UFC Fight Island 7 - Full Card Breakdown & Predictions
When is UFC Fight Island 7? Saturday 16th January, 2021 - 20:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Island 7? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Island 7? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC Fight Island 7 on? BT Sport 3
Where can I stream UFC Fight Island 7? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MAX HOLLOWAY VS CALVIN KATTAR
The UFC is back with a new broadcaster and venue as ABC (US) showcases UFC Fight Island 7 at the newly built Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and what a main event to grace the occasion as Max Holloway takes on Calvin Kattar.
Holloway (21-6) has not lost faith in reclaiming gold after two decision losses to Alexander Volkanovski who snatched his featherweight strap. That made it three losses in his last four with Dustin Poirier sparking the unfamiliar run of form. Now the Hawaiian looks to start another long winning streak in his first non-title fight since June 2016.
Kattar (22-4) walks out for the biggest fight of his career taking on one of the best featherweights of all time. He has continued to improve in his eight UFC fights and has only lost twice in two decisions – Renato Moicano back in 2018 and to the hottest prospect in the division Zabit Magomedsharipov over a year ago but he certainly finished the fight the fresher man. He is now coming off a beautiful knockout of Jeremy Stephens and a unanimous decision over Dan Ige so a win over Holloway will catapult him straight into a title shot against Volkanovski.
MAX HOLLOWAY VS CALVIN KATTAR
This is will be a kickboxing masterclass and a fierce battle on the feet. Kattar is one of the best boxers in the division with power and a granite chin. Holloway has proven he is one of the best strikers in the division for years. He has less power but the same granite chin with incredible distance control and endurance excelling in five rounders.
Kattar has only gone past the third round once in his career which was against Ige in his last outing but he also has a great gas tank on him so this will be a 25-minute war. They are both warriors but tactically astute so expect them to ease in to the first couple rounds to get a read on each other.
Holloway will not boast his usual range advantage as Kattar is also 5’11’’ and interestingly the ‘Boston Finisher’ has a three-inch reach advantage. This will be useful when unloading his hooks, but he will cause more damage in the pocket with his uppercuts and elbows.
Holloway will go about his usual business with relentless pressure, a high output, newly added leg kicks and countering when Kattar throws heavy. Kattar has more power and is made for five-round striking battles but Holloway is a proven expert. They are both durable enough to absorb a ton of damage which will force this to the bell and we expect Holloway to get back in the win column with a close decision.
Prediction: Holloway via Decision
CARLOS CONDIT VS MATT BROWN
‘The Natural Born Killer’ Carlos Condit (31-13) emerges for the second time since his forced hiatus and eye surgery. He returned after two years to take on Court McGee and halted a miserable five-fight skid with a classy unanimous decision. The skid came courtesy of assassins, Robbie Lawler, Demian Maia, Neil Magny, Alex Oliveira and Michael Chiesa in fights that stretched over four years. Thankfully, he is back three months after his last outing and importantly back in the win column.
He takes on fellow UFC veteran and stalwart Matt Brown (22-17) who has also had injuries restrict his activity. He fought only twice in two years but what performances they were. He knocked out Diego Sanchez with one of the most ruthless and violent elbows we have seen in the octagon and returned two years later in December 2019 to showcase the ‘hellbow’ again finishing Ben Saunders. However, he returned in May last year against a young, hungry wolf in Miguel Baeza in what turned out to be a complete mismatch with the Brazilian finishing Brown in the second round.
PREDICTION
Both fighters are way past their prime, so we are unlikely to see a fast-paced war and vintage finish. Nonetheless, this is great matchmaking as we get to see two legends of the game duke it out instead of seeing an up and comer just looking to add a big name to their record.
This will be a technical battle on the feet. They still possess power but have lost a lot of speed. They match up very similarly physically with the same reach and Condit having two extra inches of height. They are very even in the striking stats as well with the only noticeable difference being Brown’s better striking accuracy (64% to Condit’s 39%).
That is unlikely to make a difference on the night with Condit throwing feints to set up his trademark combinations. His movement and technique will be key as he will look to strike from range and avoid slipping into the pocket where Brown is extremely dangerous.
This will be a close fight, but Condit is expected to frustrate Brown with his movement and pile on the strikes with his output clinching each round.
Prediction: Condit via Decision
SANTIAGO PONZINIBBIO VS LI JINGLIANG
Two years and two months it has been since Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-3) last fought. Injuries and infections have prevented him from improving on his seven-fight win streak and march up to the top of the welterweight division. The last time he was active was in 2017 when he beat Nordine Taleb, Gunnar Nelson and Mike Perry. He returned a year later, on home soil to take on Neil Magny and he notched the most impressive win and knockout of his career, but that seems a distant memory now.
Li Jingliang (17-6) is the man to welcome him back to the octagon after Muslim Salikhov dropped out with Covid-19. He is also coming off a fight with Magny back in March last year, but it was a completely different outcome with Magny earning a dominant unanimous decision. That snapped an impressive three fight win streak which includes a decision over Daichi Abe and two phenomenal knockout finishes over David Zawada and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
PREDICTION
The key factor here is Ponzinibbio’s form. If he suffers any ring rust this will be an tough outing but if he continues where he left off in his last fight, he will be heavily favoured.
Jingliang is a beast and his striking cannot be underestimated but he will have to mix in some takedowns. If the fight stays on the feet, you have to back the Argentinian regardless of his inactivity. He is one of the best strikers in the division with defence to match his power.
Ponzinibbio will also have a slight two-inch reach advantage which he has the technique to utilise. Jingliang will make this a difficult return for Ponzinibbio but we back him for a winning comeback. Handing Jingliang’s first knockout after two years out would be remarkable but a decision is most likely.
Prediction: Ponzinibbio via Decision
JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VS ALESSIO DI CHIRICO
After Joaquin Buckley’s (12-3) knockout of the year over Impa Kasangany followed up by a more orthodox yet violent knockout of Jordan Wright a month later in November, Buckley is the hot ticket right now. Those wins made it nine knockouts out of his 12 wins and they were the perfect performances to make people forget about Kevin Holland giving him a taste of his own medicine two months prior.
Alessio Di Chirico (12-5) is in completely contrasting form having lost his last three and only fighting once last year. The streak started in 2019 also succumbing to Holland but in a close and debateable unanimous decision. He then lost two more unanimous decisions to Makhmud Muradov and Zak Cummings but he the judges were not kind to him.
PREDICTION
Including the knockout loss to Holland, four fights last year in these conditions is priceless experience for Buckley and he has all the momentum which is why he is the heavy favourite.
Skill-wise, Di Chirico is the more technical and well-rounded fighter, but all the pressure is on him fighting to save his UFC career. He will be cagey which is not ideal when up against a knockout artist full of confidence.
That said, Di Chirico has never been knocked out and is the better grappler. If the fight goes into the third round, it will be there for the taking. The worrying sign for Di Chirico is that he got sent down by a Cummings head kick but was saved by the bell and we know Buckley has devastating power.
All the value is on Di Chirico, but all the momentum is with Buckley and he is expected to extend his streak at the Italian’s expense.
Prediction: Buckley via Decision
PUNAHELE SORIANO VS DUSKO TODOROVIC
Unbeaten prospect vs unbeaten prospect as Punahele Soriano (7-0) makes his second UFC appearance. He stretched his record to six with a unanimous decision over Jamie Pickett on the Contender Series and had a perfect debut when he met Oskar Piechota. He cleaned his clock in the first round in December 2019, but we have not seen him since.
Dusko Todorovic (10-0) also flies to Fight Island for his second UFC fight. He also earnt a unanimous decision on the Contender Series against Teddy Ash and went on to knock Dequan Townsend on his debut. That was only three months ago on Fight Island and he is ready to do it all over again.
PREDICTION
The UFC matchmakers are pitting two middleweight prospects again on this card and stylistically it should be another barnburner. Both fighters only have two decisions between them and we can expect fast-paced exchanges from the bell.
Soriano is an aggressive southpaw and will look to land his huge overhand left. He also has brilliant takedowns which will only make his left hand more threatening, but he will have to strike from distance.
If he finds himself in the pocket with Todorovic, he will be in trouble. The Serbian is lethal at close range with smothering combinations and clinch work. He is also a monster in top position with a submission threat and devastating ground and pound, so Soriano is better off setting up his left hand with level changes.
This could easily be a ‘fight of the night’ contender and a variety of outcomes are possible but Todorovic’s composure and power should see him through and if he can get Soriano on his back, a finish is possible.
Prediction: Todorovic via Submsision
PHIL HAWES VS NASSOURDINE IMAVOV
Phil Hawes (9-2) is on fire right now and gaining more hype with each fight. After getting his head kicked off on his fist appearance on the Contender Series by Julian Marques in 2017, he has rack up four knockouts and a submission. He earnt the UFC contract by returning to the Contender Series and knocking out Khadzhimurat Bestaev and then marked a perfect UFC debut by brutally knocking out Jacob Malkoun back in October.
Nassourdine Imavov (9-2) is also tearing it up but flying in under the radar. He is on a six-fight win streak with four finishes (two submissions and two knockouts) and has gained experience at various promotions. He got the call-up after knocking out Jonathan Meunier under the Ares banner and also made his debut in October earning a unanimous decision over Jordan Williams.
PREDICTION
This is a great match-up, but one prospect has to get derailed. They are both ferocious finishers with very well-rounded skill sets. They have the same record, but Hawes has made more noise and will be the favourite however, Imavov is a savage and one of the brightest prospects coming out of Europe.
Hawes’ power is obviously his biggest threat – in his hands and in his wrestling. He will be ready to uncork bombs and if he does not land, he will shoot in for takedowns to and try to pin the Frenchman down to unleash ground and pound.
However, his explosions of energy may see him gas out in the third round so if Imavov can weather the storm and defend the takedowns, he can capitalise in the second half of the fight to pull off a late finish or decision.
Prediction: Imavov via Decision
YANAN WU VS JOSELYNE EDWARDS
Yanan Wu (11-3) has only fought twice in three years. She made her UFC debut in November 2017 losing a unanimous decision to Gina Mazany at bantamweight and appeared a year later at flyweight to pick up her first UFC win by catching Lauren Mueller in an armbar. It was nearly another year before we saw her again and it was not a good showing after missing weight and losing a split decision to Mizuki Inoue.
Joselyn Edwards (9-2) has snapped up the opportunity to make her UFC debut on Fight Island. Bethe Correira was originally scheduled for Wu, but she was forced out requiring appendix surgery. The Panama native has only lost two fights but has not fought anyone of note and has also been inactive. She is coming off a brilliant knockout over Pamela Gonzalez in July last year but that was her first fight since her split decision loss to Sarah Alpar in November 2018.
PREDICTION
The odds are stacked against Edwards, but Wu has not fought for nearly 17 months and was preparing for Correira. She will also be the underdog so has little to lose. Edwards needs to back her strengths which is her striking and Muay Thai and be aggressive. She is a very powerful striker, particularly her kicks and is extremely dangerous in the clinch.
Yanan is a level above Edwards’ previous opponents but she is also a striker by trade, so Edwards does not want to respect her too much and let her control the fight. Wu will have a two Wu will have a two-inch height advantage, but Edwards will have a three-and-a-half-inch reach advantage which if she can utilise, she can win the exchanges by uncorking her hooks and leg kicks from range.
All the value is on Edwards as the underdog, but Wu has the experience and although we have not seen much of her grappling, she can take her down to change the course of the fight.
Prediction: Wu via Decision
CARLOS FELIPE VS JUSTIN TAFA
Carlos Felipe (9-1) bounced back after suffering the first loss of his career last year. After eight wins, he met Sergey Spivak on his UFC debut losing a majority decision. He returned three months later to take on Yorgan De Castro and outclassed the Cape Verde native earning a unanimous decision.
Justin Tafa (4-1) also bounced back from the first loss of his career last year. After colliding with De Castro and his monstrous right hand, he suffered a brutal knockout loss on his UFC debut in October 2019. He returned to fight Juan Adams in February last year as the underdog but got back to his old ways with a first-round knockout sending him out of the UFC.
PREDICTION
These rotund sluggers are likely to stand and trade until someone falls. Tafa will be the underdog again but he has the power to cause the upset in a second. Felipe will be aware of this and if he can successfully avoid Tafa’s hands, he should pick up the win.
Felipe has the power to get the knockout himself, so a knockout is likely either way, but we back Felipe to weather the first round and finish stronger to seal a decision or late knockout.
Prediction: Felipe via KO/TKO
DAVID ZAWADA VS RAMAZAN EMEEV
Covid-19 prevented David Zawada (17-5) from making it to the cage in 2020 with his fights against Rocco Martin and Mounir Lazzez getting cancelled. It was a real shame especially as he was coming off his first UFC win looking to gain some momentum after not fighting for a year. He wrapped up Abubakar Nurmagomedov in a triangle choke in November 2019 to bounce back from from two losses against Danny Roberts (split decision) and Li Jingliang (TKO).
Ramazan Emeev (19-4) managed to fight last year amidst all the cancellations. He beat Niklas Stolze via unanimous decision in July which came with great relief after only fighting once in 2019 which was a decision loss to Martin. He is now desperate to be more active after only five fights in over three years.
PREDICTION
Zawada is very dangerous on the feet and on the ground and has more finishing ability than Emeev. However, he will need to try and keep the fight on the feet if he wants another finish.
The Russian is well-rounded, but he is a very strong grappler. Zawada is very threatening off his back as we saw in his last fight with Nurmagomedov but Emmev will back himself to dominate top position.
Emeev will also back himself on the feet, offloading bombs which will create an exciting stand-up fight. They will look for the finish, but we give Emeev the slight edge calling upon his grappling to bag the rounds.
Prediction: Emeev via Decision
SARAH MORAS VS VANESSA MELO
Sarah Moras (6-6) has had a tough time in the UFC losing five of her eight UFC fights. After losing three on the bounce against Lucie Pudilova (unanimous decision), Talita Bernardo (unanimous decision) and Macy Chiasson (TKO), she bounced back with a TKO of her own against Liana Jojua back in September 2019. However, she has only appeared once since and that was another unanimous decision loss to Sijara Eubanks in May last year.
Vanessa Melo (10-8) has had an even worse time losing all three of her UFC fights falling in unanimous decisions to Irene Aldana, Tracy Cortez and Karol Rosa. In fairness, they are all beasts and were rising to the top of the bantamweight division. Another loss will be terminal to her UFC career and with recent cuts, either fighter is likely to get the chop with a loss.
PREDICTION
So, both women have the pressure of fighting for their UFC careers and with their lack of firepower this could be a slow-paced and rather uneventful fight. This is likely to end in a decision with a mixture of striking and clinch work which Moras should have the edge in. She will also have a weight advantage which she will use to take the fight away from Melo.
Prediction: Moras via Decision
JACOB KILBURN VS AUSTIN LINGO
Jacob Kilburn (8-3) flies out to Fight Island in search of his first UFC win. He made his debut after two knockout wins for the Island Fights promotion but experienced the step-up in competition when he met Billy Quarantillo in December 2019. He got caught in his triangle choke and we have not seen him since.
Austin Lingo (7-1) is also looking for his first UFC win after fellow debutant Youssef Zalal made the first dent on his record nearly a year ago. He has had a very promising start to his career picking up wins for the Legacy Fighting Alliance and has five finishes in his seven wins but needs this UFC win to make any impression.
PREDICTION
This should be an exciting fight to kick off the Fight Island card. Kilburn packs power with his four knockouts and will cause problems with his wild and aggressive style. If Lingo is not prepared for that, he could get caught but he has the tools and skill to outclass Kilburn on the feet. He also has his grappling to call upon if needed to exploit the holes in Kilburn’s ground game.