Pre-fight discussion UFC Fight Night 235: Dolidze vs. Imavov Sat. Feb. 3 prelims 4pm et main 7pm et, ESPN+

[PurpleStorm]

The UFC returns Saturday with a big fight at Middleweight: Roman Dolidze 12-2-0 vs. Nassourdine Imavov 12-4-0. Elsewhere there's many entertaining fights, two featuring undefeated fighters. Considering it's that weird week without football and it's free on ESPN+ let's get hyped. Share your thoughts, previews and breakdowns. Any Super Bowl predictions?

Saturday you're welcome to join the play by play discussion hosted by 2023 Moderator of the Year @Jackonfire. Check out the front page of Sherdog for lots more on UFC Fight Night 235 and all of MMA. Thanks everyone. Enjoy the pre-fight discussion!

UFC FIGHT NIGHT 235 - DOLIDZE VS. IMAVOV​

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
FEB 3, 2024

UFC APEX, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
Main Card ESPN+ 7 PM ET
Prelims ESPN+ 4 PM ET

Main Card 7pm et ESPN+
Middleweight - Main Event: Roman Dolidze 12-2-0 vs. Nassourdine Imavov 12-4-0
Renato Moicano 17-5-1 vs. Drew Dober 27-12-0
Randy Brown 17-5-0 vs. Muslim Salikhov 19-4-0
Viviane Araujo 12-5-0 vs. Natalia Silva 16-5-1
Aliaskhab Khizriev 14-0-0 vs. Makhmud Muradov 26-8-0
Gilbert Urbina 7-3-0 vs. Charles Radtke 8-3-0
Prelims 4pm et ESPN+
Molly McCann 13-6-0 vs. Diana Belbita 15-8-0
Azat Maksum 17-0-0 vs. Charles Johnson 13-6-0
Themba Gorimbo 11-4-0 vs. Pete Rodriguez 5-1-0
JeongYeong Lee 10-1-0 vs, Blake Bilder 8-1-1
Luana Carolina 9-4-0 vs. Julija Stoliarenko 11-8-2
Landon Quiñones 7-2-1 vs. Marquel Mederos 8-1-0
Thomas Petersen 8-1-0 vs. Jamal Pogues 10-4-0

Shillan and Duffy: UFC Fight Night 235 Preview​

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BEN DUFFY KEITH SHILLAN JAN 30, 2024 COMMENTS
Keith and Ben preview UFC Fight Night 235 "Dolidze vs. Imavov," with detailed predictions and picks for all 13 fights. Side conversations include musical theater, accessibility accommodations for those with disabilities, the comparative punching power of the Cornhusker State, and of course Bo Nickal.

 

[Kryptt]

I wanna be like DC and scribble on things. It's obviously a poster designed by him.

 

[Sixstring]

Where's @Luthien picks? Can't believe I'm posting before that.

 

[Luthien]

Where's @Luthien picks? Can't believe I'm posting before that.

Bet?!

 

[Sixstring]

Bet?!

Of course. Didn't I win last time!?


Ok maybe not - but this is my time! I'll be back!

 

[Luthien]

Of course. Didn't I win last time!?


Ok maybe not - but this is my time! I'll be back!

Pick something you are confident in, I'll allow it, since I won last

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[BroRogan]

Big up early start time!

@ PBP Crew

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Always enjoy watching Drew Dober fight, he always brings it and is entertaining.

 

[LiQuiD42]

Looking forward to the Dober and McCann fights but most of all, talking with you lot during the PBP Thread.

 

[PurpleStorm]

Looking forward to the Dober and McCann fights but most of all, talking with you lot during the PBP Thread.

Yeah I love the PbP thread.

By the way, here's the two matchups that feature undefeated fighters. On the main card: Aliaskhab Khizriev 14-0-0 vs. Makhmud Muradov 26-8-0. And on the prelims: Azat Maksum 17-0-0 vs. Charles Johnson 13-6-0

 

[gentel]

Pretty weak card sadly, I'm still feeling a bit deprived cause a certain KAPE ruined the first card of the year. Once we get to 297 it's undeniably stacked, but a week off followed by two weak cards is rough

Dolidze main event is good though, I'm picking him to win

 

[Koala]

Third fighter in a row from Extreme Couture fought by Imavov: Strickland, Curtis, Dolidze
He also fought Shahbazian 2 or 3 years ago
It's also his first camp with his own team, like boxers do

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Main Card 7pm et ESPN+
Middleweight - Main Event: Roman Dolidze 12-2-0 vs. Nassourdine Imavov 12-4-0
Renato Moicano 17-5-1 vs. Drew Dober 27-12-0
Randy Brown 17-5-0 vs. Muslim Salikhov 19-4-0
Viviane Araujo 12-5-0 vs. Natalia Silva 16-5-1
Aliaskhab Khizriev 14-0-0 vs. Makhmud Muradov 26-8-0
Gilbert Urbina 7-3-0 vs. Charles Radtke 8-3-0
Prelims 4pm et ESPN+
Molly McCann 13-6-0 vs. Diana Belbita 15-8-0
Azat Maksum 17-0-0 vs. Charles Johnson 13-6-0
Themba Gorimbo 11-4-0 vs. Pete Rodriguez 5-1-0
JeongYeong Lee 10-1-0 vs, Blake Bilder 8-1-1
Luana Carolina 9-4-0 vs. Julija Stoliarenko 11-8-2
Landon Quiñones 7-2-1 vs. Marquel Mederos 8-1-0
Thomas Petersen 8-1-0 vs. Jamal Pogues 10-4-0

​

you finally got it right

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Always enjoy watching Drew Dober fight, he always brings it and is entertaining.

 

[PurpleStorm]

you finally got it right

I may change it up next time. Get your eyes checked.

 

[PurpleStorm]

Pretty weak card sadly, I'm still feeling a bit deprived cause a certain KAPE ruined the first card of the year. Once we get to 297 it's undeniably stacked, but a week off followed by two weak cards is rough

Dolidze main event is good though, I'm picking him to win

It looks kinda weak on paper but sometimes those turn out the most exciting cards.

 

[Koro_11]

Where is the option for “none of it”?

 

[Yorick]

I wanna see "Muffin" or "Scone" or whatever her name is get her ass kicked.

"Meatball?"

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Preview: UFC Fight Night 235 Prelims - McCann vs. Belbita

Molly McCann anchors the Ultimate Fighting Championship undercard on Saturday in Las Vegas, as she downshifts to 115 pounds for a rematch with Diana Belbita.

www.sherdog.com

UFC Fight Night 235 does not necessarily boast the most stacked undercard—the Ultimate Fighting Championship did well to put its best bouts on the main draw this time around—but it does offer a solid batch of fights featuring a few fighters worth watching on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The top prelim sees a rematch with just enough intrigue to be worth it, as Molly McCann and Diana Belbita run back their 2019 encounter in a clash that doubles as the former’s first cut to strawweight. Other highlights include the return of 2023 featherweight “Road to UFC” winner Jeong Yeong Lee in a potential banger against Blake Bilder and top flyweight prospect Azat Maksum in a potential showcase against Charles Johnson.

Now to the preview for the UFC Fight Night 235 prelims:

​

Women’s Strawweights​

Molly McCann (13-6, 6-5 UFC) vs. Diana Belbita (15-8, 2-4 UFC)

ODDS: McCann (-285), Belbita (+230)

McCann’s UFC career has been marked by ups and downs, and it will be interesting to see if a cut down to strawweight turns things around for “Meatball.” Her UFC debut came with some hype, partially because it was in her hometown of Liverpool, England, which made it a disappointment when Gillian Robertson quickly took her to the mat and scored a submission. Yet McCann persevered. Matched with some opponents who could not take her to the ground, she was able to carve out a niche as a hard-nosed scrapper who could entertain the crowd with 15 minutes of hard work. McCann’s breakout 2022 campaign still came as a shock. Wins over Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy were not surprising in and of themselves, but the fact that McCann managed to finish both with spinning elbows in front of the London faithful made her a minor star whenever the UFC swung by England. However, McCann has gotten bullied in her last two fights, with Erin Blanchfield and Julija Stoliarenko taking her to the mat and scoring a tap in short order. She looks to alleviate those issues by cutting down to 115 pounds. In an interesting move, she meets an old foe in Belbita, who lost her UFC debut to McCann back in 2019.

Romania’s Belbita hit an expected wall against McCann. “Warrior Princess” rode a particularly weak record to her UFC signing and seemed out of her depth once McCann started to provide some resistance. To her credit, Belbita has put in some hard work—including moving to Canada—and become a greatly improved fighter during her four and a half years under the UFC banner. She has fought with a much more patient and intelligent approach in her last handful of fights, and her October bout against Karolina Kowalkiewicz showed the first signs that Belbita might be developing some effective takedown defense. There are still a lot of holes left for Belbita to fill, particularly defensively, but she is still just 27 years old, improving rapidly and now has the level of skill to stick in the UFC and continue learning on the job. That might be enough to avenge her previous loss to McCann, who took advantage of that subpar wrestling defense in an entertaining but ugly fight. McCann’s cardio was also a clear advantage in that fight, and there is some worry that her gas tank could be affected in this first trip down to 115 pounds. There is still enough of a gap that McCann earns the benefit of the doubt in a close call. The pick is McCann via decision.

Continue Reading »
McCann vs. Belbita
Maksum vs. Johnson
Gorimbo vs. Rodriguez
Lee vs. Bilder
Stoliarenko vs. Carolina
Mederos vs. Quinones
Petersen vs. Pogues​