Nick Peet: UFC 273 Preview

THREE fan favourite fights, featuring fighters from all four corners of the world; the return of a top three pound-for-pound champion; a bitter grudge match title unification; and a final hurdle test for a genuine fighting phenom. Yep, the UFC returns on Saturday!

Jacksonville, Florida plays host to UFC 273 capped by a hat-trick of matchups worth getting excited about.

Australia’s UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski makes the third defence of his crown against South Korean cult hero Chan Sung Jung, aka ‘The Korean Zombie’, in a bout that asks; what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

Brash New Yorker Aljamian Sterling rematches Russian Petr Yan for supremacy in the UFC bantamweight division. Whilst Sweden’s unbeaten sensation Khamzat Chimaev leaps up in class as he takes on Brazil’s former title contender Gilbert Burns.

Volkanovski, 23-1, is finally getting the respect he deserves after championships wins over Max Holloway, twice, and Brian Ortega. Sitting comfortably at #3 in the pound-for-pound rankings, the former rugby league semi-pro is building a legacy at 145lb.

Ok, we got through a weekend without UFC, it's Fight Week!

🏆 Volkanovski v Korean Zombie🏆 Sterling v Yan🔥 Burns v Chimaev#UFC273 | Saturday | BT Sport 1 HD pic.twitter.com/9VgPKoBSgY

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) April 4, 2022

The 33-year-old was originally scheduled to face Holloway for a third time, but an injury suffered by the Hawaiian opened the door for Zombie, a long-time fan favourite who earned his moniker from performances inside the Octagon.

It’s been nine years since the Korean’s last UFC title shot, where he lost via TKO in round four to Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro. He took four years off afterwards, including two years national service, but returned better than ever in 2017.

Now with a 17-6 record, this unexpected title opportunity is likely his last chance of UFC gold and, with Volkanovski distracted by Holloway trilogy talk, unorthodox Jung has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Things get a lot more personal in the co-main event, where bitter rivals Aljo and Yan return to arms 13 months on from their first encounter.

Sterling, 20-3, was crowned bantamweight champion after Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee to the head, thrown whilst Aljo was grounded, late in round four. At the time of the premature finish, Yan was comfortably ahead on the scorecards.

Suffering only the second loss of his 18-fight career, Yan pushed for an immediate rematch. But Sterling insisted on taking time off for corrective surgeries. In his absence, Yan won the interim belt with a one-sided beatdown of leading contender Cory Sandhagen.

Sterling’s reign has so far felt unwarranted, but victory on Saturday would silence even his fiercest critics. Yan, however, is motivated to put the record straight and has the boxing skills and takedown defence to dominate once again.

https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1511816106037575682

Finally, I couldn’t get excited about UFC 273 without mentioning of Chimaev, the 10-0 Swedish superstar who rag-dolls opponents whether at 170lb or 185lb.

He leaps up in class against #2 ranked welterweight Burns on Saturday, but his past form suggests even the impressive Brazilian will struggle with the ascension of the 27-year-old mauler.

TIPS: Volkanovski TKO / Yan Pts / Chimaev TKO – pays 15/1