Preview: UFC Vegas 101 Prelims

Middleweights

Marco Tulio (12-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ihor Potieria (20-7, 2-5 UFC)

ODDS: Tulio (-500), Potieria (+380)

It took Tulio two tries on the Contender Series to earn a contract, which is increasingly common, though he actually won both times rather than having to redeem himself for a loss. He put in a solid performance to win in 2023, but the UFC initially passed on him due to the whims of UFC CEO Dana White. At any rate, the Brazilian cashed in with a finish in his Contender Series return in August, and he should be a solid entrant to the middleweight division, owing to a pressure-focused style that has seen “Matuto” do a bit of everything. He should be ready to go to war against Potieria, who’s increasingly looking like he will be known as the man who retired Mauricio Rua and little else. Potieria came to the UFC as a light heavyweight via the Contender Series in 2021, and the Ukrainian was a bit of a mystery man. He seemed to have the requisite athleticism and durability to get by but wasn’t particularly proven after facing a weak level of competition. Potieria has shown some solid aggression, but the win over Rua was one of the few times it actually worked, and his durability hasn’t held up particularly well, even if “The Duelist” does seem stouter after a cut to 185 pounds. Potieria might be able to eat enough offense to outlast Tulio in a sloppy war. However, Tulio seems to be a focused enough fighter to slowly break Potieria down. The pick is Tulio via second-round stoppage.

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