MMA Preview – Carlos Diego Ferreira vs Gregor Gillespie at UFC Vegas 26
CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA VS GREGOR GILLESPIE FACTS
When is UFC Vegas 26? Sunday 9th May, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Vegas 26? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Vegas 26? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC Vegas 26 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Vegas 26? 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!
CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA VS GREGOR GILLESPIE LOWDOWN
Carlos Diego Ferreira (17-3) returns after getting his superb six-fight win streak snapped. The streak did not contain many glamour names, but he swatted away some beasts including Rustam Khabilov, Mairbek Taisumov (unanimous decision) and a submission over Anthony Pettis. He was steaming towards title contention until a rematch with a prime Beneil Dariush beckoned and he unfortunately fell short in another decision but a closer split one this time.
Gregor Gillespie (13-1) emerges from the shadows. He was not terribly active but when he was in the octagon he was like a rabid dog, steamrolling everyone. He won his first six UFC fights and was only getting better utilising his wrestling to finish the likes of Andrew Holbrook (KO), Jordan Rinaldi (submission), Vinc Pichel (submission) and Yancy Medeiros (TKO). He then met Kevin Lee who decided to bring out a new weapon to send Gillespie into the shadow realm landing a perfect head kick. That was back in November 2019 and after his fight with Brad Riddell fell through the week of UFC Vegas 22, Gillespie is finally back.
CARLOS DIEGO FERREIRA VS GREGOR GILLESPIE PREDICTION
After being out for 19 months, left stewing over one of the most violent knockouts in UFC history and then preparing for a striker in Riddell, Gillespie has now been handed one of the toughest matchups in the division.
Ferreira is a high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with incredibly underrated striking and will boast a three-inch reach advantage. He will look to test Gillespie’s confidence on the feet and although he is a warrior, that head kick will inevitably play on his mind.
Ferreira will back is striking and he will not mind being taken down as his jiu-jitsu is off the charts. This will be a real test of character for Gillespie and if he shows any hesitancy, Ferreira will make him pay.
That said, we expect Gillespie to come back strong and waste no time in shooting for the takedown. He is an elite wrestler and his cardio and aggressiveness allows him to find a knockout or submission but Ferreira’s is too good to get submitted and he should be too illusive off his back to get rocked with ground-and-pound.
Ferreira will not be easy to control, but we expect Gillespie to grind out a decision with his wrestling and cardio suffocating the Brazilian.
Prediction: Gillespie via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Prediction: Ferreira via Submission
