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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hermansson, Vettori square off at UFC Vegas 16

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Marvin Vettori gets a lucky break and will fight in the main event of UFC Vegas 16 against Jack Hermansson on December 6, Sunday in Las Vegas.

Jack Hermansson (left) batters Jacare Souza inside the Octagon in this file photo of their five round fight held April 27, 2019 won by unanimous decision by Hermansson. AFP

Vettori stepped in to replace Kevin Holland who was pulled from the middleweight bout after he tested positive for Covid-19.

Vettori, who was originally scheduled to face Jacare Souza at UFC 256 on December 13, can only thank his lucky stars for the chance to be the main event in the live UFC card. He’ll have to fight one week earlier but being in the main event against Hermansson more than makes up for that.

Hermansson seemed to be one win away from a title fight in this division. But his steady climb was derailed late last year when he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Jared Cannonier.

He submitted Kelvin Gastelum with a heel hook just last July and another victory should put him right back in the mix for contenders to the title.

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Vettori on the other hand is riding a hot steak. He hasn’t lost since April, 2018 when he dropped a split decision to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. A victory over Hermansson should earn him a rematch against the middleweight king.

In the co-main event Ovince Saint Preux squares off against Jamahal Hill in a light heavyweight bout.

Saint Preux has a mixed bag of results in his last seven fights, winning three but losing the other four. He increases his chances for victory over Hill if he can take the fight to the ground where he can try for a submission.

Saint Preux will have his hands full against the hard-hitting Hill who knocked out Klidson Abreu in the first round last May. That result was overturned into a No Contest but there will be no denying the striking power of Hill when they square off inside the Octagon.

In other fights of the day Gabriel Benitez battles Justin Jaynes at lightweight; Montana Dela Rosa takes on Taila Santos at women’s flyweight; Roman Dolidze faces John Allan at light heavyweight; and NateLandwehr squares off against Movsar Evloev at featherweight.

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