UFC Kansas City: Saaiman v Wellmaker Preview and Prediction

Headlining the event is a clash of top 15 welterweights as Ian Machado Garry collides with Carlos Prates.

PRELIMS

Cameron Saaiman (1.95) v Malcolm Wellmaker (1.80) (Bantamweight

When: Sunday, April 27, 12:00 AM SAST

South African prodigy Saaiman returns from a 13-month layoff in which he’s regrouped and rebuilt himself for this weekend’s pivotal bantamweight battle.

“MSP” started his career with nine straight victories, including capturing the EFC bantamweight championship and triumphing in his first three fights in the UFC over Steven Koslow (TKO), Mana Martinez (decision) and Terrence Mitchell (TKO), before suffering his first loss against Christian Rodriguez (decision) and going down to Payton Talbott (TKO) last March.

He looked comfortable and light on his feet initially against the then-undefeated Talbott and showed a great chin and heart to survive a brutal first-round storm that included a step-in knee and wicked elbow before he walked into a left hook and was finished early in the second.

As one of the youngest fighters on the UFC roster, Saaiman (9-2 with six knockouts and one submission) has time on his side and wisely took a step back to recover and recalibrate. Still only 24, Dricus du Plessis’ protégé plans on reintroducing himself and returning to winning ways, but he has his work cut out for him.

Wellmaker is a perfect 8-0 with six finishes (four knockouts and two submissions). The undefeated American punched his ticket to the UFC in style on Dana White’s Contender Series by face-planting Adam Bramhald with a devastating first-round knockout last August that also landed him a spot on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Top 10 list.

At 30, he’s on the older side of talent White has historically signed but his stunning finish and unblemished record made him undeniable. “The Machine” isn’t the only one with one-punch knockout power, though. Saaiman has equally heavy hands, so don’t blink in what promises to be a banger.

Speed, footwork, shot selection and accuracy are the keys to victory for Saaiman. He’s quite small for a 135-pounder in the UFC and will have to find a way inside with Wellmaker, who’s the taller man by two inches at 5’10”, set to enjoy a four-and-a-half-inch reach advantage.

There’s no such thing in the UFC as an easy fight and this excellent piece of matchmaking reaffirms that. It’s a tough one to call as Wellmaker, for as dangerous as he is, is untested at the highest level. At the end of the day, it’s Saaiman’s high-level experience that should prove decisive.

Prediction: Saaiman by decision.
Best Bet: Saaiman at 1.95.
Alternative Bet: Saaiman by decision (check markets).