UFC Fight Night Aspinall vs. Tybura is scheduled for the next Saturday, and we need to cover this happening. There will be several interesting battles here, but we will focus on the main event between the two heavyweights, Tom Aspinall and Marcin Tybura. Both are in a situation where they can’t allow themselves to lose, otherwise, the defeated one won’t be in any plans for some big-time fights.
UFC London, as some call this event as well, brings a battle between the home-favorite Molly McCann meets Julija Stoliarenko while Paul Craig battles with Andre Muniz.
London Is Calling! 🇬🇧📞
We're back at #UFCLondon tomorrow night!! pic.twitter.com/3a3xvURPs1
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 21, 2023
Aspinall VS Tubura
The Brit lost his last bout, which was at the same place as this one, O2 Arena in London. It was a clash between him and Curtis Blaydes, and Aspinall hurt his knee after only 15 seconds inside the octagon. It was a big-time setback for him and the first defeat after eight victories. He was on row, beating Andrei Arlovski, Sergey Spivak, and Alexander Volkov and surging toward the elite of the heavyweights.
Aspinall is a very strong guy, who isn’t as big as some of the other rivals from the division, but is mobile and versatile. He knows to mix punches and takedowns like just a few heavyweights and is also a very skilled guy on the mat.
Tybura is a veteran who won seven of his last eight events, making a late push in his career. The Pole is well-rounded inside the octagon, having nine decision wins, nine knockouts, and six submissions. Some of his victories were against Walt Harris, Greg Hardy, Alexander Romanov and Blagoy Ivanov. In the past, he met with Struve, Lewis, Sakai etc, so his experience is much bigger than the Brit’s.
Aspinall’s endurance is under a question mark because all of his recent wins were via stoppage, while Tybura knows how to handle the business throughout the distance. Still, with the home crowd behind him and his explosiveness, Aspinall is the favorite and should triumph here.
Pick: Aspinall Wins
McCann VS Stoliarenko
McCann is the fan favorite in London, with her and Paddy Pimblett always making a show together. This time Molly is alone, and she has a challenge in the shape of Julija Stoliarenko. After three wins in a row, McCann lost to Erin Blanchfield in November last year, via submission. She couldn’t use her extreme speed and explosiveness in that one.
Stoliarenko is the former Invicta bantamweight champ, but since coming to the UFC, she has only one win and is dropping through the division before reaching the featherweight. This will be her first battle here in this category. Four defeats in five fights are a bad record for the Lithianian, who probably fights for her future here, with the defeat marking the end of her stint in the UFC.
McCann has everything on her side in this one, and even though her rival is a bit bigger, that won’t present a problem for the “host” to post another triumph and return on the winning path.
Pick: McCann Wins
Craig VS Muniz
Paul Craig is a veteran of the middleweight division, and he will share the octagon with Andre Muniz from Brazil. Both guys are coming off losses and need this victory to stay relevant.
Craig was on the rise until his defeat to Volkan Oezdemir and after a KO loss to Johnny Walker, which happened later. He now needs to find a way to win; otherwise his UFC future won’t look so bright. Craig is a dominant grappler and the guy who will do anything to drag you to the ground. He has 13 submission wins of his 16 triumphs.
Muniz had nine consecutive triumphs and was on the rise. But a loss to Brendan Allen was a massive setback. A victory here is a must or his flashy start won’t matter at all.
Like all the other Brazilians, he has excellent grappling skills and in his 23-5 record, 16 victories were on the mat. Muniz even holds one of the best submissions in the last few years, once he forced Jacare Souza to tap in 2021.
This is a close battle between two guys who love to be on the ground. What we would recommend here is a fight going to the distance because conflicts between two grapplers usually see the decision.
