UFC Fight Night: Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes Preview & Prediction
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"King" Casey O'Neill returns following a near two year layoff, taking on the surging Gabriella Fernandes at 125 pounds.
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes facts
What time are Casey ONeill and Gabriella Fernandes expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 270
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer main card
Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber (Women’s Flyweight)
Michael Chiesa vs Niko Price (Welterweight)
Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)
Mansur Abdul Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer prelims
Ignacio Bahamondes vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Chase Hooper vs Lance Gibson Jr (Lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes (Women’s Flyweight)
Navajo Stirling vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
Alexia Thainara vs Bruna Brasil (Women’s Strawweight)
Casey ONeill: Does the Scottish-Australian prospect still have what it takes to kickstart a title run?
Poised to make her first appearance since August 2024, Casey O’Neill (10-2) hasn’t been seen in the Octagon since earning a decision victory over Luana Santos. The 28 year old Scottish prospect had some considerable hype behind her after beginning her career at a perfect 8-0, scoring three finishes in her first four fights with the promotion. However, back-to-back losses to Jennifer Maia and Ariane Lipski da Silva have dampened the aura around “King” somewhat; a state of affairs that hasn’t improved after a long stretch on the sidelines due to a rough string of injuries. However, she's still ranked in the division, occupying the No. 12 spot as of this time of writing.
Gabriella Fernandes: "Gabi" looks to go 4-0 after beginning her promotional run with two straight defeats
Despite beginning her UFC tenure at 0-2, it’s safe to say that Gabriella Fernandes (11-3) has turned things around as she prepares for her sixth fight with the promotion. “Gabi” is currently riding a three fight win streak that includes two bonus winning performances, most notably choking Wang Cong unconscious in a significant upset. A ferocious striker with a nasty submission game in her back pocket, the Brazilian has clearly turned a corner after coming up short in her first two appearances, with her current win streak pushing her into the No. 14 spot in the division.
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes prediction
This is an intriguing match up at flyweight, all the more so courtesy of the X-factor associated with O’Neill’s long layoff.
All the momentum is arguably on Fernandes’ side here; she’s on a three fight win streak and has fought three times in the time since O’Neill was last in the cage. She’s clearly got some solid power and technique working for her on the feet, dropping the renowned kickboxer, Wang Cong, twice before demonstrating her killer instinct by throttling her out cold.
However, while it’s impossible to know how she’s going to look after such a long layoff, it’s hard to discount the fact that O’Neill has arguably fought stiffer levels of competition in her young career. She’s a bona fide finisher if the opportunity presents itself, but she’s also capable of gritting out a decision against tough opposition.
There’s a chance that she’s unrecognizable from her former self after such an extended period of time on the sidelines, but if anything close to the O’Neill of old shows up, she should have enough to get past Fernandes here. She won't become the first woman to finish "Gabi" but “King” wins a closely contested 29-28 decision and reinserts her name into the conversation at 125 pounds.
Prediction: Casey O'Neill to win by decision
