The UFC heads back to Mexico City for the first time since the Latin America 3 Finale in November with the 114th edition of their Fight Night series. Here is a look at the three fights to watch for. Let’s take a closer look at the three biggest fights on the UFC Fight Night 114 card.
Sergio Pettis vs. Brandon Moreno
Of course, it all starts with the main event from the flyweight division as Pettis (15-2) takes on Moreno (14-3), both of whom are red-hot right now. Pettis has won three in a row and like older brother Anthony (the former UFC lightweight champion), Sergio is a creative striker who is getting better on the mat. Moreno has won 11 straight since moving to 125 pounds and he has 10 submission wins to his credit. This will be a very interesting clash of styles as Pettis will want to keep this standing up, and Moreno will want to go to the mat. Also of note: Moreno fights out of Tijuana, so he could have a bit more of the crowd on Saturday. A win would be huge for both men as Pettis is ranked sixth in the division by the UFC, and Moreno is seventh.
Randa Markos vs. Alexa Grasso
Markos (7-4) has alternated wins and losses for her last eight fights, while Grasso (9-1) is coming off her first professional loss. Grasso still has a ways to go before she is in the running for a title shot, but the Mexican strawweight is a very promising prospect down the road, powered by her striking. Markos is more of a grappler, but she is known for her determination and she is a tough fighter to stop. A win over Markos would get Grasso back on the right track in a division that is, like the men’s flyweight division, dominated by a champion that doesn’t look to be leaving anytime soon. A strong win over a gatekeeper like Markos would definitely be a boost for the 23-year-old.
Sam Alvey vs. Rashad Evans
This fight is massive for Evans (19-6-1), the former light-heavyweight champion who has lost three in a row and lost a split decision in his middleweight debut. Alvey (30-9, 1 NC) had won four in a row before his last fight, a unanimous-decision loss. Alvey might be a better version of Evans in that he comes from a wrestling background, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes if the fight hits the mat. However, Alvey has heavy hands and has 18 wins by KO, to eight for Evans, who has improved his striking over the years, but has never been known as a knockout artist. This is one of those fights, for Evans, where if he loses badly, people will start calling for him to hang it up. Meanwhile, Alvey could move near the top 10 with a win on Saturday as he is ranked 14th in the middleweight division right now. He will be looking to finish the former champion this weekend.
Get all of the latest lines right now for the Pettis-Moreno UFC fight as well as all of the highly-anticipated matchups at Play Shangrila!
