Do you know how long it has been since the UFC brought an event to Columbus? On the weekend of the last show at Nationwide Arena — UFC 96 — Taken was No. 3 at the box office.
Think about how many times you have made reference to having “a particular set of skills” or how many different movies you’ve watched where Liam Neeson has sought vengeance, kicked ass, and killed a few people (or wolves).
Now understand that the last time the UFC touched down in the hometown of Jesse Owens, Simone Biles and “The Godfather of Ground-and-Pound,” Mark Coleman, no one had “a particular set of skills” and Liam Neeson was still the dramatic actor from Schindler’s List.
So yeah, it’s been a minute, and the UFC is making up for that extended absence with a banger of a card this weekend.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap for the preliminary card of UFC on ESPN 33.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Chris Daukaus
Heavyweights looking to cement their place in the divisional hierarchy headline this weekend’s fight card as Curtis Blaydes (15-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) squares off with Chris Daukaus (12-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC).
Blaydes was Derrick Lewis’ first conquest of 2021, landing on the wrong end of an uppercut from “The Black Beast” in February that halted his four-fight winning streak in a hurry. Seven months later, the Elevation Fight Team member returned to the octagon and the win column with a unanimous decision victory over fellow top-10 fixture Jairzinho Rozenstruik to get himself moving in the right direction again.
Daukaus also saw his four-fight UFC run of success fade away at the hands of Lewis, getting roughed up by the perennial contender in the final bout of 2021. Prior to that, the former Philadelphia police officer had earned stoppage wins over Aleksei Oleinik and Shamil Abdurakhimov to push his overall winning streak to five and put himself on the brink of title contention.
Things are fluid at the top of the heavyweight division at the moment, with champion Francis Ngannou set to undergo knee surgery, which gives added importance to this already compelling clash on Saturday. The winner will firmly establish themselves as a top-5 fighter in the division, and should be in the mix for a marquee assignment in the second half of the year, while the vanquished competitor will need to regroup quickly in order to fend off challenges to their place in the pecking order in the future.
Joanne Wood vs. Alexa Grasso
Top 10 flyweights meet inside the octagon on Saturday as perennial contender Joanne Wood (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) takes on ascending standout Alexa Grasso (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC).
Now 14 fights into her UFC tenure, Wood arrives in Columbus on a two-fight losing streak and having dropped three of her last four. She’s been a staple in the championship picture since moving up to the 125-pound weight class and fought nothing but top competition throughout her career, making her a formidable threat regardless of her recent results.
It’s taken a little longer than most likely expected, but the 28-year-old Grasso appears to finally be making her way into contention after long being viewed as a potential championship threat. Like Wood, she too relocated from strawweight after struggling to consistently make the 115-pound limit and has posted back-to-back unanimous decision wins since moving up.
There is the potential for this to be a back-and-forth battle on the feet, with Wood relying on her muay Thai skills and Grasso looking to showcase her sharp boxing. Each woman needs a victory here for different reasons, which should bring out the best in both of them on Saturday and make for an exciting co-main event clash.
Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
Much like the fight between Wood and Grasso, this too is a clash of top contenders in the flyweight division, as Askar Askarov (14-0-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) and Kai Kara-France (23-9 UFC, 6-2 UFC) face off with a shot at championship gold potentially hanging in the balance.
Unbeaten in 15 career appearances and coming off consecutive victories over Alexandre Pantoja and Joseph Benavidez, Askarov has been established as one of the top title threats in the division for a couple years now. Wrist surgery slowed his ascent, but he’s fully healed and ready to continue moving forward towards a championship opportunity with a win over Kara-France on Saturday.
Through his first six UFC appearances, Kara-France’s “Don’t Blink” nickname didn’t seem apt, as the City Kickboxing representative when 4-2 with all his victories coming on the cards. But over his last two outings, the 28-year-old from New Zealand showed why he carries that moniker, connecting with big shots that stopped Rogerio Bontorin and Cody Garbrandt in the first round.
Askarov and Kara-France are already on the short list of potential challengers for reigning flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo, and a dynamic effort from either man this weekend could secure them an opportunity to fight for the title later this year. This should be an absolute banger for as long as it lasts.
Matt Brown vs. Bryan Barberena
Originally scheduled to take place back in December, Matt Brown (23-18 MMA, 16-12 UFC) and Bryan Barberena (16-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) will finally share the cage this weekend in what stands as the early favorite to earn “Fight of the Night” honors on Saturday night.
A Columbus native, Brown is one of two men to have fought the last time the UFC rolled through his hometown still on the active roster (Jim Miller is the other) and will look to add a second straight win to his resume here. After dropping two straight and considering retirement, “The Immortal” earned a second-round TKO win over Dhiego Lima last time out and now gets the chance to compete at home again.
A blue-collar battler who navigated a pair of serious injury threats over the last couple years, Barberena stayed on the December fight card after Brown was scratched, collecting a unanimous decision win over Darian Weeks. “Bam Bam” is tough as nails and difficult to put away, making him an ideal dance partner for an aggressive, no-nonsense fighter like Brown.
Whether this one lasts 15 seconds or 15 minutes, it’s going to be action-packed and grimy as both Brown and Barberena are allergic to being in boring fights. Get your popcorn ready for this one.
Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik
Veterans Ilir Latifi (15-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and Aleksei Oleinik (59-16-1 MMA, 8-7 UFC) meet here in hopes of getting their 2022 campaigns underway with a victory on Saturday night.
Latifi returned to the heavyweight division for the first time in more than a decade at UFC 247, dropping a debated split decision to Derrick Lewis. He remained at heavyweight for his lone appearance of last year, edging out Tanner Boser on the scorecards, and looks to secure a second straight victory in the big boy ranks by toppling Oleinik this weekend in Columbus.
Oleinik has been stuck on 59 professional wins since defeating former champion Fabricio Werdum by split decision in the spring of 2020, and hopes the fourth time is the charm this weekend. The 44-year-old dropped a decision to Serghei Spivac last time out, marking one of the few times in his lengthy career that he’s gone more than a year without a victory.
Will Latifi earn his second consecutive heavyweight win and continue to move forward in the division or can Oleinik finally reach the 60-win milestone?
This story first published at UFC.com.
