UFC Vegas 81 Preview
The UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, October 14 for UFC Vegas 81. The main event will be in the featherweight division between #11 Sodiq Yusuff vs. #13 Edson Barboza.
Yusuff has won two straight fights, he is 6-1 in the UFC, and he is 8-2 in his last 10 fights. His most recent win was by first round submission over Don Shainis a year ago. The Nigerian fighter will be facing his toughest test on Saturday and fighting in his first main event. He wants to prove to the world that he deserves to be in a headlining spot.
“It feels natural,” Yusuff said. “When I first got it, it was a little bit surreal. But the closer and closer I got, this is like this is the destined path. I feel like I’ve spent enough time here and I’ve gotten enough eyeballs on me to where the company feels like I deserve it. When Saturday comes, you’ve just got to go out there and put on a good show so they give you another one.”
The 30-year-old knows what a win over Barbosa would do for him. “They originally gave me that name for Abu Dhabi, but I couldn’t make it because of passport problems,” Yusuff said. “So I thought it was an opportunity that I already missed. So when they brought it back around, it was a yes, definitely. Edson is a legend. That’s a name I’d love to have under my resume.”
Yusuff has key wins over Andre Fili and Alex Caceres, but he will have his hands full with a veteran fighter who is still one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. Yusuff’s wrestling will likely be the difference for him, but if he gets lazy, he could get caught by Barboza on the ground.
Barboza won his last fight by first round KO over Billy Quarantillo in April, which was a huge rebound after losing two straight. The 37-year-old is 4-6 in his last 10 fights but is looking to prove he is still capable of winning a war against Yusuff.
“He’s a great fighter – definitely one of the best in the world,” Barboza said. “He’s No. 11 (in the UFC rankings), in front of me in the rankings. It’s going to be a war like always. Everybody know every time I step into the octagon I give a good fight, and this Saturday is not going to be different. It’s going to be a war.”
The Brazilian fighter is ready to win the fight no matter what Yusuff’s gameplan is. “It’s an MMA fight,” Barboza said. “I need to be ready wherever this fight go. I am ready. It’s an MMA fight. But everybody knows my style, they know the game plan is always the same. Keep it on the feet and try to stop him, try to finish the fight as soon as possible. But wherever this fight goes, I’ll be ready.”
Barboza concluded, “I see the fight at the end with me with the win. I don’t know if it’s going to be a decision or a knockout or submission. But I know if I go there and give my best, I’m going to win this fight.”
While he is getting closer to retirement, Barboza has legendary knockout victories and wins over some of the toughest in the sport. He has been fighting in the UFC since 2010 and has key wins over Bobby Green, Paul Felder, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, Beneil Dariush, Dan Hooker and Shane Burgos.
A win for Barboza would remind the featherweight top 15 that he is never an easy fight and is always a threat. A loss would push him one step closer to a glove removal for one of the most electric fighters in UFC history.
The rest of the main card:
Women's Flyweight - #9 Jennifer Maia vs. #11 Viviane Araújo
Bantamweight - #13 Jonathan Martinez vs. #14 Adrian Yanez
Middleweight - Michel Pereira vs. Andre Petroski
Flyweight - Edgar Cháirez vs. Daniel Lacerda
Bantamweight - Cameron Saaiman vs. Christian Rodriguez
ESPN + Prelims:
Featherweight - Darren Elkins vs.T.J. Brown
Women's Bantamweight - Tainara Lisboa vs. Ravena Oliveira
Lightweight - Terrance McKinney vs. Brendan Marotte
Women's Bantamweight - Irina Alekseeva vs. Melissa Dixon
Bantamweight - #15 Chris Gutiérrez vs. Alateng Heili
Women's Strawweight - Ashley Yoder vs. Emily Ducote
