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Capping off another big weekend of MMA action will be the second of two events the UFC is giving us on Saturday alone. The event is going to be headlined by a heavyweight division slugfest as Stipe Miocic battles Fabio Maldonado. There are four preliminary card fights airing on Fox Sports 1, with longtime UFC veteran Paulo Thiago in action.
Kicking off the action is a featherweight division bout as Mark Eddiva (6-0-0) competes against Edimilson “Kevin†Souza (14-3-0). Eddiva has already fought once under the UFC banner, having defeated Jumabieke Tuerxun at UFC Fight Night: Kim vs. Hathaway. Souza has previously competed in the UFC once before as well, defeating Felipe Arantes at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader. This is a key fight between two relative rookies in UFC competition, but it will be Souza staying undefeated in UFC competition in the end.
A pair of welterweights will collide next as Paulo Thiago (15-6-0) battles Gasan “Cobra†Umalatov (14-3-1). Thiago has only won two of his last seven under the UFC banner, with his last fight being a loss to Brandon Thatch at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson. Umalatov is currently winless under the UFC banner, having dropped a fight to Neil Magny at UFC 169. This is a must win scenario for both competitors, but it will be Umalatov upsetting the longtime UFC vet.
Up next is a lightweight division attraction as Ernest “EJ†Chavez (7-0-0) takes on Elias “Xuxu†Silverio (10-0-0). Chavez scored a victory in his first UFC appearance at UFC 170, which is where he defeated Yosdenis Cedeno. Silverio has already scored two victories under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Isaac Vallie-Flagg at UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou. It is always good to have a battle of the undefeated on the card, but it will be Silverio staying undefeated in the end.
Headlining this portion of the card is a lightweight division bout as Rodrigo Damm (12-6-0) faces Rashid “Highlander†Magomedov (16-1-0). Damm has won three of four fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Mizuto Hirota at UFC On Fuel TV X. Magomedov is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated Tony Martin by decision at UFC 169. Damm has looked very good thus far during his UFC run and he will continue to impress as he defeats Magomedov.
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