MMA Preview – Maycee Barber vs Alexa Grasso at UFC 258
MAYCEE BARBER VS ALEXA GRASSO FACTS
When is UFC 258? Sunday 14th February, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 258? UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 258? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC 258 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 258? 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!
MAYCEE BARBER VS ALEXA GRASSO LOWDOWN
Maycee Barber (8-1) was touted as a future title contender after just a couple UFC fights and was living up to the hype until Roxanne Modafferi schooled her at UFC 246. A unanimous decision loss to Modafferi will do nothing for her title aspirations and she has been out for a year since with a knee injury which hampered her in the fight. However, she can learn from the loss and build back up carrying the momentum from the three savage TKO’s over Hannah Cifers, JJ Aldrich and Gilian Robertson.
If she can get past Alexa Grasso (12-3) then the hype train will leave the station again as Grasso has the makings of a future title contender as well, improving with every fight. She has fought the two best wrestlers in the strawweight division already in Tatiana Suarez and Carla Esparza and looked good against Esparza. She also has good decision wins over Randa Markos, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and recently marked her flyweight debut with another unanimous decision win over Ji Yeon Kim.
MAYCEE BARBER VS ALEXA GRASSO PREDICTION
We expect both fighters to look great fighting in their more natural class of flyweight. Barber has had a lot of time to reflect on her first loss and she has also started training at the Valle Flow Striking Academy which is a great move for her training with established UFC fighters including Julianna Pena. So, we expect Barber to be back to her best but that may not necessarily be enough against Grasso.
Barber is an explosive striker, and she will try and hurt Grasso on the feet early and hope to land in top control to unleash her ground-and-pound. However, Grasso’s stand-up is getting more dangerous and she has smoother technique. She has great movement popping in and out of range and we back her to get the better of Barber in the exchanges.
Grasso also has decent jiu-jitsu although she will be in trouble if she ends up on her back. If Barber starts to eat too many shots, she should look for a takedown and she has the power to pin her down raining down punches.
Grasso is the favourite, and we back her to earn a decision although we have a feeling Barber could come out the gate like a bull and cause an upset.
Prediction: Grasso via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Barber via KO/TKO
