UFC Vegas 116 features a seven-fight undercard, following UFC 327 and UFC Winnipeg, and preceding UFC Perth and UFC 328. While the card is considered thin, it promises potential entertainment with fighters facing critical career moments.
Key points
UFC Vegas 116 features a seven-fight undercard
Scheduled after UFC 327 and UFC Winnipeg
Considered a thin card with less star power
Main event includes Rodolfo Vieira vs. Eric McConico
As the industry leader has ramped up to 40-plus shows per year, the skill, talent and star power of its over 600 athletes is bound to fall more heavily on some of those events than on others. This week’s offering, UFC Fight Night 247, comes right after the one-two punch of UFC 327 and UFC Winnipeg, and immediately before UFC Perth and UFC 328. It should come as no surprise, then, that the card also known as “UFC Vegas 116” is thin even by the standards of an Apex fight night.
That doesn’t mean the card won’t be entertaining—on the contrary, imperfect fighters with their backs against the wall have given us some of our most memorable bloodbaths—but it does mean we will need to dig a little deeper to find the prospect value and divisional relevance that makes these “in between” events matter. Here is the preview for the seven-fight undercard of UFC Vegas 116:
Vieira (11-4; 6-4 UFC) meets McConico (10-4-1; 1-2 UFC) in a clash of middleweights still smarting from knockout losses at UFC 322 last November. The 36-year-old Brazilian has weathered some boom and bust periods over his six-plus years in the UFC, but seems to have settled in as a solid not-quite-contender at middleweight. “The Black Belt Hunter” is, of course, one of the most accomplished grapplers ever to cross over to mixed martial arts, and while he is dangerous everywhere—you don’t win five Mundials gold medals without having the full tool set—he is most effective from top position, where he passes guard relentlessly, then threatens with arm-triangle chokes or forces foes to give up their back.
As such, Vieira’s success in MMA has always hinged on being able to bring the fight to the ground in the time, place and position of his choosing. Between his ridiculous physical horsepower and determined approach, he is able to do so more often than not, but when he is left to his own devices on the feet, the results have not been pretty. Witness his struggles against and , who were able to nullify his takedowns, and , who flatly outwrestled him. And while he has come a long way since his stunning loss to five years ago, in which he gassed out horribly in less than a round, his cardio is still barely average for the division.
Q&A
What is UFC Vegas 116 and when is it scheduled?
UFC Vegas 116 is an upcoming fight card featuring seven bouts, scheduled to take place after UFC 327 and UFC Winnipeg.
Who are the fighters in the main event of UFC Vegas 116?
The main event features middleweights Rodolfo Vieira and Eric McConico.
Why is UFC Vegas 116 considered a 'thin' card?
The card is labeled 'thin' due to the lack of high-profile fighters and star power compared to other UFC events.
What can fans expect from the undercard of UFC Vegas 116?
Fans can expect entertaining bouts as fighters with critical career stakes often deliver memorable performances.
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McConico joined the UFC last year to no fanfare, as a solid but unspectacular regional middleweight who was already well into his 30s. His Octagon run so far has been a strange one. He did not look especially impressive in his lone win, while both of his defeats have had their encouraging moments. That includes his loss to Baisangur Susurkaev at UFC 322, where he managed to drag the far more touted prospect into a slow-paced grind, and was competitive right up until the final sequence. While the contest ended in a third-round TKO defeat for McConico, Susurkaev’s “next Khamzat Chimaev” hype had bitten the dust somewhere early in Round 2.
As a pure matchup of skill and physical tools, this fight favors Vieira heavily, and that’s reflected in the odds here. However, McConico has shown himself to be a dogged fighter and a bit of a builder, and considering the get-up game he showed in winning Round 1 against Susurkaev, it isn’t hard to imagine him doing something similar here, surviving early and then outstriking a tired Vieira late. If I were a betting man I’d leave this one be, but as a straight-up pick, I do like the Brazilian. The pick is Vieira by second-round submission.
Dumas (10-4, 1 NC; 3-4, 1 NC UFC) meets McVey (6-2; 0-2 UFC) in a contest that should earn walking papers for the loser. “The Reaper” joined the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series with an undefeated record, a solid highlight reel and a long and disturbing history of brushes with the law. The UFC knew exactly what it was getting with the troubled Floridian, and while it’s possible for miscreants to stay on roster and even thrive—look no further than Jon Jones—the juice has to be worth the squeeze and at this point, Dumas literally has more arrests than wins in the last two years. When he makes it to the cage, Dumas is a rangy striker with a diverse, dangerous arsenal of kicks and an excellent guillotine choke. His defensive wrestling and grappling remain very poor, and his striking output suffers significantly when he is pressured.
While McVey has thankfully not been making headlines for the same reasons as Dumas, the jury is still out on whether he can compete with UFC middleweights at all. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance contender came to the big show last summer, but his wildly entertaining, all-offense style has thus far been writing checks that his body has been unable to cover. He is very tall and rangy for the division but tends to get into close-quarters battles on the feet that negate those advantages. While he is an opportunistic threat on the ground, especially when he can get those long arms around an opponent’s neck, Brunno Ferreira and Zachary Reese both outwrestled and outgrappled him with raw strength. In his defense, both of those bouts featured either a short turnaround for McVey or a last-minute change of opponent, so at least he will get a chance here to show what he can do with a full camp.
McVey is a moderate favorite in this fight, and he has some clear routes to victory. While both men are among the tallest, lankiest fighters in the division, McVey is likely to come forward and crowd Dumas in a way that has typically blunted Dumas’ striking offense. However, I like Dumas’ chances here. He is the more diverse striker and probably the harder hitter, and this fight is likely to generate a lot of the close-quarters collisions that will allow Dumas to bring his front headlock series into play. The pick is Dumas by first-round submission.
Bueno Silva (10-6-1, 1 NC; 5-6-1, 1 NC UFC) will look to halt her competitive free fall against former Professional Fighters League contender Montague in this women’s bantamweight clash. It has been a miserable three years for “Sheetara,” who had the best win of her career overturned to a no contest after a failed drug test, and has lost four straight since then. In her defense, the losses have all been against Top 10 fighters—remember, this losing streak started with a shot at the bantamweight title—but the optics have been worse than the numbers, and the 34-year-old Brazilian seems to be fading quickly.
At her best, whether at flyweight or bantamweight, Bueno Silva was big and strong for the division, and made up for her modest athleticism with a high-output approach on the feet. While not much of a conventional wrestler, she used her size, savvy and toughness to find ways to get opponents to the ground from the clinch, where she could bring her excellent grappling skills to bear. Over the last couple of years, however, her speed has waned even further, and the durability and cardio that always powered her game have all but disappeared. As a result, even when she has not been blown out, Bueno Silva’s appearances have become grim affairs in which she hangs in gamely, but shows no signs of being able to take over the fight.
Montague (7-0; 1-0 UFC) came to the UFC last year after a short but dominant run in PFL. The 32-year-old Kiwi might have become an eventual foe for Kayla Harrison if both women had stayed in that promotion, and she both benefited and suffered from the same phenomenon: Montague’s foes were so physically overmatched that it was difficult to gauge the actual development of her skills. That made her Octagon debut last September against Luana Carolina a worthwhile learning experience, as she was forced to go the distance against a battle-tested foe whom she couldn’t simply fling to the ground and choke out.
Montague is a very big bantamweight, with a broad, powerful frame. Her striking is a work in progress—at best; considering her age, it may just be what it is from here on out. She throws long, straight punches, but her hand and foot speed are poor and she does not strike in combination very well. She does her best work when she can make her way to the clinch and trip or toss her opponent to the ground, where her considerable physical strength and grappling chops can come into play. She advances position relentlessly, dropping some heavy punches and elbows, looking for an opening to take her foe’s back and set up the rear-naked choke with which she finished all six of her PFL victims.
The betting line for this fight is one of the widest on the card, but it isn’t hard to see why. Montague is a limited but dangerous fighter at this point, but Bueno Silva is simply inert, especially after the first round. Even if the Brazilian has some early success, expect her to slow down, then be overwhelmed by the bigger, stronger newcomer. The pick is Montague by first-round submission.
Durden (17-10-1; 5-8-1 UFC) steps in on short notice for the injured Lucas Rocha against Filho (17-4; 3-2 UFC) in this flyweight matchup. Durden may be more desperate for a win than any other competitor at UFC Vegas 116, and that is saying quite a lot. The Georgia native showed some promise early, and just a couple of years ago rode a four-fight win streak into the flyweight Top 10, where it looked as though he might remain a fixture for at least the next few years. Instead, he has lost six of seven fights including his last four in a row, and looked increasingly out of his depth.
On his way up, Durden presented as a big, athletic, dynamic flyweight with good offensive weapons in all phases of MMA. He had solid boxing with very good power for the division, and was an excellent wrestler and grappler. He had defensive and tactical issues, and ended up on several opponents’ highlight reel submissions, but aside from those lapses, also showed good durability and cardio. His speed and durability appear to have fallen off badly in recent years, and with it his confidence—always concerning for a fiery, combative fighter.
Filho has been a very welcome addition to the division since joining the UFC a little over three years ago. His 3-2 mark in the promotion is deceptive, as a decent case could be made that he should have won his debut over Muhammad Mokaev, who just might have tapped in their fight, unnoticed by the referee. Filho is a good-sized flyweight as well, and despite coming from a grappling background, he has an active, technically sound muay thai striking arsenal that uses his reach and speed well. He can be a bit hittable thanks to his upright stance and tendency to plant his feet in the pocket, but thus far none of his opponents have truly made him pay for it.
Filho’s best weapons are on the mat, and he has a decent array of ways to get the fight into his wheelhouse. He is willing to shoot a takedown from outside, but he does his best work with judo-style trips and throws in close. Once he has his man on the ground, he is relentless, challenging his foe’s guard while keeping up a steady stream of strikes and looking for chances to take the back—or whatever else his opponent leaves hanging.
These appear to be two fighters headed in opposite directions competitively, but even in Durden’s prime, Filho would have been a nightmare matchup for him, as a smart, extremely opportunistic submission artist. In this case, considering Durden’s declining fortunes and the short notice, the huge odds make sense. The difference is that Filho is likely to be able to simply take over the fight, rather than wait for Durden to make a mistake. The pick is Filho by first-round submission.
In a matchup thrown together on Monday of fight week, Marshall (9-3; 3-3 UFC) will welcome former Bellator MMA prospect Brennan (11-2) to the UFC. Both are habitual featherweights but will meet at 155 pounds here. Marshall will be turning around less than two months from his first-round submission of Erik Silva at UFC Mexico City. The 27-year-old New Jersey native is an intriguing prospect. He’s also been a lot of fun to watch, maybe even to his own detriment: a good wrestler and grappler who gets into some wild scrambles, and a solid boxer who gets into some wild brawls. Whether those tendencies will mellow with age, or they are just part of his makeup as a fighter, remains to be seen.
Brennan is an interesting proposition. The son of UFC, Pride Fighting Championships and Shooto veteran Chris Brennan, the 25-year-old Dallas native is the latest of the second-generation MMA competitors to make it to the Octagon in the last few years. As one might expect of a scion of one of Texas’s first major BJJ lineages, “Skywalker” is an excellent submission grappler, and his nine-fight run on Bellator prelims was almost completely defined by effortless ground maulings.
The question, after Brennan’s back-to-back losses in PFL and Fury Fighting Championship, are whether the rest of his MMA game is good enough to bring those grappling chops into play against a higher level of competition. Against Dimitre Ivy in PFL, Brennan struggled to get the fight to the ground, and in the one round that he secured a takedown with plenty of time to work, he was unable to secure a finish. As he currently stands, Brennan’s ceiling will probably be defined by his offensive wrestling and striking. Assuming he sticks in the UFC, he may be in for a Chase Hooper-like learning curve, taking some ugly early losses as the rest of his game catches up to his grappling.
Chalk Saturday’s debut up as one of those ugly early losses, as Marshall is just about the worst possible style matchup for Brennan outside of an actual ranked fighter. Marshall has very good jiu-jitsu himself and is the far superior wrestler and harder hitter on the feet. I expect this to go the distance, and Brennan has been game and durable even in his losses, while Marshall tends to make his fights closer than they should be on paper. Still, the pick is that Marshall will have Brennan stranded on the feet for long stretches, lumping him up on the way to a one-sided decision win.
Griffin (20-12; 8-10 UFC) seeks to snap his first losing streak in five years, spoiling the debut of Dana White's Contender Series veteran Valenzuela in the process. For a fighter who never quite emerged from the welterweight pack into full-fledged contender status, Griffin remains surprisingly solid at age 40. His back-to-back losses to Chris Curtis and Michael Chiesa were competitive outings against Top 20-ish competition, and he appeared to be more or less the fighter he has been for nearly a decade in the UFC.
Griffin does his best work as a high-volume, medium-powered striker with underrated, or at least underutilized, wrestling and grappling. As a well-rounded, smart fighter, he has always been at his best when he can dictate the location and pace of the fight, and at his most vulnerable when specialists dictate those terms to him, as shown in his losses to Chiesa and Michael Morales. With advancing age, Griffin’s output on the feet has started to decline, and his usually rugged durability may give out at any time, so that will bear watching.
Valenzuela (13-4) is frankly a bit of a mystifying signing. The Chilean slugger appeared on DWCS last October, with a decent but not spectacular regional résumé under his belt, and lost by knockout. On the positive side, “Psicosis” is a hard puncher, capable of delivering knockout power with either hand from his orthodox stance, and is the kind of come-forward brawler who gives himself an honest chance to bring his best weapons to bear. On the negative side, he is on the small side for a welterweight, does not have any particular speed or movement advantages to compensate for it, and is already 32 years old.
Valenzuela’s attacking style will give him a puncher’s chance against a lot of welterweights, even ones who might be more skilled overall, and that includes Saturday’s matchup with Griffin. The line in Valenzuela’s favor might indicate public belief that at 40, Griffin will look significantly diminished from the version that faced Curtis last July, but if that is not the case, I think Griffin is better everywhere except perhaps one-shot power. The pick is Griffin via decision.
In the opening bout, Dana White's Contender Series Season 7 alums Alencar (7-1-1; 3-1 UFC) and Polastri (14-5; 2-2 UFC) will try and separate themselves from the pack in a wide-open strawweight division. Alencar has won two straight and at 35, it’s probably now or never if she wants to make a serious push towards a title shot. The “Problem Child” is a highlye decorated grappler and it shows—when she can get the fight there. As a late starter in MMA, with the added challenge of being visibly undersized for the UFC’s smallest division, she will always have her work cut out for her.
Alencar is compact, muscular and obviously quite strong, but she is slow on her feet and does not have much of an outside wrestling game. Her striking is not terrible—she throws in combination and has decent power—but it will not be enough to win fights for her against the next level of UFC strawweights. It is worth noting that her three UFC wins have come against former Invicta atomweight champ Rayanne dos Santos and two more of the shortest strawweights in the game in Vanessa Demopoulos and Ariane Carnelossi.
Polastri would be the more compelling prospect of the two if for no other reason than she’s 28 years old and built more like a natural 155-pounder, but to her credit, she has been improving from fight to fight. “Psycho” is fairly compact as well, though she will be visibly larger than her opponent Saturday, and while she has well-rounded skills, she does her best work as a middle-distance kickboxer, where she delivers a nice variety of punch combinations with underrated power. She can uncork a fast high kick at any time like the one she used to put away Karolina Kowalkiewicz last October, her best win to date.
This fight is more evenly matched than the wide odds might imply. There is a distinct possibility that Alencar can rush Polastri, get a takedown from the clinch and dominate. However, Polastri appears to be turning a corner over the last year or so, and while Loopy Godinez took her down repeatedly in their fight, she did so with tools that Alencar simply doesn’t possess. The pick is that Polastri sticks and moves her way to a straightforward decision win.
