The first title fights of 2022 are taking place in Anaheim, California this weekend in both the smallest and largest divisions in the UFC.
For the first time in UFC history, a Heavyweight title fight will be contended between two men who are not from the USA.
Francis Ngannou will be looking to defend his Heavyweight title for the first time against Frenchman Ciryl Gane in a mouth watering main event.
The co-main event is another that does not feature an American.
A trilogy fight between Mexican Flyweight champion Brendon Moreno and Brazilian Deiveson Figueiredo.
Our full UFC 270: Ngannou vs Gane Tips & Preview can be found below.
A classic match up of pure KO power vs poise and precision striking.
Where have we seen this before?
In Ciryl Gane’s last outing when securing the Interim strap against the greatest KO artist that this division has ever seen, Derrick Lewis.
The Frenchman was patient in the early rounds of the fight, working out his opponent as well as tiring him out and eventually got the stoppage in the third round.
He is undefeated in 10 professional MMA fights and this is after he went 13-0 during his Muay Thai career.
Just like the goat of this division Stipe Miocic, he is incredibly well rounded, something that is essential at the top of any division in my opinion.
These two were training partners in France earlier in their careers and there is no doubt they have both improved greatly since that time.
Ciryl Gane is very good at keeping his distance as seen against a genuine power puncher in Derrick Lewis and he switches stances from orthodox to southpaw throughout his fights which is gives him different looks.
He has a hell of a lot more weapons at his disposal than Ngannou and with a bit of patience he can break him down and we will see a new UFC Heavyweight champion.
We can not underestimate just how important this trilogy is for the Flyweight division.
A division which struggles to capture the attention of the UFC fan base.
The first fight was the best that this division has ever seen when finishing as a majority draw and Moreno become the first Mexican UFC Champion when submitting his opponent in the second fight.
The first fight showed just how evenly matched these two are and if Figueiredo didn’t get a point deducted, the score would be one a piece going into this third fight.
Both guys are fast and like to push the pace and usually when this is the case, we are in for a treat.
I’d be surprised if this was the gameplan for either in this and a smarter and more patient approach may be the difference this time around.
They are both excellent grapplers, both have power and both are able to push the pace for the full five rounds.
I believe the judges will be needed to split this one after another epic.
Andre Fialho earned himself a UFC contract with four straight KO wins including a win over James Vick.
All four of those wins came in the year 2021 and he is a very dangerous opponent on debut in the biggest promotion in the sport.
Michel Pereira is a really fun and unpredictable mixed martial artist who comes into this fight on the back of three wins in a row.
The Brazillian is a black belt in BJJ as well as Karate and his unorthodox style makes him dangerous at any stage in a fight.
Fialho may not be a technically strong boxer but he has a heap of power in his hands which sets up for what looks a really entertaining fight.
There is no doubting that Pereira is an old school prize fighter who wants to put on a show but his decision win over Niko Price was a much more mature and professional win.
If we see this patience from him again he can win this via a stoppage.