MMA Preview – Alexa Grasso vs Viviane Araujo at UFC Vegas 62
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ALEXA GRASSO VS VIVIANE ARAUJO FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 212? Saturday 15th October, 2022 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 212? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 212? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 212 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 212? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ALEXA GRASSO VS VIVIANE ARAUJO LOWDOWN
Alexa Grasso (14-3) graces her first headliner slot in the UFC. This scheduling is third time lucky and got bumped up after Sean Strickland got an infected finger, postponing his fight with Jared Cannonier. This makes the fight an even bigger opportunity for Grasso to stake a claim for a title shot. She is coming off three solid wins after a competitive majority decision loss to the current champ Carla Esparza (2019) – unanimous decisions over Ji Yeon Kim (2020), and Maycee Barber (2021) before a ruthless submission over Joanne Wood back in March.
Viviane Araujo (11-3) pulled out of their first scheduling back in January due to injury and Grasso pulled out at UFC 270 with visa issues but thankfully, they are both ready and primed for UFC Vegas 62. An impressive finish here may also fast track Araujo to a title shot. She is 3-1 in her last four with her loss being a typical unanimous decision to the gatekeeper Katlyn Chookagian (2021). She earnt two unanimous decisions of her own prior over Montana De La Rosa (2020) and Roxanne Modafferi (2021) and is coming off another over Andrea Lee back in May.
ALEXA GRASSO VS VIVIANE ARAUJO PREDICTION
It will be very interesting to see how they fare over five rounds as they have all the tools. They match up very similarly with Araujo boasting a two-inch reach and power advantage.
Grasso has become a very well-rounded fighter and continues to evolve. She is a quality boxer with decent jiu-jitsu. Araujo’s bread and butter is her ground skills as a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and luta livre, but she also has dangerous Muay Thai.
We expect the majority of this fight to remain on the feet. Expect Araujo to be more aggressive whereas Grasso will look to utilize her movement and speed to counter. She will look to break her down by popping the jab and eating up Araujo’s legs.
If Grasso has any success, we can see the Brazilian resorting to the takedown and she will be wise to mix them in early. She is strong and has a clear advantage on the deck. If she relies too much on her hands, Grasso will frustrate her and we can see the Mexican finishing stronger in the championship rounds.
Neither of them have gone five rounds before, so it is vital they both have a calculated strategy and can adapt. This will be a very close fight and we expect a mixture of striking and grappling here providing an exciting display.
We feel Grasso’s finesse and cardio will serve her better as the fight goes on. Araujo has the power and grappling to cause serious problems, but we can see her getting frustrated and emptying the gas tank. She is the value pick as the underdog, but we are leaning towards a Grasso decision with her striking and clinch work convincing the judges.
Prediction: Grasso via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Araujo to win
