UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis Preview
Brendan Allen lands a right hand on Sean Strickland. Credit: Yahoo Sports.
The UFC returns to the Apex with the first card of April, loaded from top to bottom. In the co-main event, two Featherweights collide with hopes of climbing the ranks: Alexander Hernandez and Damon Jackson. In the main event, we’ll see a high-level rematch between ranked Middleweights when Brendan Allen takes on Chris Curtis. The main card is stacked with highlight-reel finishers and up-and-coming prospects looking to score a big win on the biggest stage in MMA. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.
Trevor Peek vs. Charlie Campbell
Trevor Peek unloads a right hand on Chepe Mariscal. Credit: MMA Junkie.
Lightweight Bout
Trevor Peek: 9-1-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Charlie Campbell: 8-2-0, 6 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Peek has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Erick Gonzalez (14-8-0) and Mohammed Yahya (12-4-0). He’s a wild striker who is always coming forward and looking for a knockout. He’ll regularly throw standing hammer fists and throws every punch with maximum power. Peek has heavy leg kicks and solid high kicks, although he usually does most of his damage with his hands. Training at Agoge Combatives, he’s averaging nearly two takedowns landed per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and has great wrestling despite his brawling tendencies. He’ll constantly blitz forward and unload long combinations, mainly wide hooks and overhands. Six of Peek’s eight knockouts have come in round one, and he always comes out with guns blazing.
Charlie Campbell drops Alex Reyes. Credit: Zuffa LLC.
Campbell has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Alex Reyes (13-4-0). He’s a heavy-handed striker constantly moving and looking to land power shots. He won’t force anything or overextend, throwing everything with power but remaining technical. Campbell fights behind his jab, typically opening combinations with it before unloading overhands and hooks. He tends to headhunt but has heavy leg kicks and will throw kicks from range. Training at Longo-Weidman MMA, he has power in both hands, will often switch stances, and can produce flash knockouts. Campbell’s last six fights have all ended via knockout, and he rarely sees the scorecards.
Valter Walker vs. Lukasz Brzeski
Valter Walker celebrates his victory over Alex Nicholson. Credit: Yahoo Sports.
Heavyweight Bout
Valter Walker: 11-0-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.
Lukasz Brzeski: 8-4-1, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.
Walker is undefeated and making his UFC debut. He’s a powerful wrestler with great takedowns and heavy hands. His striking sets up his grappling, with him constantly blitzing forward, throwing combinations, then clinching up and working his wrestling. Walker is powerful in the clinch and typically lands takedowns quickly but will shoot repeatedly if necessary. Training at GOR MMA, he has excellent top pressure, usually looking to hold half guard and land ground and pound. He has a solid chin and tends to get wild on the feet, throwing looping hooks and head kicks. Walker slows as the fight goes on but will always come forward.
Lukasz Brzeski lands a jab on Martin Buday. Credit: ESPN.
Brzeski has won one of his last five outings and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a powerful striker who always looks to push the pace and land strikes in the pocket. He’s constantly moving, never staying in one spot long or keeping his head on the centerline. Brzeski does an excellent job of evenly varying his shots, attacking the head and body. Training at Universal Fight Team, he fights behind his jab and puts out solid volume for a Heavyweight, constantly throwing straights and overhands. He won’t throw many kicks, preferring to do his damage on the inside with his hands. Brzeski slows as the fight continues, putting out the same volume but with less power.
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Christos Giagos
Ignacio Bahamondes knocks out Roosevelt Roberts with a wheel kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Lightweight Bout
Ignacio Bahamondes: 14-5-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.
Christos Giagos: 20-11-0, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.
Bahamondes has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Trey Ogden (17-6-0), Rongzhu (25-5-0), and Roosevelt Roberts (12-5-0). He’s a flashy striker capable of producing highlight-reel knockouts at any moment. He has excellent kickboxing, constantly switching stances and throwing quick combinations followed by devastating kicks. Bahamondes does a great job remaining composed at range or in the pocket, willing to exchange strikes anywhere. Although he hasn’t attempted a takedown in the UFC, he’s defended 85% of them attempted on him and has a slick submission game. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he has shown he has both the cardio and the chin to back up his striking tendencies, allowing him to get into wars and throw with volume. Bahamondes, on average, has landed 97 significant strikes per fight in the UFC and is constantly pushing the pace.
Christos Giagos lands a left hand on Daniel Zellhuber. Credit: Sports Illustrated.
Giagos has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Ricky Glenn (22-8-2), Sean Soriano (14-9-0), and Carlton Minus (12-4-0). He’s a well-rounded, explosive fighter who is always looking to do severe damage. He comes out guns blazing, throwing every shot with immense power and regularly switching stances. Giagos tends to headhunt, constantly blitzing into the pocket and unloading combinations. He’s averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is a powerful wrestler. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he has heavy ground and pound and dangerous chokes. Giagos’ last five fights all ended via finish, and he’s always willing to get into a knockdown, drag-out brawl.
Morgan Charrière vs. Chepe Mariscal
Morgan Charrière blasts Manolo Zecchini with a body kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Featherweight Bout
Morgan Charrière: 19-9-1, 11 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.
Chepe Mariscal: 15-6-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.
Charrière has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Manolo Zecchini (11-4-0). A bit of an internet celebrity in France, he has accumulated a solid following and is a former Cage Warriors Featherweight champion. Training with Team Chapa Quente, he’s a technical striker with substantial power in his hands and brutal leg kicks. Charrière has excellent footwork and is very defensively sound, never taking much damage and always keeping his head off the centerline. He will remain calm and technical throughout and won’t get pulled into dogfights, typically forcing his opponents to the outside and picking them apart. On the ground, he has great top control and heavy ground and pound, particularly elbows. Charrière has gone five rounds multiple times in his career and has great cardio, often increasing his pace as the fight continues.
Chepe Mariscal pursues a rear naked choke against Trevor Peek. Credit: MMA Junkie.
Mariscal has won all his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jack Jenkins (12-3-0) and Trevor Peek (9-1-0). He’s a well-rounded brawler constantly looking to close the distance and land damage. He throws every shot with power, regularly blitzing forward and unloading hooks and overhands. Mariscal has excellent control and striking in the clinch, typically blasting his opponent with knees and uppercuts. He has great throws and takedowns but seems more focused on landing damage than controlling his opponent on the mat. Training at Elevation Fight Team, he heats up as the fight continues, increasing his pace and intensity. Despite having only two UFC fights, he is well-experienced and fought a bevy of UFC-level competition before joining the promotion.
Alexander Hernandez vs Damon Jackson
Alex Hernandez knocks out Chris Gruetzemacher. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Featherweight Bout
Alexander Hernandez: 14-7-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.
Damon Jackson: 22-6-1, 4 KO/TKO, 15 Sub.
Hernandez has won two of his last five bouts and has wins over #7 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (22-6-1), Francisco Trinaldo (28-9-0), and Jim Miller (37-17-0). He is a technical striker constantly coming forward and pushing a consistent pace across 15 minutes. He’s very light on his feet and has excellent footwork, never remaining in one spot for long. Hernandez has a solid kicking game and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He can land damage in the pocket and at range with devastating knees, elbows, and straight punches. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per 15 minutes and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but seems to be more comfortable on the feet as of late. Hernandez has seven first-round knockouts and is most dangerous early, tending to brawl more and kick less as the fight continues.
Damon Jackson loads up ground and pound on Charles Rosa. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Jackson has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Pat Sabatini (18-5-0), Charles Rosa (15-8-0), and Mirsad Bektic (13-4-0). He’s a dangerous grappler with excellent chokes and solid hands. He comes out guns blazing, always moving and throwing every shot straight and tight. Jackson will regularly dip his head and come into the pocket throwing straights. He’s averaging over two takedowns landed per fight and is a powerful wrestler capable of impressive slams. Training at Fortis MMA, he advances position quickly on the ground and has excellent control. Jackson has nine wins via rear naked choke and is constantly hunting for his opponent’s neck.
#6 Brendan Allen vs. #14 Chris Curtis
Brendan Allen launches a right hand at Andre Muniz. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Middleweight Bout
Brendan Allen: 23-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 14 Sub.
Chris Curtis: 31-10-0, 17 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.
Allen has won all of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #13 ranked Middleweight Paul Craig (17-7-1), Andre Muniz (24-6-0), and Jacob Malkoun (8-3-0). He’s an excellent grappler who can end a fight quickly. When on top, he’ll throw heavy ground and pound to open submission opportunities, typically a choke. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Allen is dangerous whether he’s on top or his back and is always looking to finish the fight. He has solid striking to back up his grappling and has decent hands and kicks, using more of a boxing style when he is on the feet. He doesn’t see the judges too often but can go three rounds and is willing to leave everything he has inside of the octagon. With four wins via rear naked choke in his last five fights, Allen is lethal if he can get to his opponent’s neck.
Chris Curtis lands a right hand on Kelvin Gastelum. Credit: MMA Mania.
Curtis has won two of his last five fights with one no-contest and has UFC victories over Rodolfo Vieira (10-2-0), Joaquin Buckley (18-6-0), and his current opponent, Brendan Allen. He is a veteran of the sport, having started his pro career in 2009, and is an excellent technical boxer on the feet. He has one-shot knockout power in both hands and varies his strikes well, attacking the head and body evenly. Training at Xtreme Couture, Curtis is an excellent counter-striker and will often dip his head before returning fire with a barrage of hooks. He throws everything in combination and is at his best when he stays behind his jab and pressures forward, controlling the fight's pace. He’s shown great patience and doesn’t overexert himself on the feet, but he has a solid chin and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Curtis has shown excellent takedown defense and has denied 92% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, and he also possesses a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Best Bets
Walker vs. Brzeski to Not Go the Distance: Valter Walker is truly an anomaly: Trains and lives in Russia, fights with a sambo style but hails from Brazil, and his brother is among the sport's wildest strikers. Still, Brzeski has struggled with wrestlers and is coming off a 1st round KO loss. The only advantage Brzeski has is cardio, but if he gets taken down early, I think it’ll be an easy win for Walker.
Ignacio Bahamondes by KO/TKO: This is one of the best matchups on the card, and I expect it to play out on the feet. Giagos gets wild when striking, rushing forward, and throwing big, looping hooks. This style benefits Bahamondes, who has vastly superior kicks, technique, and footwork. If Giagos fights as wreckless as usual, Bahamondes could leave with another highlight.
Brendan Allen Moneyline: As I mentioned earlier, Curtis holds a win over Allen, with the fight having taken place in 2021. In that time, Allen has undoubtedly improved and varied his game significantly, while Curtis is basically the same fighter from their first fight. Due to this, and the overall well-roundedness of Allen compared to Curtis, I think Allen finds the win.
