The MMA Prospectus: UFC 189 & TUF 21 Finale

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

It’s a good week if you’re a UFC fan, and doubly so if you’re a fan of fighters on the rise. UFC 189 is especially chock full of good young prospects, including a couple of surefire blue chip talents in fights that should really let them show something special. Thomas Almeida will be taking on rugged veteran Brad Pickett and Cody Garbrandt will get a sacrificial lamb in Henry Briones. And that doesn’t even get into Gunnar Nelson vs. Brandon Thatch, Alex Garcia, and the title ascension of Rory MacDonald.

Over on the TUF 21 finale, we’ve got one of the best rising welterweights in the sport in Kamaru Usman, taking on solid brawler Hayder Hassan, as well as a still developing Stephen Thompson. Lots and lots to go over.

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About the author

Zane Simon

Zane Simon is a senior editor, writer, and podcaster for Bloody Elbow. He has worked with the website since 2013, taking on a wide variety of roles. A lifelong combat sports fan, Zane has trained off & on in both boxing and Muay Thai. He currently hosts the long-running MMA Vivisection podcast, which he took over from Nate Wilcox & Dallas Winston in 2015, as well as the 6th Round podcast, started in 2014. Zane is also responsible for developing and maintaining the ‘List of current UFC fighters’ on Bloody Elbow, a resource he originally developed for Wikipedia in 2010.