Five Under-The-Radar Storylines For UFC 272

The UFC is back on pay-per-view this weekend, and they bought a massive matchup in the welterweight division as well as a nasty feud that will be settled. No. 1 ranked Colby Covington fights his former teammate and roommate No. 6 ranked Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 272. In the co-main event, Rafael Dos Anjos returns from a lengthy layoff to fight fellow Brazilian Renato Moicano, who is taking the fight on less than a week’s notice. However, if you look past the main and co-main event, there are some under-the-radar storylines.

BAD BLOOD

The main event isn’t the only fight with some nasty bad blood surrounding it. Former teammates Maryna Moroz and Mariya Agapova throw down on the ESPN prelims. Last year Moroz gave an interview to a Russian outlet and accused Agapova of drug use and making threats, which ultimately led to Agapova being kicked out of the gym. After finding a new gym and taking some time off, Agapova returned to the octagon in October and finished Sabina Mazo. After her win, she would call Moroz out and say she wanted to punish her. Well, she got her wish. It will be almost two years since Moroz has fought when she enters the octagon on Saturday.

Banger of the Week

There are a couple of options for banger of the week for UFC 272; however, one stands out among the rest, Jalin Turner vs. Jamie Mullarkey. The pair of hard-hitting lightweights were actually scheduled to fight back in 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker in New Zealand, however, unfortunately, Mullarkey had to pull out with an injury. Since then, both guys have been on a tear. Mullarkey has knocked out his last two opponents, and Turner is riding a three-fight winning streak with three finishes. This fight will not be going three rounds.

Welterweight Kevin Holland

Everyone’s favorite ‘big mouth’ is making his welterweight debut at UFC 272. Kevin Holland hasn’t fought at welterweight since his loss to Curtis Millender in 2017. The move to 170 has been in the back of Holland’s mind for a minute, and after going on the first losing streak of his UFC career, something had to change. Holland will be making his welterweight debut against Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira. This will also be Holland’s first fight in front of a crowd in over two years, and he is excited.

No. 1 Contender fight ON THE PRELIMS??????????

I will never understand the bout order of the UFC; it gives me a headache sometimes. No. 3 ranked strawweight Marina Rodriguez fights No. 4 Yan Xiaonan on the ESPN prelims, and if Rodriguez wins, she will be fighting for the title next. The Brazilian is riding a three-fight win streak since her only loss to former champion Carla Esparza, in a fight that many people thought she won. Xiaonan is coming off her first UFC loss that snapped her six-fight winning streak. If Xiaonan gets a win over Rodriguez, she could potentially steal her title shot. It is dumb that this fight is on the prelims but to quote the great Max Holloway, ‘it is what it is.’

Must win for Greg Hardy?

Is it possible that Greg Hardy is on the chopping block? The former NFL defensive lineman is riding a two-fight losing streak, being finished in both of them. All of his wins are over fighters that are not in the UFC anymore. Interestingly, Hardy is on the last fight of his contract, and if he loses, the UFC could definitely cut ties. He fights Sergey Spivak on the UFC 272 main card.