5 Under-The-Radar Matchups At UFC Fight Night 111
5 Under-The-Radar Matchups At UFC Fight Night 111
FloCombat's James Lynch gives five fights to keep an eye on this weekend at UFC Fight Night 111 in Singapore.
UFC Fight Night 111 takes place this Saturday morning at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore. In the main event, Holly Holm looks to snap a three-fight losing streak when she battles Bethe Correia, while the co-feature pits former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski against Marcin Tybura. Once again here at FloCombat, we want to highlight some of the fights that aren't getting enough love. Here are five under-the-radar matchups for UFC Fight Night 111.
The former UFC lightweight champion dos Anjos moves up to the welterweight division for the first time in his UFC career as he battles the former Strikeforce champion Saffiedine.
Dos Anjos (25-9), who hasn't fought in the Octagon since November, will look to avoid three losses in a row for the first time in his career as the Brazilian heads into this matchup off back-to-back losses to Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson. Prior to those setbacks, the 32-year-old dos Anjos was riding a five-fight win streak, including victories over Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.
Saffiedine (16-6) is also in dire need of a victory, having lost three of his last four fights. The 30-year-old striker missed all of 2015 due to injury and will look to find the form that saw him win five straight fights from 2011 to 2014. Another setback for Saffiedine could prompt his release from the UFC.
Gomi looks for his first win since April 2014 when he battles "Super Saiyan" Tuck in a lightweight affair.
Gomi (35-12-1) has gone 3-6 in his last nine fights and heads into this matchup off three consecutive knockout losses. The former PRIDE lightweight champion hasn't competed since a July 2016 loss to Jim Miller at UFC 200. At 38 years of age, another setback for Gomi could be the last time we see the Japanese standout in the cage.
Tuck (9-4) also looks to get back on the winning track, as he's lost three of his last four fights. The 32-year-old has gone 3-4 in the Octagon, with two of his three wins coming against fighters who are no longer on the UFC roster. Expect both fighters to put it all on the line, as a loss for either man could earn him a pink slip.
Scoggins returns to the flyweight division as he battles Japan's Sasaki.
Scoggins (11-3) was forced to move up to the bantamweight division after having weight-cut issues ahead of his matchup with Ian McCall at UFC 201. The stint at 135 pounds was short-lived, as the 25-year-old lost by second-round submission against Pedro Munhoz at UFC Fight Night 100 in November. The Greenville, South Carolina, native is 4-2 in the flyweight division, most notably earning a unanimous decision victory over Ray Borg at UFC Fight Night 82.
Sasaki (19-4-2) has lost three of his last four fights, with his lone win coming against Willie Gates, who is no longer on the UFC roster. The 27-year-old Sasaki competes for his third straight fight at flyweight and looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the second time in his career. A win for either fighter could easily propel him up the flyweight rankings.
Jingliang looks for his third win in a row when he takes on UFC newcomer Camacho.
Jingliang (12-4) is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Anton Zafir and Bobby Nash, which has pushed Jingliang's UFC record to 4-2. Camacho (20-4) has fought primarily for the Guam-based PXC promotion and heads into his promotional debut off two straight stoppage victories.
The 28-year-old, who was a member of Season 16 of "The Ultimate Fighter," boasts 15 wins by knockout along with three career submission victories. Don't expect this welterweight contest to hit the judges' scorecards.
Kwak searches for his first UFC win when he battles the Hawaii native Doane. Kwak (9-1) had his nine-fight winning streak snapped in his promotional debut, losing by unanimous decision to Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 99.
The 27-year-old Kwak has only gone the distance three times in his career, making him a can't-miss attraction each and every time out.
Doane (14-7) is one of the few fighters in UFC history to hold onto a roster spot after four straight losses. After going 2-0 to start his UFC tenure, the 30-year-old has endured the worst losing streak in his career, including back-to-back submission defeats.
Doane returns to the bantamweight division for this matchup and will be looking for his first win since 2014. This may very well be a "loser leaves town" match, so expect both fighters to come out with a sense of urgency from the opening bell.
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tarec Saffiedine
The former UFC lightweight champion dos Anjos moves up to the welterweight division for the first time in his UFC career as he battles the former Strikeforce champion Saffiedine.
Dos Anjos (25-9), who hasn't fought in the Octagon since November, will look to avoid three losses in a row for the first time in his career as the Brazilian heads into this matchup off back-to-back losses to Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson. Prior to those setbacks, the 32-year-old dos Anjos was riding a five-fight win streak, including victories over Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.
Saffiedine (16-6) is also in dire need of a victory, having lost three of his last four fights. The 30-year-old striker missed all of 2015 due to injury and will look to find the form that saw him win five straight fights from 2011 to 2014. Another setback for Saffiedine could prompt his release from the UFC.
Takanori Gomi vs. Jon Tuck
Gomi looks for his first win since April 2014 when he battles "Super Saiyan" Tuck in a lightweight affair.
Gomi (35-12-1) has gone 3-6 in his last nine fights and heads into this matchup off three consecutive knockout losses. The former PRIDE lightweight champion hasn't competed since a July 2016 loss to Jim Miller at UFC 200. At 38 years of age, another setback for Gomi could be the last time we see the Japanese standout in the cage.
Tuck (9-4) also looks to get back on the winning track, as he's lost three of his last four fights. The 32-year-old has gone 3-4 in the Octagon, with two of his three wins coming against fighters who are no longer on the UFC roster. Expect both fighters to put it all on the line, as a loss for either man could earn him a pink slip.
Justin Scoggins vs. Ulka Sasaki
Scoggins returns to the flyweight division as he battles Japan's Sasaki.
Scoggins (11-3) was forced to move up to the bantamweight division after having weight-cut issues ahead of his matchup with Ian McCall at UFC 201. The stint at 135 pounds was short-lived, as the 25-year-old lost by second-round submission against Pedro Munhoz at UFC Fight Night 100 in November. The Greenville, South Carolina, native is 4-2 in the flyweight division, most notably earning a unanimous decision victory over Ray Borg at UFC Fight Night 82.
Sasaki (19-4-2) has lost three of his last four fights, with his lone win coming against Willie Gates, who is no longer on the UFC roster. The 27-year-old Sasaki competes for his third straight fight at flyweight and looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the second time in his career. A win for either fighter could easily propel him up the flyweight rankings.
Li Jingliang vs. Frank Camacho
Jingliang looks for his third win in a row when he takes on UFC newcomer Camacho.
Jingliang (12-4) is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Anton Zafir and Bobby Nash, which has pushed Jingliang's UFC record to 4-2. Camacho (20-4) has fought primarily for the Guam-based PXC promotion and heads into his promotional debut off two straight stoppage victories.
The 28-year-old, who was a member of Season 16 of "The Ultimate Fighter," boasts 15 wins by knockout along with three career submission victories. Don't expect this welterweight contest to hit the judges' scorecards.
Kwan Ho Kwak vs. Russell Doane
Kwak searches for his first UFC win when he battles the Hawaii native Doane. Kwak (9-1) had his nine-fight winning streak snapped in his promotional debut, losing by unanimous decision to Brett Johns at UFC Fight Night 99.
The 27-year-old Kwak has only gone the distance three times in his career, making him a can't-miss attraction each and every time out.
Doane (14-7) is one of the few fighters in UFC history to hold onto a roster spot after four straight losses. After going 2-0 to start his UFC tenure, the 30-year-old has endured the worst losing streak in his career, including back-to-back submission defeats.
Doane returns to the bantamweight division for this matchup and will be looking for his first win since 2014. This may very well be a "loser leaves town" match, so expect both fighters to come out with a sense of urgency from the opening bell.