For the second time in 2024, the UFC will host an event in Canada, but this time, it is a Fight Night in Edmonton, the home of the Oilers. This card is headlined by former UFC Flyweight champion No. 2 Brandon Moreno against No. 3 Amir Albazi. Another former champion is in the Co-Main Event, as No. 5 Rose Namajunas faces rising contender No. 3 Erin Blanchfield.
This is a very solid fight night card. Although the top four fights on the Main Card don’t have a Canadian fighter, eight are featured throughout this card. Significant stakes are attached to the top two fights, with a future title shot in reach for the winner.
For the first time since the Unified Rules were created in 2001, 12-to-6 elbows are now legal. There have been changes to what is considered a grounded opponent. With these new rules, an opponent is considered grounded when any part of their body other than their hands or feet touches the canvas.
After losing his flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023 at UFC 290, he failed to get back in the win column against Brandon Royval in February. Moreno has lost his last two fights by split decision. Albazi has had an even more extended layoff than Moreno. He hasn’t fought since June 2023, when he beat Kai Kara-France by split decision. Moreno is the better striker, landing over one more significant strike per minute than Albazi. The former champion is also the more efficient fighter on the ground as well. The winner of this fight will put themselves in a prime position to challenge for the title in 2025.
Namajunas has won two straight fights at 125 pounds. She faces a tough test against Blanchfield, who has won six of her last seven fights. Blanchfield lost her previous fight to Manon Fiorot in March. Namajunas and Blanchfield’s last loss was against the same opponent. Blanchfield’s loss to Fiorot was her first defeat since her fourth MMA fight against Tracy Cortez in 2019. Blanchfield is the more efficient striker, while Namajunas has an edge in takedown accuracy. Namajunas has much more experience than Blanchfield in the UFC. This is Namajunas’ 17th fight in the UFC, while it is Blanchfield’s eighth.
Derrick Lewis was originally scheduled to face Jhonata Diniz. But on Friday night, it was revealed that Lewis had to pull out from the fight. Currently, it is unknown why Lewis is off the card.
Here is my best bet for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi.
Mike Malott to win by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission (-125)
Malott opens up the main card in a welterweight bout against Trevin Giles. Malott hasn’t fought since he suffered his first loss since October 2014. That loss came against veteran Neil Magny at UFC 297 in January.
Previously, he was off to a very hot start to begin his UFC career. He had three wins by finish and didn’t appear in a third round until his last contest. Malott is a tremendous fighter on the ground, landing 60 percent of his takedowns while averaging three takedowns per 15 minutes. If Giles struggles to defend the takedowns early, this fight won’t last long. Malott is a quick finisher when he gets his opponent to the ground. Malott is -340 to win this fight outright, so the better value is to get him by the finish.
Main Card starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
| Matchup: | Records: | Weight Class: | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook: |
| #2 Brandon Moreno vs. #3 Amir Albazi | 21-8-2 (9-5-2 UFC) vs. 17-1 (5-0 UFC) | Flyweight | -166 vs. +140 |
| #3 Erin Blanchfield vs. #5 Rose Namajunas | 12-2 (6-1 UFC) vs. 14-6 (11-5 UFC) | W Flyweight | -142 vs. +120 |
| Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro | 8-3-1 (1-2 UFC) vs. 15-7 (1-2 UFC) | Light Heavyweight | -162 vs. +136 |
| Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus | 16-8 (5-7 UFC) vs. 15-6 (3-5 UFC) | Middleweight | -198 vs. +164 |
| Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles | 10-2-1 (10-1 UFC) vs. 16-6 (7-6 UFC) | Welterweight | -340 vs. +270 |
Prelims on ESPN+ start at 5 p.m. ET.
| Matchup: | Records: | Weight Class: | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook: |
| Aiemann Zahabi vs. Pedro Munhoz | 11-2 (5-2 UFC) vs. 20-9 (10-9 UFC) | Bantamweight | -148 vs. +124 |
| #13 Ariane da Silva vs. #14 Jasmine Jasudavicius | 17-9 (6-6 UFC) vs. 11-3 (6-2 UFC) | W Flyweight | +180 vs. -218 |
| Charles Jourdain vs. Victor Henry | 15-8-1 (6-7-1 UFC) vs. 24-6 (3-1 UFC) | Bantamweight | -130 vs. +110 |
| Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal | 17-2 (6-2 UFC) vs. 15-5-1 (5-3-1 UFC) | Featherweight | +250 vs. -310 |
| #13 Alexandr Romanov vs. #15 Rodrigo Nascimento | 17-3 (6-3 UFC) vs. 11-2 (5-2 UFC) | Heavyweight | -125 vs. +105 |
| Serhiy Sidey vs. Garrett Armfield | 10-2 (1-1 UFC) vs. 10-4 (2-2 UFC) | Bantamweight | -135 vs. +114 |
| Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson | 13-7 (3-2 UFC) vs. 21-10 (2-5 UFC) | Bantamweight | +164 vs. -198 |
| Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic | 6-1 (1-1 UFC) vs. 7-1 (1-1 UFC) | W Flyweight | -225 vs. +185 |
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