Preview: UFC Fight Night 223 Prelims

Heavyweights

Rodrigo Nascimento (9-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Ilir Latifi (16-8, 9-6 UFC)

ODDS: Nascimento (-200), Latifi (+170)

Despite teasing his retirement after a win over Alexey Oleynik in October, Latifi returns for another fight. Latifi made his UFC debut in the unlikeliest of circumstances back in 2013, getting the call on days’ notice to step in and headline an event in his native Sweden thanks to a lack of available options. Rather than disappear as little more than a footnote, Latifi went out to carve a solid niche for himself in the middle of the light heavyweight division. A bowling ball of a man, “The Sledgehammer” has historically gotten by through either an overpowering wrestling game or a low-output but high-powered striking game. Now 40 years old, Latifi has slowed down noticeably as he has moved up to the heavyweight division. His striking output has dropped to anemic levels, leaving him to rely even more on that wrestling game. Yet, he has still managed to grind out ugly wins over Oleynik and Tanner Boser. It will be interesting to see if he can pull the same trick against Brazil’s Nascimento, who is also at his best as a wrestler and grappler. Being one of the few heavyweights on the UFC roster with some skills on the mat has already gotten Nascimento some wins, but it is often a bit of an adventure getting to that point. Nascimento is much too willing a striker given his skill set, as some positive moments on the feet usually get offset by his getting clubbed. Nascimento may actually be able to win a boxing match in this assignment, if only on output, though it seems unlikely the fight takes that shape. These two will probably lock horns, at which point Latifi still looks like the stronger and less movable fighter. This could be another hideous grind, but the pick is Latifi via decision.

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