UFC Vegas 103 is a few days away. This Saturday night time, the month of March kicks off from the UFC Apex, the place this week’s installment of UFC Battle Evening originates from. Reside protection of UFC Vegas 103 begins with the undercard at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT on ESPN+ inside the USA.
If you’re a subscriber of Disney Plus, the cardboard might be carried in its entirety on that platform, as effectively. Foremost card motion caps the night off at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on ESPN+ and Disney Plus.
All advised, barring any late changes to the bout order, the ultimate model of the present will function a full 12-fight slate from MMA’s No. 1 promotion. Our concentrate on today is on fights going down throughout the principle card.
UFC Vegas 103 Foremost Occasion: Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev
On the prime of the invoice on the principle card is the lone all-ranked matchup going down your entire night time on Saturday. Flyweights take to the famed UFC Octagon when No. 6 contender Manel Kape (20-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC), a veteran of RIZIN Combating Federation, squares off in opposition to No. 8 contender Asu Almabayev (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC.)
This can be a five-round struggle at 5 minutes per spherical to shut out the present, however Almabayev wasn’t initially presupposed to be Kape’s opponent on Saturday night time. When the March 1 card was confirmed, the sixth-ranked Kape was scheduled to sq. off in opposition to Brandon Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on this contest, however Royval withdrew previous to the present as a consequence of sustaining an damage.
So far as Kape is anxious, he enters the UFC Vegas 103 foremost occasion having gone 4-1 in his final 5 fights relationship again to December of 2021. Most just lately, he returned to the win column because of a third-round knockout (unanswered strikes) of Bruno Silva (14-6-2, 1 NC MMA, 4-3, 1 NC UFC) throughout the year-end UFC Tampa on Dec. 14.
He’s been given a fast turnaround, with simply 77 days having handed between fights by the point the cage door shuts over the weekend. Will the quick hiatus be useful or a hindrance to him?
Throughout the best way, Asu Almabayev is making ready for his third completely different opponent forward of Saturday’s foremost occasion of the night at UFC Vegas 103. Prior bookings between Steve Erceg and Allan Nascimento have been scrubbed, with Erceg now scheduled for March 29 versus Brandon Moreno. Within the case of Nascimento, he gained’t make his 2025 debut till Might 31 in opposition to Jafel Filho.
Almabayev has but to lose since becoming a member of the UFC’s lively roster in August of 2023 as a part of an ongoing 17-fight successful streak. Final trip, he scored a unanimous choice victory over Matheus Nicolau (19-5-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC) again in October on the UFC Apex.
One other victory for Asu Almabayev on Saturday night time would make it 18 in succession. He’ll discover himself within the UFC Flyweight Championship image if he retains this up.
UFC Vegas 103 Co-Foremost Occasion: Cody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez
Instantly prior, the UFC Vegas 103 co-main occasion sees motion within the middleweight ranks as Cody Brundage (10-6, 1 NC MMA, 4-5, 1 NC UFC) battles it out with Julian Marquez (9-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC). Brundage enters the struggle having posted a mark of 2-2 with one no-contest in his previous 5 bouts.
Again in July of final yr at UFC Denver, he noticed his struggle with Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7, 1 NC MMA, 6-7, 1 NC UFC) finish after simply 37 seconds of the opening spherical as a consequence of a no-contest brought on by unlawful blows.
Very similar to each fighters in the principle occasion, Brundage has needed to cope with a change in opponent for this week’s card. Initially, his foe was presupposed to have been 2024 Final Fighter graduate Ryan Loder (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who gained the middleweight last final August, however Loder withdrew from the cardboard again in December. No phrase was given as to why he bowed out of UFC Vegas 103.
In the meantime, Julian Marquez has hit a tough patch of late. He’s gone 2-3 in his final 5 contests and has dropped three in succession.
Throughout UFC Louisville on June 8 of final yr, he was on the dropping finish of a first-round knockout by Zach Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) on the KFC Yum! Middle. Marquez hasn’t gained in near 4 years’ time. Can he flip it round on Saturday night time?
UFC Vegas 103: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Esteban Ribovics
Additionally on the UFC Vegas 103 foremost card on Saturday, you’ll be seeing a light-weight affair pitting Nasrat Haqparast (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in opposition to Esteban Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC). Haqparast might be making the stroll on the energy of a 4-1 document in his final 5 fights.
Presently, he’s gained three fights in a row. Again in June of final yr, throughout the UFC’s first journey to Saudi Arabia, he scored a break up choice victory over Jared Gordon (20-7, 1 NC MMA, 8-6, 1 NC UFC) after quarter-hour of motion.
Haqparast is on a roll of late, however his opponent within the different nook isn’t any slouch, both. Esteban Ribovics is sporting a 4-1 document of his personal. Like Haqparast, he’s additionally gained three bouts in succession.
Throughout Noche UFC final September on the Las Vegas Sphere, he bested Daniel Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) by way of break up choice. This can be a struggle between two opponents down an identical paths on the highway to glory. Who will proceed to drive ahead this weekend?
Remaining Ideas
Which foremost card struggle or fights are you wanting ahead to on UFC Vegas 103? Tell us within the feedback.
