UFC Fight Night: Luan Lacerda vs Hecher Sosa Preview & Prediction
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An exciting bantamweight scrap sees Contender Series standout, Hecher Sosa, face off against submission specialist, Luan Lacerda.
Luan Lacerda vs Hecher Sosa facts
What time are Luan Lacerda and Hecher Sosa expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 269
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos main card
Josh Emmett vs Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)
Amanda Lemos vs Gillian Robertson (Women's Strawweight)
Ion Cutelaba vs Oumar Sy (Light Heavyweight)
Andre Fili vs Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight)
Marwan Rahiki vs Harry Hardwick (Featherweight)
Vitor Petrino vs Steven Asplund (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs Vallejos prelims
Charles Johnson vs Bruno Gustavo da Silva (Flyweight)
Brad Tavares vs Eryk Anders (Middleweight)
Chris Curtis vs Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight)
Bolaji Oki vs Manoel Sousa (Lightweight)
Luan Lacerda vs Hecher Sosa (Bantamweight)
Beatriz Mesquita vs Montserrat Rendon (Women's Bantamweight)
Elijah Smith vs You Su-young (Bantamweight)
Piera Rodriguez vs Sam Hughes (Women's Strawweight)
Luan Lacerda: Can Lacerda push his UFC record to .500 after a difficult start to life in the promotion?
LFA alum Luan Lacerda (13-3) endured a rough beginning to his promotional tenure with the UFC, dropping a decision to Cody Stamann in his debut before getting pounded out by Da’Mon Blackshear in his second appearance. However, with his job potentially on the line in just his third fight under the UFC banner, the Brazilian would subsequently rebound with an impressive armbar submission victory over Saimon Oliveira last time out. With an 85% finish rate and eleven wins by tap out, Lacerda presents an ever present threat on the mat, although he’s also known for a solid kicking game.
Hecher Sosa: The Spaniard looks to build on his impressive showing on the Contender Series
Earning a contract less than 72 hours after the death of his father, Hecher Sosa (14-1) proved to be one of the more feel good stories coming out of the most recent iteration of the Contender Series. A high octane brawler who frequently throws caution to the wind in search of the finish, Sosa took the undefeated Mackson Lee’s “0” by lopsided unanimous decision to punch his ticket to the big leagues. With nine finishes in fourteen victories, “Guanche Warrior” typically doesn’t require the judges when he competes and hasn’t lost a fight in almost four years.
Luan Lacerda vs Hecher Sosa prediction
Stepping in for the injured Rinya Nakamura on Saturday night, Sosa looks to be a solid addition to the bantamweight ranks. He’s an excellent striker with KO power and a decent submission game to fall back on; while he does have a penchant for a brawl, he also has good fight IQ and cardio, allowing him to win convincing decisions when he’s unable to get his opponent out of there inside the distance.
By contrast, Lacerda is just one fight removed from conceivably fighting for his job. He may have earned the victory against Saimon Oliveira, but that’s not saying much considering that the Brazilian is now 0-4 in the promotion, with three of those defeats coming by way of stoppage. His lack of punching power would also appear to be a problem here; Sosa has only ever lost by TKO throughout his fifteen fights as a pro, while Lacerda has yet to score a TKO in sixteen attempts.
In short, Sosa looks to be good value as a moderate favorite here. As with all Contender Series exports, judgment on his overall potential should be reserved until he has a UFC win under his belt, but he should have enough to get past Lacerda here. The Spaniard’s power and striking acumen will prove too much for the Brazilian, culminating in a TKO finish or a dominant decision victory for “Guanche Warrior.”
Prediction: Hecher Sosa to win
