UFC Fight Night: Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji Preview & Prediction
A flyweight clash between a faded former title challenger and surging sniper, veteran Alex Perez looks to stop the momentum of the in-form Su Mudaerji to open up the main card.
Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji facts
What time are Alex Perez and Su Mudaerji expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Galaxy Arena, Macau SAR, China
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 277
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo main card
Song Yadong vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Zhang Mingyang vs Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji (Flyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo prelims
Lee Yi-sak vs Luis Felipe Dias (Middleweight)
Ding Meng vs Jose Henrique Souza (Welterweight)
Aori Qileng vs Cody Haddon (Bantamweight)
Angela Hill vs Xiong Jingnan (Women’s Strawweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs Jaqueline Amorim (Women’s Strawweight)
Zhu Kangjie vs Rodrigo Vera (Featherweight)
Rei Tsuruya vs Luis Gurule (Bantamweight)
Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
Alex Perez: Former title challenger fighting the tail end of his career
Alex Perez (26-10) is a seasoned former flyweight title challenger whose resume reads great at 125, his only losses have come against the elite of the division to the likes of; Pantoja Figueiredo, Mokaev, Taira, and Almabayev. The 34-year-old rebounded from submission loss to Almabayev with an impressive TKO win over Charles Johnson at UFC 324 in January. Perez has clean, high-volume inside boxing, strong leg kicks, and a fast step in straight to close the distance. The concern is his mileage – injuries, long layoffs, and a feeling that his sharpest days are behind him.
Su Mudaerji: The Tibetan Eagle riding his career-best run
Su Mudaerji (19-7) is in his best form right now, riding a three-fight win streak with decisions over Mitch Raposo, Kevin Borjas, and Jesus Aguilar. The 30-year-old sniper has reinvented himself, rather than fighting his opponent’s game, he now sticks behind his rangy strikes, where his significant 72-inch reach shines. He fires a wide arsenal of fast kick to all levels, has a stiff jab, and can throw cleanly off the back foot. Mudaerji also has shown much-improved takedown defence in his recent fights, which was much needed as 6 of his 7 losses have come by submission.
Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji prediction
This feels like the perfect moment for Mudaerji to make a name for himself. Perez is the deserving favourite given what he’s shown in the past, but the timing here is everything – he’s at the tail end of his career, whereas Mudaerji has never looked sharper.
Stylistically, I see Mudaerji putting on a masterclass at range. He’s the taller and longer man, moves beautifully, and he should pepper Perez at range with his kicks, jabs, and clean boxing while circling out of danger. Perez will look to blitz into range with his step-in straight and hope to drag Mudaerji into ugly fence exchanges where his boxing will take over, but I don’t think that will be the case. Mudaerji has shown really good footwork recently, and will probably dish out enough leg kicks to slow down Perez.
The danger lies in Mudaeji dropping his hands on the backfoot when he looks for hooks on the exit, this gives Perez a puncher’s chance of a blistering overhand, and Perez’s seven career submission wins are a live threat against a man whose defeats have mostly come from them. Mudaerji should keep this one standing at range, I can see the underdog outclassing the favourite over fifteen minutes.
Prediction: Su Mudaerji to win by decision
