A couple new bouts were announced over the weekend — both injury replacements — and for today’s MMA Odds and Ends I’ll give my quick thoughts on each. Shane Campbell vs. John Makdessi, UFC 186 An injury to Abel Trujillo has forced him off of UFC 186 and in his place will be former WSOF fighter Shane Campbell, who meets John Makessi in an all-Canadian lightweight battle. The card takes place April 25 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Capmbell vs. Makdessi is expected to be on the main card. This is an awesome fight between two of the best strikers residing in the Great White North and I’m really looking forward to it. Campbell is coming off of a devastating win in WSOF over Derek Boyle that earned him a shot in the UFC, while Makdessi is coming off of a controversial decision loss to Alan Patrick at UFC 169. He hasn’t fought in a long time, so ring rust will be a concern, but unlike Campbell he had a full fight camp to prepare for UFC 186, so that’s definitely an advantage here. This is most likely going to be a standup war, and in a fight between two men who are so dangerous on the feet, it makes it hard to pick a winner. I believe Makdessi will be the favorite because of his name, but do not sleep on Campbell, as stylistically this is a winnable fight for him. Kyle Noke vs. Jonavin Webb, UFC Fight Night 65 Due to an injury to Andreas Stahl, Kyle Noke has a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 65, and his name is Jonavin Webb. The event takes place May 10 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia, and Noke vs. Webb will take place on the preliminary card. I don’t know much about Webb other than the fact he was the CFFC welterweight champion, but fading Noke is not a bad idea. He’s getting up there in age, hasn’t fought in over a year, and while he will get the hometown advantage fighting in Australia, there are so many other factors going against him here including age that it’s just a tough spot to have any confidence in him. Noke may enter this bout as the favorite because he is the bigger name, but Webb is certainly a live dog in this situation, and could be worth a spin depending on where the line ends up by fight day.
