The prelims for UFC 299 stand in stark contrast to the main card in that it gives all the appearance of a fight night event rather than the high-priced PPV offering that it is. The good news is that most of those fights would undoubtedly be outside the Apex, proper “on the road” fights. We even have ranked fights and fighters on this portion of the show.
The featured prelim, a heavyweight showdown between Curtis Blaydes and Jailton Almeida, is a ranked, high-value bout, and one that looks intriguing. Wrestling vs. BJJ on display at the 265-pound limit. Mix in the old adage that the big boys carry a lot of heat in their mitts and we have the ingredients for a great fight.
There are a couple other ranked bouts left on this section of the event, too. Katlyn Cerminara (formerly Chookagian) vs. Maycee Barber and Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos. Aside from those, there is a ranked fighter here and there, but all told, the undercard reads like a really good fight night. Considering the depth of the main [ortion, we’re absolutely fine with it. Let’s take a look at what we’re working with, as well as some fun factoids.
UFC 299 Prelims
Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida 265 lbs
Katlyn Cerminara vs. Maycee Barber 125 lbs
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos 155 lbs
Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips 135 lbs
Michel Pereira vs. M. Oleksiejczuk 185 lbs
Philipe Lins vs. Ion Cutelaba 205 lbs
Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian 265 lbs
CJ Vergara vs. Asu Almabaev 125 lbs
Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz 125 lbs
UFC 299 Fun Factoids
Ranked fights: 7
Ranked fighters: 16
Fighters coming off a loss: 10
Contender Series alumni: 8
TUF alumni: 3
Debuting fighters: 1
Don’t forget to check out the bonus section for a great review of the UFC Vegas 87 preliminary card. Make sure to tune in immediately after this weekend’s fights for breakdowns and analysis on our 6th Round Post-Fight Show.
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UFC 299 Prelims: A whole fight night