Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Lewis vs. Browne’

Women’s Bantamweights

Sara McMann (10-3) vs. Gina Mazany (4-0)

THE MATCHUP: Now is a good time to put McMann’s career into perspective. The Olympic silver medalist seemed for a time to be struggling as a developing mixed martial artist, winning just one of four bouts between 2014 and 2015. She has only been training, however, since 2011 and should only be now gaining the skills necessary to hang with the best in the division; and speaking of the best in the division, McMann’s three losses were to Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, and Amanda Nunes, all current or future UFC champions at the time she fought them. There is no shame in losing to such elite competition. Since then, McMann has put together two wins, one a cautious but dominant victory over Jessica Eye, the other a very impressive submission over grappling ace Alexis Davis. McMann may not be setting the world ablaze, but she remains one of the best wrestlers -- if not the best -- in the division, with a heavy right hand to help.

All of this indicates that Mazany is probably in over her head as she fills in on short notice for Liz Carmouche. Mazany had her first pro fight in 2008, but she has competed sporadically since then, only making it into the cage four times, plus a one-sided loss to Julianna Pena in an “Ultimate Fighter” elimination bout. Mazany is undefeated as a pro, but she has only ever faced debuting novices. Two of those wins are TKOs, but Mazany is nominally a submission grappler. Like many other green grapplers, however, Mazany is far too content to play a passive guard game. McMann has struggled with submission artists in the past, but again, they were very good submission artists.

McMann has a powerful takedown game, and she knows how to close distance and set up shots with her hands. Her hands, of course, are dangerous in their own right. Her striking is fairly rudimentary, but she is willing to throw combinations and her speed and power make that a viable option against a lesser level of competition.

THE ODDS: McMann (-475), Mazany (+375)

THE PICK: Unless Mazany can really tie up McMann in her guard -- a position in which McMann is not as comfortable as you might expect a wrestler to be -- she is more or less a sitting duck for the more experienced fighter. McMann survived Davis’ guard, so she should be able to tough it out even if Mazany is very aggressive from her back. Other than that, expect McMann’s power to have an impact on the fight. McMann by first-round TKO is the pick.

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