UFC Fight Night Vegas 103: Fighters Desperate For A Win To Avoid Release
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 15: UFC CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 2024 seasonal ... [+] press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesStakes are high in every fight in the UFC. Sometimes, the stakes can be even higher for fighters who are in must-win situations.Saturdays show at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas is chock-full of fighters who need to win in the worst way. Some or all of them could find themselves released the following week without a victory.Here are the six fighters desperately in need of a victory.Cody BrundageDENVER, COLORADO - JULY 13: Cody Brundage waits backstage during the UFC Fight Night event at Ball ... [+] Arena on July 13, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesThe 30-year-old from Chaplin, South Carolina needs to show something on Saturday against Julian Marquez. Their fight is the co-main event because it could be a great scrap, and not because either man has a great chance to become a contender.Brundage hasnt won a fight since his spectacular slam KO victory over Zach Reese in December 2023. However, Bo Nickal easily handled Brundage at UFC 300 in April 2024, and the latter might have found a way out of another loss to Abdul Razak Alhassan in July 2024.Brundage took an elbow to the back of the head while grounded, and he told the referee and doctor he was unable to continue. There was some speculation that Brundage took the bail out to avoid another loss.On Saturday, hes got to find a way to come up with a win. If a loss doesnt get him released, it likely puts him one more defeat away. Brundages current record in the UFC is 4-5-1.Julian MarquezLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 04: Julian Marquez reacts after his loss to Marc-Andre Barriault of Canada ... [+] in a middleweight fight during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesIt would appear Marquez is definitely in a win-or-go-home situation. Hes currently riding a three-fight losing streak, and all of the defeats came via KO. If he loses to Brundage, Marquezs record will fall to 9-6 overall, and thatll be 3-5 in the UFC.Thats not a good look.Austen LaneLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 27: Austen Lane has his hands wrapped prior to his fight during the UFC ... [+] Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesJob security for fringe UFC heavyweights has been fragileto say the least. No division has seen as many ranked fighters released in the past yearlet alone the unranked combatants who have been given their walking papers.Lane, 37, won his last fight, as he is the man who hammered the final nail in Robelis Despaignes UFC coffin. However, before that, Lane had lost two in a row and was on a three-fight winless streak.If Lane loses to talented newcomer Mario Pinto, he might be indirectly losing his spot on the roster.Andrea LeeBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 19: (R-L) Natalia Silva of Brazil punches Andrea Lee in a flyweight ... [+] fight during the UFC 292 event at TD Garden on August 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesIn perhaps the most up-and-shut case on the card, Lee, who faces JJ Aldrich, is sitting on a nasty five-fight losing streak. The 36-year-old hasnt won a fight since November 2021. A six-fight losing streak for a 36-year-old flyweight is arguably the clearest formula for release in the UFC.Montana De La RosaLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 27: Montana De La Rosa battles Mayra Bueno Silva of Brazil in a ... [+] flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCDe La Rosa is still pretty young at 30, and she beat Lee in her last fight back in June 2024. However, De La Rosas 13-9-1 record is going to look even worse if it gets to 13-10-1.Double-digit losses for a 30-year-old are a tough resume. De La Rosa draws Luana Carolina, who is on a three-fight win streak. You have to think its possibleif not likelythat De La Rosa is out if she doesnt win.Here is a look at the complete card for UFC Vegas 103.It is set for March 1, and the fights start at 4 p.m. ET.Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev FlyweightCody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez MiddleweightNasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics LightweightAusten Lane vs. Mario Pinto HeavyweightWilliam Gomis vs. Hyder Amil FeatherweightDanny Barlow vs. Sam Patterson WelterweightRicardo Ramos vs. Chepe Mariscal FeatherweightDouglas Silva de Andrade vs. John Castaeda BantamweightAndrea Lee vs. JJ Aldrich FlyweightLucas Almeida vs. Danny Silva FeatherweightMontana De La Rosa vs. Luana Carolina FlyweightCharles Johnson vs. Ramazan Temirov Flyweight
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