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UFC need to reduce number of events, not fighters. They used to have 20-30 events per year. Now they have 40+ and have pauses only on major holidays. With Paramount almost 8 billion deal and 7 year contract, UFC are not going to change anything. With almost 600 fighters in roster, it is always a big question how they manage to combine then and still we get events with random quality. We can get a Fight Night that is better than numerical event with couple of title fights in it.
It is highly unlikely we will see a reduction in events. This trend started with the ESPN deal, and now under Paramount, they have a contractual obligation to produce 43 annual live events.
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The next numbered card is on August 15th. Until then, there will be another Fight Night, followed by the numbered card fight between Islam and Machado Garry. Could this be the beginning of Islam's downfall? I think Garry has a great chance in this fight if he knows how to defend takedowns.
I was watching all the videos building up to this event from former fighters, and the majority of their opinion is that Islam Makhachev will have the upper hand considering his grappling and wrestling skills. The only way Ian Machado Garry can win the fight is if he is able to finish it in the first two rounds. Once the fight goes to the later rounds, Islam Makhachev will find a way to dominate him and take him to the ground.
My prediction for the fight will be like the Ian Machado Garry vs Shavkat Rakhmonov fight. Garry was able to defend the takedowns during the initial rounds, but he was unable to defend them late in the fight. Rakhmonov won a decision against him, which stands as the only fight that went to a decision in Rakhmonov's undefeated career.