It’s a bunch of familiar faces at UFC Fight Night 166 with Junior dos Santos and Rafael dos Anjos among the fighters. Here’s how to watch
Fight Night 166 features a few big names old-school fans will have fond memories of, but they’ll be tested against some newer faces. You’ll only be able to watch the UFC stream on ESPN+.
At the top of the fight card is Junior dos Santos who will take on Curtis Blaydes for what will effectively be the No. 3 spot in the Heavyweight division. Both dos Santos and Blaydes have recently lost to the second-ranked Francis Ngannou, with a win potentially pushing them back into a rematch with the Cameroonian fighter
But before that, Rafael dos Anjos will fight Michael Chiesa. It has been a long fall for dos Anjos, losing two of his three fights since losing to Colby Covington at UFC 225 for the interim Welterweight Championship. Another loss here could spark the end to his contender role while potentially pushing Chiesa into the top-5.
For more of the UFC schedule, make sure you’re subscribed to ESPN+. With tons of fights already lined up for 2020 that you’ll only be able to catch on the ESPN+, it’s worth the price for true UFC fans.
How to watch UFC Fight Night 166:
Who: Curtis Blaydes (11-2) vs. Junior dos Santos (21-5)
When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
UFC stream:
UFC live stream: Watch the UFC fight tonight on ESPN+.
Main Card (8 p.m. ET)
Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior dos Santos – Heavyweight
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Michael Chiesa – Welterweight
Jordan Espinosa vs. Alex Perez – Flyweight
Hannah Cifers vs. Angela Hill – Women’s Strawweight
Jamahal Hill vs. Darko Stosic – Light Heavyweight
Prelims (5 p.m. ET)
Bevon Lewis vs. Dequan Townsend – Middleweight
Arnold Allen vs. Nik Lentz – Featherweight
Justice Kish vs. Lucie Pudilova – Women’s Flyweight
Montel Jackson vs. Felipe Colares – Bantamweight
Ara McMann vs. Lina Lansberg – Women’s Bantamweight
Brett Johns vs. Tony Gravely – Bantamweight
Herbert Burns vs. Nate Landwehr – Featherweight
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In the main event, former heavyweight champ [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC) will try to get back on track when he takes on [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC). Dos Santos lost to Francis Ngannou this past July and had a three-fight winning streak snapped. Blaydes has lost just twice in his career – both to Ngannou. But he’s working on a two-fight streak since his most recent setback to him, and he’s a fairly heavy favorite in the fight at around -260. Blaydes has a big 9-5 lead in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-main event, former lightweight champ [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC) continues his run at welterweight when he takes on [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who is 2-0 since he moved to the division from 155 pounds. Although dos Anjos is a big favorite around -270, it’s Chiesa who has a 9-5 lead from our pickers.
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We have one unanimous pick on the main card. [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has the support of all 14 of our pickers in his flyweight bout against [autotag]Jordan Espinosa[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) has a heavy 11-3 picks lead over North Carolina local [autotag]Hannah Cifers[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in their women’s strawweight bout – though Hill is just a slight favorite at the sports books, and our readers are picking Cifers.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) nearly is a unanimous pick in his promotional debut at light heavyweight against [autotag]Darko Stosic[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Only one picker is taking Stosic in what would be a mild upset.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Blaydes (62 percent), dos Anjos (62 percent), Perez (85 percent), Cifers (52 percent) and Jamahal Hill (63 percent) are the choices.
Curtis Blaydes and Junior Dos Santos battle during UFC on ESPN+ 24; we look at the fight odds and betting predictions around the matchup.
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Curtis Blaydes and Junior Dos Santos will square off on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 24 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Saturday evening. To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.
Blaydes (12-2-0) heads into this one on a two-bout win streak, rebounding nicely after his victory Francis Ngannou at UFC Fight Night on Nov. 24, 2018. He rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Justin Willis, and a second-round TKO of Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 242.
He’ll be working to get JDS on the ground, as he owns a 7.05 takedown average and a 60.0 percent takedown accuracy mark. However, if this fight is more upright, he has the ability to go toe-to-toe and hold his own. He has a strong 51.68 significant strike accuracy percentage, while racking up 3.69 significant strikes per minute.
Dos Santos (21-6-0), like Blaydes, has a recent loss in Ngannou. In fact, JDS lost to Ngannou last time out, June 29 at UFC Fight Night, getting knocked out in Round 1 in just 71 seconds. Even though he is 6-5 across his past 11 bouts, he has losses to Ngannou, Stipe Miocic in a title bout, Cain Velasquez in a pair of title bouts and a knockout at the hands of Alistair Overeem. That’s nothing to be ashamed about, as that’s a who’s who of the weight class, and he did briefly hold the title when he beat Velasquez in the first of their trilogy back on Nov. 12, 2011.
Want some action on Blaydes vs. Dos Santos or other MMA fights this weekend? Place your legal sports bets at BetMGM now!
Per BetMGM, Blaydes (-250) is a rather heavy favorite over the aging Dos Santos (+180) on the 2-way line. Blaydes, 28, is on an upward trajectory, but Dos Santos has never lost back-to-back bouts in his professional career. The Brazilian veteran is a great value at this price level.
Are you new to sports betting? A $10 wager on Dos Santos, the underdog, to win returns $18 in profit. A $10 bet on Blaydes returns a profit of $4 with a victory.
If you want some action on this mixed martial arts bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle walks you through the key questions that could be answered at UFC Raleigh.
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The UFC’s traveling roadshow heads to Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday for UFC on ESPN+ 24. And while the card isn’t of the same significance as last week’s UFC 246, it still offers plenty of reasons for fans to tune in.
Like the main event, which is a classic clash of an up-and-comer trying to make his name at the expense of a former champion. Heavyweight standout [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] already has impressive names on his resume, but none would be bigger than former UFC titleholder [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag], who, for his part, is looking to prove he still belongs in the mix.
The co-headliner also has a former champion, but there’s a twist in this one. In this case, it’s former UFC lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos, who likewise wants to prove he still belongs among the elite. He’ll be taking on a veteran who has been knocking on the door for a long time in Michael Chiesa. The twist is that the bout is at welterweight, where RDA is trying to get back into the title mix and where Chiesa is showing signs he might reach greater heights than he ever did at 155 pounds.
UFC on ESPN+ 24 takes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The card streams on ESPN+.
Without further ado, here are six burning questions leading into the evemt.
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Is Curtis Blaydes ready for another run at the elite?
Curtis Blaydes at UFC 242. (Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports)
Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC)went on an impressive run in 2017 and 2018, winning four fights that included names like Aleksei Olienik, Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem.
Then he met up with Francis Ngannou and, like many before him, that’s where Blaydes’ fun ended, as Ngannou finished him in just 45 seconds.
So the UFC did a smart thing in allowing Blaydes to regroup against lesser-ranked competition, and Blaydes responded with a strong pair of performances in victories over Justin Willis and Shamil Adburakhimov.
Now he’s getting ready to fight the big dogs once again. This time, he meets Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who hasn’t been on the greatest run of late but also seems to perform well when counted out. Will this be the time Blaydes demonstrates once and for all that he belongs in the title mix? We’ll find out.
Consider Curtis Blaydes a fan of Stipe Miocic heading into the third fight with Daniel Cormier.
RALEIGH, N.C. – [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] thinks it’s in the best interest of the “murky” UFC heavyweight division for [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] to emerge from his expected trilogy bout against [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] with his status as champion in tact.
After a two-fight series in which they traded the UFC belt, Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) are set to have one final meeting sometime this year. Cormier has vowed that, win or lose, it will be his MMA retirement fight. Meaning if he wins, he will give up the title and leave the position vacant.
That could be good news for someone like Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who meets former UFC titleholder Junior Dos Santos in a main event matchup on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 24. It’s a key fight for the weight class, and Blaydes already has said he thinks a win could get him a crack at the gold.
But but if Cormier defeats Miocic, he anticipates a negative impact.
“If DC wins it again, he’s gonna milk it,” Blaydes told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “He might still retire, but he’s not going to do it immediately. He don’t want to immediately leave the spotlight. You don’t just drop it and drift off in the sunset. (If) he wins that belt again, he’s going to do the whole tour. I think it would be worse.
“DC’s got the greatest chance to be beat him. He’s done it once before, and he can do it again, but if you’re asking me would I prefer to keep the division moving more fluid? I think that Stipe is a lot more open to just being active.”
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Blaydes’ theory runs deeper. Cormier might claim the next fight will be his last, but money and opportunity have significant influence. Cormier with the title back around his waist is a money maker for the UFC, and he’s a key ingredient to marquee fights.
“If DC wins it, maybe he starts to hold the Jon Jones thing again,” Blaydes said. “Like, ‘Oh, bump up to heavyweight.’ Then him and Jon are going back. I don’t want to be sitting just waiting for those, because that’s what I’ll do. And I get it: It’s his belt. If he gets it he can do what he wants with it, but it doesn’t help me.
“I’m in the prime of my career. I need to keep stuff moving.”
Blaydes will try to do his part when he meets Dos Santos at UFC on ESPN+ 24, which takes place at PNC Arena and streams on ESPN+.
Ahead of his return at UFC Raleigh, relive Curtis Blaydes’ brutal finish of Alistair Overeem at UFC 225.
They don’t call him “Razor” Blaydes for nothing.
[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] was heading into his highest profile fight to date, when he took on [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] in June 2018 at UFC 225. He entered having won his last three in a row, or quite possibly five, if his second-round TKO over Adam Milstead hadn’t been overturned because of a positive drug test for marijuana.
Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) put on his best performance, using his strong wrestling to get Overeem on the mat and brutalizing him with heavy ground-and-pound in Round 3.
After a feeling-out process early, Blaydes eventually landed the takedown midway through Round 1, finishing the round on top. Overeem started Round 2 a little more aggressively, landing a knee and clipping Blaydes with an overhand right, forcing him to shoot. Overeem latched onto a guillotine, but Blaydes was able to break free. The two would make their way back to their feet before Blaydes took it right back to the mat.
But in Round 3, Blaydes started to open up more, backing Overeem to the cage with some hard shots that appeared to hurt him. He decided to change levels and take down Overeem, signaling the beginning of the end.
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After some top control, Blaydes postured up and dropped one elbow after the other, which opened a nasty gash on Overeem’s head. A couple more elbows, and the referee was forced to stop the fight.
The finish earned Blaydes a “Performance of the Night” bonus, and the two would later end up becoming training partners, as Overeem made the trip to Colorado to train with Blaydes at “Elevation Fight Team.”
Blaydes returns to action this Saturday, when he headlines UFC on ESPN+ 24 against former UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. Blaydes’ only two career losses have come to the same man, Francis Ngannou, as Blaydes will attempt to solidify himself as a top heavyweight contender with a win over dos Santos.
In the meantime, watch the video above to check out one of Blaydes’ finest performances.
+ NJCAA national heavyweight wrestling title
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 2 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Diligently working striking
^ Shows fight-to-fight improvements
+ Explosive power-double takedown
^ Changes level well
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Body locks, trips, suplexes
+ Solid top game
^ Floats, wrist-rides, strikes
+ Former UFC heavyweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 15 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 4 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid feints and footwork
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Excellent boxing ability
^ Accurate shot selection
+ Good counter wrestler
+ Underrated grappling ability
^ Shows solid positional awareness
Point of interest: Familiar fisticuffs
The main event in Raleigh features a fun heavyweight fight with familiar themes for both parties on the feet.
[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag], a wrestler who carries a bit of amateur kickboxing experience, shows consistent fight-to-fight improvements each time out. From his developing footwork to his commitment to combination striking, the 28-year-old talent seems to be right at home when pressuring forward.
Whether Blaydes is working behind his jab or rolling his head off of his crosses, his time spent training at the Elevation Fight Team and BANG Muay Thai has come through in recent years. However, as we saw in both of his fights with Francis Ngannou, Blaydes is not beyond being countered for his aggressive approaches, which is what makes this matchup with a similarly-themed opponent so interesting.
Enter the old guard, [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag].
Fighting out of a more boxing-centric stance, Dos Santos has long been known as one of the heavyweight’s crisper strikers, formerly ruling the division with an iron fist. Working behind the pressure of his jabs and left-handed feints, Dos Santos will set up devastating overhands and uppercuts (strikes that comprise the majority of the former champion’s highlight reel).
Though the Brazilian’s right hand is often known as the clean-up hitter, his left is arguably more accurate, particularly when applying his hooks offensively off of his jabs and feints. Dos Santos also does a deceptively good job of placing check hooks to cover his tracks or drawing his opponents into them through baiting fakes –– both of which will serve him will on paper against Blaydes.
That said, Dos Santos will have to be careful about over-committing to his power shots if he means to maintain the high ground.
Curtis Blaydes has some big wins on his resume, but he’ll try to take out a former UFC champ for the first time at UFC on ESPN+ 24.
RALEIGH, N.C. – [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] has won some big fights against some big names during his career, but never before has he beaten a former UFC champion.
Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will have the chance to do that for the first time Saturday, when he takes on ex-titleholder Junior Dos Santos (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC) in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 24. Blaydes is aware it’s a stern task, but said a victory over “Cigano” would be a strong representation of where he belongs in the heavyweight division.
“I already have gone against a couple legendary guys like Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem – so to have another guy like him on my resume, it only strengthens my argument for getting my first title shot,” Blaydes told MMA Junkie. “I do believe Junior is still right there, he’s one of the best of the game and I know beating him basically will solidify my place as the next title challenger.”
The headlining matchup will be Blaydes’ second in the UFC, while it will mark the 13th of Dos Santos’ octagon tenure. It tops the card from PNC Arena in Raleigh, and streams on ESPN+.
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It’s obvious that experience is one of the underlying storylines heading into the contest. One thing that hasn’t changed over the entirety of MMA history, though, is that styles make fights. Blaydes said it doesn’t matter how much longer Dos Santos has been in the game, or how hard he’s worked on perceived weaknesses, because he would never make the primary game plan to grapple.
“As he’s got older he’s pretty much the same guy,” Blaydes said. “He’s well rounded, but he hasn’t really added any, ‘Oh wow, that’s new.’ He’s Junior. I know I have the advantage when it comes to the wrestling department. Not many guys in this sport, let alone this weight class, that have my credentials in wrestling. So I want to use my grappling advantage. I know he doesn’t want to grapple. He wants to keep space and distance.”
For Blaydes, beating Dos Santos would be an important moment in his career. Doing it in style, however, would truly strengthen his argument as a title contender in the heavyweight division.
Blaydes has never finished opponents in back-to-back fights during his UFC run, and he’s coming off a second-round TKO of Shamil Abdurakhimov at UFC 242 in September. He hopes to buck the trend, but said he’s not approaching the fight different than any other.
“We always want the highlight-reel, but I don’t press it,” Blaydes said. “I think that’s why I do so well. I don’t hunt for the finish. You start hunting, you make mistakes and you don’t do A, B, C, D. You just try to jump to E. I want to do my ground-and-pound, if it happens, it happens. I don’t hunt. Like the one against Alistair, the one that everyone loves, I did not hunt that. That was organic. It just happened.”
The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 24, which features a Curtis Blaydes vs. Junior Dos Santos main event.
The UFC makes its sixth trip to North Carolina on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 24. Its the promotion’s debut in Raleigh, and is set to stream on ESPN+ from PNC Arena.
In the main event, heavyweight contenders clash. [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will attempt to extended his two-fight winning streak against former UFC champion [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 15-5 UFC), who looks to rebound from a loss in his most recent outing.
The matchup tops the 12-fight card, which also features one more former UFC titleholder as well as former title challenger.
* * * *
Main event
Curtis Blaydes
Blaydes absorbs 1.9 significant strikes per minute in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Blaydes’ 45 takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Blaydes completes 60 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Cheick Kongo (63.2 percent).
Blaydes’ takedown rate of 7.05 per 15 minutes of fighting is highest in UFC history.
Blaydes’ 10 takedowns landed against Mark Hunt at UFC 221 tied the record for second most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Cain Velasquez’s 11 takedowns landed at UFC 155.
Blaydes’ three knockout victories stemming from elbow strikes in UFC competition are tied with Paul Felder for most in company history.
Junior Dos Santos
Dos Santos competes in his 13th UFC headliner. He’s 8-4 in his previous main event bouts.
Dos Santos’ total fight time of 3:44:34 in UFC heavyweight competition is second most in company history behind Andrei Arlovski (4:33:42).
Dos Santos’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17) and Frank Mir (16).
Dos Santos’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Velasquez and Derrick Lewis for most in divisional history.
Dos Santos’ 14 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos has landed 1,068 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos and Ben Rothwell combined for 234 significant strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86, the third most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier (304) at UFC 241 and Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (282) at UFC Fight Night 121.
Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Rothwell are second most in a UFC heavyweight fight behind Miocic (181) at UFC 241.
Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed against Rothwell are the UFC heavyweight record for a single fight.
Dos Santos defends 80.5 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the fourth-best rate in divisional history behind Alexander Volkov (82.8 percent), Marcin Tybura (81.5 percent) and Arlovski (80.6 percent).
Co-main event
Rafael dos Anjos
[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 18-10 UFC) is the only Brazilian lightweight champion in UFC history.
Dos Anjos is 4-3 since he moved up to the UFC welterweight division in June 2017.
Dos Anjos’ average fight time of 19:39 in UFC welterweight competition is the longest in divisional history.
Dos Anjos’ 18 UFC wins are tied for seventh most in company history. Donald Cerrone holds the all-time record with 23.
Dos Anjos lands 54.4 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC welterweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Gunnar Nelson (56.8 percent).
Dos Anjos became just the second fighter in history to challenge for a UFC title and win a 50-45 decision on all three judges’ scorecards when he beat Anthony Pettis at UFC 185. Randy Couture also accomplished the feat against Tim Sylvia at UFC 68.
Dos Anjos’ 66-second victory over Cerrone at UFC on FOX 17 is the fastest stoppage in UFC lightweight title fight history.
Michael Chiesa
[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) is 2-0 since he moved up to the welterweight division in December 2018.
Chiesa’s five submission victories via rear-naked choke in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind Demian Maia (nine) and Kenny Florian (seven).
Chiesa has completed at least one takedown against 12 of his 13 UFC opponents.
Remaining main card
Alex Perez
[autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 123.
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC) competes in her 13th UFC strawweight bout, tied with Randa Markos for the most appearances in divisional history.
Hill is 4-5 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2017.
Hill’s two knockdowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Rose Namajunas (three).
Hill has landed 100 or more significant strikes in five separate UFC strawweight fights, the second most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (seven).
[autotag]Darko Stosic[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) is 1-2 since he dropped to the light heavyweight division in July 2018. He went 12-1 at heavyweight.
Preliminary card
Bevon Lewis
[autotag]Bevon Lewis[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career on a six-fight winning streak.
[autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag]’s (15-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) six-fight UFC winning streak in featherweight competition is tied with Zabit Magomedsharipov and Alexander Volkanovski for the longest active streak in the division.
Allen is one of four featherweights in UFC history to open his career with six straight wins. Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor and Yair Rodriguez also accomplished the feat.
Allen absorbs 1.78 significant strikes per minute in UFC featherweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Rani Yahya (1.05) and Mirsad Bektic (1.7).
Nik Lentz
[autotag]Nik Lentz[/autotag] (30-10-2 MMA, 14-7-1 UFC) returns to the featherweight division for the first time since May 2015. He went 4-2 during his first stint in the weight class.
Lentz’s 68 takedowns landed in UFC competition are tied for fourth most in company history behind Georges St-Pierre (90), Gleison Tibau (84) and Demetrious Johnson (74).
Lentz’s 20 guillotine choke attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Lentz and Charles Oliveira are one of three pairs of fighters in UFC history to have a trilogy in which all three fights were not for a title. Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz and Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher also accomplished the feat.
[autotag]Justine Kish[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Jan. 27, 2018. It’s the third time in her career she’s had a layoff of at least 23 months.
Kish has suffered consecutive losses after starting her career on a six-fight winning streak.
[autotag]Lucie Pudilova[/autotag] (8-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC), 25, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Pudilova’s three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
Pudilova is 0-2 since she dropped to the UFC women’s flyweight division in February.
[autotag]Montel Jackson[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) submission victory at 1:40 of Round 1 at UFC 232 is the second fastest D’Arce choke finish in UFC history. Only Chas Skelly’s 19-second win at UFC Fight Night 94 was faster.
Sara McMann
[autotag]Sara McMann[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC), 39, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
McMann returns to competition for the first time since Feb. 24, 2018. The 700-day layoff is the longest of her nearly nine-year career.
McMann competes in her 11th UFC women’s bantamweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (12) and Raquel Pennington (12).
McMann’s two submission victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are tied for the second most in divisional history behind Ronda Rousey (three).
McMann’s 2017 victory over Gina Mazany at 1:14 of Round 1 marked the second fastest submission in UFC women’s bantamweight history behind Ronda Rousey’s 14-second finish of Cat Zingano at UFC 184.
[autotag]Lina Lansberg[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) enters the event on the first winning streak of her UFC career.
Lansberg lands 57.7 of her significant strikes in UFC women’s bantamweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Lansberg has earned all four of her UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career on a 15-fight winning streak.
Johns has earned one of two calf-slicer submissions in UFC history. Charles Oliveira also accomplished the feat.
Johns’ 30-second submission of Joe Soto at the TUF 26 Finale was second fastest in UFC/WEC combined bantamweight history behind Patrick Williams’ 23-second finish at UFC 188.
Johns’ 11 takedowns landed at UFC Fight Night 99 are tied for the single-fight record for a UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
