MMA Preview – Stefan Struve vs Tai Tuivasa at UFC 254
STEFAN STRUVE VS TAI TUIVASA FACTS
When is UFC 254? Saturday 24th September, 2020 - 17:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 254? Flash Forum, Fight Island, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 254? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC 254 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC 254? 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!
STEFAN STRUVE VS TAI TUIVASA LOWDOWN
After picking up the 18th submission of his career wrapping Marcos Rogerio de Lima up in an arm-triangle, Stefan Struve (29-12) fulfilled his contract and flirted with retirement. Fortunately, after a few months off, he signed a new deal and fought Ben Rothwell back in December. Unfortunately for him, he got knocked out losing his fourth fight in his last five. The heavyweight division can be brutal and it does not get any easier.
Tai Tuivasa (9-3) has tasted that brutality losing his last three fights. Prior to this, he was undefeated coming off a win over Andrei Arlovski, but he then met the former champion Junior dos Santos getting knocked out in the second round. He then got outpointed by Blagoy Ivanov and submitted by Sergey Spivak via arm triangle which will wet the lips of Struve.
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STEFAN STRUVE VS TAI TUIVASA PREDICTION
Most Struve fights leave you scratching your head as to why he does not make the most out of his reach. He will have a nine-inch arm and 10-inch height advantage, but you would still back Tuivasa in the stand-up battle.
The Aussie is deceptively quick and his explosiveness will allow him to burst into the pocket and offload on Struve’s chin. Struve could keep Tuivasa at a distance with his jab but his best chance is to get the fight to the floor. His length combined with his technique will tie Tuivasa up like putty but he has to get him off his feet first.
If the fight goes to the floor you have to back Struve for a submission but Tuivasa knows he just needs to avoid the takedown and his dynamism should allow him to stay on his feet and break the range of Struve to deliver a flurry and vintage knockout.
Prediction: Tuivasa via KO/TKO
