Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs Blanchfield

Pauga competed on Season 30 of The Ultimate Fighter in the heavyweight division, reaching the finals, where he was felled by Mohammed Usman. A former NFL running back, the Elevation Fight Team member was always expected to return to the 205-pound division, where he went 5-0 prior to his stint on the long-running reality TV series.

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Saturday’s bout is a chance for each man to shift the perceptions fans may have about them given their recent results and hopefully kickstart a run of success inside the Octagon. Wright and Pauga are diametrically opposed in terms of their styles, so it will be interesting to see which man is able to dictate the terms of engagement and control how this one plays out.

Josh Parisian vs Jamal Pogues

Fighters that each earned a pair of DWCS triumphs clash in the heavyweight division, as Josh Parisian welcomes Jamal Pogues to the Octagon for the first time.

Parisian scored wins on Season 2 and Season 4, with an appearance on The Ultimate Fighter tucked in between, building a 13-3 record prior to arriving in the UFC. He’s alternated losses and wins since debuting towards the tail end of 2020, but enters Saturday’s contest off a come-from-behind finish of Alan Baudot last time out.

The newcomer Pogues claimed victories in Season 3 and Season 6, punching his ticket to the biggest stage in the sport with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Renato Jr. last fall. The Las Vegan was a well-regarded prospect early in his career and his only losses have come against quality competition, and he’s still only 27 years old, which makes him a baby in the heavyweight ranks.

This is an important matchup for both men, as Parisian looks to build some sustained momentum and Pogues aims to make a splash in his first UFC appearance. Parisian is the physically more imposing man, but Pogues will have an edge in athleticism, and whomever can make that advantage work best for them on Saturday should come away with a victory.

William Knight vs Marcin Prachnio

William Knight and Marcin Prachnio collide in a meeting of light heavyweight finishers looking to start 2023 on a positive note.

After winning three of his first four appearances following his second successful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Knight has faltered in each of his last two starts at heavyweight. He dropped a unanimous decision in a fight against Maxim Grishin that was initially ticketed for the 205-pound ranks, and then was stopped in the third by Devin Clark in a scheduled heavyweight showing two months later.

Bueno Silva debuted in the UFC bantamweight division in 2022 and quickly earned a number next to her name. After outworking Wu Yanan in a competitive bout that garnered Fight of the Night honors in April, “Sheetara” returned in August and quickly submitted Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger to push her record to 4-2-1 inside the Octagon and 9-2-1 overall.

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The bantamweight division is in flux at the moment, with a vast collection of ranked competitors jockeying for position in the championship chase. A dynamic effort by either woman here would be a great way to start their respective 2023 campaigns and position either of them for an even more high-profile assignment next time out.

Jamall Emmers vs Khusein Askhabov

Jamall Emmers and Khusein Askhabov meet in this matchup of featherweights looking to shake off the rust following longer than normal stays on the sidelines.

Saturday’s marks Emmers’ first appearance since his August 2021 clash with Pat Sabatini, which started with the veteran “Pretty Boy” dropping the Philadelphia product and ended with him tapping in agony to a nasty heel hook. The 33-year-old has fought solid competition through his regional run and first three UFC appearances, and it will be interesting to see if he can parlay that and his comfort inside the Octagon into avenues for success against Askhabov this weekend.

It’s been nearly three years since the 27-year-old Askhabov stepped into the cage, which brings an even greater amount of intrigue to the Chechen fighter’s debut. He sports a perfect 23-0 record and has trained with quality teams and elite talent periodically over the years, but it will be curious to see what impact the layoff and graduating to the big stage has on the promising prospect this weekend.

Will Emmers hand Askhabov his first career loss or can the streaking newcomer collect a victory in his promotional debut?

Ovince Saint Preux vs Philipe Lins

Twice ticketed to meet in the past to no avail, Ovince Saint Preux and Philipe Lins will once again try to make their way into the Octagon opposite one another this weekend.

The 39-year-old Saint Preux has spent the last couple years splitting time between heavyweight and light heavyweight, struggling against the big fellas, but winning three of his last four in the 205-pound weight class, with his lone setback coming against new champ Jamahal Hill. He remains an awkward stylistic matchup and an opportune finisher with good power, which continues to make him a much-needed member of the light heavyweight ecosystem.

“The Ghost” kicked off Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series with a first-round, flying knee knockout win over Leonardo Damiani, but his transition to the big stage hasn’t gone as well. After dropping a competitive decision to Matt Semelsberger in his debut, Fletcher landed on the wrong side of the cards again in a battle of attrition against Ange Loosa in August.

The 32-year-old Gorimbo arrives in the UFC off a decision win over Julio Rodriguez last summer at Fury FC 65, having won four of his last five starts overall. A native of Zimbabwe and fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa, “The Answer” will look to make a splash in his promotional debut by handing Fletcher a third straight defeat.

It’s going to be interesting to see how things play out between these two as they are opposites in terms of stature and reach. Fletcher is a compact bundle of explosive athleticism, standing 5-foot-10 with a 67-inch reach, while Gorimbo is all length, measuring out at 6-feet, but brandishing a 76-inch reach. Whomever can tap into their physical advantage will stand a good chance of getting their hand raised in this one.\

Clayton Carpenter vs Juancamilo Ronderos

Flyweights open the show as DWCS grad Clayton Carpenter faces off with Juancamilo Ronderos.

The 26-year-old Carpenter turned in a gutsy effort to garner his UFC contract in the fall, surviving an early onslaught from Mexican veteran Edgar Chairez before steadying himself and rallying back to win a decision. Fighting out of The MMA Lab, Carpenter is 6-0 as a professional after going 6-1 as an amateur, and looks to join the long list of young talents from the Glendale, Arizona outfit to have success in the UFC.

Ronderos started his career with four straight wins, including a unanimous decision victory over UFC alum Eric Shelton, before getting a short notice call to the Octagon in May 2021. He lost that fight to David Dvorak quickly, served a nine-month suspension, and was sidelined throughout 2022, resulting in this weekend being his first appearance in 21 months.

Carpenter displayed the focus and tenacity of a seasoned veteran in his Contender Series win, while Ronderos faces questions after a long layoff, but all of that can change if he halts the newcomer’s unbeaten run this weekend.