UFC 272: Bryce Mitchell vs Edson Barboza featherweight bout prediction, odds and fight preview
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Bryce Mitchell- Edson Barboza
In a featherweight clash before the co-main event, Bryce Mitchell and Edson Barboza will go against each other inside the Octagon in what is deemed to be called a striker vs grappler match this weekend at UFC 272. In a fight that will alter the rankings a little bit but significantly enough to put either one of them inside the top 10 in the UFC featherweight rankings and put the other one outside.
Mitchell, an undefeated grappler, with record 14-0 is one tough man living the farmer’s life in Sherwood, Arkansas, USA. Mitchell, a 27-year old prospect started competing professionally in MMA in 2015 at the age of 20. Mitchell made his UFC debut in July 2018 and since has gone 5-0 in the UFC.
Barboza, one of the greatest strikers in the UFC and possibly, the best kicker ever seen in the promotion’s history, is one tough Brazilian veteran of this sport. Having been with the company for more than 11 years, Barboza has fought only the very best with having wins over the likes of Terry Etim, Anthony Njokuani, Ross Pearson, Evan Dunham, Bobby Green, Paul Felder, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, Beneil Dariush, Dan Hooker and Shane Burgos.
More on Bryce Mitchell vs Edson Barboza fight analysis
Barboza, as mentioned, is a classic striker straight out of the textbook on Muay Thai and Taekwondo kicks. Barboza’s most famous knockout, as well as one of the greatest in UFC history, came in against Terry Etim when he landed a picture perfect spinning wheel kick on his opponent, dropping Etim unconscious in a decade ago. Barboza however likes to keep that wheel kick hidden in his arsenal and wishes to pull that power weapon off rarely but accurately. Although he lost this fight, but Barboza’s wheel kick against Kevin Lee was quite unexpected for the reasons that Barboza pulled the wheel kick of in middle of nowhere.
Other than that, Barboza’s strikes include a knee, which can be a flying one as well if timed perfectly like he did in his fight with Beneil Dariush. Barboza throws some of the most vicious leg kicks amongst the lighter weight classes in the UFC since he has to his credit the only TKO victory via leg kicks when he defeated Rafaello Oliveira. Other than that, Barboza has 2 body strike knockouts as well.
Bryce Mitchell, is a straight up grappler coming to get at your neck and not leaving you till he is done making you tap. Nine of Mitchell’s all fight wins are via submissions and the rest via decision. Mitchell is the second person in the UFC history to pull of a twister submission, after Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung did it in 2011.
Mitchell then has 5 other submission victories via rear naked choke. With these victories via these aforementioned submissions, it’s quite clear that Mitchell has one of the best back controlling in the ground game. If Barboza doesn’t studies his opponent well enough, a much underrated position in Mitchell’s arsenal is the guard, where the latter can pull of a triangle choke whenever he wants to.
Bryce Mitchell vs Edson Barboza odds and final prediction
Bryce Mitchell comes out as a slight underdog against Edson Barboza as the former gets +145 odds against the latter’s -175.
Official Prediction: Bryce Mitchell to defeat Edson Barboza via unanimous decision
Who do you got it winning between Barboza and Mitchell? Our pick is based on Mitchell to defeat Barboza has been based on that Barboza is more of a journeyman in his pursuit of title with the graph of his career going up and down at unexpected times. Add to this, the biggest factor outside of the fight game, the youth is on Mitchell’s side as Barboza is in his late thirties and almost a decade older than the undefeated prospect.
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Abhai Singh Tanwar
(1386 Articles Published)