Pre-Fight Stock Report: UFC 240

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday pitches its tent in Canada, as UFC 240 invades Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Stakes are high across the board.

WHO HAS THE MOST TO GAIN?

Frankie Edgar: Despite his lack of activity, Edgar is cashing in on what could be his final chance at another UFC title. At 37 years of age, Edgar has not shown too many signs of slowing down, but all too often in MMA, the decline comes abruptly and without warning. If Edgar can come out and seamlessly weave together his boxing and wrestling against a dominant champion in Max Holloway, then he has the opportunity to go down in history as a two-division titleholder. Should Edgar succeed, retirement seems like a distinct possibility. With nothing left to prove, it would be a dream scenario for “The Answer.”

Felicia Spencer: Entering a pay-per-view co-headliner against one of the most terrifying fighters on the planet is no easy task, but Spencer has a clear path to victory: wrestling, wrestling and more wrestling. While young in her MMA career, Spencer is a talented and experienced grappler and will undoubtedly look to engage in clinch exchanges early and often in her fight with Cristiane Justino. Coming into this bout, Spencer has little fanfare of which to speak, but an undefeated start to her career has led to her biggest opportunity to date. A win over “Cyborg” would send her stock skyrocketing as one of the top breakout candidates of 2019. Spencer will enter the cage as a significant underdog and one without much to lose.

Geoff Neal: A Texas native and Fortis MMA product, Neal comes into his first appearance on a pay-per-view main card with a bit of steam. Coming off of a successful showing on Dana White’s Contender Series, Neal is undefeated in three UFC fights, his run highlighted by a devastating head kick knockout of Frank Camacho in September. On the biggest stage of his career, Neal is facing off with another bright welterweight prospect in Niko Price. The UFC has made a concerted effort to push promising DWCS alums, and Neal fits the bill. A win over Price, especially a finish, could vault him into the Top 15 at 170 pounds.

WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE?

Max Holloway: In a venture up to the lightweight division for an interim title bout against Dustin Poirier, Holloway’s stock did not drop significantly despite the fact that he lost a decision to “The Diamond” at UFC 236. The setback was Holloway’s first in 13 fights, and he has been downright dominant as featherweight champion. He will put his title on the line against Edgar as a substantial favorite and deservedly so. If Holloway suffers a second straight loss, it would put a serious dent in the young champion’s legacy and leave him somewhere he has not been since 2013: on the outside looking in. Holloway has become known as a brash and boisterous champion once the cage door closes and does not figure to shy away from this persona after his loss to Poirier. Expect him to try to prove a point against Edgar and silence any doubters who might have sprung up in the last three-plus months.

Cristiane Justino: Many were left to wonder what direction Justino’s career would go after she suffered her first defeat since her MMA debut in 2005. A first-round knockout loss to Amanda Nunes put the former champion in a strange space, but she gets her shot a redemption against Spencer in the co-main event. A win here almost certainly nets “Cyborg” a rematch with Nunes, provided contract negotiations with the UFC are successful. Justino will enter the cage with this being the last fight on her current deal. A victory gives her all the leverage, while another loss would leave her to test the free agent waters once again. Will “Cyborg” come out in typical form and hunt the finish in what could be her final appearance inside the Octagon?

Viviane Araujo: After a brutal one-punch knockout win in her UFC debut, Araujo shot up breakout prospect lists. In her follow-up appearance, she has been given a featured preliminary fight against what appears to be a declining veteran in Alexis Davis. This looks like the UFC’s first attempt to build Araujo into a contender, and in a bout where she has much to gain, she also has everything to lose. The women’s flyweight division remains in its infancy, so a victory over a Top 10-ranked fighter would send Araujo’s stock soaring even higher. A finisher through and through, “Vivi” has submissions in her arsenal but would seem to have a more decided advantage on the feet. There, punching power rare for the weight class gives the Brazilian her best opportunity to cash in on the most significant opportunity of her career thus far.