UFC Vegas 19- Ketlen Vieira vs Yana Kunitskaya: Prediction and Fight Analysis

UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Lewis goes down on February 20 and the co-main event sees a women’s bantamweight clash. Ketlen Vieira takes on Yana Kunitskaya in a crucial match-up that can shape the women’s 135-pound contention going forward. Amanda Nunes has maintained a stranglehold over the division for a meaningful period, and she’ll plan on holding her dominance.

Both women fought once in 2020 and won their respective contests via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. It’s important to build up momentum, and for one of the aforementioned bantamweight, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. The division isn’t particularly stacked at the top with contenders, and a statement win will certainly go a long way.

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UFC women’s bantamweights: Ketlen Vieira vs Yana Kunitskaya

The 11-1 fighter in Vieira is 5-1 in her UFC outings thus far, and she’s been a bonafide contender for a significant amount of time. The main thing holding her back is the fact that she hasn’t been particularly active, fighting only once a year. The only time she fought twice in a calendar year was back in 2017.

Ketlen has fundamentally sound kicks and overhands, and she’s displayed a clear sense of defense in her last fight. She’ll have to be wary of Kunitskaya’s front kicks that come in to split right through a tight guard. However, strong maintenance of octagon control coupled with high output should enable her to clinch the win.

‘Foxy’ Kunitskaya’s chase for UFC gold

Yana Kunitskaya is 3-2 in her last five outings, one of her losses coming to the legendary Cris Cyborg in March 2018. ‘Foxy’ is able to rely on her Muay Thai and puts tremendous pressure against the cage. However, holding Ketlen Vieira against the octagon will be easier said than done, especially in the late rounds.

Kunitskaya will favor her chances to finish off the fight, as she has three times the stoppage rate compared to her opponent. She’ll look to avoid cage walking towards a powerful overhand and opportunities for set-up could present themselves. Chiefly, it all comes down to who can truly impose their gameplan as the fight enters the second half of each round.

Prediction: Yana Kunitskaya to claim a unanimous decision victory