The Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kalland, Singapore is the UFC’s latest international stop as tey present UFC Fight Night 111. The main event takes place in the Women’s Bantamweight Division as #5 ranked Holly Holm (MMATorch Rankings) takes on Bethe Correia. The co-main event pits long-time MMA and UFC veteran Andrei Arlovski, who sits just outside the top 10 in MMATorch’s rankings, against Marcin Tybura.
The four-fight main card rounds out with Dong Hyun Kim taking on Colby Covington and the #6 ranked lightweight Rafael Dos Anjos making his welterweight debut against Tarec Saffiedine.
Fight Pass will carry the event with the prelims starting at 3:45 a.m. CT and the main card beginning at 7 a.m. CT.
MAIN CARD
Holly Holm #5 (10-3) vs. Bethe Correia (10-2-1) – Bantamweight 135 lbs.
Current Odds: Holm -575; Correia +400
After her shocking knockout of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, Holly Holm has lost three straight fights. She dropped her title to Miesha Tate at UFC 196 and followed that up with a disappointing showing against Valentina Shevchenko. Her most recent loss came at UFC 208 where she lost a somewhat controversial decision to Germaine de Randamie for the featherweight title. The thirty-five year old Jackson-Wink product is in desperate need of a win.
Bethe Correia is 1-2-1 in her last four fights. After losing back-to-back fights to Ronda Rousey and Raquel Pennington, Correia got back in the win column with a split decision win over Jessica Eye at UFC 203. Her most recent fight occurred at UFC Fight Night 106 where she fought Marion Reneau to a majority draw.
While Holm showed a new wrinkle in her game against de Randamie by attempting multiple take downs, I expect this fight to take place primarily on the feet. Bethe Correia is the perfect opponent to get Holm back in the win column. While Holly struggled with Shevchenko and de Randamie who are both excellent kickboxers, I don’t see Correia having the skills to duplicate what both those fighters were able to do against Holm.
I think Holm has the advantage regardless of where the fight goes. She is the better athlete with better cardio and more ways to win. Correia tends to fade the longer the fight goes and it’s in the later rounds where I think Holly will get the finish.
Pick: Holm by TKO
Andrei Arlovski (25-14, 1 NC) vs. Marcin Tybura (15-2) – Heavyweight 265 lbs.
Current Odds: Tybura -250; Arlovski +200
Veteran Andrei Arlovski makes the walk for the thirty-ninth time on Saturday morning and to say he needs a win would be an understatement. Not only has the thirty-eight year old lost his last four fights, he’s been finished in all of them. His most recent loss came at UFC on FOX 23 where he was finished in 1:32 of the opening round by Francis Ngannou. Arlovski’s last win was in September of 2015 against Frank Mir.
Heavyweight prospect Marcin Tybura lost his UFC debut against Tim Johnson at UFC Fight Night 86. He followed that loss up with back-to-back wins against Vikto Pesta at UFC Fight Night 92 and Luis Henrique at UFC 209. Both wins came inside the distance. A win here should put him in the top 10.
This will be Tybura’s highest profile fight so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it. The native of Poland has the ability to finish anyone, anywhere. He boasts thirteen finishes in fifteen career fights, with seven of them coming via KO/TKO and six by submission.
Arlovski is fighting just to stay alive in the UFC. Another loss here, especially another knockout loss should mark the end of his career. His ability to take a punch is gone which is a big problem if he decides to stand and trade with Tybura. We are talking about heavyweights here so there is a chance Arlovski catches Tybura with a perfect punch and scores the knockout. However, I don’t see that happening.
Pick: Tybura by KO/TKO
Dong Hyun Kim (22-3-1, 1 NC) vs. Colby Covington (11-1) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Covington -335; Kim +265
Dong Hyun Kim comes into his fight against Colby Covington riding a three fight winning streak. He is also 7-1 in his last eight. His most recent fight came at UFC 207 where he beat Tarec Saffiedine by split decision. The South Korean isn’t known as a finisher with only 50% of his wins coming via KO/TKO or submission.
Colby Covington enters the fight riding his own three fight win streak. The American Top Team product’s most recent win came at UFC on FOX 22 where he decisioned Bryan Barberena in dominating fashion.
The odds on this fight surprised me a little bit. While Covington’s wrestling skills are among the best in the welterweight division, Kim’s are also very good. This is also a step up in competition for Covington. Ultimately I expect a good fight with Covington’s superior wrestling being the difference.
Pick: Covington by decision
Rafael Dos Anjos #6 (25-9) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (16-6) – Welterweight 170 lbs.
Current Odds: Dos Anjos -280; Saffiedine +220
Tarec Saffiedine is 2-3 in the UFC. He’ll be looking to get back into the win column after suffering two straight losses. He dropped a decision to Rick Story at UFC Fight Night 88 and lost by split decision to Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 207. Fighting out of Tristar Gym, the thirty year old has six finishes to go along with ten decisions in sixteen career wins.
Former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos makes his welterweight debut on Saturday. After losing his lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez at UFC Fight Night 90, Dos Anjos followed that up with another loss to Tony Ferguson. The former champion comes into this fight looking to kick start his career as a welterweight.
Dos Anjos didn’t look good in either of his two losses. Normally a high-volume striker he didn’t throw at the same pace he usually does. He also seemed a bit slower too. I’m curious to see how he performs at 170.
The UFC didn’t do RDA any favors by putting him in there against Saffiedine for his debut at welterweight. The promotion might think they are giving him a fight he can win, but I’m not so sure. Saffiedine is a tough veteran and while he may not get the win on Saturday, he won’t be an easy out. While my pick here is Dos Anjos, Saffiedine at +220 has some value.
Pick: Dos Anjos by submission
PRELIMS: QUICK LOOK
Tuck -290 over Gomi +230
Harris -335 over Asker +265
Caceres -300 over Dy +240
Scoggins -475 over Sasaki +350
Li -430 over Camacho +330
Doane ev over Kwak -130
Inoue -280 over De Thomas +220
Pudilova -135 over Kim
Enjoy the fights!
NOW CHECK OUT THIS ALTERNATIVE PREVIEW: UFC FIGHT NIGHT 6/17 PRIMER: Ecochard’s preview of Holm vs. Correira Fight Night event in Singapore on Fight Pass
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