As the calendar changes to October this weekend, there is a lot of anticipation for UFC 280 later this month, and rightfully so. Still, the organization kicks things off inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada with a great Fight Night card headlined by Mackenzie Dern vs Yan Xiaonan at UFC Vegas 61. Two top women’s strawweight contenders, both are in prime position to challenge Carla Esparza for the division belt, and Saturday plays a major part in seeing that realized.
Watch UFC Vegas 61
- When: Saturday, October 1, 2022
- Prelims Start Time: 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST
- Main Card Start Time: 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST
- Location: UFC APEX – Las Vegas, Nevada
- How to Watch: ESPN+
As of Monday morning, the card hasn’t been officially set but it can be constructed using prior announcements and the sportsbook odds. Octagon legend Aleksei Oleinik is slated to finally face Ilir Latifi in the heavyweight fight that was originally slated for this spring before Latifi fell ill. The organization’s oldest fighter at 44 years old, Oleinik is coming off of a victory over Jared Vanderaa that snapped a three-fight losing streak. The card is currently short a fight on the main slate, and Oleinik vs Latifi should claim that vacancy**.
Mackenzie Dern vs Yan Xiaonan Fight Preview
Dern (12-2-0) entered the UFC with a perfect record and has held her own in the Octagon since, posting a 7-2 record. A submission specialist, she has been on both sides of a decision recently, losing to Marina Rodriguez by unanimous decision in the headline of Fight Night last October before rebounding with a split decision victory over Tecia Torres at UFC 273 in April. This Saturday night in Las Vegas, she is a surprising favorite over Xiaonan (15-3-0).
On paper, this contest is pretty even, though any perceived advantage should lean toward Xiaonan getting the win. She and Dern each have a reach of 63 inches, despite Xiaonan having a one-inch height advantage at 5’5”. The Brazilian, Dern, is four years younger, with one more match in the UFC than her opponent from China who has a similar Octagon record at 6-2. Both athletes can have shown they can finish a fight early, but it is how Xiaonan fights that should worry Dern. She is a strong grappler and an even better striker.
Xiaonan lands more shots per minute and more significant ones at that. Of her 18 career fights, she has finished five of them by TKO/KO, though she has yet to pull off the feat in the UFC. If Dern can weather the storm on their feet, Xiaonan is great at takedowns, securing one per match at a 66-percent rate. Surprisingly, however, she has not won by submission. If she can pull off the upset, she would make some noise for a redemption opportunity against Esparza who ended Xiaonan’s undefeated streak in the UFC early last year.
UFC Vegas 61 Fight Card and Odds
Main Card
- # 5 Mackenzie Dern (-210) vs #6 Yan Xiaonan (+180) – Women’s Strawweight
- Randy Brown (-280) vs Francisco Trinaldo (+235) – Welterweight
- #12 Sodiq Yusuff (–) vs Don Shainis (–) – Featherweight
- John Castaneda (-210) vs Daniel Santos (+180) – Bantamweight
- Mike Davis (-175) vs Viecheslav Borschev (+150) – Lightweight
- Aleksei Oleinik (+145) vs Ilir Latifi (-170) – Heavyweight **
Preliminary Card
- Raoni Barcelos (-215) vs Trevin Jones (+185) – Bantamweight
- #15 Jessica Penne (+145) vs Tabatha Ricci (-170) – Women’s Strawweight
- John Castaneda (-210) vs Daniel Santos (+180) – Bantamweight
- Julija Stoliarenko (-115) vs Chelsea Chandler (-105) – Women’s Bantamweight
- Jesse Ronson (+115) vs Joaquim Silva (-135) – Lightweight
- Krzysztof Jotko vs Brendan Allen (-105) – Middleweight
- Philipe Lins (+150) vs Maxim Grishin (-175) – Heavyweight
- Guido Cannetti (+240) vs Randy Costa (-285) – Bantamweight
