MMA Preview – Augusto Sakai vs Tai Tuivasa at UFC 269
AUGUSTO SAKAI VS TAI TUIVASA FACTS
When is UFC 269? Sunday 12th December, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 269? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 269? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 268
What channel is UFC 269 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC 269? 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!
AUGUSTO SAKAI VS TAI TUIVASA LOWDOWN
After winning his first four UFC fights, Augusto Sakai (15-3-1) was flying high on six-fight win streak. He knocked out Chase Sherman (2018) on his debut and then collect three impressive scalps – Andre Arlovski (2019) via split decision, Marcin Tybura (2019) via knockout and Blagoy Ivanov (2020) via split decision. However, he has not kept afloat with tougher competition getting outclassed and finished by Alistair Overeem (2020) and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (2021).
Tai Tuivasa (12-3) hopes to make it three losses in a row for Sakai and after suffering his own three-fight skid a couple years ago, he has tightened up his game and back to his winning ways with three knockouts in a row. He lost to Junior dos Santos (2018), Blagoy Ivanov (2019) and Sergey Spivak (2019) and has responded by dispatching Stefan Struve (2020), Harry Hunsucker (2021) and Greg Hardy (2021)
AUGUSTO SAKAI VS TAI TUIVASA PREDICTION
This is going to be a tense striking battle and the pace will depend on Tuivasa. Sakai has good movement for his size, but he was very hesitant after his loss to Overeem. He waited for Rozenstruik to press the action and with his power, it was only a matter of time before the Suriname native turned the lights off.
If he is hesitant again, Tuivasa is going to leverage his athleticism and dynamism to capitalize like a predator. The Aussie also has his confidence back which is bad news for for Sakai. If the Brazilian can come out the gate with his leg kicks to slow Tuivasa down and enforce the clinch, he can wear him down and deplete the gas tank.
However, we feel ‘Bam Bam’s’ speed and power advantage will be too much for Sakai, and if he times his explosions of energy right, he will walk away with his 12th knockout.
Prediction: Tuivasa via KO/TKO - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
