Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria at UFC Fight Night 249 | Preview & Prediction
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Expect fireworks in this middleweight bout as Brazilian Marco Tulio takes on Ukraine’s Ihor Potieria on the prelims on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 249
Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria Facts
When is UFC Fight Night 249? UK – the preliminary card starts at 9:00pm on Saturday 11th January 2024, followed by the main card at 12:00am (Sunday) / USA – 4:00pm/7:00pm ET (Saturday) and 1:00pm/4:00pm PT (Saturday)
Where is UFC Fight Night 249? UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 249? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 249
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 249 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 249? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
For viewers in the United States, UFC Fight Night 249 will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
What time are Marco Tulio and Ihor Potieria expected to walk out? Saturday 11th January, 2025, 11:25pm UK / 6:25pm US ET / 3:25pm US PT
UFC Fight Night 249 Main Card Event
Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Ribas (Women’s Strawweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
Cesar Almeida vs Abdul Razak Alhassan (Middleweight)
Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
Christian Rodriguez vs Austin Bashi (Featherweight)
Punahele Soriano vs Uros Medic (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 249 Prelims
Jose Johnson vs Felipe Bunes (Flyweight)
Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria (Middleweight)
Thiago Moises vs Trey Ogden (Lightweight)
Ernesta Kareckaitė vs Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Flyweight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Fatima Kline vs Victoria Dudakova (Women’s Strawweight)
Preston Parsons vs Jacobe Smith (Welterweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Joe Solecki (Lightweight)
Marco Tulio: Matuto aiming to extend eight-fight win streak
Marco Tulio (12-1) gets his shot in the UFC after he beat Matthieu Letho Ducios in Dana White’s Contender Series in August. That was his eighth successive MMA win and Matuto comes into his UFC debut full of confidence. Eight of his 12 wins have come via knockout and he will be hoping his striking power translates into the UFC when he is fighting a higher calibre of opponent.
Ihor Potieria: Ukrainian star desperate to halt slump
Ihor Potieria (20-7) is in desperate need of a win after losing four of his last five and five of his last seven. The Ukrainian star was on a 15-fight win streak before his UFC debut but he has found life in the Octagon to be incredibly challenging. Four of those five losses have been stoppages, including three knockouts, and his attacking, if somewhat reckless style, is being exposed. The 28-year-old needs a win to stay relevant and is potentially fighting for his future in the UFC.
Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria Prediction
The UFC matchmakers have put together yet another an excellent fight between an up-and -coming fighter and an experienced one who is on something of a slump.
Ihor Potieria has fought some decent opponents during his time in the UFC but he has found success hard to come by. He has suffered a number of losses including some tough knockouts and it will be interesting to see how he responds following those.
Marco Tulio is a fighter on the rise but this is his UFC debut so comparing records is hardly fair ahead of this fight.
Tulio has good knockout power which the same can be said for Potieria in fairness. That makes a decision highly unlikely. It would be easy to be swayed by the record and recent form of the Brazilian but we are not convinced yet and need to see more of Tulio at this level. Our preference is in backing this one not to go the distance.
Prediction: Fight not to go the distance
