Preview: UFC 321 Prelims

Flyweights

Azat Maksum (15-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Mitch Raposo (9-3, 0-2 UFC)

BETTING ODDS: Maksum (-325), Raposo (+260)

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Maksum greatly improved his stock despite a loss in his last fight, but he now hunts for an actual win. Maksum is part of the increasing wave of Kazakh talent hitting the UFC, even if he’s not quite as impressively dynamic as some of his countrymen. Maksum is a clear athlete, but what was a fairly effective game on the regional scene looked a bit thin with the transition to the UFC. His striking could be flashy but a bit aimless and low on output, and while he has proven to be an effective wrestler, that didn’t prove to be too much of a path to any particularly high level of offense. Things matched just right for Maksum to have a standout performance against Tagir Ulanbekov, scrapping and wrestling with a more highly regarded opponent every step of the way, and that surprisingly gives him some momentum heading into this fight. Raposo unsuccessfully attempted to make the UFC through “The Ultimate Fighter” and the Contender Series in 2021 but still managed to win his way to a late-notice callup in 2024. However, how Raposo has developed his game might wind up as a cautionary tale. A stocky but powerful wrestler, it’s understandable that Raposo would want to round out his game after that phase proved ineffective in those two setbacks. As such, he has decided to focus on a range striking game that, while decent enough on its own, remains completely disconnected from his wrestling. That has led to Raposo being too patient in pivoting to his takedowns and diminishing the effectiveness when he does, dropping what easily could have been two winnable fights in the UFC with a better game plan. Making things worse for Raposo, he faces someone who should be able to stifle his wrestling even if he takes the smarter approach. The pick is Maksum via decision.


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