Preview: UFC Fight Night 202 Prelims

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Women’s Featherweights

NR | Josiane Nunes (8-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. NR | Ramona Pascual (6-2, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Nunes (-210), Pascual (+175)

Nunes’ UFC debut was a proof of concept that, if nothing else, marks the Brazilian as an entertaining fighter to watch going forward. A stocky 5-foot-2, Nunes’ available pre-UFC footage was a bit of an adventure. “Josi” did not look particularly impressive during parts of her bouts, but they mostly ended the same way, with Nunes eventually blasting her opponent for a vicious knockout that rendered all of her weaknesses moot. One fight in, that power has translated to the UFC level. Matched against Bea Malecki, Nunes made up for the size difference with her fists, taking the initiative and obliterating the Swede in short order for one of the more overlooked brutal knockouts of 2021. Once again, Nunes is forced to try and make up for a size disadvantage here, as she moves up to featherweight to take on a late replacement and UFC newcomer in Pascual. Since bringing her career stateside in the last year, Hong Kong’s Pascual has spent her career at 145 pounds and found success in the process, scoring two quick finishes. Pascual has shown some submission chops and knockout power, but it is also a bit difficult to tell how that translates going forward. There is some natural ability there, but she has also clearly been pitted against opposition that has been overmatched in terms of athleticism and experience. Pascual’s massive size advantage could carry her to a win, particularly since she has shown an ability to swamp an opponent on the mat. However, her striking is a bit ponderous, and that alone gives Nunes the opportunity to score a quick knockout before Pascual has the opportunity to provide any danger. This is a coinflip on paper, but at least it figures to be a quick and violent matchup. The pick is Nunes via first-round knockout.

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