In search of recovery, Anthony Smith and Aleksandar Rakic exchange forces at UFC Las Vegas 8

A. Smith (left) and A. Rakic (right) face each other in the UFC Las Vegas 8. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

This weekend's show promises excitement. This Saturday (29), at UFC Las Vegas 8, in the United States, the Ultimate management will promote 11 presentations and clashes that promise to excite spectators in the main fights.

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In the last fight of the night, Anthony Smith e Aleksandar rakic They are fighting an interesting fight, which puts face to face athletes who are looking for a chance to compete for the light heavyweight belt (up to 93kg), but who need to recover from recent defeats.

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The co-main clash will mark the return of the former welterweight champion (up to 77kg.), Robbie Lawler, to the octagon, after more than a year away from fighting. The athlete will have the tough commitment of interrupting the sequence of two victories of Neil Magny, which tries to confirm the good phase.

Brazil will be represented by Polyana viana, which has a tough confrontation against emily whitmire. The duel takes place in the strawweight division and is part of the preliminary card of the event.

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Smith vs. Rakic

After the historic punishment suffered against Glover Teixeira, in May, Anthony Smith He wants to prove that he still has what it takes to perform at a high level against elite athletes in his division. Former challenger for the category belt, the North American will face the current number eight in the rankings and needs to win to avoid being overtaken.

Like his opponent, Rakic is also coming off a defeat in his last appearance. In the confrontation that took place in December last year, the Austrian ended up defeated by Volkan oezdemir in the judges' split decision. Now, the fighter will have an opportunity to jump positions and reach the top 5 in the category, if he manages to defeat Anthony in the main fight of the night.

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Lawler x Magny

Welterweight champion between 2014 and 2016, Robbie Lawler is back to erase the bad phase that haunts him. Without winning a fight since July 2017, the American is currently experiencing the worst moment of his MMA career. Coming from three negative results in a row, something previously unheard of, Robbie accepted the challenge of facing the experienced Neil Magny with little preparation time.

Unlike his rival, Neil is coming off two consecutive victories. In his last performance, in June, the athlete sent Anthony Rocco Martin and established itself in the top 15 of the division. If the former champion wins, Magny can take 13th place from his rival and continue his journey towards the top of the category led by Kamaru Usman.

Polyana Viana is Brazil in the octagon

The only Tupiniquim representative on the card, it was left to Polyana viana the role of representing green and yellow in the octagon. In a complicated situation in Ultimate, the Brazilian needs to beat the North American at any cost emily whitmire.

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Polyana was the last woman to defeat Brazil's new sensation, Amanda ribas, when they were still wearing the gloves of the Jungle Fight, in 2015. On that occasion, the Pará native surprised the Minas Gerais native with a knockout in the first round.

Now, coming off three consecutive defeats, Viana has to beat Emily to avoid the risk of being released by the organization. Her last performance took place in August last year, when it was completed by Verônica Macedo.

Whitmire also needs a positive result to recover within the organization. The North American was defeated precisely by Ribas in the confrontation that marked the Minas Gerais native's debut in the UFC.

The confrontation between Polyana and Whitmire should have taken place in March, however, the American ended up feeling ill hours before the clash and the duel was cancelled.