UFC Fight Night: Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana Preview & Prediction
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Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana: Light heavyweight clash with big stakes for both newcomers
Two recent UFC arrivals collide in a must-win light heavyweight bout as Turkey’s Ibo Aslan faces off against American grappler Billy Elekana. Both men are looking to rebound from setbacks and prove they belong in one of the UFC’s most volatile divisions.
Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana facts
What time are Ibo Aslan and Billy Elekana expected to walk out?
Where is UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs de Ridder? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs de Ridder? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC on ABC 9
What TV channel is UFC on ABC 9 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+ (undercard) & ABC (main card)
Where can I stream UFC on ABC 9? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder main card
Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee (Bantamweight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Marc-Andre Barriault (Middleweight)
Asu Almabayev vs Jose Ochoa (Flyweight)
Nikita Krylov vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder prelims
Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight)
Muslim Salikhov vs Carlos Leal Miranda (Welterweight)
Davey Grant vs Da'Mon Blackshear (Bantamweight)
Amanda Ribas vs Tabatha Ricci (Women’s Strawweight)
Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana (Light Heavyweight)
Mohammad Yahya vs Steven Nguyen (Featherweight)
Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha (Heavyweight)
Ibo Aslan: KO machine looking to remind fans of his power
Ibo Aslan (14-2) enters this fight with a reputation as a ferocious striker, boasting a 100% finish rate — all by knockout. The 29-year-old Turkish prospect made waves on the regional circuit before earning his UFC opportunity. In his debut, he avenged a past loss to Anton Turkalj with an emphatic third-round knockout, showcasing both power and persistence. He followed that up by making short work of Raffael Cerqueira, stopping him in the first round. However, he stumbled in his most recent outing, getting submitted by Ion Cutelaba after being outgrappled.
Aslan’s strengths are clear — he starts fast and hits hard. But his vulnerabilities are just as obvious. His grappling defence and cardio remain question marks, and he can be exploited by more well-rounded opposition.
Billy Elekana: Grappler under pressure to deliver
Billy Elekana (7-2) is a 30-year-old American with a strong wrestling base and a few solid wins on the regional circuit and in PFL. He made his UFC debut against Bogdan Guskov and nearly pulled off a first-round submission before fading badly and getting stopped in the second. While he’s shown flashes of grappling skill, the loss raised serious questions about his gas tank and mental toughness under fire.
Elekana will need to lean on his wrestling if he hopes to survive the early storm from Aslan. But whether he can take the fight into deeper waters without fading remains to be seen.
Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana prediction
This looks like a strong bounce-back opportunity for Aslan, whose knockout power and aggressive pace can be overwhelming for lower-tier opposition. If he starts fast — as he usually does — Elekana may struggle to weather the early storm. That said, the American does pose a real submission threat, as shown when he took Bogdan Guskov’s back and nearly finished him. Given both of Aslan’s career losses have come via submission, there’s a potential opening if Elekana can survive the initial onslaught and drag the fight to the mat.
Still, Aslan’s ferocity and finishing instinct make him the favourite. Expect him to make a statement and get Elekana out of there early.
Prediction: Ibo Aslan to win by KO/TKO
