MMA Preview – Tracy Cortez vs Melissa Gatto at UFC 274
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TRACY CORTEZ VS MELISSA GATTO FACTS
When is UFC 274? Sunday 8th May, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 274? Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 274? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 274
What channel is UFC 274 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 274? 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!
TRACY CORTEZ VS MELISSA GATTO LOWDOWN
Tracy Cortez (9-1) could be in the flyweight title picture by now if she had fought more than twice since 2019. That year, she racked up a couple vintage unanimous decision wins over Mariya Agapova on the Contender Series and Vanessa Melo on her debut. A year later, she added another unanimous decision to the win column beating Stephanie Egger and only got one fight in last year again which was a split decision over Justine Kish extending her win streak to nine.
Melissa Gatto (8-0-2) has started her UFC career in more exciting fashion. Prior to her debut she earnt an impressive submission over Karol Rosa on a Nacao Cyborg card although that was back in 2018. Four cancelled bouts and a ban later, she finally made her debut last year when she TKO’d Victoria Leonardo breaking her arm and finishing Sijara Eubanks sparked by a brilliant body kick.
TRACY CORTEZ VS MELISSA GATTO PREDICTION
This is a very interesting match-up between two ladies who are very unfamiliar with losing. They are both grapplers by trade – Cortez is more of a wrestler and Gatto a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. Gatto’s striking has also improved over the years so she will be confident on the feet and off her back.
It is safe to say Cortez will try and get the Brazilian on her back, but she will be taking a huge risk. Gatto will be aggressive and has the skill to find a submission and if she can reverse positions to land in top position herself, Cortez will be in even more trouble.
We expect their grappling to cancel each other out for portions of the fight where will we not see the highest skill of exchanges, but we would back Gatto to win them with her power and speed.
Cortez can compete at the top of the division, but her reliance on her wrestling could work against her here. We can see a grinding Cortez decision or a Gatto submission and as the Brazilian is the underdog, she is the smart money.
Prediction: Gatto via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Gatto to win
