UFC Fight Night: Louie Sutherland vs Brando Pericic Preview & Prediction
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Two heavyweights in the early stages of their UFC careers collide as ex rugby pro Louie Sutherland takes on Australia's Brando Pericic.
Louie Sutherland vs Brando Pericic facts
What time are Louie Sutherland and Brando Pericic expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy? O2 Arena, London, England
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 270
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy main card
Movsar Evloev vs Lerone Murphy (Featherweight)
Luke Riley vs Michael Aswell (Featherweight)
Michael Page vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Iwo Baraniewski vs Austen Lane (Light Heavyweight)
Roman Dolidze vs Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)
Kurtis Campbell vs Danny Silva (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy prelims
Mason Jones vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Nathaniel Wood vs Losene Keita (Featherweight)
Mario Pinto vs Felipe Franco (Heavyweight)
Mantas Kondratavicius vs Antonio Trocoli (Middleweight)
Louie Sutherland vs Brando Pericic (Heavyweight)
Shaqueme Rock vs Abdul Kareem Al Selwady (Lightweight)
Shanelle Dyer vs Ravena Oliveira (Women’s Strawweight)
Melissa Mullins vs Luana Carolina (Women’s Bantamweight)
Louie Sutherland: Former rugby pro looking for his first octagon win in front of home crowd
Louie Sutherland (10-4) made his UFC debut at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, where heel hook specialist Valter Walker caught him with one just a minute and a half into the fight. However, little blame can be placed on Sutherland as Walker's ground game is truly levels above most heavyweights, having won his last four fights by the same method, a new record in UFC history. The English former rugby professional built a 10-3 regional record prior to the UFC, though the level of opposition was a fair bit below UFC standards. Sutherland fights behind a decent calf kick and a clean 1-2 at range, using feints to set up his entries. His power is questionable for the division, he landed a flush straight on Walker's chin without effect, and his volume is relatively low, relying heavily on patience rather than output.
Brando Pericic: City Kickboxing product with a 100% finishing rate
Brando Pericic (5-1) made an immediate statement in his UFC debut, stopping Elisha Ellison quickly in the first round via TKO at UFC Perth last September. Pericic finished all his regional bouts inside the first round excluding one, which he gassed out and got submitted in the second. An impressive record on the regional scene but the competition he faced wasn't great either. However, the Croatian trains out of City Kickboxing amongst the likes of Carlos Ulberg, Israel Adesanya, and Dan Hooker just to name a few, so his experience with higher level fighters isn't non-existent. He fires his shots with genuine venom and seems to carry noticeably more power and volume than Sutherland. The concern is his gas tank; in his loss to Randall Rayment, Pericic slowed down significantly in the second round, leaving everything in the tank early.
Louie Sutherland vs Brando Pericic prediction
This fight will most likely come down to timing. Pericic will look to impose his game early with his aggression, volume, and explosive power, all areas where he holds a clear advantage over Sutherland. His straight shots carry more range and speed, and he should be able to find Sutherland on the feet, particularly when Sutherland fires his calf kick and leaves himself exposed in the process. Sutherland's low volume and lack of one-punch power mean he's unlikely to deter Pericic from pressing on the gas pedal early.
If Sutherland weathers the early storm and drags this into the second half of the fight, neutralising Pericic, there's definitely a path to victory. The Croatian has shown he fades when he can't get the finish early. At heavyweight, cardio issues are amplified, and if Pericic empties the tank chasing the knockout without finding it, Sutherland's patience and distance management could become more effective as the fight wears on.
However, the more likely outcome is that Pericic's explosiveness and power prove to be too much before that point. The gap in aggression and output should be decisive in the opening round. Let's not overthink it too much.
Prediction: Brando Pericic to win by KO/TKO in round one
