On the final weekend of March, the UFC is returning to Atlantic City for the first time since April 2016. Not only is it a quality card, despite only having three ranked fighters on it, it's going to be televised from beginning to end. The main card will air on ESPN, while the prelims will be shown on ESPN2. The whole event will also stream on ESPN+, so if anyone wants to view it that way, the option is there.
The main event will pit a pair of Women's Flyweight contenders against each other, as New Jersey-born Erin Blanchfield will take on championship kickboxer Manon Fiorot. The co-main event is also very interesting, as longtime fan favorite Vicente Luque, who was supposed to face Sean Brady in the main event before Brady got injured, takes on fellow finisher Joaquin Buckley. The featured bout is a Middleweight matchup between former Middleweight champion Chris Weidman against knockout artist Bruno Silva.
The rest of the main card is solid at worst. The prelims are a mixed bag where half the fights are genuinely UFC quality, while the other half feel like glorified Contender Series bouts. As a result, I'll give quick picks for the prelim slate. As for the main card, here's how I see things going about in Boardwalk Hall.
Prelim Quick picks (7/6, ESPN2 and ESPN+)
Caolan Loughran over Angel Pacheco via tko, round 2.
Andre Petroski over Jacob Malkoun via decision.
Ibo Aslan over Anton Turkalj via tko, round 1.
Dennis Buzukja over Connor Matthews via decision.
Julio Arce over Herbert Berns via tko, round 3.
Virna Jandiroba over Lupita Godinez via decision.
Nate Landwehr over Jammal Emmers via decision.
Main Card (10/9c, ESPN and ESPN+)
Chidi Njokuani (22-10, 1 NC) vs. Rhys McKee (13-5-1)
The main card opener will kick off with a pair of Welterweight strikers, Chidi Njokuani takes on former Cage Warriors Welterweight champion Rhys McKee. Both fighters need the win, as Njokuani looks to rebound from a three-fight losing skid, while McKee looks for his first UFC win in four tries. McKee had a two-fight UFC stint back in 2020, but got destroyed in his debut against Khamzat Chimaev and was gone after a follow-up loss to Alex Morono. McKee was brought back after three straight wins in Cage Warriors, but lost his return bout to Ange Loosa. At this point, I don't think he'll ever get a win in the UFC. Njokuani can get complacent at times, but with his job on the line, I think he'll find a way to beat McKee. Prediction: Njokuani via decision.
Bill Algeo (18-7) vs. Kyle Nelson (15-5-1)
The next fight should be fun, but I can't see Nelson winning this. Algeo has won four of his last five fights, with the lone loss being a split decision against Andre Fili, and has never been finished due to strikes. Nelson has won two straight fights, but was 1-4-1 in his previous six fights. He hasn't finished anyone since 2019, Algeo is his best opponent in years and this feels like a "levels" type of fight. If Algeo fights the way he's capable of fighting, this is his fight to lose. Prediction: Algeo via decision or late tko.
Nursulton Ruziboev (33-8-2) vs. Sedriques Dumas (9-1)
This fight will depend on how long it lasts. Ruziboev is a lot of fun and has finished 32 of his wins, but has in lost six of the eight times he's gone the distance. As for Dumas, all I can say is that I'll never root for him, for reasons that aren't hard to research and find out about. Let's hope this is a quick fight. Prediction: Ruziboev via tko, round 1.
Chris Weidman (15-7) vs. Bruno Silva (23-10)
In the featured bout, former UFC Middleweight Chris Weidman will take on former M-1 champion Bruno Silva. Both fighters have had rough go's of late, so it's a matchup that makes sense on paper. Weidman's run to the title was very good, and his reign was solid, but he's lost seven of his last nine fights. That includes five knockout losses, as well as a loss due to a leg injury. He's only fought five times since mid-2017, hasn't finished a fight since June of that year and has one win in that span. Win or lose, he should strongly consider retirement after this fight.
As for Silva, this is fight is a huge opportunity, as well as a must-win. He's a knockout artist to the core, finishing 20 of his 23 wins in that manner. He finished each of his first three UFC fights, but has lost four of his last five, including two via submission. Despite being a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he's been submitted seven times in his career. If Weidman takes him down, Silva will lose. However, one solid shot from Silva can end this fight. Both are probable outcomes and I have no idea who to pick. I guess I'll pick Weidman in front of fans that will be rooting for him? I just hope he doesn't get violently finished. Prediction: Weidman via submission, round 2.
(11) Vicente Luque (22-9-1) vs. Joaquin Buckley (17-6)
Originally, Vicente Luque was set to headline this card against Sean Brady. However, Brady got hurt and Luque will face Joaquin Buckley in the co-main event instead. It should be a fun fight, as Luque is a highlight machine and Buckley's a knockout artist with one of the most viral knockouts in recent memory. Luque is a whopping 15-4 inside the octagon, while Buckley has won five of his last seven fights. Buckley seems to have a lower ceiling though, and has never beaten anyone as good as Luque. I'll pick Luque to win, but regardless of who comes out on top, the fans will likely come away as winners in the end. Prediction: Luque via tko, round 2.
(2) Erin Blanchfield vs. (3) Manon Fiorot
In the main event of the evening, New Jersey's own, Erin Blanchfield will partake in a potential Women's Flyweight title eliminator against French kickboxer Manon Fiorot. Both women have had great runs and look like contenders, so this should be a fascinating fight.
Blanchfield
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