Sports Reporter | Capper
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The UFC returns to the UFC Apex this weekend for a stacked fight night event. Headlining this fight card are two surging flyweight contenders. Former flyweight title challenger Alex Perez has stepped on just a month's notice to take on undefeated phenom Tatsuro Taira in Taira's first-ever main event fight.
Both fighters will be looking for a big win this weekend in hopes of pushing toward title contention.
On this fight card, we have a fight in the bantamweight division on the main card between former The Ultimate Fighter finalist Brady Hiestand and Garrett Armfield in a fight that should be an exciting bout. We take a look at this bantamweight matchup and give out our prediction and pick for this Armfield-Histand matchup.
Garrett Armfield (10-3) got the short notice call after capturing the FAC Bantamweight Championship. He then had to go up against a familiar foe up a weight class against the dangerous David Onama who eventually submitted him in round 2. Armfield came back and rattled off back-to-back victories as he moved back to his natural weight class in bantamweight.
Armfield has grown a ton from fight to fight and is looking like a completely different fighter than who lost to David Onama in his UFC debut. His defensive grappling has looked to have leveled up a ton since that fight.
While he did succeed 4 takedowns to Katona in his last fight, he did a good job at getting back to his feet and avoiding any submission attempts.
On the feet, Armfield is a great boxer who utilizes crisp combinations combined with his slick movement on the feet to counter his opponents.
This is a pretty binary matchup where on the feet Armfield is going to box up Hiestand, and as long as his takedown defense and scrambling abilities keep this fight standing it's his fight to lose.
Brady Hiestand (7-2) came into his time in the UFC after narrowly losing a split decision against Ricky Turcios to lose his shot at becoming The Ultimate Fighter. However, since that loss, Hiestand has now rattled off back-to-back victories as he looks to extend his winning streak to three in a row.
Hiestand is a product of SikJitsu training with the likes of Michael Chiesa and Julianna Pena throughout his journey as an MMA fighter and it shows in his fighting style.
Much like Michael Chiesa, Hiestand is a high-level grappler that is always hunting for the takedowns and has an exceptional back take.
Once Hiestand is able to take his opponents to the mat he sticks to them like glue and is always hunting for the finish.
He was having a rough go in his last fight against Batgerel Danaa but his ability to fight through adversity and his never ending cardio helped him surmount a great comeback to finish him with just 39 second left in round three.
In this matchup, Hiestand will be at another distinct disadvantage on the feet but he is no stranger to being the lesser striker like in his past fights.
He will have to do what he does best and navigate the striking of Armfield get this fight into the clinch and take him down to dominate him there. If he's able to do this than he can keep the good times rolling and get his third win in a row.
Check our FanDuel sportsbook review to find out more about FanDuel's rating, bonuses, betting margins, and other helpful details.
This is a fantastic matchup in the bantamweight division for this fight night event. Both fighters will be looking to keep their momentum going and surge up the bantamweight rankins with a win in tonight's matchup.
Ultimately, it's going to be Armfield's boxing that's going to be the difference maker in this fight as Hiestand looks to take the fight to the mat.
As Hiestand attempts to get within range he will be met with crisp combinations to the head and to the body, and with the movement of Armfield Hiestand will have a tough time getting his timing on his shots.
Expect Armfield to use his quickness and his striking to keep this fight off the mat as he outstrikes Hiestand for the majority of this fight to take the decision victory.
FINAL ARMFIELD-HIESTAND PICK & PREDICTION: GARRETT ARMFIELD (-198)
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