The UFC is capping off International Fight Week 2023 with a star-studded Pay-Per-View card with fourteen all-action bouts, featuring two belts on the line and a number of prospects ready to make a name for themselves.
In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski returns to Featherweight to defend his crown against Interim champ Yair Rodriguez, while Brandon Moreno looks to cement his Flyweight reign in a rematch (trilogy) with veteran finisher Alexandre Pantoja.
Also adorning the main card is a Middleweight title eliminator between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis along with a Lightweight barnburner between Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker, while NCAA wrestling star Bo Nickal looks to continue his rise against TUF veteran Tresean Gore.
Alexander Volkanovski (25-2) vs. Yair Rodriguez (15-3) (FTW Championship)
After a razor-close vid at claiming Lightweight gold, Volkanovski is returning to reestablish dominance over the 145-pound division. Volk is as well-rounded as they come with dangerous top pressure, terrific wrestling and incredibly technical striking and range management. His cardio and fight IQ are key weapons, turning the pressure up as the fight goes on. Yair Rodriguez is an electric striker, shown in his highlight reel KOs over the Korean Zombie and Andre Fili, showcasing his submission skills with a triangle choke over Josh Emmett to capture the interim title. While a dynamic striker and always threatening with his variety of kicks, Rodriguez’s defense on the feet is reliant upon him keeping kicking range. Additionally, while he has solid jiu-jitsu, he is weak off his back and can be outwrestled. I see Volkanovski withstanding the early storm before pounding out a finish on the mat.
My Pick: Alexander Volkanoski via Knockout
Brandon Moreno (21-6-2) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (25-5) II (FLW Championship)
Brandon Moreno cemented his title reign against Deiveson Figueiredo, forcing a late TKO due to injury. Moreno has slick jiu-jitsu but has been really impressed with his high-level boxing and quick kicks in recent fights. Moreno’s heart and willingness to throw down are always key, willing to go into deep waters. Pantoja is on a three-fight win streak, claiming consecutive submissions over Alex Perez and Brandon Royval. Pantoja’s jiu-jitsu is incredibly high level and he is equally adept at dominating from top control as he is scrambling to get off his back. His striking is aggressive and he carries heavy knockout power, mixing in heavy low kicks and body shots. Pantoja has two wins over Moreno previously and I think he finds a third here. His control on the mat can pierce through Moreno’s elite scrambling, while he will also force a brawl in the pocket. I like Pantoja to mix in power shots before finding a choke in a scramble.
My Pick: Alexandre Pantoja via Submission
Robert Whittaker (24-6) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (19-2) (MW)
Robert Whittaker has been at the top of the Middleweight division for what feels like forever, consistently turning back new title challengers even after dropping his title. His karate-based striking style and National Wrestling team background have led him to four victories in his last five bouts, constantly displaying improvement with his quick leg kicks and snappy striking combos. Du Plessis has been on a tear through the Middleweight ranks, securing four finishes among his five Octagon victories to earn his place in this title eliminator. His heavy hands and explosiveness are key weapons, while his underrated grappling has made appearances in victories over Darren Till and Trevin Giles. I expect this bout to primarily play out on the feet, as Whittaker has the wrestling advantage to control where this fight plays out. On the feet, Whittaker is technically worlds above and should find success with his usual style of dictating range and corralling his opponent into big shots. I see Whittaker avoiding the early storm and piling on volume as Dricus fades for a late finish.
My Pick: Robert Whittaker via Knockout
Jalin Turner (13-6) vs. Dan Hooker (22-12) (LW)
Jalin Turner put together a violent five-fight finishing streak before running into Mateusz Gamrot, who beat him in a highly controversial split decision. Turner has a massive frame for the division and carries tremendous punching power, dishing out serious damage from outside his opponent’s range, though his own defense relies heavily upon his size. He is dangerous on the mat as well with a wide submission threat, though he can be controlled on his back. Dan Hooker rebounded at Lightweight with a knockout of Claudio Puelles after an ill-fated move to Featherweight. Hooker has a versatile kickboxing attack utilizing all eight limbs, though his striking defense can be poor. While a submission threat on the mat, he rarely wrestles offensively. I think we see a wild affair here with both fighters holding the range to tag the other. I like the power advantage of Turner to find a finish, though I find the betting line too inflated.
My Pick: Jalin Turner via Knockout
Bo Nickal (4-0) vs. Val Woodburn (7-0) (MW)
Highly touted Penn State wrestler Nickal picked up two quick submissions on the Contender Series and followed it up with another in his Octagon debut over Jamie Pickett. While his standup is very much still developing, he has the wrestling to quickly ground any fight and has meshed that skill expertly with jiu-jitsu, constantly working towards improving position or forcing a submission. Woodburn was set to compete on this season of Contender Series but is stepping in here on short notice. While a powerful knockout artist, Woodburn has already displayed issues with his wrestling defense. Nickal will quickly exploit that for another fast finish.
My Pick: Bo Nickal via Submission
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