Professional Mixed Martial Arts returns to Atlanta on April 13th, 2019.
By: Ray Vann Jr. – The UFC is making its way back to Atlanta after a three-year hiatus, and promoters are promising an action-packed line-up for April 13’s clash at UFC 236.
Holloway vs. Poirer
Current featherweight champion Max Holloway is headlining the night’s action, stepping into the ring for a second time against lightweight Dustin Poirier. The last time the two faced off was at UFC 143 back in 2012 when Poirier submitted the current featherweight champ via armbar less than four minutes into the first round. Holloway, however, is confident that he’s grown since the last time the two squared off, and says he thinks he can take Poirier down handily in their upcoming rematch.
Despite being submitted by Poirier in 2012, the odds heavily favor Holloway at UFC 236. Poirier, who was getting the worse of the stand-up in the first fight, beat Holloway by securing an early takedown and immediately gaining mount. Holloway has improved in all facets in the seven years since, especially his takedown defense. He stuffed 9 of 11 shots in his last fight against Brian Ortega and, prior to that fight, hadn’t been taken to the mat in eight straight bouts, dating back to 2014.
“The best way to describe it is, like, me right now, I would kill that guy,” Holloway told reporters at ESPN. “I would literally put him in a cemetery. There is a cemetery down the road from my house. I’d probably go visit him every day.”
Poirier, however, shows no signs of backing down, telling MMAJunkie Radio “all I need is one mistake or one opportunity, and I’m going to take full advantage of it, and I can finish the fight again.”
“I’m going to leave it all out there,” Poirier added, “and I’m coming home with gold. I just know it. I feel it in my bones.”
Holloway is currently the favorite, but Poirier still has plenty of fight in him and has the potential to make this an outstanding matchup. The winner of this match takes home the interim lightweight championship title, and also gets put on track for possibly the biggest prize of all: the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the fearsome Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov in the fall.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya is another fight that promises to keep fight fans on the edge of their seats as the two do battle for the interim middleweight championship. The undefeated Adesanya, fresh off his win against MMA legend Anderson Silva, looks well prepared to seize the belt, but Gastelum thinks that Adesanya’s relative freshness in the MMA scene – having only joined the UFC in 2017 – might work against him.
“I don’t think [Adesanya’s] been through the fire that I’ve been through,” Gastelum recently told reporters. “He hasn’t fought the quality of opponents that I have… Obviously, he’s fought some great fighters, but the top five guys, any one of those top five guys can be the champion, and I don’t think he’s fought those kinds of guys.”
Adesanya is currently the favorite going into the match at -180, but many experts and fighters remain divided on how the match will play out.
“Adesanya…I think me and him are the best to strikers in the UFC right now as far as creativity goes” welterweight Curtis Millender told reporters, throwing his prediction behind the Nigerian fighter.
Others, such as UFC featherweight and former welterweight Complete Devastation champion, disagree and throw their hat behind Gastelum.
“Gastelum is rugged, he’s tough, and he’s very fast for that weight class,” Rinaldi told SBN MMA. “Obviously Israel is extremely fast and good on his feet, but Gastelum has the option to take it to the ground if he needs to. And his hands are lightning quick as well.”
Millender vs. Muhammad
And, since we mentioned Millender, it’s worth noting that he’s also going to be making an appearance at the April 13th event, going up against fellow welterweight Belal Muhammad. Millender was beaten just last month at UFC Fight Night 146, submitting to a rear naked choke from Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos just two minutes into the first round, and he’s looking to avenge that loss on Saturday night.
“I’ve got to let everybody know in the division it’s not going to be easy like that,” Millender told reporters. “You’re going to have a problem every time you fight me. I know I have to build the fear back up. I need to let these dudes know it’s going to be trouble. If you want to take me down, I’ve got to take that as a sign of disrespect. You want to take me down and try and embarrass me. I need to show them that it’s not going to be easy.”
Despite the tough talk, however, the 14-3 Muhammed is expected to carry the fight and is currently the favorite at -140.
Eryk Anders vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
The light heavyweight matchup between Eryk Anders and Khalil Rountree Jr. is expected to be the slobberknocker of the night, as the two heavy hitters tee-off on one another in an attempt to pound the other into oblivion. Both fighters have had a rocky career in the UFC, and so are likely looking to add to their highlight reel at UFC 236 to prove that they still have the potential to compete. If any fight is likely to have the Knockout of the Night, it’s going to be this one.
Women’s MMA Fights at UFC 236
The women’s matchup between flyweights Poliana Botelho and Lauren Mueller is also one for fight fans to keep an eye on. Both women look to make a name for themselves at UFC 236. Botelho was originally slated to do battle with Paige VanZant, but VanZant was pulled from the fight after concerns over a previous arm-fracture surfaced. With a three-inch height advantage and significantly more fight experience, Botelho is expected to beat Mueller handily but Mueller can’t be completely discounted and just might pull something out of her hat.
The rest of the fights also look to be equally as exciting. There isn’t a single snoozer in the bunch. MMA fight fans, don’t forget to tune in to ESPN+ on April 13 and watch the fireworks!