UFC Vegas 66 Prelims | Pintsized Background
Our UFC Vegas 66 featured preliminary sees Cheyanne Vlismas and Cory McKenna lock horns in a forgettable Women’s Strawweight affair. Probably shouldn’t use the word affair, however… Moving on, Pintsized’s pick of the prelims involves a fascinating technical showdown between Said Nurmagomedov and Saidyokub Kakhramonov in the stacked Bantamweight division.
Pintsized’s bite-sized prediction for UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Strickland is Manel Kape def. David Dvorak by TKO R3.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 66 Prelims taking place:
December 17, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 66 Prelims start:
🇬🇧 UK: 9pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 4pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 66 Prelims on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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UFC Vegas 66 Prelims Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 66 Prelims Odds | UFC Vegas 66 Prelims Predictions |
|---|---|
| Cheyanne Vlismas vs Cory McKenna Odds: (-190) / (+160) | Cheyanne Vlismas vs Cory McKenna Prediction: Vlismas Decision |
| Jake Matthews vs Matt Semelsberger Odds: (-305) / (+255) | Jake Matthews vs Matt Semelsberger Prediction: Matthews Decision |
| Said Nurmagomedov vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov Odds: (-105) / (-115) | Said Nurmagomedov vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov Prediction: Nurmagomedov Decision |
| Maheshate vs Rafa Garcia Odds: (+130) / (-150) | Maheshate vs Rafa Garcia Prediction: Garcia Decision |
| Bryan Battle vs Rinat Fakhretdinov Odds: (+135) / (-155) | Bryan Battle vs Rinat Fakhretdinov Prediction: Fakhretdinov Decision |
| David Dvorak vs Manel Kape Odds: (+195) / (-230) | David Dvorak vs Manel Kape Prediction: Kape TKO Round 3 |
| Sergey Morozov vs Journey Newson Odds: (-330) / (+275) | Sergey Morozov vs Journey Newson Prediction: Morozov TKO Round 1 |
UFC Vegas 66: Preliminary Card
Cheyanne Vlismas vs Cory McKenna
Women’s Strawweight (115)
Cheyanne Vlismas (7-2)
The Warrior Princess needed the loss to Montserrat Ruiz in her UFC debut to mature. Vlismas has always been a dangerous striker capable of finding her range and timing immediately, yet since the loss has controlled her aggression. As such, she no longer feels the need to chase finishes and devolve into a sloppy hook machine.
Cory McKenna (7-2)
McKenna’s bread and butter is her technical wrestling, yet seems to have fallen in love with her limited boxing since transitioning to the UFC. The Welshwoman was pieced apart on the feet by Elise Reed yet returned to winning ways with a second-round Von Flue choke over Miranda Granger. At just 23 years old, McKenna has a lot of time left to round out her skills, but Women’s Strawweight isn’t the deepest division to make gradual step-ups.
Vlismas vs McKenna Prediction: Vlismas Decision
McKenna’s bread and butter is her technical wrestling, yet seems to have fallen in love with her limited boxing since transitioning to the UFC. The Welshwoman was pieced apart on the feet by Elise Reed yet returned to winning ways with a second-round Von Flue choke over Miranda Granger. If McKenna remains deadset on striking with Vlismas then she will struggle, the latter is capable of finding her range and timing immediately.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
Jake Matthews vs Matt Semelsberger
Welterweight (170)
Jake Matthews (18-5)
Ah, the Jake Matthews paradox. Hops on a winning streak over middling opposition and convince folk that you are finally going to reach your potential from the 2014 days. After two or three fights, match with a top-15 competitor and sh*t the bed. Excuse my French but unless Matthews proves his fluid boxing against Andre Fialho was anything other than a flash in the pan, there is little reason to see the Aussie as a title contender.
Matt Semelsberger (10-4)
Matt Semelsberger, for all his improvements, represents the exact prototype of a fighter that Matthews’ can style on. Semelsberger carries early-round lights-out power but lacks the tools or traps to lead craftier opponents onto the knockout. Matthews is static in defence but he also rarely walks himself onto blind shots.
Matthews vs Semelsberger Prediction: Matthews Decision
Matt Semelsberger, for all his improvements, represents the exact prototype of a fighter that Matthews’ can style on. Semelsberger carries early-round lights-out power but lacks the tools or traps to lead craftier opponents onto the knockout. The Aussie is static in defence but he also rarely walks himself onto blind shots. There is also a wrestling outlet if Matthews feels as though he needs to put his stamp on the round.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
Said Nurmagomedov vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Bantamweight (135)
Said Nurmagomedov (16-2)
After falling in a competitive fight with Raoni Barcelos, Said Nurmagomedov has churned through three solid tests with varying levels of success. Don’t be fooled by the Dagestani background, Said is an electric striker with a delightful array of kicks.
Saidyokub Kakhramonov (10-2)
The Uzbeki is one of the lesser talked-about prospects on the UFC roster, albeit probably owing to the difficulty of his name. Kakhramonov is a physical beast who thoroughly overwhelmed Ronnie Lawrence and Trevin Jones. If Kakhramonov can get inside of Nurmagomedov’s kicks, he can cause the Dagestani real issues with his heavy flurries in the pocket.
Nurmagomedov vs Kakhramonov Prediction: Nurmagomedov Decision
A true toss-up between two of the biggest prospects in the Bantamweight division. If Kakhramonov can get inside of Nurmagomedov’s kicks, he can cause the Dagestani real issues with his heavy flurries in the pocket.Nurmagomedov will be the first opponent in the UFC to match Kakhramonov’s physicality, however. Kakhramonov to go 0-2 against fighters named Nurmagomedov.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
Maheshate vs Rafa Garcia
Lightweight (155)
Maheshate (9-1)
The 23-year-old prospect smashed his UFC debut with a highlight reel KO over Steve Garcia. While Garcia tends to run head-first into punishment, it was still a solid enough showcase of Maheshate’s timing. The Chinese slugger’s ceiling remains unknown but he will have to find a way to deal with Garcia’s early leg threat.
Rafa Garcia (14-3)
A durable, well-rounded fighter who can provide a stern test for anyone outside of the top 15. Garcia is more than capable of matching Maheshate’s early intensity and has proven his chin is more than capable of handling heavy artillery. If Maheshate is able to switch Garcia’s light off, we have a real talent on our hands.
Maheshate vs Garcia Prediction: Garcia Decision
Garcia is more than capable of matching Maheshate’s early intensity and has proven his chin is more than capable of handling heavy artillery. If Maheshate is able to switch Garcia’s light off, we have a real talent on our hands. More likely is that Maheshate struggles with Garcia’s ability to adapt over the three rounds.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
Bryan Battle vs Rinat Fakhretdinov
Welterweight (170)
Bryan Battle (8-1)
There’s a lot to like about Bryan Battle, least of all his first-round head kick KO over Takashi Sato. Battle eats a ton of punishment in pursuit of landing his own work and boasts a long array of tricks on the mat. On the flip side, Battle will struggle against any opposition that doesn’t wilt under pressure and offer their back.
Rinat Fakhretdinov (20-2)
Fakhretdinov barely caused a tremor in his UFC debut victory over Andreas Michailidis. The Russian carries an impressive amount of power in his hands but he tends to rely on chain-wrestling his way to decision victories. The latter is certainly a viable gameplan against Battle, who will be happy to work off his back.
Battle vs Fakhretdinov Prediction: Fakhretdinov Decision
Fakhretdinov carries an impressive amount of power in his hands but he tends to rely on chain-wrestling his way to decision victories. The latter is certainly a viable gameplan against Battle, who will be happy to work off his back. It’s hard to see a repeat head kick KO ala, Takashi Sato.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
David Dvorak vs Manel Kape
Flyweight (125)
David Dvorak (20-4)
Banger alert. David Dvorak hit his first UFC road bump against Matheus Nicolau last time out in a dull affair. The Undertaker is a volume machine who scares fighters from wrestling off his long list of rear-naked chokes.
Manel Kape (17-6)
Well, well, well – if it isn’t Mr Picograms 2.0. USADA issues aside, Kape is a phenomenal athlete who has finally started to find the right amount of ringcraft and pulling the trigger. Starboy carries unreal power for the division, but he may be kept quiet under the unrelenting barrages from Dvorak.
Dvorak vs Kape Prediction: Kape TKO Round 3
Kape is a phenomenal athlete who has finally started to find the right amount of ringcraft and pulling the trigger. Starboy carries unreal power for the division, but he may be kept quiet under the unrelenting barrages from Dvorak.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
Sergey Morozov vs Journey Newson
Bantamweight (135)
Sergey Morozov (18-5)
Morozov has enough pop to his punches to bring decent entertainment. The Kazakh fighter has folded under pressure in the UFC, but Journey Newson’s vulnerability in the opening round should allow Morozov to dictate proceedings early.
Journey Newson (10-3)
Technically, there isn’t much to flag up with Journey Newson – he proved that in his routine victory over Fernie Garcia. Unfortunately for the American, there are major durability issues that can’t really be papered over in a division dripping with his talent.
Morozov vs Newson Prediction: Morozov TKO Round 1
Technically, there isn’t much to flag up with Journey Newson – he proved that in his routine victory over Fernie Garcia. Unfortunately for the American, there are major durability issues that can’t really be papered over in a division dripping with his talent. Morozov certainly packs enough of a punch to prove this theory.
Return to UFC Vegas 66 Preliminary Card
TIPPING JAR
Pintsized Interests is just a baby finding its first steps in the big, bad world of sports journalism. If you enjoy the content that is regularly uploaded then please consider donating via the link below. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and will go towards ensuring the survival of Pintsized Interests in the long-term.