UFC Fight Night: Holm vs Vieira Preview, Odds, Prediction

Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira clash in the main event of the UFC Fight Night 206. These two ladies lead the card filled with interesting matchups, most of them between fighters with similar quality. Holm and Vieira seek victory on Saturday night because the same opens heaven’s door. For Holm, it could mean another title shot. For Vieira, it is at least a title eliminator and much more lucrative paychecks in the future. Therefore, the stakes are high, especially for Holm, who is 40 years old, and doesn’t have too much time left.

Preview

Holly Holm (-250) presents the synonym for women’s combat sports in the United States. She is the embodiment of all that and probably the biggest name ever in this sport. However, she is 40 years old and doesn’t have too much time to make another historic run and win the title. Holm was absent for the last year and a half, meaning that a win here is imperative for her.

She is a prolific boxer, very accurate and rational. Being the former boxing champion, her movement is much more fluid than most of her rivals’. Jabs are the most frequent weapon she uses, mainly to keep the rivals away from clinching her and score points.

Holly Holm is an exceptional puncher and kicker, though her grappling and wrestling skills are quite well. After losing to Amanda Nunes via TKO, her only in career, Holm returned to the ring in 2020, having two fights against Raquel Pennington and Irene Aldana, and she won both of them via unanimous decision.

Ketlen Vieira (+220) had a very strong start to her MMA career, winning 10 bouts in a row, four of them in the UFC. However, she slowed down in the last three years, splitting two wins and losses across the past four events. Her first defeat came to Irene Aldana via KO.

After that, the Brazilian beat Sijara Eubanks after a unanimous decision but lost the same way to Yana Kunitskaya. However, the latest victory over Miesha Tate at the UFC Fight Night 198 headliner propelled her back to the top of the division.

Unlike Holm, Vieira is a grappler and a wrestler, who likes to take care of the business on the ground where she fells much more comfortable than in the stand up. Like every Brazilian, her jiu-jitsu is perfect, yet in this case, we can’t say that she has a perfect punching and kicking arsenal.

Prediction

Holm is 10 years older than Vieira, but her gas tank is still very respectable. According to what we saw in her recent appearances in the media, Holm is in very good shape, looking slim and tightened up. Vieira is in her prime when it comes to physical abilities, but we sincerely doubt that this could cover up her skills deficit. Simply, Holm is at a much higher level in that aspect of the fight, and on top of all, she is more versatile in the octagon, with all due respect to Vieira’s knowledge. That is why we bet on the former UFC champ to win.

Pick: Holm wins -250