UFC 279 Preview

Next stop for the UFC is the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and boy is there a fantastic card to get stuck into. Of course, everyone is looking forward to the main event, which sees Khamzat Chimaev take on Nate Diaz at welterweight. But, as always, matchmakers have ensured the card is stacked from top to bottom. 

In the eyes of many, Khamzat Chimaev is still a rising star in the welterweight division. But on the other hand, he is unbeaten in his eleven professional outings. It will be his first time headlining a card, and he’s doing so across five rounds against a man who is more than capable of spoiling any plans Chimaev has in Nate Diaz. Chimaev should come through what is sure to be a tough test, but you can never rule Diaz out in situations where he can really upset the apple cart.

Li Jingliang earned the Performance of the Night award in July and now has the opportunity to build on that achievement against Tony Ferguson, who is returning to the welterweight division. You could suggest that The Leech’s best form has come of late, and he’s built up a head of steam ahead of the clash with Ferguson. In stark contrast, Ferguson has seen his form drop off a cliff recently, but a step up in weight is what he believes will see this change course. It’s a crucial fight in that respect.

The clash between Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez is intriguing, as it’s happening at a 180lb welter catch weight, but victory for either man will see them step inside the top fifteen in the division. So, the prize on offer is to face off against a ranked opponent next time out, which means their career in the UFC could really catch fire. Holland comes into this one with a career that has been up and then largely down, while Rodriguez’s stint has been short but impressive. The reward on offer should focus both men.

Irene Aldana makes her return to action since UFC 264, with an impressive first-round stoppage on the night surely giving her confidence in this bantamweight clash against Macy Chiasson. Chiasson is a The Ultimate Fighter champion and is eleven fights into her pro career. What she’s shown along the way are slight improvements to her game, and she will be looking to progress again against Aldana. Similar to the Holland Rodriguez bout, what could prove pivotal is that the winner here could find them in the mix at the top end of the division, so the reward on offer is massive.

UFC 279 promises to be another fantastic MMA event. The fights on the main card all have something on them, be it a chance of earning a title shot or getting in the mix for ranked bouts. And the main event promises to be a spectacle that could quite easily go either way. Will Nate Diaz be the spoiler once again?