NEW FIGHTS ADDED TO UFC 235 INCLUDING FRANKIE SAENZ VS. MARLON VERA

Posted July 19, 2019

Last week, we have information that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was cleared by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to fight Anthony Smith. The UFC made that struggle official on the weekend, along with the March 2 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is now a go with all the GOAT looking to defend his name in the primary event.
In addition to the confirmation of Jones vs. Smith, a couple other struggles for UFC 235 were also revealed over the weekend, and I will give my first thoughts on those new matchups in the current MMA odds and ends.
UFC 235 vs. Marlon Vera, frankie Saenz Because of an accident to Thomas Almeida, veteran Frankie Saenz is stepping up on short notice to resist the surging Marlon Vera at a bantamweight bout at UFC 235. Ariel Helwani of ESPN broke the information. Saenz (13-5) is 5-2 overall in the UFC and is coming off of back-to-back choice wins over Henry Briones and Merab Dvalishvili. At one stage it looked like he may get cut from the UFC after suffering a three-fight losing skid, but he’s bounced back well since then. At age 38, this can be the last chance he’s got to make a title run.
Vera (12-5-1) is only 6-4-1 from the UFC but he has fought a high amount of competition inside the Octagon and also his album doesn’t do justice to the type of fighter he is. Vera is coming off of back-to-back stoppage wins Guido Cannetti and Wuliji Buren and at age 26 is starting to really come into his own as a fighter. No doubt Vera will be seeking to keep this fight with Saenz on the feet while Saenz will be looking for the takedown. Though Saenz is a tricky veteran and will likely make this battle more competitive than the line will suggest, it’s difficult to go from the younger Vera and I expect him to be a sizeable preferred for the win.
Charles Byrd vs. Edmen Shahbazyan, UFC 235
Middleweights Charles Byrd and Edmen Shahbazyan are set to battle at UFC 235 too. This battle is official as per the UFC. Byrd (10-5) had a terrific UFC debut last spring when he filed John Phillips at the first round at UFC Fight Night 127. He was a betting favorite for his next fight against Darren Stewart at UFC 228, however following a solid first round that he faded badly and was pumped out. At age 35, Byrd looks to be more of a gatekeeper rather than a late-blooming competition that some believed he might be following his successful stint on the Contender Series.
Shahbazyan (8-0) was undefeated heading into his UFC debut with all of his wins coming by first-round knockout, but struggled in a split decision win on the above Stewart. He’d get the nod and at age 21 should find out a lot from that struggle, but he showed a great deal of holes against Stewart that a veteran like Byrd could exploit. I would still need to favor Shahbazyan somewhat just due to the age gap and the knockout power, but I have a feeling that this fight is going to be more aggressive than many want to believe.
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