Event: UFC Vegas 8: “Smith vs. Rakic”

Date: Sat., Aug. 29, 2020

Location: UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada

Broadcast: ESPN, ESPN+

 

 

UFC Vegas 8 Main Event on ESPN+:

205 lbs.: Anthony Smith vs. Aleksandar Rakic

115 lbs.: Alexa Grasso vs. Ji Yeon Kim

145 lbs.: Ricardo Lamas vs. Bill Algeo

UFC Fight Night Smith vs Rakic Main Card on ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Neil Magny

205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba

UFC Vegas 8 Prelims Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Maki Pitolo vs. Impa Kasanganay
115 lbs.: Mallory Martin vs. Hannah Cifers
185 lbs.: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Zak Cummings
145 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Austin Springer
115 lbs.: Polyana Viana vs. Emily Whitmire
170 lbs.: Sean Brady vs. Christian Aguilera

 

Free Live UFC Fight Night Smith vs Rakic 2020 08 29

Rakic Looks to Get Back on Track

Depending on who you ask, Rakic has no need to “get back on track” Saturday. He beat Volkan Oezdemir,

yet his official record has an “L” next to the contest. 

Yet “No Time” convinced two of the three people whose opinions on ,

the subject actually matter en route to a split decision win. 

Regardless, the Austrian experienced a loss for the first time since October 2011,

and should be anxious to get back in the win column. If he does, it’ll be against his toughest test yet.

Smith lives up to his Lionheart moniker in the cage and matches his toughness with a broad array of strikes. 

Finishing Smith isn’t an easy task. Glover Teixeira was able to do it in the latter rounds of their fight,

but it’s important to note that Smith was winning that fight through the early rounds.

 

Smith is as skilled as they come in the division. 

UFC Fight Night Smith vs Rakic 2020 08 29

That being said, Rakic appears to be a rising star. He stays busy with volume but throws with consequential power.

His head kick knockout against Jimi Manuwa was a devastating example of how he can end a fight at any moment. 

It will take more than that to knockout Smith, but there should be concerns for ,

how much punishment Smith can take just three-and-a-half months from his loss to Teixeira.

He absorbed a lot of damage in a fight that was an absolute war. 

Returning that quickly after suffering that kind of damage is the kind of thing that could carry over into the next fight.

Under normal circumstances, Smith might be able to outlast Rakic and stun him in the championship rounds. 

Prediction: Rakic via second-round TKO

 

Free UFC Fight Night Smith vs Rakic 2020 08 29

Magny Adds Big Name to Resume

Neil Magny feels like a fighter who has been on the UFC roster for 20 years.

Robbie Lawler actually is a fighter who has been on the roster for nearly 20 years. 

Magny has been fighting in the UFC since 2013. Yet he’s never been able,

to break through to true contention in the welterweight division.

Lawler made his UFC debut in 2002 as a 20-year-old before becoming a Strikeforce star,

and eventually coming back to the UFC and capturing the welterweight title. 

Lawler isn’t the same fighter that he once was, but this will give Magny a chance to ,

add another impressive name to his list of vanquished foes.

That list currently includes the likes of Kelvin Gastelum, Johny Hendricks and Carlos Condit. 

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Magny is a good pressure fighter who looks to overwhelm with volume. Against a prime Lawler,

that would be a recipe for disaster, as he is adept at counter-striking. While there’s still some risk there,

Lawler has lost three straight fights and doesn’t seem to have the same quick trigger that he enjoyed in his prime. 

This fight should mostly take place on the feet, but Magny has his wrestling to fall back on.

His jab has improved throughout his career, and it could be an important tool in this fight ,

as he can build the rest of his game off it and keep the pressure on Lawler. 

Lawler still has a surprisingly good chin, so knocking him out will be challenging. However,

Magny should be able to control the flow and pace of this fight ,

and win it on account of his volume, combination punching and length.

Prediction: Magny via decision

 

Free Live  Smith vs Rakic 2020 08 29

Ankalaev and Cutelaba Have All the Makings for Fight of the Night

In February, Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba fought for a glorious 38 seconds ,

before one of the more controversial stoppages in recent memory took place. 

After a bitter lead up to the fight, both fighters came out guns blazing,

and Ankalaev connected with a head kick as well ,

as two hooks that appeared to have shaken Cutelaba. However,

it also appeared Cutelaba was playing up the effect of the kicks ,

as he was still firing heavy leather in return. 

The referee still stepped in to bring the fight to a premature conclusion. 

 

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Now, the two get the chance to settle their differences.

While the fight might not last much longer than the first,

the one thing that is clear after watching these two fight once is,

that both will be looking to score the finish early and often. 

Ankalaev comes in as a fairly heavy favorite, but Cutelaba shouldn’t be discounted.

He is a kill or be killed kind of fighter who has a puncher’s chance no matter who he is fighting. 

Ultimately, the more technical Ankalaev should hold the upper hand.

But it’s going to be a fun fight no matter who gets his hand raised. 

Prediction: Ankalaev via first-round TKO  

 

 

Free Live UFC Fight Night Smith vs Rakic 2020 08 29

 

 

 

 

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