‘UFC Fight Night 213: Kattar vs. Allen Live’ fight-by-fight preview

Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen

Calvin Kattar (23-6 MMA, 7-four UFC) and Arnold Allen (18-1 MMA, nine-zero UFC) conflict on this assembly of featherweight standouts seeking to similarly their case for identify contention.

Kattar makes a notably short turnaround after competing in mid-June, while he dropped a hotly debated break up selection to Josh Emmett. The New England Cartel member didn`t lose any floor withinside the divisional chase following the pleasing contest, and appears to cement his status as a pinnacle-five fighter with a victory over the surging Brit on Saturday.

Perfect via his first 9 UFC appearances and driving an 11-combat prevailing streak standard, Allen is the pinnacle rising contender withinside the featherweight department. The 28-12 months-vintage prolonged his run of achievement with a first-spherical technical knockout win over Dan Hooker in London returned in March, showcasing the effective hanging that accompanies his already mounted grappling competencies.

Following that victory, Allen known as for a matchup with Kattar, who become – and nonetheless is – stationed one function beforehand of him withinside the rankings. It’s a combat that makes a fantastic deal of feel for every competitor right now and have to assist make clear the contender photograph on the pinnacle of the 145-pound weight class

Tim Means vs. Max Griffin

Veteran welterweights seeking to get matters shifting withinside the proper course once more meet withinside the co-most important event, as Tim Means (32-13-1 MMA, 14-10 UFC) and Max Griffin (18-nine MMA, 6-7 UFC) rectangular off on Saturday night.

After only a tick below a 12 months at the sidelines, Means lower back to motion in June and had his 3-combat prevailing streak snapped with the aid of using Kevin Holland. The 38-12 months-vintage stays an first-rate check of person and competencies simply outdoor the top tier withinside the welterweight ranks, and appears to re-verify that status with a win over Griffin.

Much like his opponent, Griffin arrives in Las Vegas seeking to begin a brand new run of achievement after having his personal 3-combat prevailing streak snapped in his preliminary 2022 appearance. Following stoppage wins over Ramiz Brahimaj and Song Kenan, and a unanimous selection victory over Carlos Condit, Griffin dropped a aggressive break up selection to Neil Magny in March, and appears to regroup right here.

These were furnishings withinside the department for the ultimate numerous years and perpetual hard outs for whomever they have got faced, and there may be no motive to consider that might not convey over to this weekend after they percentage the octagon with one any other.

Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Jared Vanderaa

Waldo Cortes Acosta (7-zero MMA, zero-zero UFC) faces off with Jared Vanderaa (12-nine MMA, 1-five UFC) in a conflict of heavyweight graduates from Dana White’s Contender Series.

A former pitcher with MLB dreams, Cortes Acosta transitioned to MMA, however maintains to throw fastballs, having earned every of his ultimate 3 victories with the aid of using stoppage because of strikes. The Dominican newcomer made notably short paintings of Danilo Suzart to punch his price price tag to the UFC roster, and he will goal to do the identical while he steps in with Vanderaa right here.

Vanderaa is getting into Saturday’s contest on a four-combat slide and wearing a 1-five report withinside the octagon standard. Now, to be fair, the primary losses got here to combatants presently ranked withinside the pinnacle 15, and the second one got here in opposition to savvy veterans Andrei Arlovski and Aleksei Oleinik, however the strain is on Vanderaa to show he can grasp at this level.

Will the debuting Cortes Acosta upload to Vanderaa’s woes or can the extra skilled fighter ruin his first journey into the octagon?

Josh Fremd vs. Tresean Gore

Middleweights with aims of shifting up the divisional ladder conflict right here as Josh Fremd (nine-three MMA, zero-1 UFC) takes on TUF 29’s Tresean Gore (three-2 MMA, zero-2 UFC).

A strong run below the LFA banner coupled with a victory in the front of the Lookin’ for a Fight group earned Fremd a niche at the UFC roster, however his promotional debut did not move so well. The Pennsylvania local and Factory X consultant dropped a unanimous selection to Anthony Hernandez at UFC 273, and arrives in Vegas bent of having returned into the win column.

Gore confirmed a ton of uncooked ability as a member of Team Ortega on Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” however he become injured beforehand of the finale and has eventually struggled in his first UFC assignments. He become out-hustled with the aid of using middleweight winner Bryan Battle in his debut, and ate a chilly proper hand from Fremd’s teammate Cody Brundage ultimate day trip, leaving him on a -combat slide heading into this one.

Something has were given to present on this conflict of 185-pound hopefuls, and it is going to be exciting to look which one walks away with their first UFC victory.

Dustin Jacoby vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

It’s a probably explosive conflict of darkish horse competencies withinside the mild heavyweight department as Dustin Jacoby (18-five-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) and Khalil Rountree Jr. (10-five MMA, 6-five UFC) meet withinside the most important card opener.

In seven fights due to the fact that returning to the UFC fold, Jacoby has long past 6-zero-1, getting into Saturday’s contest on a four-combat prevailing streak. The 34-12 months-vintage veteran earned a gnarly first-spherical knockout win over Da-un Jung ultimate day trip in July, and with any other victory this weekend, ought to make a push for a date with a pinnacle-10 opponent subsequent day trip.

Rountree Jr. hasn’t loved the identical sustained achievement as Jacoby of late, however his ultimate wins were memorable and proven that he is grew to become a nook in his aggressive career. Two fights returned, the former “The Ultimate Fighter” finalist earned a TKO win over Modestas Bukauskas with an indirect kick, and in his maximum latest showing, Rountree Jr. finishes Karl Roberson with a thudding kick to the frame after placing him at the deck with a clean, clubbing proper hook.

These gents are mountain climbing the aggressive ladder on parallel tracks, and we get to advantage from their paths crossing on Saturday. Expect fireworks.

Phil Hawes vs. Roman Dolidze

Phil Hawes (12-three MMA, four-1 UFC) and Roman Dolidze (10-1 MMA, four-1 UFC) meet in a bout among middleweights angling to maintain making noise and mountain climbing the ranks in Saturday’s very last prelim.

Hawes is 12-three standard and four-1 withinside the UFC, inclusive of a win over pinnacle-15 fighter Nassourdine Imavov.