A couple new UFC bouts were recently revealed and I’ll give my thoughts on them in today’s MMA odds and ends.
Darrell Horcher vs. Roosevelt Roberts, TUF 28 Finale
A lightweight bout between Darrell Horcher and Roosevelt Roberts will take place at the TUF 28 Finale, which takes place Friday, November 30 at Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout is official as per the UFC. Horcher (13-3) is just 1-2 overall in the UFC but to be fair to him one of the losses came against Khabib Nurmagomedov on very short notice in his UFC debut. He then beat Devin Powell by decision before dropping a decision to Scott Holtzman. Roberts (6-0) is making his UFC debut after a successful performance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series where he defeated Garrett Gross by submission. All six of his professional victories have come by stoppage including a knockout win in Bellator earlier this year. Even though Horcher is the one with the UFC experience, I think you have to fade him in this spot and take Roberts, the younger, fresher fighter with the higher ceiling. I’m expecting Roberts to be a pretty big betting favorite at the window for this one.
John Makdessi vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira, UFC 231
Lightweights John Makdessi and Carlos Diego Ferreira will meet at UFC 231, which is set for Saturday, December 8 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The UFC has officially announced this bout. Makdessi (16-6) is 9-6 overall in the UFC and is on a two-fight win streak at the moment with decision victories over Ross Pearson and Abel Trujillo in his last two outings. Makdessi has proven to be a tough test and a durable gatekeeper over the year but he has never been able to break through and become a title contender. Ferreira (13-2) is 4-2 overall in the UFC and has won back-to-back fights over Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Jared Gordon. Ferreira has always been a good fighter but a couple losses to top-ranked opponents in Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush coupled with a USADA suspension hurt his career. But now that he’s back he looks a lot better and seems to be back at the place he was a few years ago, when he was one of the top lightweight prospects in the sport. Makdessi is super tought and isn’t easy to beat but I believe Ferreira is the more dynamic fighter and I slightly favor him here.
