[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag] and [autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 246 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus UFC Fight Night 246 preview
Barriault (16-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) will look to get back on the winning track after dropping his last two outings. Prior to a split decision loss against Chris Curtis and a first-round finish by Joe Pyfer, Barriault won back-to-back fights against Julian Marquez and Eryk Anders. … Stoltzfus (15-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC) will also look to return to the win column in Edmonton. The Pennsylvania native struggled to gain momentum since joining the UFC in 2020, only recording two wins in seven appearances.
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus UFC Fight Night 246 expert pick, prediction
God forbid we have a main card without a middleweight fight on it, as Barriault vs. Stoltzfus appears to be the bout to scratch the UFC matchmaker’s itch this week.
Barriault, to his credit, is a fairly dependable action fighter whose durability and output tend to bring out the dog in his opposition. Stoltzfus, on the other hand, is a hit-or-miss overachiever who continues to make efforts to improve each time out.
I believe Stoltzfus will have an edge if this hits the floor, but I’m not sure his wrestling is reliable enough to get in there.
Add in the fact that Stoltzfus is making a fast turnaround on what was a vicious knockout loss last June, and I can’t help but side with Barriault in this spot.
This fight probably goes to a decision more often than not, but I’ll take Barriault to force a stoppage via strikes by Round 3.
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus UFC Fight Night 246 odds
The oddsmakers and public favor the Canadian fighter, listing Barriault -198 and Stoltzfus +166 via FanDuel.
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus UFC Fight Night 246 start time, how to watch
Barriault and Stoltzfus are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:35 p.m. ET (5:35 p.m. PT). The fight will stream on ESPN+.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.