Three Fights That Could Steal the Night for UFC Fight Night on ABC
With most of the focus this Saturday being placed on the main event matchup between Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder, this action-packed card has some potential fight-of-the-night caliber that could be flying under your radar. I will break down three matchups I think will be can’t miss. The first fight takes place in the Bantamweight Division between long-time veteran Davey Grant going up against Da’Mon Blackshear. The next fight is a hard-hitting affair between two of the top-ranked Light Heavyweights in Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov. The last fight will be a non-stop high-level contest in the Flyweight Division between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa.
Davey Grant vs. Da’Mon Blackshear
Da’Mon Blackshear has always had the tools to one day climb the rankings of the Bantamweight Division. After back-to-back losses in 2023 and 2024, he came into this fight riding an impressive three-fight winning streak, with two of those victories coming by way of submission. Blackshear's grappling is relentless, and he threatens submissions repeatedly once the fight gets to the ground. A win here over an always tough Davey Grant will more than likely grant him a ranked opponent in his next fight. Grant is a well-rounded fighter whose striking ability is unorthodox to say the least, but he is great at managing distance. They both have high-level BJJ, so this fight should see plenty of high-level scrambles and reverses. I think Blackshear is the cleaner boxer and has better defense in the striking game, which will more than likely gain him the advantage in this bout. However, Grant never stops moving, and his unique style could create problems for Blackshear at any given moment.
Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov
Nikita Krylov was on the verge of a potential title shot in 2023 after he put together an impressive three-fight winning streak. However, he wasn’t able to compete all of 2024, and his first fight back against Dominick Reyes did not go well. The more time he has in the Octagon, the more likely we are to have the old version of him returning. He is taking on a dangerous Bogdan Guskov, who has finished his last three opponents. Both of these fighters throw everything they have at their opponent from the second the fight begins. They are strangers to decisions, especially Guskov, who has only seen the judges' scorecards once. He has a dance partner who will gladly put himself in the line of fire. This fight could end at any moment and could go either way. It could have major implications on the Light Heavyweight Division and could propel one of these athletes towards the top with an electric finish. If you like brawls and slugfests, you are not going to want to miss this fight.
Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa
Asu Almabayev was on a 17-fight winning streak and was granted an amazing opportunity when he took on Manel Kape on short notice. We saw right away the difference in levels in the Flyweight Division, and that fight gave Almabayev much-needed experience. He’s taking on the ever-vicious Jose Ochoa, who in his last fight had a remarkable KO win over Cody Durden, where he knocked him out just 11 seconds in the second round. This is a typical Striker versus wrestler, and it would be a chess match throughout to see how each fighter tries to get the fight to where they have the biggest advantage. Ochoa is taking this fight on short notice, and if we learned anything about short-notice fights in the Flyweight Division is that the fighters will always be prepared and bring their absolute best when they set foot in the octagon. Ochoa is a finisher and is looking to put your lights out. Almabayev’s best chance is to get this fight to the ground and wear Ochoa down, and look to finish the fight on the ground. Neither fighter is a slouch on the ground or the feet, so this fight should be as high-level a matchup as could be.
The UFC has put together a great card for its first appearance in Abu Dhabi. This event will mark the 21st time the UFC has come to Abu Dhabi. This fight card has an early start time with the prelims starting at noon EST. This is no better way to start your Saturday than with the highest level of martial arts, with a plethora of fights having major implications on their respective divisions. No matter which way these fights go, you're not going to want to miss them this Saturday, July 26th, on ABC.
