MMA Preview – Irena Alekseeva vs Melissa Dixon at UFC Fight Night 230
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IRENA ALEKSEEVA VS MELISSA DIXON FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 230? Saturday 14th October, 2023 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 230? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 230? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 230 on? TNT Sports 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 230? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
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!
IRENA ALEKSEEVA VS MELISSA DIXON LOWDOWN
Irina Alekseeva (5-1) drew a lot of attention on her UFC debut. She last fought at Bellator 269 in 2021 earning a unanimous decision over Stephanie Ielo Page and eventually made her entrance back in April at UFC on ESPN 45. She met judo specialist Stephanie Egger, and showcased her own grappling skills to cinch up a kneebar in the first round.
Now, it is her turn to welcome a debutant to the octagon. Melissa Dixon (5-0) has fought her pro career for Golden Ticket Fight Promotions and Ares FC off the back of going 3-4 as an amateur gaining valuable experience. She is coming off her best performance to date handing Darya Zheleznyakova (2022) the first loss of her career pounding her out in the first round.
IRENA ALEKSEEVA VS MELISSA DIXON PREDICTION
Despite their lack of experience, the winner of this fight will gain a lot of stock in the shallow bantamweight division. They are both very talented fighters with somewhat contrasting skillsets. Alekseeva hails from a sambo background and is an aggressive grappler with slick submissions in the locker as we have seen.
Dixon can wrestle, but her strengths lay in her striking and she will be wise to try and keep this on the feet. That said, Alekseeva is expected to take her down at ease and is why she is such a big favourite.
We can see Dixon creating space and lighting the Russian up on the feet, so we understand why she is the favourite. However, we cannot see her takedown defence holding up for three rounds and we expect Alekseeva to assume enough control time to sway the judges.
Prediction: Alekseeva via Decision
Value bet: Alekseeva to win
