. Mueller (5-1) is 1-1 at the UFC but was submitted by Yanan Wu in her final struggle. It is another fight between two faulty fighters that may go either way, but based on title worth I would anticipate Botelho to be preferred here.
Greg Hardy vs. Dmitry Smoliakov, UFC on ESPN 3
Controversial heavyweight Greg Hardy will return at UFC on ESPN 3 against Dmitry Smoliakov. The card is set for April 27 in BB&T Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Igor Lazorin broke the information. Hardy (3-1) lost by DQ to Allen Crowder in his UFC debut as a huge favorite but’d won his three former pro MMA bouts by knockout. Smoliakov (9-2) has been finished at bout of his UFC appearances before bouncing back with a entry win on the Russian regional scene in January. However, at 36 years old he has no upside and the UFC is bringing him here to shed. I wouldn’t trust laying the juice Hardy after what happened in his UFC debut, but I fully expect him to become a monster favored yet again for this fight.
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