UFC 323: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Antonio Trocoli Preview & Prediction
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The second match up of the night takes place at 185 pounds, with Antonio Trocoli looking for his first win in the promotion against top middleweight prospect, Mansur Abdul-Malik.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Antonio Trocoli facts
What time are Mansur Abdul-Malik and Antonio Trocoli expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2
What TV channel is UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 main card
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan (Bantamweight)
Alexandre Pantoja vs Joshua Van (Flyweight)
Brandon Moreno vs Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
Henry Cejudo vs Payton Talbott (Bantamweight)
Jan Błachowicz vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs Yan 2 prelims
Grant Dawson vs Manuel Torres (Lightweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Chris Duncan (Lightweight)
Maycee Barber vs Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Nazim Sadykhov vs Fares Ziam (Lightweight)
Marvin Vettori vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
Edson Barboza vs Jalin Turner (Lightweight)
Iwo Baraniewski vs Ibo Aslan (Light Heavyweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Antonio Trocoli (Middleweight)
Muhammad Naimov vs Mairon Santos (Featherweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik: The American prospect returns after a controversial NC last time out aiming to make a statement
Entering his fourth UFC fight as the biggest favorite on the card, Mansur Abul-Malik (8-0, 1 NC) was last seen fighting to a controversial No Contest against Cody Brundage in June. The hulking American prospect is seemingly one of the biggest fighters operating at 185 pounds, leveraging what is a considerable edge in physicality into a finish heavy fight style. With that being said, he has yet to produce a win over a solid level name. Few are breaking out the champagne for wins over Dusko Todorovic and Nick Klein, while fumbling a victory against a fighter as notoriously limited as the aforementioned Brundage is a decisively bad look.
Antonio Trocoli: "Malvado" looks to prove the oddsmakers wrong in what would a seismic upset
Posting an 0-2 record since joining the promotion in 2024, Antonio Trocoli (12-5, 1 NC) could well be fighting for his job in just his third appearance come Saturday night; a concerning notion given that he's the biggest underdog on the card. "Malvado" has been stopped in brutal fashion in both of his UFC fights to date, succumbing to the striking of Shara Magomedov for a third round TKO before bowing out to one of the more brutal first round guillotines in recent memory at the hands of Tresean Gore. Trocoli initially seemingly punched his ticket to the promotion following a submission victory on the Contender Series in 2019, only for the towering Brazilian's victory to be overturned to a NC in the aftermath of a failed drug test.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Antonio Trocoli prediction
It's not difficult to see what the UFC want to happen here.
While Trocoli demonstrated flashes of promise against Shara Magomedov, the fighter who got decimated by Tresean Gore next time out did not look to be a UFC level competitor. Moreover, he's come up short against regional level competition on multiple occasions prior to joining the UFC, raising valid questions as to whether he has what it takes to compete at the highest level of MMA.
By contrast, Abdul-Malik's last contest may have ended in somewhat farcical fashion against sub-par competition in the form of Cody Brundage, but he still looks to be a promising prospect. The American is a physical powerhouse and a bona-fide finisher at this young stage of his career to boot, boasting a 100% stoppage rate and six first round finishes to underline the danger he poses from the very first bell.
The hulking American will be looking to prove a point following the first hiccup of his professional career last time out against Brundage, and Trocoli just happens to be unfortunate enough to find himself standing in his way. Abdul-Malik swarms and steamrolls the Brazilian for the stoppage.
Prediction: Mansur Abdul-Malik to win by stoppage
