Preview: UFC Fight Night 237 ‘Moreno vs. Royval 2’

Women’s Strawweights

Yazmin Jauregui (10-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Sam Hughes (8-5, 3-4 UFC)

ODDS: Jauregui (-535), Hughes (+400)

While 2023 was essentially a lost year for Jauregui, perhaps she can regain her status as one of strawweight’s top prospects. Jauregui came to the UFC in 2022 billed as a potential title contender, and she certainly lived up to that hype in her first two UFC fights. The Mexican feels out her opponents through sheer aggression, and while that has resulted in her eating some unnecessary offense early, she usually winds up picking up momentum and turning into a buzz saw of offense by the later rounds. That was the formula for her wins over Iasmin Lucindo and Istela Nunes, but then came her lone fight of 2023 against Denise Gomes, who met Jauregui head-on and scored a shocking knockout in just 20 seconds. Jauregui looks to rebound in a much less dangerous fight against Hughes, though the Fortis MMA rep figures to establish herself once again as a tough out. Hughes came to the UFC in 2020 as an extremely raw prospect, so it was understandable when she struggled to find her footing in the promotion early on. Hughes seemed to have some right ideas in terms of strategy but lacked the overwhelming athleticism or technical depth to accomplish her goals. However, “Sampage” has definitely always been tough, and she has gutted through those early failures to win three out of her last four, mostly on the back of her ability to survive difficult moments and turn fights into a grind. It has been nearly a year since her last fight, where she outlasted grappling specialist Jaqueline Amorim, but the unfortunate thing for the American is that Jauregui does not gas out but instead tends to pick up steam. There is some question as to how Jauregui will rebound from such a quick and definitive first loss, but this looks like her fight to lose. The pick is Jauregui via decision.

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Moreno vs. Royval
Rodriguez vs. Ortega
Zellhuber vs. Prado
Rosas Jr. vs. Turcios
Jauregui vs. Hughes
Torres vs. Duncan
The Prelims