Let’s get into the fight breakdown and predictions for the upcoming bout. Chase Hooper is expected to open up in the Southpaw stance. Historically, Slava Claus has opened up Orthodox against Orthodox fighters, but he switched to Southpaw when facing Nazim Sadikov, who is a Southpaw. Therefore, it’s likely that Slava will also open up Southpaw against Hooper.

Slava prefers to match his opponent’s stance, possibly because of his versatile kicking ability. He can effectively kick from both Orthodox and Southpaw stances, as seen with his outside low kicks against Sadikov. He doesn’t limit himself to outside low kicks; he also utilizes inside kicks and reversal kicks. His leg kicks are particularly impactful, landing 17 of 18 in round one, 6 of 7 in round two, and 4 of 3 in round three against Sadikov. These leg kicks could be a significant factor in the fight, especially considering Hooper’s previous bout against Steve Garcia, where Garcia’s heavy low kicks from Southpaw stance caused trouble for Hooper.

When Slava fights Southpaw, his takedown defense appears weaker, although it’s not particularly strong in any stance. He struggles to sprawl and has given up takedowns easily when fighting Southpaw versus Southpaw, as well as Orthodox versus Orthodox. If the fight remains standing, Slava has a considerable advantage. His striking is superior, and he maintains a high guard, making it difficult for opponents to land significant strikes. Hooper, moving up from featherweight to lightweight, lacks knockout power and has not recorded any UFC knockdowns, suggesting he won’t pose a knockout threat to Slava.

On the feet, Slava is expected to dominate. He’s adept at working the body, with a history of liver shot TKOs, and will likely target Hooper’s taller, longer frame with body shots and kicks. However, head strikes shouldn’t be discounted, as Hooper has limited head movement and tends to keep his head on the center line, making him vulnerable to knockdowns.

For Hooper to have a chance at victory, he must take the fight to the ground. Despite Slava’s tendency to give up takedowns, Hooper’s own takedown accuracy is only around 20-25%. Slava’s ability to quickly get back to his feet could negate Hooper’s grappling attempts. Hooper is aggressive with submissions when he gains advantageous positions, but if Slava creates any space, he’ll attempt to escape and return to a standing position. Hooper may look for guillotines or leg locks, but his success with submissions has been limited, often resulting in him ending up on his back.

The best strategy for Slava is to keep the fight standing, disengage if Hooper pulls guard, and focus on leg strikes to eventually secure a finish. Hooper will need to achieve takedowns, maintain control, and seek a submission to win, but his track record suggests he prioritizes submissions over control, which could allow Slava the opportunity to stand up and dictate the fight on the feet.

Official Prediction: Borshchev by Knockout / TKO

Watch our full 29 minute breakdown on this fight as we provide everything you need to know.

Sean Strickland takes on Dricus Du Plessis at UFC297 on January 20, 2024 live from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto Ontario Canada. Check out out full breakdown below:

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Exciting UFC297 Fight Between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis

Calling all fight fans! Get ready for an action-packed showdown as Sean Strickland takes on Dricus du Plessis in the highly anticipated UFC297 event on January 20. The clash between these two talented fighters promises to be a treat for all MMA enthusiasts.

In order to give you a taste of what to expect from this electrifying face-off, we have embedded an exciting YouTube video below. Watch it to witness the intensity and skills of both Strickland and du Plessis:

As seen in the video, both fighters possess incredible talent and determination. Sean Strickland has been on an impressive winning streak with his aggressive fighting style and powerful strikes, while Dricus du Plessis has showcased his skills in various promotions leading up to this highly anticipated UFC debut.

With both fighters hungry for victory, UFC297 is guaranteed to deliver a memorable clash between two determined warriors. Fans can expect this match to be full of intense grappling, striking exchanges, and thrilling moments that will keep them on the edge of their seats throughout.

Don't miss this exciting event on January 20! Mark your calendars and make sure to catch the electrifying showdown between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. Stay tuned for more updates as the fight approaches!

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As the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Salt Lake City, Utah, this weekend for its pay-per-view event, the fighters will have to contend with a challenging factor: the high elevation of the city. Salt Lake City has an average elevation of 4,327 feet (1,319 m) above sea level, which can affect the cardio and endurance of the athletes.

This is not the first time that the UFC has held an event in a high-altitude location. In fact, the last UFC event in Salt Lake City was in August 2022, where the elevation was also 4,265 feet (1,300 m)Of the total 12 fights on that card, seven went to decision, meaning they lasted for the full scheduled time without a knockout or submission. Three fights ended before the half-way point, and two went over.

The elevation factor may have played a role in the outcomes of those fights, as some fighters may have struggled to maintain their pace and power in the thin air. The same could happen this weekend, as some of the fighters may not have acclimated to the altitude or trained accordingly.

To compare, some previous UFC events in lower-elevation locations had different results. For example, in September 2021, the UFC was in Brasilia, Brazil, at an elevation of 1,000 feet (305 m). That card had 12 fights, nine of which went to decision. In February 2020, the UFC was in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at an elevation of 5,282 feet (1,610 m). Of the 13 fights on that card, seven went to decision, and two were disqualifications. Only one fight ended before the half-way point.

These examples show that elevation can have a significant impact on the performance and outcome of MMA fights. The fighters who are prepared for it may have an advantage over those who are not. The fans who tune in to watch this weekend’s UFC event in Salt Lake City may witness some exciting and surprising fights that are influenced by the high-altitude environment.

Tom Aspinall: The comeback of a rising star 

Tom Aspinall returns to the octagon this Saturday, July 22, after a devastating knee injury that ended his five-fight winning streak in the UFC. 

Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) was on the verge of breaking into the top five of the UFC heavyweight rankings when he faced Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC Fight Night 208 in London last July. However, just 15 seconds into the fight, Aspinall suffered a freak accident that tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee, forcing him to tap out and hand Blaydes the victory 

The injury required surgery and months of rehabilitation, but Aspinall never lost his focus or motivation. He worked hard to recover his strength and mobility, and he is now ready to resume his quest for UFC glory.  

Aspinall, who turned 30 in April, is one of the most promising talents in the UFC heavyweight division. He has a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling and boxing, and he holds a black belt under his father Andy Aspinall, who is also his coach at Team Kaobon in Manchester. He made his UFC debut in July 2020, and he quickly established himself as a knockout artist, finishing four of his first five opponents in the first round. He also showed his submission skills when he choked out former champion Andrei Arlovski in February 2021, earning his second Performance of the Night bonus 

Aspinall has a loyal fan base in his home country, and he will have their support when he steps into the cage at The O2 arena for the second time in his career. He hopes to put on a show for them and prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. He will face a tough challenge in Tybura (24-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC), and has won seven of his last eight fights. 

Although Tybura is on a decent run of wins, none of his prior opponents are comparable to Tom Aspinall and this is a huge step up in competition for Tybura, who doesn't have the best tape. 

Starting with the win over 7-5 Greg Hardy, who is no longer with the UFC. Hardy actually looked like the faster and more technical striker winning round 1, but one thing about Marcin Tybura, is that he's pretty durable. He weathered the storm in round 1 and in round 2, eventually found the takedown for a ground and pound finish. Similar story in his next next against Walt Harris, where Tybura ate some big shots early in round 1 and Tyrbura was able to survive until Harris gifted Tybura a leg after a high kick that put Harris down on his back. As Harris turned to get back up, Tybura jumped the back and won by ground and pound again. 

Against a striker with no real cardio concerns, Volkov cruised to a decision win after stuffing 16 takedown attempts from Marcin Tybura who was never even close to finishing one of those attempts. At one point in the first round, Volkov reversed the takedown attempt and landed on top. Tybura's default reaction was to close guard and control posture riding out the round. This is important to note. As Tybura did something similar against Alexandr Romanov in round 1.  

I would categorize Tybura as average almost everywhere except overall durability, which he's relied on to get him deep into fights. Tom Aspinall looks to be better almost everywhere. Aspinall is light on his feet bouncing in and out like a middleweight. Uses power double leg takedowns if he wants the fight on the ground, and also a BJJ blackbelt that looks for submissions.  

In a 5 round fight against a durable opponent like Tybura, I think Aspinall will look to pace himself and stay on the outside picking Tybura apart. Round 1 could stay on the feet if Aspinall wants it to, but it could hit the ground if Aspinall thinks it's an easier path to victory or it's possible Tybura looks for the takedown and Aspinall reverses. I don't really see Tybura having much grappling success after struggling against non-grapplers like Hardy and Volkov.  

Given how durable Tybura can be, I think the submission could be live for Aspinall. Tybura hasn't fought anybody with any grappling skills like Aspinall since maybe Werdum in 2017.  

This fight does look like a mismatch and mostly a set-up fight for Tom Aspinall returning from injury. I think there are 2 ways that Tom can lose this fight. First is that his knee isn't fully recovered and there's another knee injury after kick lands. The second way, is if Tybura relies on his durability and Tom gets caught up in the moment and gasses out going for a finish, but even then Tybura doesn't look like he carries much power into the later rounds. Outside of these two unlikely scenarios, I think Tom Aspinall cruises to a win.  

In an intriguing matchup, Julija Stoliarenko is set to face Molly McCann in what appears to be a classic case of the UFC pitting a fighter against the hometown favorite. Stoliarenko, known primarily for her grappling skills and risk-taking for submissions, faces McCann, an aggressive striker looking to rebound from her last fight. Let's take a closer look at the fighters' strengths and vulnerabilities, leading to an exciting first-round TKO prediction.

Stoliarenko's Grappling Style:
Julija Stoliarenko is a skilled grappler who isn't afraid to take chances to secure submissions. However, her stand-up guard appears to be penetrable, making her susceptible to boxers who show aggression. On the ground, while she actively hunts for submissions, she may leave herself exposed to ground and pound, as she doesn't maintain a tight guard.

McCann's Aggressive Approach:
Molly McCann is known for her aggressive style, and she's expected to come out strong in front of her home crowd. With a desire to bounce back after a recent dominant ground performance, McCann will likely seek a quick striking exchange, putting pressure on her opponent right from the start. Expect McCann to back Julija up against the cage and tee off.

Prediction: First-Round TKO for McCann
Considering Stoliarenko's weaknesses in her stand-up guard and vulnerability to ground and pound, and McCann's aggressive striking and home crowd advantage, a first-round TKO victory for McCann seems plausible as she is the more physical fighter. The combination of McCann's relentless pressure and striking skills could overwhelm Stoliarenko early in the bout.

With McCann's home crowd support and her determination to secure a first-round finish, the odds seem to favor her. I'm taking a round 1 TKO