WATCH UFC 223 LIVE | SUPER FIGHTS

Nurmagomedov (left) faces Iaquinta (right). Photo Reproduction / YouTube @ufc

After rain, thunderstorms and a lot of confusion, UFC 223 arrives in New York (USA), this Saturday (07). The event, which lost four duels in the last two days, will have only nine fights in its fight program, with two title fights. In the main attraction of the night, the Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov enters the octagon with the responsibility of winning the lightweight belt against the North American To the fifth, which is on Friday at 17pm, was scheduled to fight on the preliminary card of the show.

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In the second most important fight of the night, valid for the women's strawweight belt, Rose namajunas will try to prove that triumph before Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 217, in November, it was no coincidence. On the other hand, the Polish woman is trying to get a revenge against her only tormentor and establish herself with the greatest fighter in the category.

PUBLICITY:

Brazil will be represented on the card by Renato Moicano. The Brazilian faces Calvin kattar on the main card of the show and seeks victory to establish himself as one of the best featherweights in the world.

To get you in the mood for UFC 222, check out five reasons why you should watch the event:

PUBLICITY:

1 – Khabib: The consecration of the best?

Khabib has the chance to win the belt at UFC 223. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook UFC

for years, Khabib Nurmagomedov He was considered by many to be the best lightweight in the UFC, even though he never fought for the title. With dominant victories over the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson e Edson Barboza, the Russian had his chance at the belt delayed by repeated injuries.

PUBLICITY:

After waiting five years as an Ultimate fighter, the chance would arrive at UFC 223, initially against Tony Ferguson. However, on April 1st, the interim champion was injured and left the contest. The event kept Khabib on the card and called up the featherweight champion, Max Holloway, to compete for the lightweight belt.

However, during the weight cut, Hollloway was removed from contention by the New York Athletic Commission. The situation left Nurmagomedov without a rival again. Ultimate tried Anthony Pettis, Paul felder, but only To the fifth accepted the dispute.

With his opponent changed again, Khabib is carrying all the pressure in the world to win the fight against the UFC's 'plan d' and, finally, win the lightweight belt.

PUBLICITY:

A 'ground and pound machine', the Russian doesn't usually forgive his opponents. He knocks down his rivals with great ease, crushes him to the ground and strikes from top to bottom with force. Among all the rivals that have come in front of Khabib this week, Iaquinta has the best takedown defense. But can the North American surprise?

2 – Iaquinta and the chance to break the bank

Iaquinta is Khabib's new rival at UFC 223. Photo: Reproduction / YouTube @ufc

To the fifth was scheduled to face Paul felder on the preliminary card of UFC 223, but with all the chaos caused by Ferguson's injury and the confusion created by McGregor, the long-awaited title shot fell into his lap.

The North American occupies 11th place in the lightweight rankings and is considered a big underdog in the duel against the Russian, with odds of almost 6 to 1.

In his favor is the good level of wrestling to try to avoid his rival's excellent takedown game and a little superstition: On April 7, 2007, Matt Serra shocked the world and took the welterweight belt from the super favorite Georges St Pierre. And, believe me, Iaquinta is Serra's pupil, who will be in his corner in the fight soon. Does lightning strike twice in the same place?

3 – Namajunas x Jedrzejczyk: The strawweight story

R. Namajunas (left) and Joanna (right): have a rematch at UFC 223.
(Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk seemed to pave the way to mark her name in the history of women's MMA. Undefeated, the Polish native had five title defenses and was already thinking about moving up to the flyweight division to make UFC history as the first woman with two belts. Until she appeared Rose namajunas on your way.

The North American, considered a great underdog, was not intimidated in the duel against Joanna, knocked out the champion in the first round and changed the course of history.

Now, it will be up to Rose to prove that the knockout at UFC 217, in November 2017, was not just a coincidence, while Joanna will try to overcome the only setback of her career and start thinking about moving up in weight again.

4 – Mohawk with an eye on the top of the feathers

Moicano (photo) faces K. Cattar on the main card of UFC 223. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc

Brazilian featherweight revelation, Renato Moicano arrived in the UFC and had three consecutive victories. But in the duel of young promises against Brian ortega, in July last year, he ended up submitted in the third round. The brasiliense's tormentor got his dream chance for the belt, which means that the weight of the defeat, in a very balanced fight, is less for Renato and he can restart his journey towards the top of the category.

On the night of UFC 223, Moicano faces a tough challenge: Calvin kattar. The American had a rapid rise, with just two fights in the octagon. He defeated André Fili e Shane burgos and is already positioning himself as a difficult opponent for the Brazilian.

Despite his nickname “The Boston Finisher”, Calvin's main skill is boxing, where he is usually efficient in counterattacks.

In the fight between Moicano, 11th in the rankings, against Kattar, 13th, the winner must climb to the top-10 and position himself close to a fight against a top-5 featherweight.

5 – Magomedsharipov: Eye on the Russian

With last-minute losses on the UFC 223 card, the duel between Zabit Magomedsharipov x Kyle Bochniak was promoted to the main card. Lucky for the public, they can follow the Russian more closely. Magomedsharipov, 27, has 14 wins and just one loss. He comes from 10 consecutive victories, including the last one over Brazilian Sheymon Moraes. In the opening of the main card, Zabit faces Kyle Bochniak and a victory could put the athlete in the featherweight rankings.