Featured Image Credit: UFC
Topics: UFC, Israel Adesanya, Max Holloway
Nasir Jabbar
SPORTbible previews the blockbuster UFC 276 which features not one but TWO big title fights and budding superstars.
Blockbuster championship clashes between Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier and Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway will take place on the promotion's 10th annual International Fight Week.
UFC middleweight title bout: Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier
Adesanya puts his UFC middleweight title on the line when he takes on No.2 ranked contender Cannonier, who has reeled off two huge wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Derek Brunson to book his championship outing.
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Adesanya, who has won back-to-back fights at 185lbs following his unsuccessful venture at light-heavyweight, will look to remain perfect in the UFC middleweight division.
SPORTbible's Prediction: Cannonier is tough and resistance, but we're expecting a striking clinic by the super-slick Adesanya - backing a stoppage victory within the first three rounds.
UFC featherweight title bout: Alex Volkanovski vs, Max Holloway
Volkanovski and Holloway go to battle for a third time, with the current reigning featherweight champion leading 2-0 following his wins in 2019 and 2020.
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Volkanovski, who's unbeaten inside the famed Octagon, put on a clinic to stop Chan Sung Jung in his last appearance. He has three title defences to his name after dethroning Holloway at UFC 245.
Holloway earned his title shot by defeating Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 'Fight of the Night' showings.
He produced a masterful display to out point Kattar and delivered a stellar performance to beat Rodriguez.
SPORTbible's Prediction: The previous meetings between Volkanovski and Holloway have been nip and tuck, and we think their third showdown will just be as tight. However, we reckon Volkanovski will expertly combine his wrestling and striking to deliver a big showing to earn a decision victory.
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Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira
Strickland vs. Pereira has potential title implications and the winner could be fighting for UFC gold in the near future.
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The American has registered five wins since returning to middleweight and will be looking for the biggest scalp of his career at UFC 276.
As for the Brazilian, he's recorded two wins in the UFC since bursting onto the scene with his devastating Octagon debut.
SPORTbible's Prediction: Pereira to put Strickland away for the first time since 2018 to book another meeting against Adesanya.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O'Malley
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Munhoz will be seeking to return to the win column having lost his last two fights against Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz.
Monster Energy fighter O'Malley, on the other hand, will be looking to keep the ball rolling at 135lbs as he faces a ranked opponent.
SPORTbible's Prediction: We're expecting another O'Malley style Las Vegas pay-per-view curtain-raiser performance, predicting a big finish over Munhoz.
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