After a two-week break, the UFC returns with a less-than-stellar card at the Apex. Admittedly, the UFC Vegas 68 Prelims are stacked with the four “Road to UFC” finals.
The Road to UFC involves a series of events in Singapore which pitted Asian MMA prospects in a bid for dreadfully underpaid UFC contracts. This stinks of a DWCS-calibre card – dumb, ugly fun that goes against the UFC’s stature as the ‘premier’ MMA organisation.
Where are the UFC Vegas 68 Prelims taking place?
The UFC Vegas 68 Prelims will take place at the Apex in Nevada, United States, on February 4 2023.
What time does the UFC Vegas 68 Prelims start?
The UFC Vegas 68 Prelims are scheduled to start at 10PM ET in the US and 3AM GMT in the UK.
Where can I watch the UFC Vegas 68 Prelims?
The UFC Vegas 68 Prelims can be streamed on ESPN+ in the US and BT Sport in the UK. You are advised to use official streams for UFC Vegas 68 and avoid buffstreams, crackstreams or Reddit streams.
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UFC Vegas 68 Prelims Bitesize Predictions
| UFC Vegas 68 Prelims Odds | UFC Vegas 68 Prelims Predictions |
|---|---|
| Anshul Jubli vs Jeka Saragih Odds: (-115) / (-105) | Anshul Jubli vs Jeka Saragih Prediction: Saragih Decision |
| Zha Yi vs Jeong Yeong Lee Odds: (+205) / (-245) | Zha Yi vs Jeong Yeong Lee Prediction: Lee TKO Round 2 |
| Rinya Nakamura vs Toshiomi Kazama Odds: (-435) / (+350) | Rinya Nakamura vs Toshiomi Kazama Prediction: Nakamura TKO Round 1 |
| Hyun Sung Park vs Seung Guk Choi Odds: (-190) / (+160) | Hyun Sung Park vs Seung Guk Choi Prediction: Park Decision |
| Ji Yeon Kim vs Mandy Bohm Odds: (-280) / (+235) | Ji Yeon Kim vs Mandy Bohm Prediction: Kim Decision |
| Jun Yong Park vs Denis Tiuliulin Odds: (-225) / (+190) | Jun Yong Park vs Denis Tiuliulin Prediction: Park Submission Round 2 |
| Tatsuro Taira vs Jesus Aguilar Odds: (-1150) / (+750) | Tatsuro Taira vs Jesus Aguilar Prediction: Taira Decision |
UFC Vegas 68: Preliminary Card Predictions
Anshul Jubli vs Jeka Saragih
Lightweight (155)
Road to UFC Lightweight Tournament Final
Anshul Jubli (6-0)
Anshul Jubli, a former math tutor from Uttarakhand is seeking to leave India’s mark in the UFC’s landscape. The undefeated 28-year-old had only fought on the questionable Indian regional scene (Matrix Fight Night) before a split decision win over Kyung Pyo Kim. Jubli bullied his opponents on the ground before petering out in an ugly affair against stiffer opposition on Road to UFC.
Jeka Saragih (13-2)
The former One Pride MMA Lightweight Champion, Jeka Saragih, earned two stoppage victories on the Road to UFC ahead of the final. Saragih’s slight size could be an issue if he ends up on his back. The Indonesian’s volume and tenacity on the feet could swing the judges, however.
Jubli vs Saragih Prediction: Saragih Decision
Jubli bullied his opponents on the ground in the regionals before petering out in an ugly affair against stiffer opposition on Road to UFC. Jeka Saragih’s slight size could be an issue if he ends up on his back. Backing the Indonesian’s volume and tenacity on the feet to swing the scorecards, however.
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Zha Yi vs Jeong Yeong Lee
Featherweight (145)
Road to UFC Featherweight Tournament Final
Zha Yi (21-3)
Zha Yi, hailing from China, has carved through a litany of push-overs on the regional scene. Against sterner opposition on the Road to UFC, Yi showcased heavy-handed aggression with a recklessness that will be punished swiftly if he moves up the ladder.
Jeong Yeong Lee (9-1)
The former Road FC champion, Jeong Yeong Lee, has booked his final place off the back of two first-round stoppages. The Korean Tiger has spent little over a minute fighting in the Road to UFC, so there isn’t much tape to go off. Based on his fights from a few years ago, Lee owns a ferocious killer instinct but is willing to drop his hands and run head-first into danger for the finish.
Yi vs Lee Prediction: Lee TKO Round 2
The Korean Tiger has spent little over a minute fighting in the Road to UFC, backing up the ferocious killer instinct prevalent throughout his career. Lee does tend to drop defensive sensibilities in search of the finish, however, which could be dangerous against Yi’s unrefined yet heavy hands.
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Rinya Nakamura vs Toshiomi Kazama
Bantamweight (135)
Road to UFC Bantamweight Tournament Final
Rinya Nakamura (6-0)
Undefeated Japanese prospect, Rinya Nakamura, boasted a long and successful wrestling career before transitioning to MMA. The 27-year-old has cruised through a mixed bag of opposition in the professional ranks, particularly impressing in the Road to UFC with two first-round finishes.
Toshiomi Kazama (10-2)
Fellow countryman Toshiomi Kazama poses a potential banana skin for Nakamura’s wrestling-focused game plan. The 25-year-old’s slick submission chops could threaten off his back but it’s easier to see Nakamura ground’n’pounding his way to victory.
Nakamura vs Kazama Prediction: Nakamura TKO Round 1
Rinya Nakamura represents the most interesting prospect in the Road to UFC finals – boasting an extensive background in wrestling and having enjoyed an easy transition to MMA. Toshiomi Kazama could pose a threat off his back with his submission arsenal but it’s easier to see Nakamura ground’n’pounding his way to victory.
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Hyun Sung Park vs Seung Guk Choi
Flyweight (125)
Road to UFC Flyweight Tournament Final
Hyun Sung Park (7-0)
Undefeated across his amateur and professional MMA career, Hyun Sung Park fights based on his athletic gifts. Park’s aggression on the feet leaves glaring holes to be countered, yet as seen on the Road to UFC, there is often enough volume to keep opponents gun-shy.
Seung Guk Choi (6-1)
26-year-old South Korean, Seung Guk Choi, secured comfortable decision victories over a tough Road to UFC path to the final. Choi is conservative on the feet – making cute adjustments over the rounds – but his inability to dictate the pace of a fight will see him drop close rounds.
Park vs Choi Prediction: Park Decision
Park’s aggression on the feet leaves glaring holes to be countered, yet as seen on the Road to UFC, there is often enough volume to keep opponents gun-shy. Choi is conservative on the feet – making cute adjustments over the rounds – but his inability to dictate the pace of a fight will see him drop close rounds.
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Ji Yeon Kim vs Mandy Bohm
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Ji Yeon Kim (9-6-2)
Last winning in 2019 against the God-awful Nadia Kassem, spiralling down an 0-4 streak and declining athletically at 33 years old – it is a surprise that the UFC is choosing to stick with Ji Yeon Kim. Kim is granite chinned yet fails to use her length effectively, opting instead to sit in the pocket and rock’em sock’em with low-level brawlers.
Mandy Bohm (7-2)
Having lost both of her UFC fights across 2021-2022, Bohm returns again in hopes of achieving the fateful 3 loss + 3-year streak. Bohm was dominated on the mat by Victoria Leonardo after being picked apart on the feet by Ariane Lipski.
Kim vs Bohm Prediction: Kim Decision
Having lost both of her UFC fights across 2021-2022, Bohm returns again in hopes of achieving the fateful 3 loss + 3-year streak. Kim is granite chinned yet fails to use her length effectively, opting instead to sit in the pocket and rock’em sock’em with low-level brawlers. Somehow, Bohm appears to be of an even lower quality
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Jun Yong Park vs Denis Tiuliulin
Middleweight (185)
Jun Yong Park (15-5)
All my homies LOVE The Iron Turtle. Jun Yong Park has returned with a confident two-fight streak after being slept by Gregory Rodrigues. The 31-year-old is durable and adaptive yet often leans towards firefights in the pocket – an area in which he would excel if not at a size disadvantage.
Denis Tiuliulin (11-6)
Mr kill or be killed, Denis Tiuliulin. The 34-year-old was fortunate to face a mentally shot Jamie Pickett en route to his two-round beatdown victory. Tiuliulin will thrive in the scrappy brawl on the inside that Park will bring, yet he will struggle when the South Korean threatens with his wrestling.
Park vs Tiuliulin Prediction: Park Submission Round 2
Jun Yong Park is durable and adaptive yet often leans towards firefights in the pocket. Tiuliulin will thrive in such conditions yet he will struggle when the South Korean threatens with his wrestling.
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Tatsuro Taira vs Jesus Aguilar
Flyweight (125)
Tatsuro Taira (12-0)
Leaving Tatsuro Taira at the bottom of the card is a strange decision by the UFC matchmakers. The 23-year-old Japanese BJJ whizz is fast rounding out his wrestling. Better yet, the UFC appears to be giving the rare grace to Taira to slowly hone his craft against humbler opposition.
Jesus Aguilar (8-1)
Jesus Aguilar may be on an 8-fight win streak, including a third-round submission victory over Erisson Ferreira on the DWCS, yet few are giving the Mexican prospect a chance. Aguilar, as Taira, is threatening on the mat yet it seems on tape comparison to be a level below his Japanese counterpart.
Taira vs Aguilar Prediction: Taira Decision
Jesus Aguilar may be on an 8-fight win streak, including a third-round submission victory over Erisson Ferreira on the DWCS, yet few are giving the Mexican prospect a chance. Aguilar, as Taira, is threatening on the mat yet it seems on tape comparison to be a level below his Japanese counterpart.
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