Preview: UFC 274 Prelims

Bantamweights

NR | Fernando Garcia (10-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. NR | Journey Newson (9-3, 0-2 UFC)

ODDS: Garcia (-150), Newson (+130)

Newson is a fun fighter, but this might be his last chance to secure his first official UFC win. Newson acquitted himself well in his 2019 late-notice debut, surviving 15 minutes with Ricardo Ramos and showing off the counter-heavy boxing game that makes up the bulk of his style. Things started off well enough for Newson in 2020, as he landed one of those big shots to knock out Domingo Pilarte in just 38 seconds. However, that win was eventually overturned due to a failed drug test for marijuana, and Newson’s next fight saw him get finished by Randy Costa in under a minute. After over a year and a half out of action, Newson takes on a UFC newcomer. Garcia does not pop as a future contender in a deep bantamweight division, but he is a rock-solid fighter with some good ideas built around pressure boxing and throwing the occasional combination. Garcia can be defensively lax at times, but the main criticism as he headed up the ranks was a surprising lack of knockout power, which made it a promising sign when he was able to finish Joshua Weems to earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He is not bulletproof defensively, so there is a chance for Newson to end this with one huge counter, but this seems like a bout where Garcia can keep a high pace and win a war of attrition.

FEELY'S PREDICTION: The pick is Garcia via second-round knockout.

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