Pre-Fight Stock Report: UFC Fight Night 157
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WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE?
Jessica Andrade: In wake of just the fourth slam knockout in UFC title fight history, Andrade sits pretty atop the women’s strawweight division, where her scary combination of power, cardio and aggression make for a tough day at the office for even the most battled-tested contenders. In the first defense of her title, the Brazilian faces Zhang -- a young Chinese up-and-comer with an undefeated UFC record but little fanfare of which to speak. This appears to be a lose-lose scenario for Andrade. While a win would see “Bate Estaca” retain her championship, Zhang remains a virtual unknown to everyone but hardcore fans. As such, the pairing figures to do little to improve upon Andrade’s legacy while also serving as an incredibly risky challenge against a dangerous opponent.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos: After compiling a seven-fight winning streak that included three consecutive finishes, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Zaleski dos Santos would be ushered into Top 15 competition. Instead, he must continue to navigate his way through a talent-rich welterweight division, this time against a potent striker in Jingliang Li. This assignment seemingly does little for Zaleski dos Santos and begs an important question: What does the man have to do to earn a fight against a ranked opponent? While the matchup represents an exciting affair on paper by pitting striker against striker, it has the look of risky business for Zaleski dos Santos. Li is a powerful puncher and capable of shutting out the lights on any welterweight on a given night. With a clear grappling advantage, Zaleski dos Santos would be wise to hunt takedowns and chain together submission attempts.
Kai Kara-France: When the UFC began purging its flyweight division, Kara-France was one of the few to remain on the roster. As he looks to put forth a third consecutive UFC win, he could potentially find himself in an advantageous position, given the barren landscape currently present at 125 pounds. Kara-France has been tasked with dispatching Mark De La Rosa, an opportunistic submission fighter with something to prove after a lopsided loss in his most recent outing. A win could see Kara-France evolve into a breakout contender in a division lacking much intrigue; a loss, however, kills his momentum.
WHO HAS THE MOST TO GAIN?
Weili Zhang: After just three appearances inside the UFC, Zhang finds herself vying for the women’s strawweight title. While this opportunity may prove to be too much too soon for Zhang, her 19-1 record speaks for itself, and given her combination of physical size and well roundedness, she has what it takes to give the champion problems. Zhang’s greatest chance at success in this match is to look to match Andrade’s pace and mix in the threat of a takedown as much as possible. It does not seem likely that Zhang will knock out Andrade with a single shot, but if she can drag the fight into the championship rounds, she may be able to make the Brazilian’s pace work against her.
Jingliang Li: Every so often, the UFC rewards fighters who are constant sources of entertainment, and Li serves as a prime example. The China Top Team representative has a knack for separating people from their senses, and that tendency has landed him in the biggest fight of his career against a Top 15-ranked opponent in Zaleski dos Santos, on his home turf no less. One would be hard-pressed to find a more significant silver-platter opportunity for Li, and if he can go out and finish Zaleski dos Santos as a heavy underdog, he may catapult himself to welterweight contention. While on paper this match has the makings of a strikers’ delight, Zaleski dos Santos has not hesitated to take fights to the mat when he feels he holds an advantage there. Li should be wary of takedown attempts while he looks to land a signature knockout blow on his opponent in hopes of writing his own ticket to the Top 15.
Yanan Wu: Despite starting her UFC career 1-1, Wu has a clear path to success in the women’s flyweight division. Wu is a finisher, and in a division lacking consistent finishing ability, the UFC will be enticed by her knack for finding the opponent’s chin. Wu wants to build on a first-round finish of Lauren Murphy, and if the 23-year-old prospect can churn out another stoppage, she will be on the radar of prospects to watch in a young division hungry for talent. Look for Wu to avoid grappling exchanges with Mizuki Inoue and utilize her size and striking advantages to put together back-to-back wins.
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