Preview: UFC Fight Night 235 Prelims

Women’s Flyweights

Julija Stoliarenko (11-7-2, 2-5 UFC) vs. Luana Carolina (9-4, 4-3 UFC)

ODDS: Stoliarenko (-135), Carolina (+114)

One fight in, Stoliarenko’s cut down to flyweight looks like it might pay some dividends. The UFC’s first Lithuanian-born fighter has had a pretty clear game plan throughout her career—score a takedown and immediately hunt for an armbar—that has worked surprisingly well, though Stoliarenko has typically plied her trade at bantamweight and featherweight. Given that she has even struggled to make those weight limits—she had some somewhat infamous complications cutting weight for a bantamweight fight in 2021—it was a bit of a surprise when Stoliarenko’s first fight of 2023 was announced as a 125-pound affair against Molly McCann. So far, so good. It was a bit of a shock to see Stoliarenko so lean, but she immediately implemented her game and scored another quick armbar submission for the biggest win of her career. For a return effort, she takes on Brazil’s Carolina, who has slowly rounded into form during her five and a half years on the UFC roster.

Carolina came into the UFC with a particularly low level of experience, which caused “Dread” to clearly panic at times when opponents would refuse to be intimidated by her long frame and charge in with offense. While Carolina’s career has had some rough patches, she has turned into a tough and well-rounded fighter. She is still not the most comfortable under pressure and is not much of a finishing threat, but she is willing to be physical and can usually give her opponent 15 difficult minutes. Unfortunately for Carolina, her grappling defense might still be the weakest part of her game, so this looks like a fight where Stoliarenko can quickly get things done. The pick is Stoliarenko via first-round submission.

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