After a two-week hiatus, the UFC is back this weekend for UFC Vegas 47. The UFC Vegas 47 prelim card features seven bouts, the first four of which will be previewed in this post. All win probabilities are based on a fighter’s CC Rating and their place in the CC Rankings.

[12] Malcolm Gordon vs. Denys Bondar (Men’s Flyweight)

Malcolm Gordon

• Record: 13-5-0
• Division Ranking: 14/33 flyweights
• Vegas Odds: +220 (Underdog)

Denys Bondar

• Record: 16-3-0
• Division Ranking: 12/33 flyweights
• Vegas Odds: -270 (Favorite)

Gordon (#12 CC, NR UFC) finally notched his first UFC win in July against Francisco Figueiredo. That unanimous decision win came on the heels of two consecutive defeats that both ended in the first round. This was a disappointing start for Gordon. Both the UFC and the CC Ratings had him as a very highly touted prospect given his championship runs in four separate promotions prior to joining the UFC. This potential has been enough to keep him in the CC flyweight top 15 despite the 1-2 UFC record. He likely can’t sustain another loss and stay ranked.

Bondar is also a champion in his own right. He was the WWFC flyweight champion in his home country of Ukraine. The young prospect has not lost a fight since March of 2017. Bondar also has a fantastic ground game, with 11 of his 16 career wins coming via submission. The other five wins have come by knockout. He’s yet to require the judges’ scorecards to take home a win.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Gordon has never lost a decision in his career. He’s been finished in all five of his career losses. Meanwhile, as we’ve said, Bondar has only ever won by finish. Gordon could have the advantage if the fight goes the distance. But, the ground game of Bondar is a cut above. When Gordon faced a similarly talented grappler in Amir Albazi in his UFC debut, Gordon was dispatched in under five minutes. It may not be that quick, but the newcomer should have the edge, more so when it hits the ground.

Editor’s Pick: Bondar

Jason Witt vs. Phil Rowe (Men’s Welterweight)

Jason Witt

• Record: 19-7-0
• Division Ranking: 51/78 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: +105 (Underdog)

Phil Rowe

• Record: 8-3-0
• Division Ranking: 66/78 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: -125 (Favorite)

Witt has had an up and down run as of late. His UFC debut came in June of 2020, where he was brutally knocked out in 46 seconds by Takashi Sato. He then recovered with a submission win over Cole Williams, despite Williams coming in overweight. Witt then got knocked out in under a minute once again last March. His last time out, Witt was able to squeak out a majority decision. Witt’s ground game will be his advantage, as submission is his most common method of victory over his 26 fight career.

Rowe, on the other hand, has clearly been trying to work on his grappling, appearing in a number of grappling only bouts since his last appearance in the octagon. Rowe was defeated in each of those bouts. Rowe notched his first UFC win last July with a second round KO of Orion Cosce. That card, ironically, also featured Witt. Despite the grappling losses, Rowe still does have four submissions to his name in eight career wins.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Rowe may be younger, but he is also pretty inexperienced for a 31 year-old fighter. His only UFC win came against Cosce, who is ranked 70th out of 78 UFC welterweights at the moment. Witt is vulnerable to a finish, but he’ll also be able to give Rowe looks he’s maybe not yet seen in the cage. Give the edge to the veteran underdog.

Editor’s Pick: Witt

Danilo Marques vs. Jailton Almeida (Men’s Light Heavyweight)

Danilo Marques

• Record: 11-3-0
• Division Ranking: 31/41 light heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: +310 (Underdog)

Jailton Almeida

• Record: 14-2-0
• Division Ranking: 24/41 light heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: -400 (Favorite)

This bout was originally scheduled for November of last year, but was postponed due to a Marques injury. Marques is now recovered from the injury and associated surgery. Marques is looking to get back on track after a loss in his most recent bout with the dangerous Kennedy Nzechukwu. Prior to that, Marques was 2-0 in the UFC, with a submission win over Mike Rodriguez last February. The converted middleweight has done well for himself in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Almeida could be a future title contender in the light heavyweight division. He described his style as similar to former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s. He certainly proved as much in his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), knocking off the Dagestani, Nasrudin Nasrudinov. Almeida is 14-2 with nine of those wins coming by submission. He’s also 4-0 in grappling only bouts in just the last year. He’s as dangerous a grappler as the light heavyweight division has seen in some time. His unique style could be a problem for the upper echelons very soon.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Marques will lean on his Brazilian jiujitsu black belt to mitigate Almeida’s self-proclaimed Brazilian variant of Dagestani combat sambo. However, if you’ve looked at Almeida’s record and watched him fight, you know that’s no easy task. There’s a reason this newcomer is such a prohibitive favorite in Vegas.

Editor’s Pick: Almeida

Alexis Davis vs. Julija Stoliarenko (Women’s Bantamweight)

Alexis Davis

• Record: 20-11-0
• Division Ranking: 17/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: -240 (Favorite)

Julija Stoliarenko

• Record: 9-5-1
• Division Ranking: 28/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: +200 (Underdog)

At 37, Davis (pictured above left) is still a presence in the UFC. Davis is certainly a long way from her title fight with Ronda Rousey at UFC 175, but make no mistake, she is still dangerous. Her most recent bout saw her lose a close fight with contender Pannie Kianzad (#14 CC, #12 UFC). Davis is showing signs of slowing down, however, having lost four of her last five, with her last finish win being in April of 2015. Important to remember she is less than a year removed from a nice win over the dangerous Sabina Mazo.

The Lithuanian Stoliarenko (pictured above right), on the other hand, has not had much success at all during her time in the UFC. She came into the UFC as the Invicta FC bantamweight champion. She suffered defeats to Yana Kunitskaya (#13 CC, #6 UFC) and Julia Avila (#10 CC, #14 UFC). Stoliarenko didn’t look particularly sharp in either bout. Now would be as good a time as any to turn it around, as she is already the lowest ranked female bantamweight (and second lowest female overall).

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: It’s important to note Stoliarenko’s losses have come to ranked opponents. She may have been rushed in too quickly. This is a favorable matchup against a fighter nine years her senior. Her subpar performance thus far will definitely lead many to underestimate her, including the CC forecast. But, the writing is definitely on the wall for redemption tomorrow night.

Editor’s Pick: Stoliarenko

Photo Credit: MMA Junkie