MMA ODDS AND ENDS FOR WEDNESDAY: HIGH-PROFILE UFC HEAVYWEIGHTS BACK IN ACTION

Posted August 25, 2019

A number of UFC heavyweights are booked for upcoming bouts, and I will present my thoughts on these brand new matchups in the current MMA odds and ends.
Ben Rothwell vs. Blagoy Ivanov, UFC Event in March
Long-time heavvyweight contender Ben Rothwell will return to the Octagon if he takes on Blagoy Ivanov in a yet-to-be-determined UFC event in March. MMA.bg first broke the news of the bout and Rothwell’s return to the Octagon. Rothwell (36-10) is 6-4 overall in the UFC dating back to 2009. He’s fought only once per year, owing in part as a result of accidents and to medication suspensions. He hasn’t fought because a decision loss to Junior dos Santos back in April 2016, and he had been suspended by USADA for two years after testing positive for prohibited substances. However, prior to the reduction to JDS, Rothwell had won four fights in a row including a TKO win over Alistair Overeem. He must immediately jump back into the top-15 if he returns into the cage. Ivanov (16-2, 1 NC) also lost a decision to JDS in his last struggle, which was his UFC debut. Prior to that he’d won five straight fights in WSOF/PFL. I believe Ivanov will seem better than how he did against JDS, but I would still have to lean Rothwell here just because of his experience and achievement in the Octagon all these years.
Junior dos Santos vs. Derrick Lewis, UFC Fight Night 146
Heavyweight contenders Junior dos Santos and Derrick Lewis are set to clash at UFC Fight Night 146, which can be set for March 9 in Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. MMAjunkie.com broke the information. JDS (20-5) had a excellent comeback year in 2018 with apparent victories over Tai Tuivasa and Blagoy Ivanov. Lewis (21-6, 1 NC) is coming off of a submission loss to Daniel Cormier in his unsuccessful bid to win the UFC heavyweight title, but’d beaten Francis Ngannou and Alexander Volkov prior to that. This should be a top quality fight between two hard-hitting heavyweights, but JDS is the considerably more well-rounded fighter and that I expect him to be the favored here, though obviously Lewis has a puncher’s chance. I expect JDS for a favorite here.
Jeff Hughes vs. Daniel Spitz, UFC Fight Night 146 At the same time, top heavyweight prospect Jeff Hughes will make his Octagon debut against Daniel Spitz in UFC Fight Night 146. FloCombat’s Nolan King reported that the news. Hughes (10-1) has won four consecutive fights including a KO win over Josh Appelt on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series to get him signed into the UFC. Prior to that he’d been the LFA heavyweight champion, and his lone career loss was a TKO defeat to Dan Spohn. Spitz (6-2) is 1-2 in the UFC with losses to Walt Harris and Mark Godbeer and a TKO win to Anthony Hamilton. The UFC has booked Hughes that a very winnable fight for his Octagon debut here against a man like Spitz who doesn’t appear to be UFC-caliber by any means. I would expect Hughes for a favored to win this battle.
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