Preview: UFC on ESPN 47 ‘Vettori vs. Cannonier’

Middleweights

Christian Leroy Duncan (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Armen Petrosyan (8-2, 2-1 UFC)

ODDS: Duncan (-140), Petrosyan (+120)

This should be fun, even though it is a bit surprising that Duncan’s sophomore UFC effort is not taking place on the upcoming card in London. Duncan was an obvious signing ahead of the UFC’s last trip to London in March, as the Englishman clearly proved himself ready for the big time with an assortment of highlight-reel finishes dotting an undefeated professional record. A longtime amateur with some polish to his game, Duncan fights with a bullying style that is also capable of some flash, even though his UFC debut ended in quite anticlimactic fashion. Duncan clinched with Dusko Todorovic and was getting the better of their exchange when the Serb suffered a major knee injury that suddenly ended the fight. If nothing else, that does show the physicality that Duncan brings to the table, and he draws an interesting test three months later against Petrosyan. Armenia’s Petrosyan has quickly settled into the middle of the UFC’s 185-pound ranks as an entertaining striker with some clear issues. Petrosyan is willing and able to throw out some consistent volume on the feet, but with the knockouts drying up at the UFC level, he has walked a bit of a razor’s edge in terms of overcoming some subpar wrestling skills. That should not be a factor here, as Duncan is not much of a wrestler. Even so, he should have enough physicality to bully Petrosyan around and eventually make something work. The pick is Duncan via second-round knockout.

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Vettori vs. Cannonier
Tsarukyan vs. Silva
Duncan vs. Petrosyan
Sabatini vs. Almeida
Torres vs. Motta
Salikhov vs. Dalby
The Prelims