Preview: UFC Fight Night 223 ‘Song vs. Simon’

Welterweights

Josh Quinlan (6-0, 1 N/C) vs. Trey Waters (7-1)

ODDS: Quinlan (-180), Waters (+155)

This should be fun for however long it lasts. Quinlan may already be 30 years old, but he's a prospect with some promise after winning a contract on the Contender Series in 2021. Quinlan may be a bit meandering at times in his approach, but he's a clear athlete that can carry his knockout power into multiple rounds, even if he hasn't had to lately - both his Contender Series victory and his UFC debut were each knockouts in short order. Quinlan's Contender Series showing was turned to a no contest thanks to a failed drug test, which spoiled the party a bit, but "Bushido" looked to have every bit the power that he did beforehand in beating Jason Witt last August, so that shouldn't affect things going forward. Quinlan takes on late replacement and UFC newcomer Waters, who cuts an impressive figure at 6-foot-5. Waters got his own shot at a UFC contract on the Contender Series last year, losing to Gabriel Bonfim, and while that loss looks better in hindsight, it did highlight the pros and cons of Waters's game; he's figuring out how to take advantage of his length as a striker and is becoming more capable of fighting at a pace, but doesn't have much defense past his size and also doesn't appear to be much of a grappler. Quinlan doesn't always take the initiative, which could lead Waters to build a lead by filling in the space, but Quinlan figures to spring into action at some point and end the fight in short order; the pick is Quinlan via first-round knockout.

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Song vs. Simon
Borralho vs. Oleksiejczuk
Vieira vs. Brundage
Erosa vs. Padilla
De Lima vs. Cortes-Acosta
Quinlan vs. Waters
The Prelims