Fighting out of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gaziev has had mixed results since landing in the UFC via a first-round stoppage win on Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series, posting three wins, two finishes, and two losses in his first five fights. Saturday night, he aims to bounce back after getting stopped by Dominican standout Waldo Cortes Acosta last time out in Qatar.
MORE: Brando Pericic Is A Man In A Hurry
Pericic has been a force through his first two UFC starts, needing less than two minutes to dispatch both Elisha Ellison and Louie Sutherland, establishing himself as a rising talent to track in the big boy ranks. “The Balkan Bear” has earned first-round finishes in each of his last four outings and thus far looks like a potential ascending force in the heavyweight division.
This is the kind of matchup that is going to answer the questions swirling around each man, as Gaziev has faltered against the best competition he’s faced, but looks sharp against lesser foes, while Pericic is taking a step up to facing a ranked opponent for the first time after making quick work of a pair of neophytes. The heavyweight landscape is shifting, and a dominant effort from either man here should propel them into an even bigger matchup next time out.
Tai Tuivasa vs Louie Sutherland
The main card opens in the heavyweight division as beloved Aussie veteran Tai Tuivasa returns to action for the second time this year, taking on Louie Sutherland.
