UFC Louisville: 21 enjoyable tidbits, information and storylines

After a lackluster pay-per-view (PPV) present that ended with a enjoyable light-weight title struggle between Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier (watch highlights), the Final Combating Championship (UFC) stays on the street, touring to KFC Yum! Middle in Louisville, Ky. Within the ESPN-streamed foremost occasion, former middleweight title challenger, Jared Cannonier, takes on 185-pound French upstart Nassourdine Imavov.

Whereas UFC Louisville isn’t the strongest card, it has enjoyable fights, and the ambiance must be unbelievable as a result of it’s in entrance of a reside crowd. So, earlier than all of it goes down later this night (Sat., June 8, 2024) on ESPN/ESPN+, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits, and statistics forward of showtime.

‘The Bluegrass State’

UFC returns to Kentucky for the primary time in 11 years and Louisville for the primary time in 13 years. The final time the promotion held an occasion inside KFC Yum! Middle was UFC on Versus 3: “Sanchez vs. Kampmann,” during which Diego Sanchez defeated Martin Kampmann by way of unanimous choice.

Rankings

Each middleweights in the primary occasion are within the High 10 rankings. Cannonier is ranked No. 4, whereas Imavov is No. 7.

Cannonier is driving a two-fight win streak, together with a win over Sean Strickland. Imavov acquired again into the win column after a loss to Strickland and a “No Contest” in opposition to Chris Curtis.

Stakes

The middleweight division is on hearth, however it is usually a multitude.

Division champion, Dricus Du Plessis, will struggle Israel Adesanya in August, and later this month, a No. 1 contender struggle goes down between Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker.

The outcomes of these two fights will determine how the division performs out as a result of if Cannonier wins, he has a case to be made that he ought to struggle for the title subsequent. Strickland gained final weekend at UFC 302, holds a win over Adesanya and fought Du Plessis to a break up choice.

Probably the most logical struggle would most likely be Strickland vs. Cannonier 2 … however their first struggle was largely unwatchable.

Fundamental Occasion(s)

UFC Louisville can be Cannonier’s third straight foremost occasion and fifth in complete. Imavov, in the meantime, will compete in his third foremost occasion.

Reyes Returns

Former gentle heavyweight title challenger, Dominick Reyes, returns from an 18-month layoff during which he handled severe well being points. In reality, he was scared he was going to die due to blood clots.

He was initially imagined to struggle surging contender, Carlos Ulberg, at UFC 297 earlier this yr, after which the pair had been re-booked at UFC Atlantic Metropolis two months later, however that bout was in the end scrapped as effectively.

Reyes is driving a four-fight dropping streak and takes on Dustin Jacoby.

Rebooked!

Teenage phenom, Raul Rosas Jr., and The Final Fighter (TUF) winner, Ricky Turcios, lastly conflict this weekend. The pair of bantamweights had been imagined to struggle at UFC Mexico Metropolis; nevertheless, minutes earlier than Rosas Jr. walked to the Octagon, the struggle was referred to as off as a result of he was coping with an undisclosed sickness.

Rosas Jr. and Turcios are each on one-fight win streaks.

Movin’ Down

Punahele Soriano strikes right down to welterweight after 12 fights at middleweight. Soriano revealed to MMAmania.com that he had been serious about transferring right down to the 170-pound division for a few fights, however was fearful about making the burden. It wasn’t till he went to UFC’s Efficiency Institute that he realized he may make the burden simply.

Soriano is driving a two-fight dropping streak, being completed in each.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures

Welcome Again, ‘Caramel Thunder’

The person dealing with Soriano this weekend, Miguel Baeza, is coming back from a 25-month layoff. Baeza has been coping with accidents and “sicknesses” whereas away from the cage.

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican was a scorching commodity when he first entered UFC, particularly when he stopped Matt Brown. Nevertheless, a three-fight dropping streak has considerably derailed that hype. Whereas there isn’t a doubt he has the expertise, it’s all about breaking that dreaded streak.

Contender Sequence Takes Over Kentucky

Sixteen fighters on UFC Louisville are Contender Sequence graduates.

They’re: Jacoby, Rosas Jr., Turcios, Brunno Ferreira, Dustin Stoltzfus, Julian Marquez, Zach Reese, Baeza, Soriano, Thiago Moises, Carlos Prates, John Castaneda, Daniel Marcos, Eduarda Moura, Denise Gomes and Rayanne dos Santos.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures

TUF

Three TUF alumni are combating this weekend: Turcios, two-time winner Brad Katona and Montana De La Rosa.

Pointless Rematch

Talking of Del La Rosa, who requested for a rematch between her and Andrea Lee? Nobody, but right here we’re. The flyweights first fought at UFC Battle Night time: “Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie” again in 2019, during which Lee gained an unanimous choice.

Each girls want a win actually unhealthy and might be combating for his or her jobs. Lee is driving a four-fight dropping streak, whereas De La Rosa is dropping a three-fight dropping streak.

UFC Historical past

Puja Tomar — the primary feminine Indian fighter in UFC historical past — will compete this weekend as she kicks off UFC Louisville in opposition to dos Santos. Tomar (8-4) holds a 75 p.c end charge with six knockouts and is driving a four-fight win steak.

“The Cyclone” is a ONE Championship veteran, going 1-3.

Welcome To UFC!

Just one fighter is making their UFC debut (Tomar).

If You Don’t Know, Now You Do

UFC CEO, Dana White, does a weekly phase spotlighting some underrated fights. And this week, he was spot on.

He selected Charles Radke vs. Carlos Prates, which is a improbable Welterweight showdown. Prates is at all times much-watch tv and was in contrast as younger Anderson Silva by White.

The second struggle is Julian Marquez vs. Zach Reese, which is able to greater than possible finish in a end. Each fighters maintain one hundred pc end charges with Reese by no means being out of the primary spherical.

UFC Louisville Battle Chief

The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC Louisville is Cody Stamann (28).

UFC Louisville Battle Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC Louisville is Reese (7).

UFC Louisville Knockout King

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC Louisville is Prates (13).

UFC Louisville Submission Savant

5 fighters competing at UFC Louisville are tied for essentially the most quantity of profession submissions (8): Jesse Butler, Thiago Moises, Ludovít Klein, Del La Rosa and dos Santos.

Winners And Losers

13 fighters are coming off wins, 14 are coming off losses, and one is coming off a “No Contest” (Daniel Marcos).

Multi-Divisions

Listed below are the divisions that can be on show this Saturday:

• One Gentle Heavyweight struggle
• Three Middleweight fights
• One Welterweight struggle
• One Light-weight struggle
• 4 Bantamweight fights
• Two girls’s Strawweight fights
• One girls’s Flyweight struggle

Beta Canine

Based on DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC Louisville is Butler at +470.

ESPN+ Annual Subscription

ESPN+ is the reward that may preserve giving! Whether or not or not it’s 30 for 30 or NFL PrimeTime, preserve Dad busy and out of your hair with this wonderful supply.

To checkout the most recent UFC Louisville struggle card and rumors click on right here.