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AJ FLETCHER VS THEMBA GORIMBO FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 219? Saturday 18th February, 2023 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 219? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 219? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 219 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 219? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
AJ FLETCHER VS THEMBA GORIMBO LOWDOWN
The AJ Fletcher (9-2) hype train has been thoroughly derailed failing to rise to the UFC standard so far. When he made his appearance on the Contender Series in 2021, he was coming off two first round submissions and extended his unbeaten record with a spectacular flying knee on Leonardo Damiani. However, he has lost both his UFC fights last year via unanimous decision to Matt Semelsberger and Ange Loosa. Now, he needs to a serious performance to stay afloat.
Hoping to sink the barrel of muscle is Themba Gorimbo (10-3). He made a name for himself for EFC in his native South Africa. He racked up three finishes in a row but has been inactive since. He made one appearance in 2021 losing a unanimous decision to Handesson Ferreira (UAE Warriors) and fought once last year responding with a decision of his own over Julio Rafael Rodrigues (Fury FC).
AJ FLETCHER VS THEMBA GORIMBO PREDICTION
Gorimbo was preparing for Billy Goff and now has a very different frame in front of him. He will boast a nine-inch reach advantage and he will try and use every one of those inches to keep Fletcher as a distance.
He is a very dangerous striker, but we do not expect him to keep Fletcher at bay. Fletcher is brilliant at closing the distance. He is like a stick of dynamite and as soon as he is in range, he will be a knockout threat.
However, considering the skid, we expect Fletcher to play it safe and look for the takedown. Once he gets his hands on Gorimbo, he should be able to throw him down and pin him to the canvas. Fletcher will enjoy raining down the ground-and-pound, but as soon as the neck presents itself, Fletcher will wrap up a choke.
Prediction: Fletcher via Submission - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)