MMA Preview – Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Justin Tafa at UFC 298
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MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA VS JUSTIN TAFA FACTS
When is UFC 298? Sunday 18th February, 2024 - 01:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 298? Honda Center, Anaheim, California (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 298? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 298
What channel is UFC 298 on? TNT Sports 2
Where can I stream UFC 298? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
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!
MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA VS JUSTIN TAFA LOWDOWN
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1) was prevented from winning three fights in a row for the first time in his UFC career. He was in the unfamiliar territory of a two-fight streak after submitting Andrei Arlovski (2022) and outpointing Waldo Cortes-Acosta (2023) and looked great in the process. However, he then ran into the knockout king Derrick Lewis (2023) at UFC 291 and got swept away in a whirlwind straight from the bell.
Now, he takes on another knockout artist in Justin Tafa (7-3(1)). He is coming off three brutal knockout wins in a row not including the ‘no contest’ with Austen Lane that ended due to an eye poke. He smoked Harry Hunsucker (2021), Parker Porter (2023) and recovered from the eye poke to starch Lane (2023) in the rematch at UFC 293.
MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA VS JUSTIN TAFA PREDICTION
On paper, de Lima is the better fighter. He has a more diverse striking arsenal and can also grapple with decent wrestling and offensive jiu-jitsu.
Tafa does not grapple, but he boasts ferocious power. He has thunderous leg kicks and only needs one clean connection with his hands to turn the lights off.
De Lima does not have the same firepower, but he also has dangerous kicks. We expect him to feel Tafa out on the feet initially, but then try and take Tafa down once he feels his leather.
They both have questionable defence and head movement, so we can easily see a knockout here. We can see de Lima getting caught with a counter hook, but he has more avenues to victory and his grappling could be the difference.
Prediction: De Lima via Decision
Value bet: Tafa via KO/TKO
