Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
The third of four UFC events in just a week continues with a rare Wednesday Night event as UFC Fight Night 71 comes to us from San Diego, California. The event will be headlined by a key heavyweight division clash as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir faces Todd Duffee. Also, Tony Ferguson faces Josh Thomson and Holly Holm makes her second appearance under the UFC banner.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight Todd Duffee (9-2-0) vs. Frank Mir (17-9-0)
Duffee has been undefeated in his second UFC run, defeating both Phillip De Fries and Anthony Hamilton respectively. Mir recently ended a four fight losing skid at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir, where he knocked out Antonio Silva in the first round. Duffee has only gone out of the first round just once in the last five years, which was a loss to Mike Russow at UFC 114. The last four fighters that Mir has lost to have held a championship in either the UFC or Strikeforce, the last time Mir suffered a defeat to somebody who hasn’t held a championship was to Brandon Vera at UFC 65. Duffee is one of the best strikers in the UFC right now, but Mir will ground him quickly on route to a first round submission win.
Co-Main Event
UFC Lightweight Division Fight Tony “El Cucuy†Ferguson (18-3-0) vs. Josh “The Punk†Thomson (20-7-0-1NC)
Ferguson enters the fight riding a five fight winning streak, last defeating Gleison Tibau by submission at UFC 184. Thomson has won just one of three fights since returning to the UFC, with that lone win coming over Nate Diaz at UFC On Fox VII. Ferguson has only lost just one time during his nine fight UFC tenure, with that loss came to Michael Johnson at UFC On Fox III. It has been nearly four years since Thomson put a winning streak together and he is on his first losing streak in his professional MMA career. Ferguson is dangerous on the feet and on the ground, but he will be using his range to keep Thomson at bay to earn a decision win.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Division Fight
Holly “The Preachers Daughter†Holm (8-0-0) vs. Marion “The Bruiser†Reneau (6-1-0)
Holm made her UFC debut back at UFC 184 in February of this year, which is where she defeated Raquel Pennington by decision. Reneau is currently undefeated in UFC competition, most notably defeating Jessica Andrade at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir. Reneau’s best way to win the fight is to get Holm to the ground, but Holm’s takedown defense is excellent and she gets a first round finish here.
UFC Bantamweight Division Fight
Manny “The Anvil†Gamburyan (14-8-0-1NC) vs. Scott “Young Guns†Jorgensen (15-10-0)
Gamburyan has won just one of his last three fights, with that lone victory coming over Cody Gibson at UFC 178. Jorgensen has won three of eleven fights during his UFC run and he has not put together a winning streak in nearly four years. Jorgensen is nowhere near the class of fighter he once was, Gamburyan puts him on the ground for three rounds to earn a decision.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Kevin “The Motown Phenom†Lee (10-1-0) vs. James “Moonwalker†Moontasri (8-2-0)
Lee has won three of four fights during his time in the UFC, most notably defeating Michel Prazeres at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch. Moontasri will be looking to build on the momentum of his first UFC victory, which came over Cody Pfister at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch. Lee is starting to become a contender in the lightweight division, Lee gets a first round submission win in this one.
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Matt Dwyer (8-2-0) vs. Alan “Brahma†Jouban (11-3-0)
Dwyer will be looking to build on the momentum of his first UFC win, which came over William Macario at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir. Jouban has won two of three fights under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Seth Baczynski at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux. Jouban is a talented striker and Dwyer’s ability to engage in brawls falls into Jouban’s wheelhouse, Jouban gets a first round TKO finish.
Preliminary Card
Sam Sicilia over Yaotzin Meza
Jessica Andrade over Sarah Moras
Rani Yahya over Masanori Kanehara
Sean Strickland over Igor Araujo
Ildemar Alcantara over Kevin Casey
Andrew Craig over Lyman Good
