Preview: UFC Fight Night 223 Prelims

Welterweights

Takashi Sato (15-6, 2-4 UFC) vs. Themba Gorimbo (10-4, 0-1 UFC)

ODDS: Sato (-110), Gorimbo (-110)

This well-matched fight features two welterweights badly in need of a win. Sato is among the most frustrating fighters on the UFC roster as an obvious physical talent who struggles to maximize those abilities. Sato is capable of some absolutely electric knockouts—see his 2020 win over Jason Witt—but his approach is the textbook definition of being patient to a fault. Sato is content to lay back and wait for the perfect moment to strike, which means that his opponent is taking the fight to him more often than not. A shocking knockout loss to Bryan Battle in August raised another worry about exactly how things could go wrong for Sato, capping off a three-fight skid that “Ten” now looks to break against Gorimbo. The second fighter in UFC history out of Zimbabwe, Gorimbo did well to overcome adversity and simply make it to the Octagon, though he did not look particularly ready for this level upon getting signed. His long frame makes his striking passable at times, but “The Answer” mostly gets by leaning on an aggressive wrestling game that often goes a bit sideways. By all accounts, this is a fight that Sato has the talent to win easily on paper, but there is a decent chance that his reluctance to pull the trigger gives Gorimbo a path to take this fight. Gorimbo is likely going to shoot for takedowns early and often, and Sato has not looked particularly prepared in terms of defensive wrestling whenever his opponents have decided to go that route. This could go sideways for Gorimbo at any time if Sato finally decides to fight with some aggression. With that said, the pick is for Gorimbo to grind out an ugly decision.

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Kowalkiewicz vs. Demopoulos
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Sato vs. Gorimbo