UFC is bringing a slam-bang heavyweight headliner to “The Gopher State” for its latest and greatest fight card on ESPN. MMAmania.com’s Patrick Stumberg kicks off the UFC Minneapolis “Prelims” party with the first installment of a two-part undercard preview series below.
Two of the sport’s most fearsome strikers duke it out this Saturday night (June 29, 2019) in Minneapolis when former Heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos locks horns with the destructive Francis Ngannou.
The power-punching pair headline the UFC’s latest ESPN card, which also features a Flyweight final eliminator between Joseph Benavidez and Jussier Formiga and a Welterweight crossroads fight between Demian Maia and the surging Anthony Rocco Martin.
But before we worry about the main card action, Minnesota’s Target Center will play host to seven preliminary bouts, also airing exclusively on ESPN, and we’re going to start by breaking down the first four.
Let’s get to work.
205 lbs.: Justin Ledet (8-2) vs. Dalcha Lungiambula (9-1)
Ledet, who spent almost four years away from the sport in amateur boxing, got off to a 3-0 Octagon start as a Heavyweight before a failed USADA test briefly forced him to the sidelines for a few months. He dropped to 205 upon his return, where he’s dropped a one-sided decision to Aleksandar Rakic and suffered a 15-second knockout loss to Johnny Walker. “El Blanco stands six inches taller than Lungiambula at 6’4.”
“Champion Dalcha” claimed the EFC Light Heavyweight title in 2016, then successfully defended it with a pair of knockout victories. He proceeded to move up to 265 to challenge Heavyweight champion Andrew van Zyl, whom he defeated by split decision despite giving up over 40 pounds. He owns four wins by (T)KO and one other by submission.
Lungiambula is definitely the most intriguing of the myriad double champs entering the Octagon recently. A judo black belt with fast, powerful hands, he’s both entertaining and rapidly improving. He’s also, unfortunately, undersized for the division, standing 5’10” and regularly weighing in comfortably below the 205 pound limit.
Not the best issue to have against a rangy boxer with a great jab.
Lungiambula should have plenty of early success considering the issues Ledet had with Rakic’s wrestling. The need to shoot from long range and Lungiambula’s cardio troubles could betray him before long, though, and while I’m pulling for “Champion Dalcha,” I see Ledet taking control and potshotting at range to win the latter two rounds.
Prediction: Ledet by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Emily Whitmire (4-2) vs. Amanda Ribas (6-1)
“Spitfire” went 1-1 on The Ultimate Fighter 26, tapping Christina Marks in the opening round before falling to Roxanne Modafferi in the quarterfinals. Though she tapped to Gillian Robertson in her Octagon debut, she’s since beaten Jamie Moyle by decision and choked out unbeaten Alexandra Albu in 61 seconds. She stands an inch taller than Ribas at 5’5.”
Ribas went 2-0 as an amateur and stopped four of her first five pro opponents, earning a shot at the Jungle Fight Strawweight title. Though she fell short against Polyana Viana, she rebounded six months later with a TKO to win the Max Fight Flyweight belt. This will be her first fight in just over three years thanks to a USADA violation.
Unless Ribas has made massive strides during her time away, the game has passed her by. Her most recent bout had all the hallmarks of early WMMA: head-and-arm throws, bolt-upright striking, robotic punches. Whitmire figures to have the edge just about everywhere, particularly in the wrestling.
Ribas has some dangerous ground-and-pound, but she’d need to get on top to use it, and I don’t see that happening. Whitmire cruises to victory with effective top control.
Prediction: Whitmire by unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Maurice Greene (7-2) vs. Júnior Albini (14-5)
“The Crochet Boss” was among the largest personalities on The Ultimate Fighter 28, but fell to rival and eventual tournament winner Juan Espino Dieppa in the semifinals. He’s found greater success in the Octagon itself, tapping Michel Batista and avenging a loss to Jeff Hughes by split decision. He stands four inches taller than Albini and will have an eight-inch reach advantage.
Albini boasted 10 first-round stoppage wins heading into his Octagon debut and swiftly made it 11, knocking out Timothy Johnson to earn Performance of the Night. He’s yet to taste victory since, dropping a decision to Andrei Arlovski, tapping to Alexey Oleinik, and suffering a head kick knockout against Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He’s knocked out and submitted six foes apiece.
Well, I think it’s safe to say that Albini didn’t pan out quite as expected. The big Brazilian constantly finds ways to lose seemingly winnable fights, whether through poor gameplanning or an unwillingness to let those heavy hands go. Greene’s superior consistency would be enough for me to pick him even without the edges in length and height.
I just have far more faith in Greene’s ability to execute than vice-versa. “The Crochet Boss” uses his massive reach advantage to pick Albini apart at range and take home either a late stoppage or a wide decision.
Prediction: Greene by unanimous decision
That’s enough to get us started.
Three fights to go, headlined by an intriguing clash of Bantamweight prospects. Same time as always, Maniacs.