UFC Fight Night: Malcolm Wellmaker vs Juan Diaz Preview & Prediction
Two bantamweight striking prospects meet on the featured fight, Malcolm Wellmaker looks to bounce back from his shock loss against Peruvian debutant Juan Diaz.
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Juan Diaz facts
What time are Malcolm Wellmaker and Juan Diaz expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Nigh 276
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa main card
Arnold Allen vs Melquizael Costa (Featherweight)
Choi Doo Ho vs Daniel Santos (Featherweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Juan Diaz (Bantamweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
Timothy Cuamba vs Bernardo Sopaj (Bantamweight)
UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs Costa prelims
Tuco Tokkos vs Ivan Erslan (Light Heavyweight)
Trey Ogden vs Thomas Gantt (Lightweight)
Ketlen Vieira vs Jacqueline Cavalcanti (Women’s Bantamweight)
Cody Brundage vs Andre Petroski (Middleweight)
Alice Ardelean vs Polyana Viana (Women’s Strawweight)
Daniel Barez vs Luis Gurule (Flyweight)
Shauna Bannon vs Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Strawweight)
Khaos Williams vs Nikolay Veretennikov (Welterweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker: Can the dangerous striker remind everyone why he was 10-0 before that Ewing upset?
Malcolm Wellmaker (10-1) suffered the first loss of his professional career last time out, dropping a decision to short-notice Ethyn Ewing at UFC 322. Before that setback, the 31-year-old had ripped through Cameron Saaiman with a first-round knockout on debut and followed it up with another first round stoppage against the notoriously durable Kris Moutinho, earning back-to-back Performance of the Night bonuses. “The Machine” is a big bantamweight with serious power in his hands, sharp set-ups for his power shots, and shows strong work in the clinch. He rolls with shots really well when he gets hit, and so far, he’s shown a good chin.
Juan Diaz: Peruvian DWCS standout looks to make a statement on debut
Juan Diaz (15-1-1) earned his UFC contract in spectacular fashion, scoring the first spinning back elbow knockout in Contender Series history against Won Kwon in the final seconds of second round. Diaz is a former multi-time LUX Fight League bantamweight champion who trains out of UFC Performance Institute Mexico. Diaz fights as a boxing-heavy counter puncher, comfortable getting into the pocket for short exchanges. The concern from his Contender Series performance is that he gets into these rhythmic back-and-forth sparring patterns with his opponent, allowing them their turn in range, making it a dangerous game against any power puncher.
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Juan Diaz prediction
This is the kind of debut matchup that can go very wrong, very fast. Diaz is undeniably talented and his Contender Series finish was a thing of beauty, but the level of competition he beat on the regional scene to rack up 14 wins doesn’t compare to what Wellmaker has been doing inside the UFC. Compare the finishes over Cameron Saaiman or Kris Moutinho – who went on a 5-0 tear once being released from UFC the first time, to Diaz’s resume. The gap is clear.
The odds give a bit of juice to be squeezed for decent value. They reflect Wellmaker’s only loss being to one of the most exciting prospects in the division, if not the UFC. If the Ewing fight never happened, the lines would be way wider than they currently are. Wellmaker has a sizeable advantage in power and frame, and his ability to mix in kicks into his striking means Diaz won’t get the simple boxing match he desires.
Diaz’s rhythm of letting his opponents take their turn is a big concern. Kwon was allowed to throw and Diaz weathered it, you can’t do that against Wellmaker. Wellmaker has power, great set-ups, and the sharpness to put your lights out with a single shot. Diaz also starts dropping his hands later into the fight if he thinks he’s figured out his opponent, again, can’t do that against Wellmaker. Wellmaker will shut his doubters up here with a dominant performance.
Prediction: Malcolm Wellmaker to win by KO/TKO in round one
