UFC Fight Night: Max Griffin vs Victor Valenzuela Preview & Prediction
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Max Griffin makes his nineteenth walk to the Octagon to take on Contender Series alum, Victor Valenzuela at 170 pounds.
Max Griffin vs Victor Valenzuela facts
What time are Max Griffin and Victor Valenzuela expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 274
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal main card
Aljamain Sterling vs Youssef Zalal (Featherweight)
Rafa Garcia vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
Davey Grant vs Juan Adrian Luna Martinetti (Bantamweight)
Montel Jackson vs Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight)
Norma Dumont vs Joselyne Edwards (Women’s Bantamweight)
Marcus Buchecha vs Ryan Spann (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs Zalal prelims
Talita Alencar vs Julia Polastri (Women’s Strawweight)
Rodolfo Vieira vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Mayra Bueno Silva vs Michelle Montague (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jackson McVey vs Sedriques Dumas (Middleweight)
Max Griffin vs Victor Valenzuela (Welterweight)
Jafel Filho vs Cody Durden (Flyweight)
Max Griffin: Can "Pain" earn the ninth win of his UFC tenure?
Making the walk for the nineteenth time under the UFC banner on Saturday night, Max Griffin (20-12) has been with the promotion for just shy of a decade. Having shared the cage with the likes of Carlos Condit, Colby Covington, and Michael Morales to name but a few, Griffin has fought solid names from multiple generations of UFC athletes to underline his status as one of the welterweight division’s most experienced statesmen. A well-rounded fighter who doesn’t excel in any one area of the game, Griffin was last seen coughing up a split decision to Chris Curtis last July.
Victor Valenzuela: Will "Psicosis" come up large after a harrowing defeat on the Contender Series?
Earning a short notice call up after a devastating KO defeat in his Contender Series audition last October, Victor Valenzuela (13-4) would score a TKO victory over UFC veteran Yusaku Kinoshita in his next fight to punch his tickets to the big leagues. The former Fury FC welterweight kingpin has a near 70% finish rate, chopping ferocious kicks and landing nasty knees in the clinch when the fight enters close range. However, he has been susceptible to going out in his shield in pursuit of the finish, losing by stoppage in all of his professional defeats outside of a single disqualification.
Max Griffin vs Victor Valenzuela prediction
With the greatest of respect, Griffin is one of the least entertaining fighters in UFC history. Not only do his fights nearly always go the distance, he spends the majority of them feinting menacingly at range while barely throwing anything with any legitimate intent. Even more frustratingly for the average fan, he’s extremely tough and difficult to finish, meaning that an uninspired decision is almost inevitable.
On the flip side, Valenzuela will certainly hunt for the finish, but will he get it? There’s a solid argument to be made that “Psicosis” is not UFC level and has literally been roped in at the last minute to make up the numbers on yet another diabolical Apex Fight Night. Case in point, he’s literally one fight removed from getting flatlined on the Contender Series, with his sole victory since coming over the 6-3 Yusaku Kinoshita.
Long story short, this one has “Griffin stink fest” written all over it. This could well be the fight where Father Time catches up with him in the form of a nasty KO loss, but “Pain’s” size and reach advantage coupled with his extensive UFC experience sees the American do just enough to earn the lackluster decision.
Prediction: Max Griffin to win by decision