Likely Cut With a Loss
Tor Troeng (16-6-1, 1-2 UFC) – He’s turned in some entertaining rounds, but the fact remains that Troeng is facing a potential third straight loss, and his only win in the UFC is over the one-and-done Adam Cella. He likely needs a win, or an eye-popping performance in defeat, to stay in the UFC stable.
Dennis Siver (21-9-1NC, 10-6-1NC UFC) – Two straight losses with a no-contest for PED’s sandwiched in between wouldn’t look very good, especially if that second loss were to come against a short-notice, debuting fighter like Rosa.
Possibly Cut
Krzysztof Jotko (14-1, 1-1 UFC), Mairbek Taisumov (21-5, 1-1 UFC), Ernest Chavez (7-1, 1-1 UFC), Mike Wilkinson (8-1, 1-1 UFC) – All are coming off of losses in which they were (T)KO’d or submitted. A second consecutive loss isn’t a death sentence, but if any of them come away looking especially hapless or again find themselves finished, pink slips could be imminent.
Likely Safe Regardless of Outcome
Scott Askham (12-0-0), Marcin Bandel (13-2-0), Jan Blachowicz (17-3-0), Charles Rosa (9-0-0) – Blachowicz,who’s made a habit in the last few years of beating former UFC fighters and who represents some new blood for the anemic light-heavyweight division, is one of the more interesting fighters making their UFC debuts this weekend.
Cathal Pendred (14-2-1, 1-0 UFC), Zubaira Tukhugov (16-3, 1-0 UFC), Niklas Backstrom (8-0-1NC, 1-0 UFC) – Pendred has looked a little more flat and vulnerable than the hype surrounding his entrance to the UFC led us to expect. He’ll look to reinforce his reputation and, along with the night’s other undefeated fighters, entrench himself in the organization.
Gasan Umalatov (15-3-1, 1-1 UFC), Magnus Cedenblad (12-4, 2-1 UFC), Ilir Latifi (9-3-1NC, 2-1 UFC) – Their records aren’t flawless, but they’re all coming off of wins. Latifi and Cedenblad have looked especially good, with two straight finishes for each.
Alexander Yakovlev (21-5-1, 0-1 UFC), Nicholas Musoke (12-3-1NC, 2-1 UFC) – Opponents Musoke and Yakovlev are both coming off losses, but Musoke’s two wins previous and Yakovlev’s short-notice step up to face Demian Maia ought to earn them some breathing room.
Akira Corassani (12-4-1NC, 3-1 UFC), Max Holloway (10-3, 6-3 UFC), Gunnar Nelson (13-0-1, 4-0 UFC), Rick Story (17-8, 10-6 UFC) – Corassani is the only one of the main-event fighters to be coming off of a loss. However, there’s little shame in losing to Dustin Poirier, and Corassani comported himself well in that fight. Like the others at the top of the bill, he’s probably got at least one more fight in the UFC, win or lose.
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