Preview: UFC Fight Night 178 Prelims

Women’s Bantamweights

Jessica-Rose Clark (9-6) vs. Sarah Alpar (9-4)

ODDS: Clark (-220), Alpar (+180)

It will be nice to see Clark back in the Octagon, where hopefully she can regain some of her lost momentum from a few years ago. The Australian had her struggles as a prospect, mostly since she is not a high-level athlete, but she has made some obvious improvements over the year, namely in terms of her defensive wrestling. Upon hitting the UFC, it looked like things were finally clicking for Clark. A move down to flyweight helped some of her issues with physicality, and she managed to rack up two wins before falling short against Jessica Eye. However, repeated weight-cutting issues forced Clark back up to bantamweight, and some injury struggles kept her out of action for nearly a year and a half. Upon her return against Pannie Kianzad, it was back to somewhat of the same story from her original bantamweight days. While Clark has become a much better fighter, she still has a clear ceiling against superior athletes. Hopefully, her improvements can serve as an inspiration for Alpar, a promotional newcomer who has some skills with which to work but badly needs to shore up things to succeed at the UFC level. Alpar certainly wants it, as she is an aggressive wrestler who is more than willing to spark a brawl, but she is undersized, not particularly physical and completely open to getting hit on defense. It has been over a year since she earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, so there is certainly the hope that she has gotten in better shape or worked out some things, but based on Alpar’s last appearance, this is clearly Clark’s fight to lose. Admittedly, the Clark of a few years ago might have gotten outwrestled here, so there is a chance those issues raise their ugly head once again. The pick is Clark via decision.

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