MMA Preview – Paul Felder vs Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Vegas 14
PAUL FELDER VS RAFAEL DOS ANJOS FACTS
When is UFC Vegas 14? Saturday 14th November, 2020 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Vegas 14? UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Vegas 14? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC Vegas 14 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Vegas 14? 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!
PAUL FELDER VS RAFAEL DOS ANJOS LOWDOWN
If we needed any more reasons to appreciate Paul Felder (17-5), ‘The Irish Dragon’ puts down the headset and steps up on five days’ notice to replace Islam Makhachev saving the UFC Vegas 14 card. Dana White will be more grateful than anyone as this weak card now has a mouth-watering main event. Felder is coming off his war with Dan Hooker where he flew to New Zealand and took the Kiwi to a split decision. The fight was exactly what was prescribed but unlike his battle and rematch with Edson Barboza, he just fell on the wrong side of a decision but both fights could have gone either way.
Rafael dos Anjos (29-13) has still got a fight and it is a much more compelling one for him. His last five fights have all been against strong wrestlers getting out grappled to unanimous decisions in four of them. Colby Covington and Kamaru ragdolled him but he went on to pull off a phenomenal arm-triangle on Kevin Lee. He then succumbed to Leon Edwards and Michael Chiesa who proceeded to grind out decisions.
PAUL FELDER VS RAFAEL DOS ANJOS PREDICTION
So, dos Anjos now has a completely different match-up. Instead of preparing for another wrestler in Makhachev who in all likelihood would have wrestled his way to a decision, the Brazilian has a battle-hardened weapon who is going to stand in front of him and throw down.
Dos Anjos drops down to lightweight for the first time since his title fight with Eddie Alvarez back in 2016 but he has had a lot of time to make weight. Felder on the other hand is a huge 155’er and it would usually be impossible to make weight in five days.
However, he has been training for a triathlon so is in great shape and a lot leaner than usual but will surely still have a lot of weight to cut. They both have a 70-inch reach, but Felder will have three inches in height over dos Anjos and should even have a slight power advantage if the cut goes smoothly.
Felder has a dangerous clinch and ground game and although dos Anjos is a high-level black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he has been out muscled by more powerful wrestlers. In all likelihood this fight is going to be technical striking battle with heavy exchanges and a lot of leg kicks from both men.
You would back a fully prepped Felder in a stand-up contest but with just five days to prepare against an established welterweight and former lightweight champion, the odds are stacked against him. As the fight is still five rounds, their conditioning will be a big factor. Felder is in great nick but dos Anjos is conditioned for a five-round fight. He also has not been finished since the Alvarez fight, so, expect Felder to come out strong hunting the chin on the feet.
As the fight goes on and they begin to tire we could see takedown and clinch attempts from either man. Dos Anjos is the better all round grappler but Felder's ground game is very underrated and if he can assume top control he can put dos Anjos in a world of trouble keeping all his weight on in him while raining down brutal ground-and-pound. The Brazilian is too good to get submitted but Felder’s heavy top game could earn him the rounds piling on the damage.
Despite beginning to accept retirement, Felder has the skills and heart to earn an incredible win but dos Anjos’ preparations physically and mentally swing this in his favour.
Prediction: Dos Anjos via Decision
