UFC Fight Night: Thomas Gantt vs Artur Minev Preview & Prediction
Undefeated lightweights clash as Artur Minev steps in for Trey Ogden at the eleventh hour, taking on Tommy Gantt at 155 pounds.
Thomas Gantt vs Artur Minev facts
What time are Thomas Gantt and Artur Minev 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)
Thomas Gantt: Can the wrestling standout earn his first UFC victory?
Undefeated as a professional with just a single victory by decision, Tommy Gantt (11-0, 1 NC) makes his promotional debut after punching his ticket to the UFC with a guillotine submission victory over Adam Livingston on the Contender Series. A former NCAA Division I All-American, Gantt has parlayed an outstanding wrestling background into a successful MMA career, even if it’s a stretch to call him a prospect at 33. However, his strength of competition leaves a lot to be desired; Gantt’s record features wins over the likes of Cody Carrillo (18-24) and Jon Kennedy (11-43).
Artur Minev: Will "Headhunter" prevail against steep odds?
Making his UFC debut on less than a week’s notice after Trey Ogden pulled out of his match up with Gantt, to say that the deck is stacked against Artur Minev (7-0) would be the understatement of the week. The 29 year old Ukrainian prospect has yet to be beaten as an amateur or a professional and possesses a near 100% finish record, but he doesn’t have a single legitimately impressive win on his resume. “Headhunter” has largely scored victories over journeymen in Fury FC, although his last victory saw him dust Bellator veteran Derek Campos with first round punches.
Thomas Gantt vs Artur Minev prediction
Thrown together at the eleventh hour after Trey Ogden was bounced from the card, this one looks to be pretty clear cut on paper. Minev is taking this one on less than a week’s notice, has fought pretty dismal levels of competition to date, and is on the wrong end of a significant discrepancy in terms of height and reach.
With that being said, there’s also an argument to be made that this contest isn’t as clear cut as one might think. Gantt’s shiny record looks great on paper, but closer scrutiny reveals that he’s fought a steady diet of cans throughout his professional career. He’s only ever beaten fighters with winning records on three occasions and two of those came against fighters who were just 2-0 at the time. Minev might not have the best resume, but he’s still a proven finisher with KO power and just a single win by decision.
With that being said, we’re still riding with Gantt here. Not only is he the bigger, more experienced fighter, but the gulf in wrestling ability looks to big to be overcome here. Gantt grounds and finishes Minev within the first two rounds, pulverizing him with strikes on the floor or using his ground and pound to open up an opportunity for a finish.
Prediction: Thomas Gantt to win by finish
