Preview: UFC on ESPN 11 ‘Blaydes vs. Volkov’ Prelims

Lightweights

Matt Frevola (8-1-1) vs. Frank Camacho (22-8)

ODDS: Frevola (-115), Camacho (-105)

This should be a frontrunner for “Fight of the Night” honors. Frevola’s UFC career did not get off to the best start, as Marco Polo Reyes sparked him in a minute flat, but the “Steamrolla” has essentially shown that the loss was a fluke in the three fights since. Frevola’s style is all about aggression and trying to make things happen, and even if he has consistently been exhausted by the end of his fights, he has fought hard enough to earn a draw against Lando Vannata and score wins over Jalin Turner and Luis Pena. That complete selling out of his gas tank will probably cost him at some point, but for now, he has been booked in a war against Camacho. The UFC’s lone representative from the Northern Mariana Islands, Camacho comes from a grappling background that he essentially ignores in favor of a fun brawling style. He takes a while to warm up, but if he can survive early trouble, Camacho is an absolute pleasure to watch, chaining together violent combinations with little regard for what his opponent is throwing back. There is a reason why “The Crank” started his career with three bonuses in three bouts. This fight should follow that usual pattern. Frevola should come out with a strong first round, but it would be a shock if Camacho did not take over by the third round—between his tendency to build and Frevola’s clear issues with slowing down. This looks like a nip-tuck affair, given that it is likely each man takes roughly half of the fight when all is said and done. The pick is Frevola via decision.

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