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This weekend sees New York City play host to a huge event in the form of UFC 281. Understandably, the focus is on the two title bouts that headline the card, as well as Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler.
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While everyone is looking forward to UFC 281’s title bouts, the event is undoubtedly a loaded one overall. So, there are plenty of undercard fights to look forward to as well.
With former title challengers, hot prospects and genuine legends in action, this is an event that no fan should want to miss.
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Here are five undercard fights at UFC 281 that are well worth watching.
#5. UFC light heavyweight bout: Dominick Reyes vs. Ryan Spann
It’s been a long time since UFC fans have seen former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes in action, as ‘The Devastator’ has not fought since his May 2021 defeat to Jiri Prochazka. To be honest, few would blame him for taking a long layoff.
When he came close to beating Jon Jones for the 205lb crown back in February 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic began, nobody could’ve guessed that just over two years later, he’d be on a three-fight skid.
However, while many fans expected him to win the title that Jones eventually vacated, he instead fell by KO to Jan Blachowicz. He then suffered his defeat to Prochazka upon his return.
Despite this, ‘The Devastator’ is still only 32 years old. Assuming he’s recovered from those two knockout losses, he could definitely climb back into title contention if he can win big this weekend. After all, there’s no shame in losing to Blachowicz and Prochazka, who now holds the title.
So can he defeat Ryan Spann? It definitely won’t be an easy bout for him. ‘Superman’ isn’t the most durable fighter in the division, but he does hold an octagon record of 6-2. Most recently, he impressed in a win over Ion Cutelaba.
If Reyes comes in at his best, then his striking power should be enough to win this one, but a victory for Spann isn’t impossible. If ‘Superman’ pulls it off, he ought to be considered a contender in his own right. Overall, this looks like a great fight and it’s well worth watching.
#4. UFC lightweight bout: Brad Riddell vs. Renato Moicano
The top-billed fight on this UFC 281’s preliminary card sees lightweight standouts Brad Riddell and Renato Moicano squaring off. It’s a sign of the depth of this show that both of these men have been ranked in the top 15 in recent years.
It’s true that both men have fallen on hard times of sorts in recent months, with Riddell coming off two straight losses and Moicano suffering a defeat to fellow Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos in his most recent bout. However, they’re still highly talented in their own right.
How will this one go? On paper at least, it should be a classic meeting of striker and grappler. Riddell will want to keep things standing to land his combinations on Moicano, who is more well-renowned for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
However, Moicano may not be as outgunned standing as some may think. He’s looked good on the feet in the past, dropping Cub Swanson in their 2018 fight and also using his leg kicks to pick apart Calvin Kattar, too.
Riddell will be the bigger man and should be hopeful of landing something big to put Moicano away – as Rafael Fiziev did when they fought. Either way, this one should be exciting and could be a dark horse contender for the Fight of the Night award.
#3. UFC flyweight bout: Molly McCann vs. Erin Blanchfield
While she’s only ranked at the very bottom of the UFC flyweight division’s top 15, it’d be hard to find another female 125lber with more momentum than Liverpool’s Molly McCann right now.
‘Meatball’ is coming off a pair of big-time knockouts, finishes that turned her into a star with UFC fans earlier this year.
However, it’s arguable that while McCann’s infectious personality has made her a must-see attraction, it’s Erin Blanchfield who deserves slightly more hype.
McCann is on a three-fight win streak, but she does hold three losses in the UFC too. Blanchfield, on the other hand, is unbeaten at 3-0, has only suffered a single loss in her MMA career, and looked phenomenal in her victory over JJ Aldrich in the summer.
Worryingly for ‘Meatball’, Blanchfield is also an excellent grappler. Her background is in jiu-jitsu, but in her win over Miranda Maverick, she set the flyweight division’s record for takedowns by hitting eight of them.
Given that McCann has had problems with grapplers like Taila Santos before, this could prove to be her downfall. But after the way she dispatched Hannah Goldy in her last fight, she probably doesn’t fear anyone right now.
Overall this fight could go either way and given the form of both women, it’s an absolute must-see bout.
#2. UFC bantamweight bout: Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez
If all goes according to plan, UFC 281 will see a true legend in the form of former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar finally hanging up his gloves. It’s been a long time coming for ‘The Answer’, as some fans have called for his retirement for a long time, dating back to his 2019 loss to Chan Sung Jung.
Since then, Edgar has dropped to 135lbs, but rather than giving him a fresh start, the move has only exposed his waning durability further. He’s been on the wrong end of horrible knockouts at the hands of Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera in his last two bouts.
At the age of 41, there’s no doubt that stepping away from the octagon is the right call for him to make. The only question is whether he can go out with a win, or whether he’ll suffer another nasty defeat.
On the one hand, Chris Gutierrez is definitely a more beatable opponent than Sandhagen or Vera, who are amongst the most dangerous fighters in the world right now at 135lbs.
On the other hand, though, ‘El Guapo’ is also on a seven-fight unbeaten streak in the octagon and clearly has a lot of talent, even if he’s only scored one stoppage during that run – a spinning backfist knockout of Danaa Batgerel.
If Edgar can chain his boxing in with his takedowns as he once did, then this story could have a happy ending. However, it’s impossible to count a prospect like Gutierrez out. He’ll be hungry to take out a legend to make his own name.
In the end, regardless of how this one goes, it should be emotional to see ‘The Answer’ hang up his gloves, meaning it’s definitely a must-see fight.
#1. UFC lightweight bout: Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles
Outside of the top three bouts, UFC 281’s most intriguing clash is definitely the lightweight fight between Dan Hooker and Claudio Puelles. Not only does it pit two exciting fighters against one another, but it will also see a hardened veteran attempt to turn back the challenge of a highly dangerous prospect.
Perhaps the only reason Puelles doesn’t have more hype around him is the fact that he’s fought rather sporadically since making his octagon debut back in 2016. Since then, he’s put together a five-fight win streak, but five fights in six years simply isn’t enough to gain true traction.
This bout will be the Peruvian’s fourth since last summer, though, meaning that if he can pick up a win, particularly with a finish, it’ll be impossible to ignore him any longer.
Puelles is a deadly grappler who specializes in leglocks, with three kneebar finishes in the octagon to his name. Can he cope with the length, reach and striking skills of Hooker, though? That’s the big question.
In his prime, Hooker’s wins over the likes of Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta made him a genuine contender. However, ‘The Hangman’ has hit a skid in recent years, suffering four losses in his last five bouts.
Those losses did come to Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, Islam Makhachev and Arnold Allen – four of the most talented fighters in the UFC. There should be no shame in those losses, but equally, the Kiwi is now 32 years old and has suffered plenty of damage, making it fair to question his durability.
This should be a truly fascinating fight, and whoever wins can expect to climb the ladder, perhaps into the top 15. That makes it a must-see clash for sure.
