Cancellations have drastically dimmed the commercial shine of the UFC Fight Night Dublin card, but there are still some intriguing stories to follow on this trimmed-down UFC Fight Pass exclusive.
When: Saturday, October 24, at 4 p.m. ET for main card, 1:15 p.m. ET for prelims
Where: Dublin, Ireland
Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass
The New Main Event
The first significant blow to the card was dealt when an injury pushed Stipe Miocic out of his fight with Ben Rothwell. Per Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.com, the same thing happened to Joe Duffy and forced him out of the main event against Dustin Poirier. Because of the cancellation of the two biggest fights on the card, Ireland native Paddy Holohan will carry his country’s flag in a tangle with “The Last Samurai” Louis Smolka.
Holohan may not have a name as big as Conor McGregor or Duffy’s, but he’ll have no problem connecting to the crowd. MMA Junkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu tweeted:
Holohan originates from humble beginnings, and his grinding style endears him to his countrymen. The striking red hair doesn’t hurt either.
His opponent is a no-nonsense, well-rounded fighter who is very capable of beating him—only he won’t. There’s no secret to Holohan’s approach. He has excellent jiu-jitsu and wants to take his opponent to the mat and submit him.
Eight of the 12 wins he’s had in his career have come by way of submission. Smolka is no slouch on the ground, but he’s going to be fighting in the main event of a UFC show in very hostile territory. Can he handle that energy and an expert grappler like Holohan bearing down on him looking for an opening to make him tap out?
I say no. Holohan will outwork Smolka and secure a fourth-round-submission win in a competitive main event.
Back from Hell
After a 14-month prison term for an aggravated burglary, Reza Madadi is back in the UFC. The talented submissions fighter last appeared in the UFC back in 2013, when he defeated Michael Johnson by submission.
He barely had time to celebrate the victory. Madadi’s incarceration began just a month after his big win over Johnson. Per Shaun Al-Shatti’s article on MMA Fighting, Madadi maintains his innocence.
With that ordeal behind him, he will take on Irishman Norman Parke in a bout that is suddenly the co-main event. Parke is a battler, but he’s yet to prove himself to be a consistent winner in the UFC. He’s lost his last two fights by split decision and fails to finish opponents in many instances.
He fights with a ton of emotion, and that will only be augmented fighting in front of his countrymen. That exuberance will open him up for a submission attempt against Madadi.
The latter doesn’t waste many of those opportunities. Eight of his 13 wins have come by submission, and I’m predicting he adds to that total against Parke on Saturday.
Stand-Up Classic?
Both Nicolas Dalby and Darren Till are undefeated and dynamic strikers. Someone’s “0” must go when the two meet in a bout that could easily win Fight of the Night.
It could also end with a Performance of the Night award because of the striking prowess of both men. Dalby’s probably more powerful with his variety of head kicks, but Till’s quick-twitch athleticism makes him a little more explosive. Both men have only had one UFC bout, so it’s difficult to use their brief experience with the promotion as a barometer.
In looking back at their fights before joining the UFC, Till was the most impressive.
He’s likely to beat his opponent to the punch, use his quickness to close the distance and then escape before the counter can come. Bank on this one ending in a TKO, with Till coming out on top.
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