UFC Singapore brings golden chance for Bethe and a fresh start for Dos Anjos

H. Holm (left) faces B. Correia (right) in the main fight (Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)

At the beginning of this Saturday, at 5:35 am, the Brazilian Bethe Correia will have a great opportunity to get close to a title fight again. The bantamweight faces, in the main fight of the UFC Singapore, the North American Holly holm, former world champion and first woman to win Ronda Rousey. A triumph for “Pitbull” could put her straight on the route to the belt.

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And speaking of the belt, the second most relevant fight in the UFC Singapore will bring the former champion Rafael Dos Anjos, who will make his welterweight debut after two defeats at lightweight, a division where he reigned for just over a year, between 2015 and 2016. This Saturday, RDA will face Tarec saffiedine, former Strikeforce champion and current number 11 in the 77 kg category.

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The welterweights will also be in the spotlight with another big fight: the North American promise Colby covington seeks to enter the ranking of the 15 best fighters in the division with a victory over number 7 Dong Hyun Kim. The experienced South Korean has triumphed over the likes of John Hathaway, Nate diaz e Erick silva and his last victory was precisely over Saffiedine.

Golden chance for Bethe

B. Correia seeks to surprise former champion (Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)

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Coming off a disappointing draw against Marion Reneau at UFC Fortaleza, Bethe Correia received an excellent opportunity to jump the queue in the rooster division. Even though it comes from three consecutive defeats, the North American Holly holm She is one of the biggest names in the category and a clear favorite to dominate the Brazilian and win again.

However, if “Pitbull” manages to impose his rhythm and volume of strikes and stay away from the former champion's kicks, he could surprise. A victory for Bethe in the main fight of the UFC Singapore would put her possibly among the five best in the division and close to a title fight – currently in the hands of her declared rival, the Bahian Amanda nunes.

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For Holly, a loss would be devastating. After shocking the world with a brutal knockout over Ronda Rousey, the former champion lost her title in dramatic fashion to Miesha Tate and was dominated by Valentina Shevchenko. Earlier this year, she had the opportunity to become the owner of the featherweight belt, but lost to Germaine DeRandamie and has remained without winning since overcoming “Rowdy”. A fourth straight setback for Holm could even mean a dismissal.

Dos Anjos' fresh start

Former lightweight champion, Dos Anjos debuts at welterweight (Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)

The Brazilian Rafael Dos Anjos seemed destined to hold the lightweight title for a long time. After devastating performances against Anthony Pettis e Donald Cerrone, GDR would face Conor McGregor at UFC 196. However, he was injured and gave way to Nate diaz And the rest is history. Back to the reality of his division, Dos Anjos was surprised by Eddie Alvarez and, after losing the belt to the American, suffered another tough defeat, to Tony Ferguson.

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With that, he decided to reinvent himself, leave his comfort zone and, in UFC Singapore, debuts in the top category, welterweight. In Dos Anjos' path is number 11 in the ranking, Tarec saffiedine. Known for his technical Muay Thai and brutal low kicks, the Belgian is a former Strikeforce champion and is also coming off a defeat to Dong Hyun Kim.

The expectation is that the duel between the two will be fought using striking, with RDA's pressure game contrasting with Saffiedine's technique and counterattacks. A black belt in jiu-jitsu, the Brazilian has the advantage in wrestling and on the ground, if the fight reaches this stage and has everything he needs to emerge with a good victory and begin a successful journey in the new division.

Other fights

Arlovski (left) and Tybura (right) face each other on the main card ((Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)

Still on the main card, two fights that represent a clash of generations. In the second most important attraction of the show, the former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski face the Polish Marcin tybura, in a duel that will certainly define the course of the Belarusian's career.

Coming off four consecutive defeats, Arlovski knows that a new setback could mean the end of his career in the UFC. At 38 years old, the veteran wants to prove, once again, that he can still go head to head against the best in his weight class. Tybura, in turn, is coming off two consecutive knockouts, the most recent against Brazilian Luis Henrique KLB, last March. At 31 years old, Tybura wants to achieve the most important victory in his record and, consequently, show that he is ready to face the elite of the most feared category in the world.

Another fight that draws attention is between welterweights Dong Hyun Kim and Colby covington. In Ultimate since 2008, the experienced South Korean has had 17 fights at home, with 13 wins, three losses and one no contest. Number 7 in the rankings, Kim needs to maintain his good form to remain relevant in the under-77kg division. To do this, he will have to overcome the prospect Covington, who, at 29 years old, has only lost one of the 12 professional fights he has in his career. For the American, the victory is worth not only a place among the 15 best in the category, but also the opportunity to consolidate himself as a real threat to the elite.