MMA Preview – Molly McCann vs Julija Stoliarenko at UFC Fight Night 224
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MOLLY MCCANN VS JULIJA STOLIARENKO FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 224? Saturday 22nd July, 2023 - 16:45 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 224? The O2 Arena, London (UK)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 224? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 224 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 224? 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!
MOLLY MCCANN VS JULIJA STOLIARENKO LOWDOWN
Molly McCann (13-5) returns to London to bring the noise. Her last two appearances on home turf could not have gone better earning two ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses. She reeled off one of the best knockouts of the year with a spinning back elbow flatlining Luana Carolina (2022). She followed that up with another ruthless knockout over Hannah Goldy (2022) in the first round extending her streak to three, but then got handed Erin Blanchfield (2023) and was inevitably humbled and submitted in the first round.
She takes of another grappler in Julija Stoliarenko (10-7-2). She has found it tough since her comeback to the UFC going 1-4. She got outpointed by Yana Santos (2020), submitted by Julia Avila (2021) and outpointed again by Alexis Davis (2022). She preserved her shelf life with a vintage armbar submission over Jessica-Rose Clark (2022). However, she got TKO’d by Chelsea Chandler back in October last year with her UFC career now hanging by a thread.
MOLLY MCCANN VS JULIJA STOLIARENKO PREDICTION
On paper, this looks like a classic striker vs grappler match up. McCann’s wrestling continues to improve, but if the fight hits the deck, Stoliarenko’s jiu-jitsu will giver her serious problems.
We feel McCann’s takedown defence will be key here. If she can keep the fight on the feet, she will have a field day. However, if she gets caught in a scramble, she cannot leave her arm out there as the Lithuanian is an armbar specialist.
We expect McCann’s takedown defence to hold up, keeping the fight on the feet where she will get to work with her boxing. Stoliarenko will give everything she has throwing leg kicks and persistently shooting in, but it will require a mistake from the Liverpudlian to get caught.
Prediction: McCann via Decision
Value bet: Stoliarenko via Submission
